“There must be a price”: The stars of the second season of “The Rings of Power” hint at how the plot of Khazad-dum will “shift and change” after the creation of the dwarven rings
The Rings of PowerOwain Arthur and Sophia Nomvete have hinted that the Dwarven Rings will cause discord throughout Khazad-dûm in Season 2.
The actors who play Prince Durin IV and Princess Disa in Amazon’s high fantasy prequel series sat down with me to talk all things dwarves before The Rings of Power Start of Season 2. My biggest question was, perhaps unsurprisingly, what effect the impending crafting of the Seven Rings for the Dwarven Lords would have on the duo, Durin’s father King Durin III (Peter Mullen), and their underground kingdom.
It sounds like they’ll prove just as divisive as the three Elven Rings, with the Dwarves’ immortal brothers taking a “great risk” by using said magical artifacts in Season 2. In fact, we only get a brief glimpse of the Dwarven Rings’ forging towards the end of Episode 2 of the second installment of the popular Prime Video series. However, given the differing opinions Durin IV and Disa have already expressed between themselves – and Sauron posing as Annatar in this season – it seems that the seeds of his disunity could spell danger for Khazad-dûm as a whole.
“He is suspicious of Annatar,” Arthur said of Durin IV after his first encounter with Sauron’s alias and Celebrimbor’s plan to make more rings. “Annatar mentions Elrond, which was a big mistake on his part, for he probably did not expect Durin to be so good friends with an Elf. That immediately lays the groundwork for suspicion.
“But when you hear about the Rings and the insidiousness of the plan, opinions are divided. Durin doesn’t see them as a quick fix (for Khazad-dûm’s problems), but some people really trust them, and others develop a craving for them. It’s like drug addiction in a way, because they seem to be able to cure problems, but that’s not the case with drug abuse, and certainly not here.”
The dilemma that Khazad-dûm presents is clear for all to see. As a byproduct of the creation of Mount Doom in Season 1, Episode 6, a powerful earthquake rocks The Lord of the Rings‘ famous Dwarven kingdom, destroying the race’s solar rays vital to Dwarven agriculture. As a result, their crops die and Khazad-dûm’s limited food reserves must be used to feed the population.
Oh, and let’s not forget that the two Durins became estranged after an explosive argument in Season 1, Episode 7. Oh, and then there’s the fact that Disa and her fellow resonators seem to have lost their ability to “sing” to the Mountain – another important part of Dwarven culture that helps them advance into new areas ripe for excavation. And that’s before we get to the appearance of the Balrog known as Durin’s Bane, who will surely attack the kingdom before the final episode of Season 2.
“Their opinions (about the rings) are constantly changing,” said Nomvete. “For Durin, it’s all just speculation, but Disa sees it through rose-tinted glasses because the dwarves are in crisis. This must be the answer, because it’s a magic pill that will solve everything. She’s lost her spark and pure part of herself because she can’t sing to the mountain. Although I believe her intentions come from love, she becomes desperate. She can feel the pain within the city walls, which drives her to make some somewhat questionable decisions.
“But they (the rings) are ultimately like a bandage on a wound or a patch over a crack. I think Disa discovers this later when she connects things with her voice. She thinks, ‘Wait a minute, it took me ages to develop this gift of resonating. These rings aren’t going to solve everything.’ There has to be cause and effect. There has to be a price, and she begins to sense that that price is not only high but also grim. Then there is a shift between Disa and Prince Durin, who begins to wonder why she is wavering in her faith in the rings.”
I’ll be bringing you more exclusives throughout the second season of one of the best Prime Video series, including more from my chat with Owain and Sophia. In the meantime, you can read our spoiler-free review of The Rings of Power Season 2 or check out more exclusives from my interviews with the showrunners and other cast members.
