Summary
Episode 4 shows the Tolkien flair of The Rings of Power. Some audiences will not appreciate it, but those deep in the lore will recognize a framework that further solidifies the storytelling.
Episode 4 is a strong transitionary chapter of The Rings of Power Season 2. While some purists will disagree, this chapter is strong with the framework and ideologies of Tolkien’s texts. Exploring Barrow-down, examining the broken genealogy of the hobbits, and introducing the famous novel character Tom Bombadil show that the people behind this series care about the universe, despite the discourse.
Here is my recap and analysis of The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 4, “Eldest.” For ease of reference, Sauron will be referred to in his current form throughout all the recaps. Also note that plot summaries will be unbolded, and commentary/analysis will be bolded.
Elrond Forms His Company For Eregion
With no word from Celebrimbor, as he did not receive the message warning him of Sauron, Elrond prepares his Company to visit Eregion. En route, the Company learns that the bridge to Eregion has been destroyed by lightning, and Galadriel raises how the destruction is the work of Sauron.
The Company has no choice but to go through the Hills of Tyrn Gorthad. Galadriel senses evil in the hill and a trap laid out by Sauron, but Elrond feels they have no choice but to adventure through it, given that it is evident at this point that Celebrimbor is with Sauron.
The differences in ideas and approaches between Galadriel and Elrond are ever-present in Episode 4. A great doubt etches on Elrond’s face every time he speaks to Galadriel. He rightfully maintains the leadership role because, in his mind, he is under no influence of Sauron or the rings, which he assumes are in the Dark Lord’s domain.
From an emotional perspective, it’s a sad phase of the story for Galadriel, who desperately wants companionship with her old friend Elrond.
Barrow-wights
Barrow-wights appear in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 4 (Credit – Prime Video)
Despite the tension between Galadriel and Elrond, the Company to Eregion ventures through the Barrow-downs through Tyrn Gorthad. They find the dispatch sent to Celebrimbor, confirming their suspicions — he never received the important message from High King Gil-Galad.
The Company has to fight off a swarm of Barrow-wights that are wraith-like creatures. At first, their weapons are useless, but then the Elves use the ancient blades buried by slain Men that are effective against them.
The introduction of Barrow-wights is another feature of The Ring of Powers, introducing more of J. R. R. Tolkien’s lore. However, the aftermath of this excursion is more interesting and fits into the repeating narrative of the first three episodes. Galadriel tells Elrond that her Ring, Nenya, is guiding, not deceiving. Season 2, Episode 4 sees the Galadriel we are accustomed to in the movies begin to manifest as she can see everything they have to lose and the painful sacrifices ahead.
Elrond promises her that he will do everything it takes to oppose Sauron, no matter what, even if it means compromising Galadriel. Elrond rightfully sees Galadriel’s relationship with her Ring. She’s protective of it. She’s attached to the power it holds.
The Introduction of Tom Bombadil
History is made as Tom Bombadil appears in ‘The Rings of Power’ (Credit – Prime Video)
I never thought that Tom Bombadil would appear in movies or on television. It has always felt like a preposterous idea. While his origin is famously discussed, he’s still an unspecified but beloved character by Tolkien.
In Episode 4, The Stranger encounters Tom Bombadil while searching for Nori and Poppy, whom he lost after battling with Brank.
In true Tom Bombadil-like fashion, The Stranger finds himself in an almost different realm as he points out the stars above him. The wind whispers his parchment to a particular branch of a tree named “Old Man Ironwood.” And, like the The Fellowship of the Ring book, the tree encloses and traps The Stranger.
Tom Bombadil frees The Stranger (and yes, we do get to hear his famous line “Hey Dol! Merry Dol!”), and in the background, in phases, we can hear Goldberry’s voice singing (though she is not present at this point, supporting this part of the lore).
The Stranger believes he was meant to encounter Tom Bombadil and teach him “magic.” Tom explains that he’s an Eldest and existed before the river and trees, highlighting the furthest we can examine his character and entity in the lore.
Tom Bombadil tells The Stranger that The Dark Wizard also wanted to learn “magic” but now controls Rhûn and seeks Sauron as his ally. He explains that The Stranger’s task is to face them both and defeat the darkness, or Middle Earth will be ruined.
Meanwhile, Brank updates the Dark Wizard about Istar (The Stranger) and his growing powers. He explains how he’s reached Tom Bombadil (he actually calls him a hermit). The Dark Wizard has a new plan; he asks Brank to find the Harfoots and intends to face The Stranger himself.
The introduction of Tom Bombadil is for the fans. It follows themes and narrative lines similar to those in the books. Instead of the hobbits encountering them in that fashion, it’s The Stranger. It’s a clever tie-in for those who have always wondered how Tom can fit into the universe. As Episode 4 establishes, he will always be an Easter Egg, a novelty, a light point of reference.
Poppy and Nori Encounter The Stoors
Season 2 introduces The Stoors, one of the three breeds of Hobbits (Credit – Prime Video)
Poppy and Nori are also lost and trying to find The Stranger. After bumping into another “Harfoot” called Merimac (who calls himself a “Nobody”), they travel to a nearby village with more people similar to their race. They call themselves “Stoors” (one of the three breeds of Hobbits), and their leader is called The Gund.
The Gund is not happy that Merimac has let Poppy and Nori into the village, and the villagers do not appear to understand that they are of the same race. Nori is bemused that they are essentially “Harfoots living in holes.”
Nori speaks too much of her circumstances and explains that she’s helping a wizard find their purpose. But The Gund only knows of the Dark Wizard, so the Stoors tie Poppy and Nori up, ready to be cast out.
But before they are thrown out, The Gund learns that Sadoc was Nori and Poppy’s leader, and suddenly becomes curious and shows them a map of Suzat, explaining the fable of Romiras Burrows. But, in a moment of sadness, Nori tells The Gund that her Caravan of Harfoots kept wandering — they do not have a home.
Before the history of Hobbits can be explored further, Brank arrives and asks The Gund the whereabouts of the Harfoots, but she acts like she’s unaware of who they are.
Like the Barrow-wights, this segment of Season 2, Episode 4 delves into the framework of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. While many will argue that we are dealing with non-canon characters and storytelling that is not present in the texts, the makeup and design of Middle Earth still exist in good faith.
The Hobbits had lost the genealogical details of how they were related to the “Big People.” So, Episode 4 demonstrates that there were many Hobbit groups with thousands of years of segmentation and fractured communities. Their entire way of life, socially, environmentally, and in the set-up of families, was varied.
The Search For Theo Leads To Questions On Estrid
Episode 4 establishes that Estrid is not who she presents herself as to Isildur. She’s desperately trying to remove Adar’s mark off the back of her neck.
Isildur, Arondir, and Estrid are determined to find Theo, and they gather with the Southlanders to discuss what they should do next.
As Estrid and Isildur start to bond more, Arondir becomes suspicious of Estrid and notices the wound on the back of her neck—a self-burn to hide the mark of Adar. And so, believing that Estrid knows more than she lets on, he asks her to lead them to the wildmen, hoping to find Theo.
Isildur is initially dismayed that Estrid deceived him, but she argues that she was facing death in Mordor.
Arondir senses that Men did not take Theo, and he’s right. Episode 4 reveals that he is imprisoned on a large tree with wildmen—the trees groan as the introduction of Ents nears.
En route to find Theo, Isildur gets stuck in sinking mud, along with Arondir, who tries to help him. Estrid is left to help them both and is faced with a “mud monster” (the best way to describe it), which Arondir and Isildur slay.
At this point, Arondr and Isildur free Estrid from the manacles, feeling she has done enough to gain their trust, but then she raises her sword to them — she’s afraid of Men casting her out, but Isildur promises her that it will not happen.
The foreshadowing for Isildur strengthens in Season 2, Episode 4. The sinking swamp mud highlights his demise in the future when he drowns with the One Ring. His anger towards Estrid for being in allegiance with Adar in Mordor foreshadows his connection with the One Ring, which becomes his bane while in Mordor. He insists that men will not cast out Estrid, forecasting his leadership over Men and the ability to cast rules over his domain.
The Introduction of Ents
Winterbloom the Ent is introduced in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 4 (Credit – Prime Video)
The search for Theo concludes with the introduction of the Ents, with Winterbloom (an Entwife — note: Ents are struggling to find their female counterparts by the third age) attacking Estrid. Another Ent, Snaggleroot, joins Winterbloom.
The narrative framework continues from Tolkien’s texts. Ents are angry at Orcs and other races for their continued violent actions towards the trees. Ents spend their time in stewardship, looking after the woods. There’s plenty of grieving on display in this scene, as the plight of trees has taken its toll.
Arondir admits he has used an ax on trees before, but he touches Winterbloom softly and asks for forgiveness for the pain caused. In return, she holds his hand and explains that forgiveness takes an age.
Arondir makes a unique promise: He will bring peace to the woods they claim stewardship over.
Ents have always been a heartwarming addition to Middle Earth, representing Tolkien’s love for nature and his belief in preserving it. The Rings of Power brings a strong narrative of a similar belief system—the unnecessary culling of trees and the pain it causes for the stewards.
Theo Is Found
The introduction of Ents leads to Theo being freed from the enormous tree in which he was imprisoned. Winterbloom frees Theo to exemplify their understanding of peace.
But this moment is an opportunity for Theo and Arondir to make amends with each other after the sad death of Bronwyn. Arondir tells Theo that he saved him because he promised his mother to keep him safe, but now, he must fulfill his promise to Winterbloom. He calls Theo the “Lord of Pelargir,” insinuating that Theo will have some domain he controls in the Old Númenorean.
This part of the episode concludes with Isildur and Estrid nearly kissing, but Estrid’s betrothed Hagen shows up, introducing a tangled love triangle for Isildur.
It would have been unfortunate if Theo and Arondir had not healed their relationship before the next phase of their stories. It would have tarnished Bronwyn’s legacy somewhat, considering her pivotal role in Season 1.
Adar Captures Galadriel
The final moments of Season 2, Episode 4 are “out of the frying pan into the fire” for Elrond’s Company and Galadriel. As they venture to the end of Barrow-downs, they witness Adar’s army gathering in thousands through the parting of the woods. The army is heading to Eregion, prompting a discussion of whether there’s an alliance with Sauron.
One of the elves is hit with a stray arrow as some Orcs gather in the woods, but Galadriel heals her companion with her Ring.
With the Company in danger from the surrounding Orcs and their mission to Eregion changing drastically with this new scenario, Galadriel tells Elrond to head back to Lindon to warn High King Gil-Galad of the Adar’s Orc army heading to Eregion while she distracts the group of Orcs nearby.
This brings impressive scenes of Galadriel facing a group of Orcs alone, showing the skills of an elf in combat, which we’ve seen in the movies (Legolas) and Season 1. Before this, she hands her Ring to Elrond and tells him to keep it safe.
An elf in her Company is surprised that Galadriel has decided to protect them by fighting the Orcs alone. Elrond is skeptical, knowing Galadriel is only protecting the Ring, not them.
But Galadriel runs out of luck, as the Orcs capture her, and Season 2, Episode 4 ends with Adar confronting her.
As stated above, Elrond believes that the Ring undermines Galadriel. However, if Galadriel willingly gave up the Ring, temporarily, to Elrond, then this suggests that it does not have an evil influence. Of course, as the audience, we know Sauron’s influence does not impact these rings, but from the perspective of Elrond, this confirms that Galadriel can part with her elven Ring.
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