Summary
The Rings of Power grows more confident in the Second Age of Middle Earth as Annatar’s (Sauron) influence takes shape.
There are many defining episodes in The Rings of Power, and Season 2, Episode 5, joins a growing list of important chapters. With Sauron’s influence growing as Annatar, Lord of Gifts, all races of Middle Earth face a growing dark threat. This episode articulates the ever-increasing threat, with the dwarves now burdened by their rings and Celebrimbor debating whether to create Nine Rings for Mortal Men with Annatar.
Here is my recap and analysis of The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5, “Halls of Stone.” 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.
Table of Contents
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone
It’s established at the start of Season 2, Episode 5, “Halls of Stone,” that the Seven Dwarven Rings have been forged, despite the concerns raised by Prince Durin IV. King Durin III used his ring to guide where to dig in the mountains, which were still unstable, with the sun shafts still collapsed, meaning no light could come through.
The guidance of King Durin’s ring works, and sunlight comes through again. Khazad-dûm returns to its previous glory, and the dwarves are understandably delighted.
As the audience, we know that the healing of Khazad-dûm comes with a cost. A ring gifted from evil is not a solution, and King Durin III uses dark power to avoid the fate of the Dwarf realm.
The consequences of using the ring are starting to develop. When Princess Disa chases the crystal tuner she dropped and looks for it in a dark mine, she hears a loud creature in the distance, presumably a Balrog, which has been awakened due to the digging of the mithril.
Episode 5 proves that Sauron’s influence is spreading quickly, as King Durin gathers noble Dwarves and introduces them to the power of the Seven Dwarven Rings. He tells them to return to their realms and present each ring to their masters.
But King Durin does not stop them. He asks his dwarves to dig deeper for gold, going against his own rules and ignoring his son’s warning of an ancient, powerful evil beneath them. In a telling moment, representing the experiences of Gollum, Bilbo, and Frodo, he forgets that his ring is not on his finger and becomes frustrated for a brief moment.
Parallels are drawn between the moments we have witnessed in the Peter Jackson films and now in The Rings of Power. A ring, influenced by Sauron, takes over an individual’s mind and heart. King Durin III is already lost in the power he has with his Dwarven ring, which Prince Durin III and Princess Disa notice quickly.
But also notice the difference between Dwarven Rings and the Elven Rings; how Galadriel could freely give up her ring to Elrond. The lack of Sauron’s influence is a determining factor.
Annatar Slowly Destroys Celebrimbor’s Mind, Diminishing Who He Once Was
“Halls of Stone” shows a brief celebration between Dwarves and Elves. They celebrate their friendship after the success of the forging of the Seven Dwarven Rings. Dwarf Narvi unveils a gift for the Elves: the Doors of Durin, the west gate of the mountains, with a “password only for friends”; the door is only visible by moonlight.
Place your minds back to the book and movie of The Fellowship of the Ring when Gandalf could not work out the riddle to enter the Mines of Moria: “Speak Friend and Enter.”
The Doors of Durin is one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beautiful illustrations.
Doors of Durin by J.R.R. Tolkien
However, Episode 5 of Season 2 is sad to watch as Annatar invades Celebrimbor’s mind, diminishing his soul little by little. He tells the great Elven Smith that he’s unhappy with him for not keeping celebrations short and turns the conversation back to forging the Nine Rings for Mortal Men, fearing Númenor will fall to ruin. He insists that some Men can be trusted, and the rings can be given to those with the noblest and purest hearts, making up for nine mortal lands.
Celebrimbor declines Annatar’s idea, so Annatar tells him he’ll make the rings himself.
Celebrimbor is far too under Sauron’s influence and darkness, which is why his mind is confused and in turmoil. But, interestingly, in this scene, he recognizes that Annatar plants ideas in people’s minds and makes them believe it is their idea. There’s a small part of him left that has the agency to understand that Annatar is not who he says he is.
And, like Sauron, who presented himself as Annatar, Lord of Gifts, in a religious-like ascension in Episode 2, in Episode 5, he conjures strange evil spiritual occurrences around the forge, spooking the Elven Smiths, including Mirdania.
Mirdania explains that during the strange events that surrounded the forge, she was shrouded in darkness, and she saw a figure made of flames that reeked of death. She believes that figure is amongst them. An image we have become accustomed to – Mirdania saw Sauron’s true form:
Sauron’s Form, as shown in Peter Jackon’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy, which Mirdania describes in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 5.
Annatar then manipulates Mirdania, but softly, by calming her down. He explains to Celebrimbor that a ring was made when the forge acted strangely, and during the process, they added more mithril than the usual design to “make it less corruptible” for Men. Celebrimbor is shocked at them trying to use more mithril without his guidance, knowing it will not work. Annatar is seeking Celebrimbor’s advice to reel him back into making rings.
Annatar is at the height of his manipulation and trickery. He slyly weaves himself in and out of conversations to get the outcome he wants. Like he did to Galadriel, he has managed to enter their minds to get the outcome that he wants. His evil influence is becoming more noticeable with each chapter passing, but it’s a tragic story. It’s not meant to be pleasant for the audience.
Prince Durin’s Warning About The Dwarven Rings
Prince Durin IV has the same intuition as his Elven friend, Elrond. He does not trust the rings. He visits Celebrimbor and highlights how his father, King Durin, has changed since wearing his ring; he’s gotten colder. He raises suspicions about Annatar.
Durin tries to warn his father about the rings, explaining how there’s devilry in them, but King Durin is far too gone; he praises his son for saving the Kingdom by partnering with the elves, and he gives him back the title of “Prince“, which he took away from him in Season 1.
Princess Disa is so alarmed at the rings’ introduction to Middle Earth that she asks her husband, Durin, not to wear one, ever.
From a lore perspective, I’m happy that the people behind The Rings of Power have included characters who sensed the evil of Annatar and the rings. This phase of Tolkien’s universe is crucially important, and there is a need to preempt the warnings that came before Sauron ruled. Complacency has been a key factor since Galadriel was ordered to stop looking for Sauron.
The story’s stance, which makes it even more tragic, is that The Rings of Power were avoidable. This makes the inevitable events in the storytelling more painful to watch.
King Durin III has already lost himself to his Dwarven Ring in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 5 (Credit – Prime Video)
Celebrimbor Announces That The Nine Rings For Mortal Men Must Be Made
While Prince Durin warns Celebrimbor, Annatar continues to influence Mirdania’s thoughts, telling her that Lord Celebrimbor is diminished and vulnerable to the shadow, which started the strange occurrences at the forge due to the creation of the rings. He tells her to stay quiet on this, coupling this with flattery; he calls her brave and says she resembles Lady Galadriel.
The compliment offered by Annatar to Mirdania may feel like a quick one to make, but it actually has significance. As Tolkien described Galadriel, she was “the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that remained in Middle-earth.”
It is an honor for Mirdania to receive this compliment and to be compared at an equal level with someone born in Valinor, part of the House of Finwë, and the brother of Finrod. Annatar knows what he’s doing, and we’ve seen it before.
Annatar provided a similar compliment to Celebrimbor, feeding off his arrogance and stating that being the Lord of the Rings would put him on equal footing with Fëanor, whom he descends from and who created the Silmarils.
Reporting back from Durin, Celebrimbor tells Annatar and Mirdania that there’s something wrong with the Dwarven Rings and insists they must have been altered.
In another audacious and manipulative moment that is hard to see coming, Annatar tells Celebrimbor that they both altered the make-up and design of the rings because they are not just made with craft but spirit, too. He explains that the Elven Rings were made in good faith, but the Dwarven Rings were created with deceit because Celebrimbor forged them with a lie when he told High King Gil-Galad that no more would be made.
Annatar gives Celebrimbor two options: confess to the High King, or continue making the rings and find a balance.
Celebrimbor takes another tact, forgetting that he suspected earlier that Annatar plants ideas in people’s minds, and he tells his elves that they have failed and must perfect the rest of the rings. The plan is that the Nine Rings for Mortal Men will bring balance to the project and redeem the Seven Dwarven Rings. He demands that they work night and day until it is done. In the distance, Adar’s army moves closer to Eregion.
Celebrimbor has completely lost himself to Sauron’s darkness. His mind torments him, and he cannot differentiate between his thoughts and the ones given to him by Annatar.
Ar-Pharazôn’s Rule Over Númenor Takes Shape With Violent Consequences
Pharazôn is now the King of Númenor after The Great Eagle supposedly decided the succession, so the fall of the Kingdom is in play, and his early days as ruler are having fatal consequences. Despite having The Scepter, Pharazôn wants more than just being King. Despite criticisms and omens attached to Míriel using the palantír, he uses it himself.
Queen-regent Tar-Míriel is dismayed by recent events, but Elendil remains loyal to her. He tells her that when he looked into the palantír, he was lost, riding from an unspecified city. Míriel wonders if Pharazôn rule of Númenor means a change of path, and they will not fall. She tells Elendil to ensure Númenor’s new destiny takes shape.
Meanwhile, anyone loyal to the Queen-regent is stripped of rank, commanded by Eärien, Elendil’s daughter and Isildur’s brother. However, the change of power is being resisted, and soldiers, including Valandil, still respect Elendil’s lead as captain.
The King also condemns the use of the oldest shrine in Númenor, ordered by Kemen, and he breaks an important relic in front of the High Priest. Elendil punches Kemen, and a fight breaks out; Kemen tries drowning Valandil, but Elendil stops him.
But Valandil’s mercy is used against him as Kemen kills him with his sword and then uses the shrine water to clean his sword.
Season 2, Episode 5 follows the foundational principle of the movies, spoken by Galadriel: “The hearts of Men are easily corrupted.” While the Fall of Númenor seems too seismic at this point, it’s easy to assess how quickly the mood and tone of the Kingdom changed after a single succession with Ar-Pharazôn’s Rule. Middle Earth is moving towards an imbalance of Dark and Light, and Númenor’s fall is a defining part of the Second Age.
Ar-Pharazôn using the palantír (Credit – Prime Video)
Adar Wants To Ally With Galadriel
High King Gil-Galad receives a letter from Celebrimbor, in which he lies and explains that the forge has been taken down after the success of the Three Elven Rings. This leaves Gil-Galad in a precarious position: he either directs his legions to Eregion or Mordor, depending on whether he believes Celebrimbor’s letter.
Elrond has made it back to the High King and tells him that Adar’s large army is heading to Eregion, and they must fight them. But Gil-Galad raises the issue of how they cannot defeat Sauron and Adar alone.
Meanwhile, Galadriel is released from her imprisonment in Adar’s Orc army. Adar tells her that he wants to ally with a common enemy (Sauron).
The ending of The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5 is a defining junction in the series; the Dwarven Rings are on the way to their masters, Annatar and Celebrimbor are creating the Nine Rings for Mortal Men, and the Elves have a decision to make over Eregion and Mordor.
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