Anywho, so right before Rings of Power Episode 2 and during it – since the end of episode 1 Galadriel went there after Gil-galad let her in, and went swimming when she was on the ship to Valinor.
Rings of Power Episode 2: The Stranger
Then the scene skips to the Harfoots – when Nori sees something – I’m not sure what it’s supposed to be. Some sort of body or statue laying in the middle of a fire – which we later see it being The Stranger.
She says it could be a man or an elf. There have already been many theories going around about who “The Stranger” is, though no one has known by this point who. Guesses include Gandalf, Sauron, Tom Bombadil, a Blue Wizard, and the like.
Gandalf and Sauron are part of the Maiar. It is a giant – though since hobbits are short then it would make sense if it’s a man as well. It would depend on how they view the Harfoots – as one of the hobbits or a separate entity altogether.
So after this it seems that Nori sorta makes this line about being compelled to find out who he is, or to go after something with it.
Then Arondir and Bronwyn go to Ciaran’s and Hana’s home. These names sound a little bit like normal names. Sure, in The Hobbit we have the trolls that have normal names as well, so I’ll let that slide.
The Rings of Power Episode 2: Durin’s Folk
In Eregion, Elrond finds out Fëanor’s silmarils. He and Celebrimbor briefly mention it – but we don’t see the three jewels. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be hidden or not.
Later, Elrond wanted to ask Durin for help, and he refused. I think it’s trying to talk about the initial stage – why the Elves and Dwarves don’t get along with each other, but since they don’t have rights to the Silmarillion we will talk about Appendix A, which they do have the rights to.
Appendix A: The Lord of the Rings
Durin was “the eldest of the [Seven Fathers of the Dwarves], and the ancestor of all the kings in the Longbeards.” Durin lived most of his dats in Ananulbizar, which was later called the Mines of Moria or Khazad-dum. He was known widely as Durin the Deathless.
At the end of the First Age, Khazad-dum increased in wealth and power. The power of Moria endured mainly due to the dominion of Sauron, Eregion was destroyed and the gates of Moria was shut.
Durin became king again in the Third Age. However, Sauron’s power had increased by then as well.
In the show, however, it seems we kind of get a glimpse of this when Durin refused Elrond’s entry many times to no avail. Durin became king in the middle of the Third Age, and made their way to Erebor the Lonely Mountain. We don’t see it just yet, but hopefully we would in future episodes.
Rings of Power Episode 2: March into Eregion
After all, it is in the Appendices, which they do have the rights to.
Soon after, the scene cuts into them walking further into Eregion. (On a side note – Elrond says the Quenya term “Elmendéa” – meaning “wonderful.”)
Later he finds that he’s supposed to try and smash stones along with the Dwarves. I find the Dwarves and Elves scene pretty epic in and of itself, even though not much has really happened there. However, the storyline was still rather thin and a little unassuming as a whole – and as you will see in the end, it will start to decline over time in my opinion.
Rings of Power Episode 2: The Stranger (2)
Then Nori is seen talking to The Stranger. It seems a little bit typical and overdone and fleshed out here, where a principal character is seen talking to someone they aren’t sure of – and they end up getting along.
Anywho, you’ll see the Stranger saying the words Mana and úre, repeatedly – which it seems it’s supposed to mean, “what is heat.” This is alluding to what is happening earlier with the fire. I could see why many would think it is Sauron, or Gandalf or part of the Maiar. Or a Blue Wizard.
Nori was later caught by the Harfoots who didn’t really seem to care much of anything – except who he was. Here, they kind of just accept that she went and looked for it – though we still would make it to the end without knowing who the Stranger is.
Rings of Power Episode 2: Galadriel
Then the scene cuts to Galadriel swimming in the middle of the ocean and sees a boat. The others seem to be surprised at her presence. Then after the ship breaks – this is more like a wooden one – and then she just…looks like she needs help for a while…but later she was seen swimming effortlessly.
Rings of Power Episode 2: Elrond meets with Durin
Then it cuts back to the Dwarven scene with Elrond. He finally meets with Durin, and it seems to kind of further develop the feud between the Elves and Dwarves. Here – while it briefly touches on the Appendices it didn’t stick to it very well.
It would’ve been a very compelling story in and of itself in the beginning but in my opinion got less and less interesting at the end. Basically Durin holds a grudge for Elrond missing his wedding and he apologized and congratulated him and all and he lets him in under some conditions. And this is right before we would see Dis.
I thought the scene was a little unnecessary – all this because of a Wedding? Really? Not that it doesn’t matter when one misses your wedding, but there’s just so much more history as to why the Elves and Dwarves didn’t get along for a while.
Elrond has dinner with the Dwarves, and Durin just comes up with ridiculous claims for him, I’m not sure what he was trying to do there.
Rings of Power Episode 2: Valinor
Then Galadriel meets up with Halbrand, which is a character that is not in the legendarium. A new character. It is revealed that she wasn’t going to Valinor specifically but rather she meant to be lost at sea. Or this is what she tells him.
This is a new plot – especially since I have mentioned previously how Galadriel stayed in Middle-earth and it didn’t seem to make sense why she would be going to Valinor at the end. My points probably still stand.
Overall Ratings
Lore Accuracy: 3/10 – about the same as the first episode.
General Rating: 5/10 – while not considering lore at all, the story started out a little promising but declined in quality as the episode went on.