Episode 202 | The Rings of Power Season Two Breakdown & Reaction
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 202 Breakdown & Reaction
Please note that this video does contain spoilers!
New Title Sequence
There is a new title sequence! I love how it builds off the old one! There’s a lot of cool imagery in this new version. My kids are going to miss the black snake weaving in through the gold sand though, as that was their favorite bit. The way they added in the name at the end was much better than it was for season one.
I also loved the opening sequence with the visuals of black goo spreading across the map, representing Sauron’s influence.
“We Can’t Hear the Mountain”
I love seeing everyday Dwarven life a little bit before the disaster strikes and Khazad-dûm is plunged into darkness. The earthquakes caused by Mount Doom’s eruption damaged their mountain and now the stone-singers are unable to “hear” it.
The father/son relationship is strained in this episode but continues to be well-written.
Galadriel’s Vision
Galadriel has a vision in which she is planting seeds in front of Finrod’s memorial. Celebrimbor strolls in and tells her about the unexpected visitor, who she immediately understands to be Halbrand. Halbrand’s voice is heard in her head whispering her name, followed by the slithering roots sequence which foreshadows Celebrimbor’s death. Celebrimbor speaks the Ring verse in Black Speech as he is ensnared.
“Are they not the seeds you planted?” - Celebrimbor (Sauron)
After this, she fears that Celebrimbor is in danger.
“Some veiled evil closes in on Celebrimbor.” - Galadriel
Galadriel’s Cosmic Connection to Sauron
“Yes, he knows my mind… and I know his.” - Galadriel
Galadriel is somehow deeply connected to Sauron. Because of the strength of his deception, she is unable to cast him out of her mind.
Gil-galad acknowledges this and says he won’t allow Galadriel to face Sauron alone again. In this scene, she calls him Halbrand and Gil-galad corrects her: “Sauron”. Elrond is also concerned about this as well.
It’s unclear if the Ring is strengthening her connection with him or if it’s enhancing her gift of foresight. She does see a glimpse of him in Eregion that we are shown later on in the episode, which suggests it was a future event.
“Since the wearing of this ring I have felt, perceived glimpses of the unseen world. As dreams unbidden…” - Galadriel
Galadriel’s Concern for Celebrimbor
Galadriel continues to worry about Celebrimbor in Eregion, speculating to Gil-galad that she thinks he will return to Eregion to make more Rings. We are shown that all of the messengers are dead and so the letter has never reached Eregion. She begins to make requests to bring a company to Eregion to check on Celebrimbor.
Emissary at the Forge
In Eregion, Halbrand has returned but is initially denied entry. Mirdania feels bad for Halbrand, and I wonder if she will continue to sympathize with him throughout the season. Eventually, Celebrimbor lets him in and Sauron presents himself as Annatar.
Celebrimbor is brought to tears when Halbrand reveals that the Rings did indeed work.
Halbrand’s pitch to Celebrimbor is to make rings for Men, and Celebrimbor initially refuses until Halbrand is transformed as Annatar.
“Celebrimbor… are you my friend? … I’ve never been able to hide anything from you… My name is not Halbrand.”
Annatar calls Celebrimbor the “Lord of the Rings”, and introduces himself as Annatar.
“I am your partner, no more, no less. A sharer of gifts. Annatar.”
Galadriel and Elrond’s Conversation
Galadriel asks Elrond to travel to Eregion with her, but he insists that he wants no part in anything involving the Rings. He responds, “A dog is steadfast, and quicker to follow on a leash.”
In this scene, they have a lot of very well-written dialogue which contextualizes Sauron’s Halbrand deception.
“Sauron used me and under his hand I was played like a harp to a melody not to my choosing.”
“It was entirely of your choosing. Sauron looked inside of you, plucked the very song of your soul note by note, making himself out to be exactly what you needed: the lost king who could ride you to victory. You gave him everything you wanted and then thanked him for it. Now he has done the same to Gil-galad and to every elf in Lindon.” - Elrond
“There is no navigating it. The labyrinth is his. As long as you stay in it, you have already lost. He may well want you in Eregion.” - Elrond
“Please Elrond, I cannot let him in again… I cannot.” Here there is an immediate cut to Galadriel with Halbrand in the forest where she confessed, “I felt it too.”
“He never left, Galadriel. In choosing to wear those Rings, you have all chosen to become his collaborators. I will have no part in it.” - Elrond
This scene was quite brutal and you can feel very strongly the pain that Galadriel feels because of Sauron. She is so severely wounded by Halbrand which hurt a lot to see.
Elrond’s Decision
Elrond takes counsel with Cirdan and then at the end of the episode agrees to go with Galadriel to Eregion, but as the leader of their company.
“You are wise to fear this power, Elrond. But do not let that fear blind you to the ways it can be used for good. For it is not your enemy that bears these rings, but your most trusted friends…” - Círdan
A Dark Wizard and his Acolytes
In Rhun, there’s a temple where the moth ladies and the dark wizard are performing a ritual where her hands are sliced open. The wizard swooshes his staff around in the moths. It summons the Dweller! And she has dialogue, which is exciting!
Mad Max sounds like Boba Fett when he speaks through his mask, and he says he’s going to kill the Halflings… My man!
A Name for the Stranger
The Harfoots are trying to give the Stranger a name. He doesn’t like any of their suggestions and insists that, “No one can give you a name… it is yours already… and when you hear it, you feel your heart glow.”
They come to find a well in the middle of the desert where they are discovered by Mad Max and his crew. They pull out their swords so the Stranger conjures a sandstorm which the Harfoots them blow away into…?
Episode Thoughts:
I liked this episode a lot more than the first, I do feel like we finally got cooking here.
I am tired of wandering around in the desert with the Stranger and would like for him to finally arrive at wherever he’s trying to go.
The dialogue between Elrnd and Galadriel was the highlight for me.
It was a real treat to see the Dweller again and hear her speak for the first time.
By the end of this episode, I was very excited to begin episode three. I’m glad they released the first three together, as well, since Numenor has not yet appeared.
