The Rings of Power Season 2: What we know so far

Amazon Prime Video’s original TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power hit viewers on 1 September 2022 with an epic journey that takes viewers into the world of J. R. R. Tolkien, set more than 2000 years before the events depicted in The Lord of the Rings. Developed by J.D Payne and Patrick McKay, the 8-episode series debuted with over 25 million people watching within the first 24 hours, making it Prime Video’s most-viewed series at that time. The second season is set to release on August 29, so in case you missed the first, or are just in need of a refresher, let’s go over what we already know.

Recap

• The series follows Galadriel on her quest to uncover the truth of whether the dark lord Sauron still lives.
• She is undeterred as she finds no tangible evidence of Sauron’s return and is granted the chance to go to the elven paradise of Valinor by King Gil-Galad which she reluctantly accepts with the aid of her friend Elrond.
• Elrond is charged by his father the King to go to the dwarves and discover if they have found anything that could reverse the effects of a mysterious poison crippling the elven tree of life.
• We are introduced to the Harfoots, a precursor to what will be Hobbits and how they exist within Middle-earth. One of them discovers a crashed meteor containing who is known as ‘The Stranger’; a powerful being of magic who is struggling to control his powers.
• Galadriel, having refused the passage to Valinor at the last minute, remains on Middle-earth, finding herself washed upon a life raft with a man named Halbrand who claims he’s from the Southlands. They are discovered by men of Númenor and taken to their city.
• After first being considered a bad omen, Galadriel convinces the Queen of Númenor that the growing threat of orcs in the Southlands is indeed Sauron’s doing and they sail to help the overwhelmed men.
• Elrond meets the dwarven Prince Durin IV and the discovery of mithril is shown, an ore which possesses the qualities to reverse the poison in the elven tree.

**Spoilers ahead for Season 1**

• The battle for the Southlands turns out to be a distraction for the orcs to awaken what will be known as Mt Doom, covering the land in fire, ash and smoke. The Southlands are now Mordor.
• Halbrand, who accompanied Galadriel through the battle of the Southlands and to Eregion the land of the elven forgers, helps the elven smith Celebrimbor discover how to forge rings of power. Galadriel becomes weary that Halbrand is not who he claims, and it is found that he is Sauron in disguise – a diversion from his first appearance in the source material.
• Elrond, having sworn to keep mithril a secret due to his friendship with Durin, implores Durin to continue to dig for more as to save the elven race. Their digging unwittingly wakes an ancient demon known as the Balrog, a servant of a darker lord before Sauron.
• ‘The Stranger’ is confronted with three witches who have tracked him on his travels with the Harfoots. He takes up one of their staffs and vanquishes them.
• The season ends with the newly-outed Sauron overlooking Mt Doom and the land of Mordor.

Sauron’s rise will happen.     

We’ve already been teased through promotional material that Sauron will indeed return and take on the form of Annatar, an elf of fair visage and a more faithful adaptation to the source material. Posing as a gift bringer, Sauron will deceive the seven dwarf lords and nine kings of men (with the three elven rings having already been made) into wearing his rings of power, not knowing that in the end they will be brought under his control.

Character arcs will be pushed even further.

Season 1 had a lot of ground to cover when trying to bring all these connected threads together via its main characters and Season 2 looks to be pushing these protagonists to choose between honour and friendship, duty and revenge or war and ruin.

The siege of Eregion will take place.

An important battle in Tolkien lore which marked the beginning of the war with Sauron. We’ve seen through trailer footage that Sauron will be walking through the city as it is being destroyed, so expect a larger spectacle than what we’ve seen before.

Alliances and friendships will be tested.

As the looming threat of Sauron grows, Durin will try and convince his father King Durin III to stand and fight alongside the elves and his friend Elrond. Galadriel will be captured and tempted to join forces with orcs who do not align with Sauron, while the city of men and Numenor will be pushed to political breaking point as to whether to join the elves or leave Eregion to fall.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is available to watch now on Prime Video.

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