‘Rings of Power’ Season 2 Episode 6 Recap & Review: The Battle for Middle-earth Truly Begins

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 6.

War looms in Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 6. This week sees Sauron/Annatar’s (Charlie Vickers) plans together as new and unlikely alliances form. While Adar (Sam Hazeldine) holds Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) prisoner, The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) continues his journey to find his destiny and save Nori (Markella Kavenagh). Across the sea and below the mountains, Númenor and Khazad-dúm descend into turmoil as Elendil (Lloyd Owen) stands trial and King Durin III (Peter Mullan) falls deeper into his greed.

Celebrimbor Begins To Unravel in ‘Rings of Power’

Episode 6 begins with Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) running through the forest on his hunt for Adar. He comes across a group of Orcs fleeing Adar, and one of them jumps him. Arondir makes quick work of the batch and discovers one of them carrying a map of Eregion.

In Eregion, Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) struggles to create the nine rings of men. Frustrated, he yells at the smiths to get more Mithril. Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) confronts him about his growing agitation and says they are all working as hard as they can. The legendary smith goes to scold her but can’t remember her name. Annatar comes in and dismisses the Elves and warns Celebrimbor that he is getting too lost in his work. He tells Celebrimbor that his people wish to see him, but Celebrimbor refuses until he finishes the nine and asks Annatar to get more Mithril from the Dwarves. 

Annatar addresses the people of Eregion and tells them Celebrimbor has appointed him to take care of all matters. A guard shows him a body that came back from a scouting party with black speech carved into his chest that reads, “ Where is he.” Annatar orders them to bury him and tells Mirdania that all the smiths have been relieved of their duties. Annatar assures her that Celebrimbor must not be disturbed and appoints her to keep the other smiths in line.

‘Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 6 Introduces a Temporary Alliance Between Elves and Orcs

On the borders of the Elven city, Adar meets with Galadriel. He tells her how Sauron influences the minds of others, and she admits that she has been a victim of his influence as well. Adar offers her a chance to work together and reveals Morgoth’s crown, saying that with the crown and her ring, they can destroy Sauron once and for all. Her urges her to put aside her pride and leaves her to contemplate his proposal. 

In Númenor, Elendil stands trial for the insurrection at the site of the Faithful. Pharazǒn (Trystan Gravelle) spares him from death if he swears to him as Númenor’s true ruler and renounces his crimes. Elendil refuses to accept Pharazǒn’s offer, saying that Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) is the true queen and calls him a traitor. The guards take him away, and Lord Belzagar (Will Keen) suggests to Pharazǒn that the Valar should judge him.

The Stranger Finds His Destiny in Rhûn in Season 2, Episode 6

To the East, in the house of Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear), The Stranger has visions of Nori in trouble. He asks Eldest if these visions are things that will happen or just possibilities; he responds that the Secret Fire shows what will be, and The Stranger begs him to teach him how to use this power. Bombadil agrees to show him but if he fails his next trial, there will not be another one. 

Bombadil leads The Stranger through the valley and tells him his heart must be singularly dedicated to the service of the Secret Fire to find his staff. The Stranger looks out at the vast landscape and tells Tom he’s worried that Nori will die if he doesn’t find her soon. Tom says he has two paths and must choose between his destiny and his friends. He warns that if he turns away from his destiny, he can never return and will leave all of Middle-earth in peril. 

The Darkness in Khazad-dúm Grows

In the stone halls of Khazad-dǔm, Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) is called before his father and reveals that Annatar has come to see them. Annatar asks King Durin III for more Mithril in exchange for timber; the Prince urges his father to take a moment, but the King says he has already made up his mind and declines Annatar’s offer. Annatar sees a Balrog in the flame of a torch and accepts King Durin’s rejection, knowing that the ring is working his influence. 

Durin IV is relieved of his father’s decision, but the King assures him that he only did it because Eregion is desperate and will return with a better offer. He orders Narvi (Kevin Eldon) to double the digging efforts, and the Prince begs him to remove his ring, saying it has taken control of him. Durin III refuses, and IV tries to take it off by force, but using the ring’s power, he swats him away, sending his son flying across the room. Prince Durin IV then tells Disa (Sophia Nomvete) what happened, and she says they should put themselves in front of the mines and prove to people that the King has lost his way. Durin says this would humiliate his father, and he sobs in front of Elrond’s tree. 

Míriel Faces the Valar in ‘Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 6

Across the sea, Elendil sits in a cell, and Eärien (Ema Horvath) tells him that he will be cast out to sea to face trial by abyss and that they are calling the sea worm. Crying, she begs her father to swallow his pride and swear to Pharazǒn, but he says that if she thinks all of this is about pride, then there is nothing else to say. Eärien responds that Pharazǒn predicted he wouldn’t listen to her, and she brings in Míriel. 

Míriel orders him to bow to Pharazǒn, but Elendil says he must keep his honor and that if he betrayed it, he wouldn’t be the man she wants to save. Míriel sobs, but Elendil comforts her, saying that if the Valar wish to save him, then they will. At the trial, citizens of Númenor stand around as Pharazǒn orders Elendil to be judged by the Valar. The guards go to put Elendil in the water, but Míriel appears and demands that since his crime was committed in her name, she will face his punishment. Lord Belzagar confirms this to be true under the laws of Númenor, and Elendil begs for them to take him instead. 

Míriel tells Elendil that she must be the one to take the first steps in showing the path of the Faithful, and she goes into the water. The worm immediately pulls her down, and she comes face to face with the giant sea monster. The crowd above begins to lose hope, and Lord Belzagar starts to announce her failure when the monster launches her back to the surface. Elendil takes her hand and raises it in victory, and the people cheer her on as the Queen of the sea.

Adar and the Orcs Wage War

Back in Middle-earth, Rings of Power Season 2 continues with another meeting between Adar and Galadriel. She confirms to him that Halbrand is Sauron and that he is in Eregion, planning to make rings to enslave both Elves and Orcs. Adar unlocks her chains, and she tells him that Elrond has her ring and is on his way to Lindon to gather reinforcements. 

Adar says that the darkness has already infected the Elves and that now that Galadriel has revealed Sauron is in Eregion, they can begin their attack. Adar reveals his full force, and Galadriel realizes that Sauron has no army, planning everything so that Adar and his forces can fight the Elves for him. She pleads with him not to go because Sauron is deceiving him, but he has her taken away and begins the siege anyway.

Annatar Takes Control of Eregion in ‘The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power’ Season 2

Rings of Power continues inside the city, as Celebrimbor is busy working on the nine. He hears the alarm, but Annatar quickly comes in, saying everything is fine and urging him to stay and finish. Celebrimbor shoves him out of the way and says he will decide that for himself, but when he goes outside, it’s a beautiful day, and people are out enjoying the city. Annatar comes out reassuring him, and presents him with a new powdered form of Mithril from the Dwarves. 

Annatar tells Celebrimbor that the rings will be remembered as the most precious creations in all of Middle-earth and make the Silmarils a forgotten footnote. He presents Celebrimbor with Fëanor’s hammer and tells him to use it to finally best Fëanor and himself. Celebrimbor returns to his forge, and Annatar lifts his hands to reveal everything was an illusion and the city is in chaos. Citizens flee from Adar’s incoming forces, and Annatar smirks as he looks out over the city, welcoming the incoming rain of fire. 

‘Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 6 Review: War Is Coming To Eregion

Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 6 brings everything that’s been building this season to a head as the final two episodes of the season approach. Episode 6 does a great job building off of the intensity of Episode 5. Sauron’s powers are on full display for the first time with another incredible performance from Charlie Vickers, who, among a fantastic cast, carries the show. 

Vickers captures the nuances and intensity of Sauron incredibly well, making him feel like he stepped straight out of the pages of one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. The season so far has been a nonstop adventure with very few slow points, giving hope that the last two episodes will be an epic, action-packed conclusion to one of the best series this year.

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