The Rings of Power episode 7 – The Eye – has landed on Prime Video. The penultimate entry within the excessive fantasy sequence’s first season is not as action-packed or dramatically explosive as its predecessor, aka Udûn. Nevertheless, that does not imply it is a pointless entry in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV present. In reality, The Eye is arguably extra revelatory than Udûn, with main lore reveals that reference J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary novels becoming a trend.
Fortunately, The Rings of Power’s showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, in addition to the present’s solid, have been readily available to speak to us via episode 7’s greatest reveals. Not solely that, however in addition they tease how these discoveries will affect the Prime Video present’s season 1 finale – and what position they will play in seasons 2 and past.
Potential spoilers for The Rings of Power episode eight and season 2 comply with this. Do not learn on in the event you’re afraid of getting some presumably huge story beats ruined forward of time.
Mordor rises
The Rings of Power episode 6’s gorgeous ending however confirmed the creation of Mount Doom and Mordor. However, it is not till episode 7 that the sequence formally christens the Southlands with its iconic, evil-imbued identity.
As Payne and McKay beforehand (and completely) informed us, episode 6’s explosive ending was at all times going to be season 1’s defining second. That narrative thread will be adopted again to the very first conferences within the writers’ room, the place several character arcs have been primed to converge amid this cataclysmic occasion.
“There was one occasion that occurred in every single story,” Payne explains. “And it was principally only a drawing of a volcano that permeated every single storyline. So we requested ourselves: ‘Mordor is that this iconic place? What if we might take somebody that was stunning Alpine territory and watch it evolve into the horrible hellhole that we all know so nicely?'”
That complete scene was sensible – there’s barely any CGI
Morfydd Clark, Galadriel actress
The “hellhole” that Payne speaks of leaves an enduring impression on elven commander Galadriel, who not directly had an enormous position in Mordor and Mount Doom’s creation. It is her cussed pursuit of Sauron that pushes her season 1 journey, and the destiny of Center-earth, into unchartered and harmful territory. Firstly, her arrival in Númenor. Then, convincing Queen Regent Míriel to hitch her in saving the Southlands from Adar’s orc military. Lastly, being so caught up in her interrogation of Adar that she’s blind to his harmful masterplan that results in Mordor’s creation.
For Morfydd Clark, who performs Galadriel, being concerned about a scene of utter devastation – to not point out the next sheer lack of life – was tough to immerse herself in. Nevertheless, the guilt Galadriel feels for being a contributing think about so many individuals’ deaths, in addition to Míriel’s blindness, has an enduring impression on the immortal elf.
“It could not have gone any worse [for her],” Clark completely tells us. “It isn’t been an incredible journey to the Southlands. She’s been confronted with mortality earlier than in a manner that makes her uncomfortable [when she meets Míriel’s father]. However that second the place she wakes up and is surrounded by loss of life is horrible.
“That complete scene was sensible – there’s barely any CGI. Our unimaginable manufacturing staff simply created a scene of devastation. Now, watching Galadriel and everybody else choose up the items after that is going to make for fascinating viewing, and I am excited to discover that additional.”
Passing on knowledge
Galadriel makes a stunning revelation throughout The Rings of Power episode 7. (Picture credit score: Amazon Studios) Not long after she involves, Galadriel encounters a shocked Theo. Feeling answerable for what’s occurred – and why would not she? – Galadriel leads Theo on the lengthy stroll again to the Númenorean’s most important camp, which overlooks the Southlands.
In the best way, the pair interact in quite a few conversations. In most situations, we get a glimpse of the character progress Galadriel has undergone in season 1; the elf starts to indicate she’s studying from her errors and beginning to show the knowledge she possesses in Center-earth’s Third Age. For an emotionally spontaneous Theo, who desires to embark on a suicide mission to kill as many orcs as potential in retaliation for shedding his homeland, Galadriel’s expertise and steering even begin to reshape his view of the world.
“Impressionable is certainly the suitable phrase [to describe Theo],” Tyrone Muhafidin, who portrays Theo, completely tells us. “However I believe the experiences he is gone through, with the sword hilt, hating the elves, and now shedding his house, he learns who he desires to be and what he desires to do.
We really lower it [Durin’s secret name] out on the final minute
J.D. Payne, Rings of Power co-creator
“The primary factor he will get out of this stint with Galadriel is his perspective on the world fully modifications. He is at all times hated by the elves for the way they’ve watched over the Southlanders due to their allegiance to Sauron within the First Age. Then he meets this elf who’s nice, and historic, and he modifications his complete view of the elves. I believe he turns into impressed by her, and he begins to get the true concept of what is good and evil. He realizes that some Southlanders and the elves are good, and he sees that some Southlanders are dangerous – so his view just isn’t so black and white. He is keen to study from that and I believe he desires to be a greater individual.”
“We’re very keen on Theo and Galadriel as a sudden pairing,” McKay provides. “A minimum of for us, it is sensible. He’s responsible and that guilt is projecting itself as a need for vengeance, and she will be able to now inform him that is not going to give him the results you want. She’s discovered over the season the way it did not work for her. So that’s dynamic, you’d by no means get until you collided these two tales.”
Married to the previous
Theo’s journey has been as eventful as Galadriel’s. (Picture credit score: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video) Galadriel and Theo’s transient time collectively is an eye fixed opening expertise for them each, with the previous gifting her sword to the latter in a bid to doubtlessly assist him to develop into a correct soldier.
There’s one explicit chat between the pair, although, that is certain to pique the curiosity of established Lord of the Rings followers and informal viewers. Because the duo disguised from orc searching events later that night time, Galadriel opens as much as Theo concerning the reality she was married to an elf named Celeborn.
After all, Galadriel has discovered as much as to be susceptible and specific her emotions all through season 1. As Clark tells us: “She is alone. She’s rejected everybody around her. Even somebody as highly effective and able as her should notice that they cannot exist alone as an island. She’s discovered plenty of that from Halbrand, so I like that she’s obtained to some extent the place she will be trustworthy with these she meets.”
Learn our Rings of Power recaps
Nevertheless, Galadriel’s revelatory piece of backstory is the primary time we have seen her speak in confidence to somebody aside from Halbrand. As she explains, she hasn’t seen Celeborn for the reason that warfare started, and she or he suspects that he is subsequently been killed because the elves scoured Center-earth looking for Sauron and his forces.
Lord of the Rings followers – and those that have seen Peter Jackson’s award-winning film trilogy – will know that Celeborn is not useless. Talking at a particular preview screening for episodes 6 and seven, which we attended, McKay teased the potential for Celeborn being launched in The Rings of Power. If not in season 2, then actually methods down the highway.
“We all know there are issues that the 2 of them do collectively by way of progeny that they are going to subject, realms they are going to discover, all types of issues,” McKay says. “So it might be very arduous to consider that she would by no means see him once more. However, let’s see.”
A monster calls
Yep, that is Durin’s Bane alright. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) Different main reveals happen within the present’s different story arcs.
Over in Khazad-dûm, we lastly study how the Balrog, teased in The Rings of Power’s Comic-Con trailer (opens in new tab) , components into Amazon’s Lord of the Rings. It is revealed that this monstrosity is none aside from Durin’s Bane, the Balrog that slept within the depths of Khazad-dûm for the reason that First Age. That is till it is all of a sudden woken from its slumber by King Durin III, who causes it to stir by throwing a Lindon tree leaf into the huge chasm beneath the dwarven kingdom.
“What different Balrog resides or sleeps below Khazad-dûm throughout the Second Age?” McKay replies when we asked if this legendary creature is Durin’s Bane.
Okay, nicely, will we get to see Durin’s Bane come out to play in The Rings of Power once more, or we could deal with this as a one-off Easter egg? “Season 2, sir,” McKay teases. “Keep tuned.”
What’s in a reputation?
Elrond virtually makes a serious discovery in The Rings of Power’s seventh episode. (Picture credit score: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video) The opposite main piece of dwarven lore that is hinted at is Prince Durin revealing that dwarves even have secret names. Throughout a break in mining mithril – in opposition to King Durin’s needs – Elrond jokes with Prince Durin that the good kings of Khazad-dûm all have an identical identity. However, as Prince Durin explains, that is only a royal title bestowed on every new male inheritor. In actuality, every dwarven prince has a secret identity, which is the one given to them upon beginning. Simply as Prince Durin decides to inform Elrond what his alias is, Elrond stops him, which means none of us knows what Prince Durin’s precise identity is.
Maybe unsurprisingly, McKay and Payne do – and, fascinatingly, in one other world, the pair would’ve informed audiences what they identify is.
“We lower it [Durin’s secret name] out on the final minute,” Payne surprisingly reveals. “That episode is precisely as much as the second how long the episodes will be. There is a second when King Durin is speaking to his son and we shot it the place he calls him and he says his actual identity. However, within the final spherical of the editorial, we needed to snip it for time.”
Who’s Sauron?
Is Sauron masquerading as Adar? (Picture credit score: Prime Video) After all, we nonetheless do not know who Sauron is – or the Stranger for that matter. Clark and Muhafidin already teased us concerning the solid figuring out who these people are already. However, viewers are nonetheless but to study which character is perhaps masquerading as Sauron and the true identity of Daniel Weyman’s mystical however harmful Meteor Man.
Understandably, Payne and McKay weren’t giving something away throughout the preview screening occasion. Nevertheless, the pair opened up on the potential for after we might get a definitive reply, even when it may not come within the season 1 finale.
There are some plotlines that can come collectively
Patrick McKay, Rings of Power co-creator
“There’s yet one more episode within the season,” Payne says. “There’s not less than one story strand, if not a pair extra, which might be nonetheless lingering and you will have to observe to seek out.
“What I might say is that Sauron’s a deceiver. Sauron might be anybody. And we at all times felt it might be a waste to only have him be out in the entrance at the start. And that if there was a narrative that may interact with folks, allow them to lean in and allow them to learn about issues, and have concepts and theories, that may be pleasant and great. We attempt to not be manipulative with it, however, we now have enjoyable figuring out that individuals are gonna be coming to this with sure questions and sure expectations.”
Establishing a season finale
How will The Rings of Power’s season 1 finale play out? (Picture credit score: Amazon Studios) With just one episode left to air in season 1, The Rings of Power has plenty of main and smaller plot threads to wrap up. Moreover, it wants to go away sufficient open to guide naturally into the present’s second season. What can Payne and McKay inform us, if something, concerning the first season’s ultimate entry?
“There are some plotlines that can come collectively,” McKay says. “We have despatched some folks off to some locations on the finish. You have watched the Númenoreans go house and there are surprises ready for them there. You’ve watched Halbrand and Galadriel head off someplace. You’ve form of left Elrond in a predicament the place all he has is only one little bit of mithril – what’s he going to do? The Eldar remains to be fading and all he is obtained is one little piece of mithril. So that tees us as much as some issues which were brewing all season, which can come collectively and collide in a manner you hopefully did not anticipate.”
For extra on The Rings of Power, discover out why the Prime Video sequence did not make the most of Star Wars Quantity know-how. Alternatively, learn why the present’s creators are simply as confused as you might be about Lord of the Rings’ new IP homeowners.
The Rings of Power episodes 1 to 7 can be found to stream now on Prime Video.
