‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 2 Recap & Review: A Deadly Alliance Forms

Warning: The following contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 2.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 returns with a new episode that takes us deeper into the lands of Middle-earth and uncovers new threats waiting for their opportunity. While Episode 1 primarily focuses on the Elves, the Dwarves take center stage in Episode 2.

The Rings of Power continues to keep the tension high as our heroes try to embrace this new power that has entered the fight and keep themselves true to the task at hand.

The Dwarves Enter the Fold in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 2

We begin this episode on a map of Mordor, seeing the darkness of the lands spreading to the surrounding areas and into Khazad-dǔm, the home of the Dwarves. Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) and Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete) shop through the market, and we learn that his father has cast out Durin and renounced his title as prince. As Disa urges Durin to go and talk to his father, an earthquake hits the misty mountains and begins to crumble pieces of the great stone halls of the Dwarves, shutting out their light from the outside and covering the caverns in darkness. 

As the Dwarves are locked away in their mountain, in Lindon, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) sits in front of the memorial to her brother Finrod and plants seeds from the now-blooming tree. The elf is then approached by Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), who tells her he has had an unexpected visitor; as the land behind him grows dark, the trees come to life and the branches stab him through the chest. Galadriel screams in horror.

She awakens to find that it is just a vision and that she is in a council meeting with Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) and the other Lindon soldiers to discuss Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) movements. She tells him that Sauron seeks to rule by binding the minds and will of all people of Middle-earth, and he cannot do that without Celebrimbor. Gil-galad ensures her that Eregion is safe behind its defenses and the stone walls of Khazad-dǔm.

A New Darkness Rises in the East

In Eregion, Celebrimbor denies Sauron entry, remembering his promise to Galadriel, and the elf sends his assistant (Amelia Kenworthy) to usher him away. Sauron refuses to leave and instead says he will wait until the lord of Eregion is ready to receive him. Celebrimbor says that word from Lindon should be coming any day now. Messengers of Gil-galad are then shown being killed in the woods on their way to Eregion and dragged away in chains. 

Bringing attention to the East, a new Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) and his Acolytes are introduced, including the three sorcerers from Season 1 who battled with The Stranger (Daniel Weyman). One of them informs the Wizard that Sauron has taken a new form, and his darkness grows. The Wizard asks for more information on The Stranger (The Istar) and brings forward the armored tracker we saw following him and Nori (Markella Kavenagh) in Episode 1. The tracker says he knows how to capture the Istar and will kill Nori and Poppy (Megan Richards) to get to him. 

The company makes camp but doesn’t rest long before the trackers arrive. They manage to hide themselves as the trackers search through their camp but cannot find them and leave to continue searching. After their harrowing escape, the group decides to take Poppy’s shortcut after all in hopes of avoiding the trackers.

Disa and the Stone Singers Attempt To Save Khazad-dǔm

In the darkness of Khazad-dǔm, Disa and the other stone singers meet with King Durin (Peter Mullan) to ask permission to try and clear the sun shafts. King Durin gives the stone singers his permission, and their voices ring out through the great caverns of Khazad-dǔm. Disa begins to get carried away by trying to move the stones, and they start to crumble further and shut out their last remaining light. 

Durin dismisses the court but Disa urges the King to end his feud with his son. Down in the mines, former Prince Durin works away with the other Dwarves in search of sunlight and gets into a fight. Later at dinner, Disa confesses that she is scared because she can’t hear the mountain anymore, but her husband assures her that Dwarves always find a way; the statement brings her little comfort.

Elrond Seeks Council in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 2

In the Grey Havens, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) is working in Círden’s (Ben Daniels) workshop on a ship when Galadriel comes to recruit him for her mission to Eregion. Elrond questions her true motives in asking him to come, and she confesses he was right. That Sauron used her, and because of it, she now may be susceptible to his will. He refuses to be involved in any aid to Sauron and asks Galadriel if their friendship ever truly meant anything to her. 

Elrond then meets with Círden, who appears younger since taking the ring. Elrond again urges against trusting the rings, but Círden argues that just because a thing may have come from darkness does not diminish its beauty. Círden then uses the ring to call a small school of fish to him and manipulates them. He says that Elrond is wise to fear the rings, but they must remain in the protection of the Elves and not let his fear blind him to the good they may be able to do, urging him not to abandon his friends.

The Stranger Unlocks His Power

As The Stranger and the Halflings continue on their path through the desert, they succumb to the fatigue of no food or water. Poppy finds a well, and she and Nori drag The Stranger to revive him, but when they retrieve the water, it activates a bell that rings through the deserted landscape. The water revives The Stranger, and the company takes a much-needed rest. The Stranger comes across a staff near the well similar to the one in his dreams, and the armored scouts show up after hearing the alarm.

The scouts attack the company, and The Stranger uses the staff to call a giant sandstorm and drive them off. The Stranger loses control over the storm, and the staff crumbles to ashes in his hand. The Istar goes to save the Halflings, but they are swept away into the desert. 

Elsewhere to the West, Celebrimbor finishes his latest work, Ithildin — a stone that shows writing under the moonlight. The proud smith shows it to his assistant and asks if Sauron is still out front. She informs him that he is and that the night grows colder as a storm comes in.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 2 Reveals Sauron’s New Form

Celebrimbor invites him in and Sauron tells him that the Elven rings worked and that the light of the Elves has been restored. Celebrimbor weeps with joy and pride in creating something as worthy as the Silmarils and capturing the light of Valinor again. Sauron reveals to Celebrimbor that there is much he wishes to tell him but is afraid, and the Elven smith assures him that whatever it is, he will listen to it as his friend. He admits that he did not come just to celebrate the victory of the Elves but to ask if Celebrimbor can make more rings for men. 

Celebrimbor says no and Sauron tells him he is not Halbrand and presents himself as an emissary of the Valar, who was sent to offer him guidance; he assures that the rings are the only hope for Middle-earth. Celebrimbor doesn’t immediately believe him, and Sauron uses his powers to swing open his office windows, dimming out all the lights and disappearing. 

The fire of his forge begins to rage, and Sauron’s voice can be heard echoing through it, promising Celebrimbor to unlock his greatest abilities. The Dark Lord appears from the fire of the forge in his fair and beautiful form and names him the lord of the rings. Celebrimbor looks at him in awe and bows before him. Sauron names himself Annatar, meaning giver of gifts, and together, they set out on their great work.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Episode 2 Continues To Impress

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 2 is an excellent follow-up to its spectacular series premiere. More players come into the fold and the path of Sauron as he continues to grow stronger. Charlie Vickers is an absolute powerhouse as the Dark Lord and steals every scene that he is in. Seeing his influence over Celebrimbor already taking its devastating hold is a rush to witness as it unfolds.

The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes releasing Thursdays. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.