The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (1×08) Alloyed Review

For our review of the last episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, click here.

As the season finale of The Rings of Power arrives, viewers will be treated to the moment they’ve all been waiting for as a season of set-up begins to payoff big time. Questions are answered in often surprise fashion but that being said, there are still some loose ends which may rub some the wrong way. Morfydd Clark as Galadriel has single-handedly carried the season so it’s only fair that she finish it with another strong performance while Charlie Vickers’ Halbrand continues to be a surprise as the character takes a different turn here.

Injured, Galadriel brings Halbrand to Lindon for treatment while Lindon is reeling with their lack of mythril situation. The reunion between she and Elrond seemed to be exactly what each needed. When it came to that situation, Halbrand had a suggestion that may very well be the answer but acceptance was another issue. However, there was something a little off about him as he was perhaps a little too interested in the process. Working over the mythril was not necessarily seamless.

A more pressing issue arose once Halbrand and his true intentions were exposed as another key figure in the story of The Lord of the Rings made his presence known, wanting to save Middle Earth in his own way. He and Galadriel meeting was not by chance as he had a plan all along unbeknownst to her. Though tempting, she was unwilling to go along with his plan. In order to move forward, Galadriel would need to make the ultimate sacrifice and thus the series’ titular rings, three of them to be precise, were made.

The Stranger saw some progress as he was a victim of mistaken identity and in this, he was revealed to be what most viewers already assumed him to be in what was a powerful moment in the midst of the Harfoots taking on his would be pursuers. Given more answers, the Stranger departed to learn more about himself but he would not go alone as he was accompanied by Nori Brandifoot (Markella Kavenagh). Weyman and Kavenagh’s great chemistry as the Stranger and Nori alas has a chance to continue.

The Numenor delegation returned home to what appeared to be a much different situation while the Southlands, who have since become Mordor as most are accustomed to were mostly left unattended in this episode until it ended with a beautiful shot of Halbrand gazing onto presumably Mount Doom.

And with that, the pieces appear to all be on the board as the finale brings all the storylines together in a decently-compelling way. When it comes to the already in production season two, improved pacing and a more focused storyline would only improve it moving forward. On a technical level, the series is already more than where it needs to be but that marriage with narrative could still be even better. With a clear villain now on the horizon, this should help its case. However, the series surely still has a few more tricks up its sleeve as it looks to continue expanding the world of Tolkien.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.