Episode 3 takes us to Númenor—for the first time in season 2—where the seat of power is shifting.
Akhil Arora, a Film Critics Guild member and a Rotten Tomatoes-certified TV critic, who has watched all eight episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2. He has been reviewing movies and TV series since 2015 and has written for NDTV and SlashFilm.
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If there’s one aspect that The Rings of Power shares with Game of Thrones—beyond the obvious similarity of both being big-budgeted fantasy TV shows—it’s that it has too many locales and characters. That’s why it takes until the third episode of the second season for the audience to catch up with the Númenor and the rest. There’s some Thrones-style power grabbing happening on the island kingdom, as Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) and his conspirators figure out a strategy to supplant the blind Queen Regent. Back in Middle-earth, Isildur (Maxim Baldry)—the Númenorean who was left behind because he was believed dead—is merely trying to survive. The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3 also teases a love interest for Isildur to give him something to do until he becomes an all-important part of the alliance that will take on Sauron one day.
Unfortunately, neither of these is engaging enough. The people who did the scheming in Game of Thrones were a lot more insidious and their plots would be built up over the course of a season. Here, we go from Pharazôn and Co. first talking about it to executing it in the same episode. It’s not exciting or rewarding, as a viewer. This ties into a general issue for The Rings of Power. Moments are unearned or not developed as they ought to be, with The Lord of the Rings series lacking the patience to build to them. It doesn’t help that the direction is frequently uninspired or that the show is extraordinarily self-serious. You’re overthrowing a queen—it should be fun and terrifying!
The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3—directed by Louise Hooper and Charlotte Brändström and written by Helen Shang—opens with a horse. Specifically, Isildur’s horse, Berek, who refuses to calm down. Elendil (Lloyd Owen) tries in vain, but he won’t listen to any of them. So, Berek is freed. He gallops off across the ruins of the battle into a bunch of orcs, evades their grasp, and heads into the Black Forest. Berek keeps going until he runs into Isildur in a cave where he uses his four limbs to help free his rider from the webs of a spider. Isildur cuts himself free but then has to deal with an orc who’s also freed before the big spider shows up and tries to stab Isildur in the face. All ends well, thankfully.
Back in Númenor in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Elendil pays respect to the old king. His daughter Eärien (Ema Horvath) confronts him, wondering why he won’t speak about his son. He might be blaming himself, but he shouldn’t. “True blame belongs to another,” he adds. Eärien, who has looked in the seeing stone, refuses to divulge what she has seen. Just then, cousins Pharazôn and Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) enter. Elendil walks up to the queen, who asks him what he sees. He tells her that Belzagar (Will Keen) has the ear of Pharazôn. A woman then walks up to the queen and slaps her because she lost her son in battle. Míriel hugs and consoles her.
Back in her quarters, Míriel—who is going through her father’s possessions—is visited by Pharazôn. He asks her to choose between white and crimson for her coronation. Míriel favours white as her father wore it on his coronation. The only other thing she recalls is the presence of an eagle. Pharazôn notes it’s rare for an eagle to make an appearance. If it does happen, it would be seen as an auspicious omen. Her cousin pushes her to go with crimson as it shows she’s a new kind of monarch. But she sticks with white—it’s humbler.
At a watering hole later in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Eärien, Pharazôn, Belzagar and Kemen (Leon Wadham), Pharazôn’s son, are drinking together. Kemen claims Míriel is no longer fit to rule. Pharazôn tells him to lower his voice, but Belzagar notes he’s not wrong. Pharazôn had an equal claim and many in Númenor still believe he has the better claim. And after Míriel’s warmongering, many are ready to raise their voices again. Pharazôn doesn’t think that’s enough to supplant a queen. To which, Belzagar notes she’s Queen Regent and also blind.
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Eärien wonders if they could turn this “many” into enough. Just then, Isildur’s friend Valandil (Alex Tarrant) walks up to their table and addresses her. He’s surprised Guilds-folk like them are in the Old Quarter, the less fashionable part of town. It’s clear there’s a class divide across Númenor, something Kemen tries to press in Valandil’s face. Valandil doesn’t take it kindly and reminds him that he bled with the Queen on the battlefield. As Valandil leaves in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Pharazôn asks Eärien what she was about to say. She reveals she found something “secret, dangerous and forbidden.” She’s referring to the seeing stone, the one used by Míriel. Eärien has stolen it, it seems.
Over in Mordor in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Adar’s right-hand Glûg (Robert Strange) tells his boss-father (Sam Hazeldine) that their preparations are almost complete but wonders why they must go to war again. After all, they now have a home in Mordor. And isn’t Sauron dead? Adar says they won’t truly be safe until they’ve made sure Sauron is no more. Enter the newest addition to Adar’s army: Damrod, a hill troll of the Ered Mithrin. Adar welcomes him. Damrod (voiced by Benjamin Walker, the same actor as High King Gil-galad) wants to know only one thing: “Where is Sauron?”
Cut to Eregion in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, where Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) welcomes Durin IV (Owain Arthur) and Disa (Sophia Nomvete). He says they only want to help, not to take advantage of them. Durin is taken aback by his offer of rings—“You brought us here to barter jewellery?”—but he assures them these are no ordinary rings. They are rings of power. It’s then that Durin learns that Elrond’s mithril plan worked. Celebrimbor believes it can do the same for the dwarves. As long as the dwarves supply them with mithril, they will have the rings.
But why is this offer not being presented directly to King Durin III? Because Celebrimbor knows Durin doesn’t take kindly to offers of outside aid. Durin IV notes he isn’t on speaking terms with his father so he’s not sure he can help. It’s then that Sauron—I’m sorry, Annatar (Charlie Vickers)—interjects in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3. He notes that these rings, which can help save Khazad-dûm, would be the perfect way to earn back his respect. Naturally, Durin wonders who he is. Annatar calls himself a friend to the elves and dwarves. Durin is suspicious because Elrond has never mentioned him before. Sauron speaks to Durin’s pride, noting that Elrond called him the wisest of all the elves.
Disa buys them time as the dwarves step outside in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3. Sauron has miscalculated for Durin knows Elrond would never speak such nice things about him. But Disa tells him to focus on the bigger picture. They’re giving them a potential solution to their problems.
Back in the forge in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Celebrimbor notes to Sauron that they have to give them time. Annatar thinks time is a luxury they lack and then manipulates him again. He lies that the elves’ High King believes dwarves to be unworthy of this power. Moreover, he has forbidden the forging of any more rings, and he doesn’t know that Annatar is even here. It seems that works as it gets to Celebrimbor’s ego and pride: “What business is it of his how I conduct my own realm?” Celebrimbor says he’s going to tell the High King he’s closing the forge. He’s willing to lie to his king. Sauron is intrigued, but Celebrimbor notes that he’s merely giving them space to complete their work. The guy really wants to be known for his creations. He notes he’s spent an age for this moment, and he won’t let the High King take it away.
Somewhere in Mordor in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, a tired Isildur falls off Berek. He’s about to drink water from a pond when he notes all sorts of dead floating in it. Half dead himself, he moves through the Black Forest before coming across bodies strewn and a cart ransacked. Isildur gets down and pulls out his sword. As he canvasses the area, he’s stabbed in the thigh by a woman named Estrid (Nia Towle). She thought he was an orc. Did she miss the fancy clothes he’s wearing? Estrid then tries to help Isildur dress the wound. As they exchange names, she deduces he’s sea-folk. He says he’s headed for the camp, but she notes they have already left. She gives him a map she found, which has a path marked for Pelargir, an old Númenorean settlement.
The two set off on Berek for Pelargir. From afar, Isildur can tell there are no ships in the harbour, so he’s worried that his dad and the others have left. Soon, they come across an old man lying next to a cart. Isildur gets down to give him food, but it turns out to be a trap. They are cornered but arrows fly out from off-screen and nail the bandits. Enter Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova). Isildur and Estrid are saved but Berek is taken away by the fleeing bandits. Isildur wants to go after his horse but Arondir notes that wildmen outnumber them in these woods. They follow Arondir to Pelargir, where we get a funeral for his lady-love Bronwyn. (This is down to the actress, Nazanin Boniadi, choosing not to return for The Rings of Power season 2.) Arondir performs the last rites as he’s joined by her son, Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), who is clearly very upset. Arondir tries to comfort Theo but he’s not having any of it.
Over in Khazad-dûm in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, the dwarven common folk are suffering. The delve-master Narvi (Kevin Eldon) tells King Durin III (Peter Mullan) that the food merchants are going to petition him to open the royal food reserves. The King asks Narvi to send them in. In steps his son Durin IV instead, who tells him about the rings Celebrimbor is offering. The King wonders if that’s all he has come to say. Durin IV says he’s as hard and stubborn as him before conceding that he was wrong to disrespect him. He apologises. As the King is about to leave, Durin IV notes that he doesn’t trust this power. His father once told him that wiser minds decide the fate of Elves than our own and that to try and cheat death could lead to an even greater catastrophe. What if he’s right?
Back in Pelargir in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Theo attends to Isildur’s stab wound. Arondir thinks he failed to save Bronwyn though he’s pleased to see Isildur and wishes he could share this relief with his father who believes Isildur to be dead. When Arondir notes that Númenor will return and Isildur’s family will be whole again, Theo looks up at him in a mix of anger and disgust. Outside, Arondir tries to tell Theo that he has a purpose in this village—they need a healer. But Theo can’t be consoled. Arondir then talks about Beleriand, the elf realm he was born in, which now lies under the wave. He felt so much anger when it fell like Theo does right now. He was angry at Morgoth and at himself. But anger doesn’t help, and it swallows you up. Theo is in no mood to listen. He notes that Arondir isn’t his father and that he doesn’t want to speak to him ever again.
As Theo is trying to collect water in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Isildur walks in to remark the structure is from old Númenor. Theo scoffs that it’s basically useless as a fountain. Isildur notes that it’s an aqueduct, not a fountain, which means it’s meant to bring water into the home. Theo isn’t buying it, as he believes men can’t build things like that. Guess the knowledge Pelargir had has been lost. Also, if Númenor is so nice, why is Isildur here? He was told there were grander things in Middle-earth. Theo asks Isildur if he really wants his horse back. He nods. Theo asks him to meet him here at moonrise and bring a sword.
At night in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, as Estrid sits by a fire and runs a knife through it, Isildur walks up to her and wonders if she’s had any word of her fiancée. Estrid says it’s hard not to blame yourself for surviving when so many others didn’t. Theo soon arrives but stays out of sight listening to them. Isildur talks about the time he lost his mother. He was 10 and he got caught in a riptide. His mother tried to save him and drowned. He’s never told anybody about the whole truth. No one knows it was his fault. Theo, who has lost his own mother, can’t hold back tears. Because of what happened, Isildur has always wanted to do something singular and special. To prove that he deserved to live. Estrid thinks he’s being too hard on himself and that he ought to accept what he got as a gift.
Theo then interjects and calls out to Isildur. As they depart in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, we learn that Estrid has the mark of Adar on her, which she is trying to hide. Somewhere in a forest, Isildur finds Berek tied to a post close to a camp of wildmen. He stealthily unties Berek without trying to make a noise but just as he’s about to be discovered, Theo walks in as a distraction, pretending to be one of them. But they aren’t buying it. He seems too well fed so they wager he’s from Pelargir. Just as they grab him—the scene is too dark to see anything—one of them is attacked by something out of the darkness. Soon, everyone is grabbed, including Theo, by someone much taller than him.
Over in Númenor in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, Míriel appears at her coronation in the white dress she picked. But her moment is interrupted by someone from the crowd who screams “queen of lies” at her. The High Priest (William Chubb) notes that only the voice of a king or queen is allowed during the ceremony. Míriel steps in and says that the grief of Númenor is sacred to her. She then asks everyone assembled to question who they cry out for: those who died, for the kingdom, or for themselves?
Eärien makes a grand entrance and shouts: “For Isildur.” She claims that the dying king told her that Míriel used a seeing stone, made by the elves, to give her counsel. As Eärien drops it on the floor in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3, the Númenoreans move away from it. Clearly, this whole thing is staged as Pharazôn then joins in and claims Númenor’s true ruler would never place trust in an elvish artefact. He orders for the seeing stone to be destroyed and the Queen Regent takes the bait. Míriel says the palantir belongs to her. As a guard steps forward to grab it, he’s thrown back. Númenoreans decry it as elf sorcery and turn against Míriel, calling her a murderer.
The commotion quietens down at the sound and appearance of a giant eagle in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3. Pharazôn knows this could easily turn into an auspicious omen for Míriel so he uses the opportunity to walk up to the giant eagle. Meanwhile, Belzagar gets the crowd to chant his name. It works! The crowd joins in and their PR coup has worked.
Episode 3 closes out in Eregion where the new forge is being put to use under Celebrimbor and Sauron’s supervision. Disa, Durin IV and King Durin III are also present. Celebrimbor takes the mithril from the dwarven king and is about to throw it in when Annatar steps across and takes it from him. Clearly, Sauron is putting some sort of spell on it, just as Elrond feared with the three rings for elves. Durin, with his mouth agape, looks on. He didn’t trust this Annatar and his suspicion has been raised further. Well, either way, it’s happening. New rings of power are on the way.
The Rings of Power season 2 episode 3 is out now on Prime Video.
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