As an old Elven scholar who has spent countless centuries observing the ebb and flow of Middle-earth’s history, I must say that the current events unfolding before us are nothing short of extraordinary. The Second Age, a time of great turmoil, is shaping up to be a period of profound change, much like the turning of leaves in Lothlórien heralding the arrival of winter.
“The ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy is a complex narrative that follows Dwarves, Hobbits, Elves, and Men across an extensive continent over several months. This intricate tale demands a substantial amount of screen time to unfold. Conversely, the Amazon Prime series ‘The Rings of Power’ presents a more intricate web of characters in various locations spanning a longer duration of time. Despite maintaining some similarities with J.R.R. Tolkien’s original work, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have made adjustments by compressing and modifying the author’s timeline.
As a dedicated gamer, diving into these first two seasons has been an immersive experience, totaling 16 episodes that have kept me hooked for hours on end. Yet, with five seasons planned out by the showrunners for their storyline, it’s not just the abundance of content but also the numerous canon shifts they introduce that are starting to make the first two seasons a bit of a mind-bending journey to keep up with!
If you’re seeking a concise, straightforward summary to catch up (or gain a new understanding) on the events affecting various groups and individuals in Middle-earth so far, you’ve landed at the perfect spot! Let us walk through a condensed timeline of the six distinct peoples from the series thus far, accompanied by a recap of Gandalf and Sauron’s adventures leading up to this juncture.
The Elves of Lindon and Eregion
At the start of the story, elves from Lindon govern an expansive kingdom covering much of northwestern Middle-earth. The region of Eregion is likewise under the leadership of Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), although it maintains allegiance to Lindon and their high king Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker). In the first season, elves come to realize that they are gradually disappearing, and the deterioration of their bodies forces them to depart from Middle-earth.
Luckily, they found out that a powerful metal known as mithril could halt this fading process. When crafted into rings, its effect was intensified. Celebrimbor, with the assistance of a king from the Southlands named Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), whom Galadriel encountered during her explorations across Middle-earth in search of the Dark Lord Sauron, created three such rings.
In Season 2, as the Elven Rings of Power work tirelessly to uphold the eternal existence of our kin, Celebrimbor and Halbrand, who I’ve come to understand is Annatar (though it’s more complex than that), begin forging additional Rings of Power. The first seven are destined for the Dwarves, while the next nine are intended for Mortal Men. However, as we later learn, Annatar is none other than the Dark Lord himself, Sauron.
The Dwarves of Khazad-dûm
In the series “The Rings of Power”, the Dwarves are flourishing at the outset. They reside within Khazad-dûm, their grand subterranean dwelling nestled in the Misty Mountains. Their leader, King Durin III (Peter Mullan), governs them, and his son, Durin IV (Owain Arthur), acts as his trusted advisor. The first season primarily delves into exploring Dwarven society and the reunion of Durin IV with Elrond following a prolonged separation. Elrond persuades his companion to dispatch mithril to aid their kin, but as the Dwarves search for this valuable metal, they inadvertently stir a Balrog.
In the second season, the Dwarves play a larger role in the narrative. They engage with the elves from Eregion, join forces to construct the formidable Doors of Durin, and are granted the Seven Rings of Power by the Seven Dwarven clans. However, one of these rings corrupts Durin III’s mind, leading him to pursue treasure recklessly. This ultimately results in his fatal encounter with a Balrog during combat. Throughout this period, the Balrog’s underground rumblings have been disrupting the tranquility and causing problems in the once peaceful kingdom of Khazad-dûm.
Towards the close of the season, a troop of Dwarves depart to aid Elrond’s forces in their escape from the siege of Eregion. They manage to accomplish this task, but by the end of the season, their king, Durin IV, has perished. His unnamed brother, who will later be revealed, is vying for power. Moreover, the Dwarves are conscious that a live Balrog is posing a significant threat to their very existence, undermining the foundations of their society.
Númenor across the sea
The story of the blessed Human nation of Númenor through two seasons is one of political strife and military bloody noses. In Season 1, Galadriel discovers the island nation while at sea and convinces its Queen regent, Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), to help her save the Southlands of Middle-earth from a looming attack of Orcs. The Númenóreans send a relief force, and the tiny group of a few hundred horsemen is initially successful. However, they are overwhelmed when the nearby mountain of Orodruin erupts, creating Mordor.
In the second season, following their return to the island, the remaining Númenóreans discover that their old ruler, Tar-Palantir, has passed away. This leaves a power void, leading to conflicts on the island. The group known as The Faithful, who uphold ancient Elvish alliances, rally behind Míriel, while The King’s Men, an anti-Elvish coalition, support her cousin, Ar-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle). Eventually, Ar-Pharazôn seizes the throne. When Elendil, a devoted military hero and friend of Míriel, is falsely accused of treason, she bravely confronts a sea monster instead. After passing the test, it seems Míriel is poised to regain her power. However, Ar-Pharazôn takes action. As Elendil escapes the city, Ar-Pharazôn and his forces overthrow The Faithful, take control of the government, and initiate colonization missions aimed at Middle-earth.
Halflings
In the Second Age of Middle-earth, the Hobbits are non-existent. Instead, we encounter their ancestors, either two out of the three tribes, namely the Harfoots and the Stoors. The Harfoots receive significant attention in Season 1 as they traverse fertile lands east of the Misty Mountains and south of Mirkwood. Their tranquil existence is shattered when an enigmatic character (played by Daniel Weyman), possessing extraordinary abilities, falls from the sky in a crater-like impact near their settlement. They welcome him, but his arrival seems to attract adversaries – three sorceresses who menace them, eventually burning their temporary dwellings. However, these sinister figures are ultimately vanquished by the newcomer’s magical prowess.
In Season 2, the Harfoots find themselves reconstructing their existence as Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards), two members of their kind, journey eastward with the Mysterious Traveler. Along the way, they stumble upon a different band of Halflings known as the Stoors. These people dwell in perpetual burrows called smials, and when a Dark Wizard brings devastation to their lives, they follow Nori westwards, possibly seeking refuge with the Harfoots – which could be the Fallohides, a third group of early Hobbit-like beings penned by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Adar, the Orcs, and the Southlanders
J.R.R. Tolkien introduced non-Númenórean Men inhabiting Middle-earth, and these groups, though not officially named as Southlanders, are depicted as such in the show. The Southlanders are the offspring of warriors who originally battled against Morgoth, the ancient Dark Lord and Sauron’s overlord. In the first season, we see the Southlanders struggling in their native lands, under the watchful eyes of Elvish guardians.
As a gamer, I find myself thrust into a world where my character is one of the Southlanders. A relentless horde of displaced Orcs, under the command of their charismatic leader, Adar – who serves as both captain and father figure – are on the hunt for a new homeland. The tension builds as some among us stand firm against these attackers, while others find themselves drawn to their cause.
In Season 2, Adar suspects that Sauron might be concealed within Eregion, prompting him to rally his offspring for a conflict against Celebrimbor’s followers. During the siege on this city, the Orcs emerged victorious, but Adar met his end and Sauron seized control of the army. This ominous faction now finds itself under the command of a malevolent Dark Lord with ambitions to dominate all of Middle-earth as we transition into Season 3.
The Stranger/Istar/Gandalf
At the finale of “The Rings of Power”, a meteor streaks eastward from the far-off Undying Lands in the West of Middle-earth. Upon landing, we encounter a mysterious man with a beard, unaware of his own identity or origin. He’s welcomed by a local Harfoot community and befriends one named Nori. As they explore, they uncover that this stranger is an Istar, a divine race manifested in bodily form.
In Season 2, the mysterious figure known as The Stranger and Nori venture to Rhûn. There, they encounter a puzzling character named Tom Bombadil, portrayed by Rory Kinnear. Cheerful Tom aids The Stranger in understanding his identity and accepting his mission to confront a sinister Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) as well as the re-emerging Dark Lord Sauron.
The Dark Lord Sauron
During the Second Age, Sauron, previously known as the Dark Lord, experiences significant growth and independence as he breaks free from the control of the original Dark Lord, Morgoth. With his freshly gained freedom, Sauron attempts to dominate other creatures, particularly Orcs under Adar’s leadership. However, these Orcs betray him, causing irreparable harm to Sauron’s physical form. As a result, Sauron assumes a new identity – Halbrand. He invents a backstory that paints him as a deposed king from the Southlands, and it is in this guise that he encounters Galadriel after a shipwreck at sea.
As a gamer immersed in this world, I set sail for the enchanting island of Númenor (fear not, I’ll return), only to find myself caught up in the Southlanders’ fierce battle against Adar’s Uruk offspring, sustaining wounds along the way. With the rise of Mordor, my journey takes a turn as I join forces with Galadriel and journey to Eregion. Here, I forge a friendship with Celebrimbor and lend a hand in crafting the Three Elven Rings of Power.
The second season finds Halbrand assuming the guise of Annatar, the divine emissary, aiding the Free Folk of Middle-earth. Utilizing this benevolent appearance, he deceives Celebrimbor into crafting seven Rings for Dwarves and subsequently nine for Men. By the close of these events, Sauron is compelled to discard his disguise, yet not before enticing Adar’s troops to assault Eregion and compelling Celebrimbor to finish the Nine Rings. As the season concludes, Halbrand slays Celebrimbor in a single duel, overpowers Galadriel, reclaims the Nine Rings, eliminates Adar, and assumes command of his forces. This leaves him in an unrivaled position of power as Season 3 unfolds.
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2024-10-29 21:00