This article from the Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), Season 2, Episode 1 contains significant spoilers.

While The Rings of Power started slowly in the first season, you can be sure that it will do well in the second. The Prime Video series gets off to a spectacular start as we learn the origin story of how the current version of Sauron (Charlie Vickers) met Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) on that broken piece of ship in the middle of the sea.

The events take place before Season 1, where we meet the older version of Sauron (played by Jack Lowden) telling Adar (Sam Hazeldine, taking over the role of Joseph Mawle) and the Orcs that they will rule over everyone instead of exterminating them. When Sauron kneels down so Adar can place the Iron Crown on his head, Adar turns her around and stabs Sauron in the back with her sharp spikes.

In a thrilling scene, Lowden’s Sauron admirably fends off dozens of murderous Orcs until he succumbs to multiple stab wounds, his Morgul blood dripping into the deepest crevices of Forodwaith. When Adar kicks Sauron to make sure he is dead, Sauron awakens and bright blue energy shoots out of him, chilling the region. Adar awakens and it appears the Orcs are dead.

Prime Video The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Explanation of the end of season 2, episode 1: How does Sauron escape?

Sauron escapes by climbing out of the depths of Forodwaith and rolling around like a lump of tar. He harnesses his boneless lump to a cart and takes over the woman who drives it. Then Vickers’ Sauron takes shape and we learn how he ended up on the ship in the sea, which was attacked by a sea monster.

At that moment, Sauron grabs the bag containing the older man’s brand, which is stuck under a piece of futtock. Sauron floats in the water, staring at the insidious sea monster, which turns away. Sauron returns to a piece of the broken ship, which he uses as a raft. The next day, he meets Galadriel, who is swimming back to Middle Earth, where they met last season.

Meanwhile, Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) summons Galadriel, who immediately accuses Elrond (Robert Aramayo) of keeping the three rings that can save her people. She tells the High King that Halbrand is Sauron and has fled. Gil-galad demands that Elrond give him the rings, but he refuses, knowing that they must be destroyed. He jumps into one of Lothlórien’s majestic waterfalls.

Who does Elrond give the rings to?

Elrond gives the three remaining Rings to Círdan, the Shipwright, or, as some call him, the Elf with the Grey Beard. (Most would call him the Sam Elliott of the Elves if they had seen A star is born.) While Círdan tells Elrond that the age of the Elves will be over if they destroy the rings, Elrond tells him something ominous – we do not know what Sauron plans to do with these rings.

Círdan thinks about it and tells him where to dispose of the items. They then hear Gil-Galad and his men arrive with Galadriel, who asks the High King if she can speak to Elrond first. They both disagree and argue about why each thinks they are right. She then realizes that Círdan is gone and we see him sailing on open waters to an unknown destination.

What is “The Walking Song”?

Meanwhile, the Stranger (Daniel Weyman, we think it’s Gandalf, right?) and Nori (Markella Kavenagh) are stranded in a desert. They have nothing to eat, but the wizard is able to create beetles from a tree to feed themselves. They both hear someone coming, which turns out to be Poppy (Megan Richards). She has a map from her ancestors that has the lyrics of “The Walking Song” on it.

The Walking Song appears in the third chapter of The Lord of the Rings. According to Tolkien Gateway, this poem is a “song that hobbits hummed, especially when they went home at night.” They use the map and the song to reach the land of Rhûn, a vast region in the far east of Middle-earth.

The trio are unaware that someone is watching them – on horses in armor and metal masks, with one eye on the saddle. The Rings of PowerCould these be the people known as “Easterlings”?

How does Waldreg die?

We don’t see Waldreg die, but we can assume he was killed by a vicious wolf-like creature called a “warg” by the Orcs. Sauron turns himself in and returns to Mordor, where he must swear fealty to Adar. However, he does so under the pretense of being Halbrand, the rightful king of the Southlands. When he arrives, Waldreg tells Halbrand that he must swear fealty to him.

He refuses. While chained in a cell, Waldreg taunts him. Afterward, Sauron befriends the warg. Later, Adar tells Halbrand that he knows he is Sauron, but Sauron claims that he has a relationship with the elves and can undermine them. Adar makes Sauron swear fealty to him, and Sauron is released. Moments later, Waldreg finds the warg’s chains, turns around, and hears screams.

Prime Video The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 1 ending explained: Why doesn’t Círdan destroy the rings?

Círdan is about to drop the rings to the bottom of the dark water when he is jostled and shaken. (Was it perhaps the sea monster that Sauron came face to face with in the flashback?) When he picks up the bag, it is open and the seductive power of these objects overwhelms him. Later, when the High King announces that the Elves must leave Middle Earth, Círdan arrives.

He wears the Ring of Fire and tells Gil-galad, “This is true power.” He gives him the other two, and Nenya, the Ring of Water, bounces off his hand and lands at Galadriel’s feet. Despite Elrond’s (Robert Aramayo) objections, she puts it on her finger. This leaves the High King with Vilya, the Ring of Air. This restores the light of the Eldar and allows the Elves to remain in Middle Earth.

Who arrives at Celebrimbor’s door?

The Rings of Power The season two premiere ends with Celebrimbor being told that a visitor from the Southlands is at his door. This surprises the master craftsman. It turns out that the visitor is Sauron, who we last saw menacingly approaching the gate.

You can stream the new season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” exclusively on Prime Video.

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