The Season 1 finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy answered a lot of our most urgent questions concerning the goings-on of Center-earth. Nevertheless, it has additionally left us with a starvation for information that sadly will not be sated till Season 2. Positive, now we all know Sauron’s true id and who the Stranger is, however what does the long run maintain for the elves, dwarves, people, and Harfoots we’re grown to know and love?
Actually, who is aware of! At this level, The Rings of Energy has strayed far sufficient from J.R.R. Tolkien’s work that it is anybody’s guess. Some issues have to occur — extra rings, together with the One Ring, should be solid — however when, why, and the way they will occur are mysteries we’ll simply have to attend to unravel.
Nonetheless, as we settle in for the lengthy lull between seasons, why not throw ourselves into query mode? Collect up your Tolkien books, your notes, and your favourite conspiracy concept yarn wall, as a result of we’re happening an journey! (If not of the physique, then not less than of the curious thoughts.)
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How will the remainder of the Rings of Energy be solid?
Three rings down, many extra to go.
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As we all know from the title of the present, The Rings of Energy will ultimately result in the forging of 20 rings: three for elves, seven for dwarves, 9 for mortal males, and one evil ring solid in secret by Sauron himself. The Season 1 finale ends with Celebrimbor forging the three elven rings, so we all know the others are quickly to observe.
In Tolkien’s work, the elves’ rings are the final of the unique 19 rings to be solid, so their early arrival in The Rings of Energy positively shakes up what we all know from the books. Nevertheless, I’ve a hunch that the dwarves will get their rings subsequent, and all because of the friendship between Elrond and Durin. Elrond found the scroll that exposed that Halbrand could not be King of the Southlanders, so it is possible that he realized that Halbrand was Sauron and that he escaped. Understanding that Sauron is on the unfastened, he might warn the dwarves of the rising evil and encourage them to forge their very own rings. Who is aware of if the dwarves and elves will be capable to belief one another once more, however at this level I simply need to see my favourite duo reunite.
What’s subsequent for the Southlanders?
I simply need them to be okay!
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Bronwyn, Theo, and Arondir did not seem within the finale, however that does not imply I haven’t got questions on them! Now that the Southlands have been diminished to the ashy hellscape that’s Mordor, the place will these three and their fellow displaced Southlanders go?
Fortunately, episode 7 (“The Eye”) provides us some thought of what they will be as much as subsequent. A garrison of Númenoreans is staying behind in Center-earth to accompany the Southlanders to security. Their vacation spot? The previous Númenorean colony of Pelargir, on the mouth of the Anduin river. Pelargir is a part of the land that may ultimately turn out to be Gondor, so it seems The Rings of Energy goes to discover how the Southlanders assist populate that space. Nevertheless, within the books, Gondor does not turn out to be Gondor till after Númenor experiences nice disaster. We’ll have to attend some time to see the good kingdom come into its personal. Additionally, the Southlanders nonetheless produce other urgent points to take care of, just like the very actual risk of Mordor. Adar and his orcs could have their house now, however who’s to say they will not attempt to broaden it?
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Who will take management of Mordor, Adar or Sauron?
Eagerly awaiting the Adar-Sauron showdown.
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Season 1 of The Rings of Energy ends with Sauron confidently heading into Mordor, however do not assume his rise to energy will probably be a simple street. In spite of everything, one doesn’t merely stroll into Mordor… particularly not when Mordor is at the moment dominated by the orc who tried to homicide you. That is proper: Sauron nonetheless has orc daddy Adar to take care of.
As Adar recalled to Galadriel in episode 6, “Udûn,” he killed Sauron after his seek for energy led to the deaths of numerous orcs. Nevertheless, as everyone knows by now, Sauron is much from useless. And as soon as Adar finds that out, there isn’t any means he is giving up the house he is created for his orc youngsters with no struggle.
What does Halbrand’s betrayal imply for Galadriel?
Allies to enemies.
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Galadriel has spent the whole lot of The Rings of Energy attempting to destroy Sauron, solely to comprehend within the finale that she’s accomplished one thing far worse: She’s introduced him again to Center-earth within the guise of Halbrand. Clearly, his betrayal is a horrible blow to her, as she’s nervous all through the season that she’s grown too near the darkness. Plus, relying on how a lot Elrond figures out and the way he reacts, her belief in Halbrand could jeopardize her relationship with the opposite elves.
In Tolkien’s work, Sauron deceives many individuals, however he by no means deceives Galadriel. Even when he is in his honest type as Annatar, the Lord of Presents, she has misgivings. Maybe Halbrand’s breach in belief will higher equip her for future Sauron encounters. In spite of everything, what does not kill you makes you stronger — although it will struggle aspect by aspect with you, acquire your belief, then flee whenever you understand it is evil incarnate. We have all been there, Galadriel. You may get by this, I imagine in you!
It is official! We all know who Sauron is in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy.’
Inform me the place is Celeborn, for I a lot want to talk with him.
Galadriel deserves a win!
Credit score: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video
One of many greatest bombshells of The Rings of Energy — apart from the nuclear warhead that’s the Sauron-Halbrand reveal — is that Galadriel’s husband Celeborn is useless. Not less than she thinks he is useless. He went off to conflict to struggle Morgoth and by no means returned, however we by no means see his physique, so the jury’s nonetheless out on whether or not he is really useless.
As a fervent “Celeborn is alive” truther, I additionally must level out that Celeborn does not die in Tolkien’s works. The truth is, he and Galadriel have a fairly comfortable life collectively, and their youngsters (and grandchildren) are extraordinarily necessary to the way forward for Center-earth. Killing off Celeborn can be far more than a mere deviation from Tolkien lore; it could be extra like shattering canon. Celeborn has to have been imprisoned someplace, or maybe he is gravely wounded and preventing his means again to Galadriel. I merely refuse to imagine he will not be an even bigger a part of this present indirectly!
Is Isildur actually useless?
Oh yeah, he is coming again.
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Becoming a member of Celeborn within the “he might be useless however in all probability is not” membership is Elendil’s son Isildur. Final time we noticed him, he was trapped in a hearth in Mordor. His Númenorean companions all imagine him to be useless, and who might blame them? Not many individuals can survive a burning home collapsing on them or being alone in orc territory. However belief me, Isildur can (and can) do it.
Isildur has to outlive as a result of he has an enormous function to play in the way forward for Center-earth, together with the founding of Gondor and the upcoming battle in opposition to Sauron. Except Elendil has a secret youngster additionally named Isildur, we’re getting him again. And since Elendil launched his horse Berek out into Center-earth, there is a good likelihood Isildur will get to reunite together with his beloved horse. Maybe he’ll be part of Bronwyn, Theo, and Arondir at Pelargir, or perhaps he’ll try and sail house by himself. One factor is (virtually) totally sure: Isildur lives!
Simply what, precisely, goes down in Númenor?
This doesn’t bode effectively.
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The island of Númenor is without doubt one of the most necessary elements of Tolkien’s mythos, however we have by no means seen it portrayed onscreen till now. The Rings of Energy strayed fairly a bit from Tolkien’s legendarium with the plotline that introduced Galadriel and Sauron to Númenor. Nevertheless, as Elendil and Queen-Regent Míriel return house, the stage is about for Númenor’s canonical corruption.
Galadriel’s involvement within the losses Númenor suffered in Mordor will certainly fire up much more anger in direction of the elves and the Valar. We will already see this with Elendil, who’s grieving Isildur and who was noticeably colder to Galadriel after they parted methods. Plus, with the king’s latest demise, Númenor must fill an influence vacuum. Will Míriel, who vowed to return to Center-earth and help the elves, take her father’s throne? Or will the scheming Pharazôn take her place?
And you’ll’t neglect Eärien’s discovery of the seeing stone, or palantír, within the king’s chambers. Maybe she noticed Míriel’s imaginative and prescient of the wave, and even worse, opened up a pathway for Númenor to unknowingly talk with Sauron. Eärien, Pharazôn, and Pharazôn’s son Kemen didn’t have a lot display screen time this season, however primarily based on what the finale is organising, it is possible they’re about to turn out to be way more influential.
Will Disa and Durin IV attempt to dig extra mithril? (And can the Balrog seem?)
Center-earth’s final energy couple.
Credit score: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
We had been tragically denied any dwarf scenes within the Rings of Energy finale, however our final have a look at them this season was nonetheless fairly memorable. In episode 7, King Durin III found his son Durin IV attempting to mine extra mithril for the elves. He disowned his son in one of many present’s most heartbreaking scenes but. However when Durin IV returned to his spouse Disa, she stated that Durin III was simply jealous. In a speech that gave off some massive Girl Macbeth vitality, she instructed him that at some point the 2 of them would rule Khazad-dûm and all different mountains, and that they’d dig all of the mithril they need.
That raises the query: Are they going to do some guerilla mining subsequent season? Or will they go the total Macbeth route and make a play for the throne… with homicide? The latter can be intense however fascinating, positioning mithril as a corrupting power in the identical means that Sauron and the (yet-to-be made One Ring) are.
However maybe the most important cliffhanger within the dwarves’ storyline is the teeny tiny matter of the Balrog residing within the depths of Khazad-dûm. As we all know from the primary Lord of the Rings trilogy, the dwarves awaken this Balrog — identified later as Durin’s Bane — by delving too greedily and too deep of their seek for mithril. Naturally, all hell breaks unfastened. The Durin in “Durin’s Bane” really refers to Durin VI, so maybe Durin IV is protected from this Balrog. Nevertheless, primarily based on The Rings of Energy‘s looseness with Tolkien’s timeline and that Balrog foreshadowing in episode 7, something is feasible.
The wave in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy’ has a good deeper connection to Tolkien
What’s going to the Stranger and Nori discover in Rhûn?
He is happening an journey!
Credit score: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video
The Stranger (whose actual id was closely hinted at however by no means confirmed) and Nori Brandyfoot finish Season 1 of The Rings of Energy by setting off east in direction of the land of Rhûn. There, they hope to search out solutions concerning the Stranger’s previous, together with why he crash-landed in Center-earth.
Nori and the Stranger’s total plotline is totally new, so this upcoming story might go in many alternative instructions. The uncertainty about their future is intensified by the truth that not a lot is understood about Rhûn. We do know that it is the house of the Easterlings, who go on to help Sauron. Tolkien did not go into a lot element past that, so the inventive group behind The Rings of Energy may as effectively have free rein. The Stranger and Nori might encounter different members of the Stranger’s Istari Order. Or perhaps we’ll discover out extra concerning the white-cloaked Mystics who had been searching the Stranger all through the season. Both means, we’re headed into uncharted territory.
Will we see extra of the Poppy and the opposite Harfoots?
Please allow them to reunite in some unspecified time in the future.
Credit score: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video
It appeared like important objective of the Harfoot storyline was to introduce the Stranger and have him set off on an journey with a Harfoot as his companion. Nevertheless, alongside the best way I fell in love with the remainder of the Harfoots, particularly Poppy Proudfellow. From her loyalty to Nori to her singing “This Wandering Day,” she shortly grew to become a scene-stealer. However now that the Stranger and Nori are off to Rhûn, will we be listening to extra from Poppy and firm?
Since Harfoots and associated Hobbit-y creatures do not determine majorly into Center-earth historical past till Bilbo and Frodo within the Third Age, it is unlikely (however not unattainable) that we’ll see Poppy cross paths with, say, Galadriel or the Númenoreans. Nevertheless, the finale did look like setting Poppy up because the Harfoots’ subsequent path finder, so maybe subsequent time we see her, she’ll be guiding the Harfoots throughout Center-earth. No person goes off-trail, and no person walks alone! (And hopefully no person will get written off the present simply but.)
Season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy is now streaming on Prime Video.(opens in a brand new tab)
