TL;DR – We delve deeper into the dwarves, and see the manipulation afoot.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that viewed this episode.

The Rings of Power Review –

It is time to dive into the second part of the opening trilogy for The Rings of Power’s second season after Elven Kings Under the Sky. While last week was all about setting the scene, this week feels more like setting the mood for the season as we return to the Dwarves and see the dangers on the horizon.

So, to set the scene, after being banished and his prince hood removed, Durin IV (Owain Arthur) and his wife Disa (Sophia Nomvete) have shifted to a life away from power and riches. But before they can adapt to that life, Khazad-dûm is struck with a devastating earthquake that shatters the intricate mirrors that give the city light. Meanwhile, the elves of London are trying to work out how best to confront the growing threat of the orcs of Mordor now that Mt Doom has erupted. Still, while Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) can see the real danger might be closer to home, Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) cannot, which is a problem because ‘Halbrand’ (Charlie Vickers) has arrived at the gates of Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards). Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.    

I found this week to be exciting because it pears behind the infallibility of the elves and shows just how easy they are to manipulate. Last Season, Halbrand took all season to complete his manipulation of Galadriel. But this week, he is playing the elves like a harp, and he is not even in the same city. He is in their minds without being there, and that is even before we get to what he is doing in Ost-in-Edhil with Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards). It is a textbook honeypot, tempting Celebrimbor to treat with him before reeling him with the bait of divinity. It was fascinating to watch play out, even more so when Círdan (Ben Daniels) decided to go into a discussion about the ‘death of the author’.

I will say that from week to week, this continues to be a stunning series from a visual perspective. They have a good sense of when something should be on location and when something can be a set. We have started to explore parts of the greater lore that have not had a lot of exploration, but they still feel grounded in the world they have created. I liked the small touch of a warning bell on the well. While working mechanically, it also felt like something would happen in a remote area like this.

It is also a point that I want to say how glad I am that we got this series, if for nothing else, in how it brought the dwarven people to life. Every time we go back to the dwarves, it is a delight. Part of this is, of course, the performances of the actors, especially Owain Arthur & Sophia Nomvete. But it is also that we get a more rounded view of the dwarves as a people. Before, dwarves were all gold and stubbornness, and that is still the case here, but that is not all they are. They are singer, farmers, craftsmen, and miners. They are a people that you care about, which is something that Lord of the Rings has struggled to depict in the past.       
In the end, do we recommend The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Where the Stars are Strange? Yes, we do. It was fascinating watching the elves fall apart, something that I am sure won’t be an issue going forward at all …

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you seen The Rings of Power yet ?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review The Rings of Power on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.    
Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of The Rings of Power
Directed by – Charlotte Brändström & Louise Hooper
Written by – Jason Cahill
Created by – J. D. Payne & Patrick McKay
Based On – The Lord of the Rings and appendices by J. R. R. Tolkien
Production/Distribution Companies – Amazon Studios, Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Trust, HarperCollins, New Line Cinema & Amazon Prime
Starring – Sophia Nomvete, Owain Arthur, Morfydd Clark, Charles Edwards, Benjamin Walker, Charlie Vickers, Ciarán Hinds, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Daniel Weyman, Robert Aramayo & Peter Mullan with Ameilia Kenworthy, Kevin Eldon & Ben Daniels and Jamie Bisping, Zates Atour, Bryony Miller, Bridie Sisson, Arkie Reece, Laura Jane Matthewson, Rachel Payne, Stuart Bowman & Zubin Varla