The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 201 Breakdown & Reaction

Please note that this post does contain spoilers! 

• Prologue: I’m Calling him Mairon

• It was completely inappropriate for the early Sauron to call himself Sauron. The real Sauron would never. I believe this was simply to communicate his identity to the general audience but to me this was unacceptable. 

• The coronation and assassination scene was very well-done and gruesome, but I wish we could’ve seen a few more moments of Sauron at work before this betrayal. 

• Sauron’s disdain for the Orcs felt very on-brand for him, as well as his swiftness in anger. 

• I really enjoyed the subtle moments of characterization: fiddling with his rings, stroking his hair, looking to Adar for reassurance. This is a Sauron who has not figured it all out and lacks confidence. Very pathetic babygirl of him. 

• Goo-ron

• The idea that Sauron’s spirit remained physically manifested in a blob of stringy goo which eats bugs and rats and ultimately some poor woman was… an interesting choice. The way that goo-ron flopped down the mountain side was comical and I couldn’t stop laughing, which unfortunately of course pulled me a bit out of the story. I guess, had the goo been walking, it would have been even worse so I’m not sure what my proposed solution would’ve been. 

• Raft & Pouch Explanation

• The explanation did not feel sufficient enough for me, after two years of wondering about it. However, it wasn’t bad. I wonder why the Sea monster didn’t attack Sauron? Did it recognize him? 

• There’s a moment on the raft where we see Halbrand looking at Galadriel quite evilly, which I don’t think we saw in season one. Charlie Vickers mentioned in an interview that whilst he was acting as Halbrand, he had many moments where the mask would slip while his character was off-camera and he would be acting moreso as Sauron. I wonder if this is what he meant? 

• Sauron’s Near-Repentance

• The most touching moments in this episode were the couple of times where Nicholas Woodeson’s Southlands character is offering Halbrand advice. I think it framed all of Halbrand’s character in season one in a really helpful way as well. He explains that goodness is something that must be chosen everyday until it becomes a part of your character; Halbrand seems to be someone who is still desiring goodness but doesn’t feel he has the strength to commit to it. To me, this is a perfect characterization for early Second Age Sauron. 

• A Decision about the Rings

• I did enjoy the discussion and debate amongst the Elves about what to do with the Rings. Elrond strongly advises that they should be advised, and Cirdan is initially in agreement. Galadriel is the most prideful of all the Noldor; Gil-galad is desperate to remain in Middle-earth so he’s willing to try anything. 

• Gil-galad’s moment where he goes AAAGHHHH after Galadriel’s confession was hilarious in a good way.

• “Because of you our enemy lives.” - Gil-galad 

• Galadriel was really so down bad for Halbrand and feels a lot of shame about it. Everyone is mad at her.

  • “I was deceived.” “No, Galadriel, you were blind, blinded by your own pride.”

• Galadriel refuses the possibility of the Rings’ corruption, perhaps because she is so afraid that she herself has been corrupted. 

• Ultimately the Rings put a half to the Elven fading… but at what cost? 

• The Lord of Mordor

• More Biblical references: “Let my people go.” - Halbrand (Moses)

• The moment in which the orcs laugh at Halbrand was a stunning, gorgeous, beautiful nod to the lore and I appreciate it so deeply. 

• Sauron commanding the warg was a great moment and I look forward to more of these illustrations of his power.

• I absolutely love the orc character Glug already. I have a feeling he’s going to play an important role. Glug is extremely concerned that Sauron might return, which will likely drive a wedge between him and Adar. 

• The orcs are unapologetically brutal, which they should be. 

• Adar’s monologue about how he was transformed by Sauron was beautiful. Halbrand seemed genuinely moved by the story in some way, as you can see him crying while he listens. 

• “In the eldest of the elder days. Thirteen of us were chosen to be blessed of Morgoth’s hand with the promise of power. A new birth. I was led up to a dark and nameless peak, chained and left. And after what seemed endless thirst and hunger I saw it: his servant’s face. Sauron’s face. And it was beautiful. He offered me wine, red as a blood moon. He offered me wine on that dark and nameless peak. I drank it all. Your people have been set free. Now tell me what you know of Sauron.” 

• Sauron’s manipulation of Adar is clever. I also see the beginning of Halbrand as the King of Men as he negotiated to secure their freedom. 

• I loved the moment when Halbrand has to bow with his head at Adar’s feet to vow allegiance. “I vow to serve the lord of Mordor to the end of my days, and his.” 

• I was sad to see Waldreg die so soon! We had such big hopes for him. 

• Círdan’s Perfection

• “Perfection exists only in Valinor.” - Círdan; though later Círdan calls the Three perfection. 

• Círdan is a character I didn’t have a very strong expectation for because he’s not someone I knew a lot about going into this season, but I feel the way they’ve done him is very stunning. Ben Daniels radiates wisdom. 

• Círdan has a moment where he is going to drop the Rings into the water but something splashes his boat and knocks him over so then he takes the Rings out of the bag and looks at them. He seems to be enamored by them. Is this divine intervention? 

• Elrond’s Desperation and Wisdom

• I can tell Elrond is going to be the stand-out character of this season. Where he was patient and diplomatic in season one, he is taking absolutely no shit in season two. His dialogue is stunning. You can see how deeply he senses the peril that all of Middle-earth is in, so he’s willing to resort to drastic measures to do what he thinks is right. 

• Elrond perceives that Galadriel has somehow become bound to Sauron through his deception. 

• “We chose this path together.” “No, you chose it for me.” - Elrond to Galadriel 

• “Or was the darkness calling to you?” - Elrond 

• Wandering Around in Rhûn 

• The Stranger wandering around in the desert really looks exactly like Jesus as depicted in the film, The Passion. It’s almost too much. 

• He continues to be unable to control his power, which to me is getting old. 

• The vision of the Staff seems to be a very strong hint that the Stranger is Gandalf. 

• The Dreaded Peter Jackson Dialogue Theft Returns: “We’re going in circles… Just admit it, we’re lost!” - Two Towers 

• The Poppy reunion was insufficient to me. I didn’t enjoy the way that the walking song was actually revealed as a special way to navigate this one random desert. 

• Mad Max: I love the guys with their weird masks who are following Nori, Poppy, and the Stranger. They’re very odd and don’t feel particularly Tolkienian, but I’m enjoying them nonetheless. 

• Eregion 

• At the end of the episode, we finally find our way to Eregion where Celebrimbor has just completed his new forge. He has heard no word from Lindon, despite Gil-galad’s message having been sent earlier in the episode. When Halbrand arrives, he seems happy to have a visitor though he knows he isn’t supposed to treat with him any longer. It was a short scene, but a good tease for episodes to come. 
  

• Episode One Thoughts:

  • Like with season one, this episode is a slow start to the season. I watched it first on my laptop and felt like it was a solid 7/10, and then I watched it later on my TV and enjoyed it a lot more. I would’ve loved to see this in a theater. Usually, I need a few rewatches to really sit with the story; I feel like The Rings of Power is meant to be savored rather than binged. 

  • Most of the good moments in this episode were spoiled by the official marketing so when I finally saw them in context I wasn’t quite as excited as I would’ve been otherwise. 

  • It would be difficult for anything to live up to the vision I’ve had two years to craft in my mind of how I’d have loved this show to go. At the end of the day, I think a second season is more difficult than a first because of this. I went into season one with no expectations so it was a blank slate, but I’ve spent two years dreaming of season two so it was a little hard to see my theories or vision amount to nothing. However, I have to remind myself that I’m ultimately here to see McPayne’s vision and I’m just along for the ride. I will continue to let them cook.