The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 has been action-packed, with incredible pacing and balanced storytelling. Last week’s episode left us in the middle of the battle at Eregion, witnessing Arondir’s (Ismael Cruz Cordova) apparent fall, Galadriel’s (Morfydd Clark) ring of power in Adar’s (Sam Hazeldine) hands, and Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) chilling display of “power over flesh.” With the season’s end upon us, the penultimate episode left many loose ends. Let’s see how many get tied up and how much remains open for season 3 in the finale, “Shadow and Flame.”

Season 2 Finale Opening Sequence

The episode opens with the dwarves. Durin (Owain Arthur) confronts his father after the king begins attacking his own people. With a heartbreaking kiss and the belief that he might not return, Durin bids farewell to Disa (Sophia Nomvete). The ensuing scene between Durin and his father is heart-wrenching. Durin pleads with his father to stop, to remove the ring, and to resist its influence, but the king is unable. Interestingly, the king appears physically drained by the ring’s power. The king’s relentless digging awakens a Balrog, seemingly jolting him out of his haze and reigniting his concern for his son. He finally removes the ring and sacrifices himself to the Balrog. At the last moment, as the mountain crumbles, Disa pulls Durin back from the chasm.

This epic sequence sets the stage for what promises to be an incredible and emotional finale. It’s worth noting that this is the only episode all season to feature a scene before the opening credits.

Shadow and Flame

Pharázon (Trystan Gravelle) continues his villainous path, informing Númenor’s religious leaders that the queen is in league with Sauron. They declare all those who remain faithful to the queen as traitors. We see very little of Isildur (Maxim Baldry) and Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), suggesting they may have larger roles in season 3.

The Orcs have completely overrun Eregion, and the elves continue to fall. Sauron tortures a dying Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), relentlessly shooting him with arrows. Celebrimbor ultimately goads Sauron into finally killing him. As the remaining elves face execution, the dwarves arrive, but it’s too late for Eregion, which is engulfed in flames.

Adar upholds his alliance with Galadriel, returning her ring. Before they can face Sauron together, Orcs, now fully under Sauron’s control, arrive and kill Adar. The final confrontation comes down to Sauron and Galadriel. Their battle results in Sauron obtaining the nine rings for Men and Galadriel sustaining severe injuries. To preserve her life and her ring, she leaps from a cliff as the Orcs rally around Sauron. Galadriel’s life is saved by the healing powers of her own ring, wielded by Elrond, who is forced to acknowledge that the rings are not inherently evil.

What will Season 3 hold?

The dwarves are now without a king, and it seems Durin will have to fight for his right to rule Khazad-dûm. Elendil (Lloyd Owen) finds his way to Middle-earth while Isildur returns to Númenor. The queen remains imprisoned, her fate uncertain. The elves must heal and regroup, but they will undoubtedly lead the hunt for Sauron. Sauron, now in possession of the nine rings for Men, will likely distribute them.

The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), absent from last week’s episode, finally reappears. He encounters the Dark Wizard, who reveals the history of the wizards and threatens the hobbits to coerce The Stranger into joining him. Fan theories are confirmed as The Stranger is revealed to be Gandalf. The limited screen time here suggests Gandalf will play a more prominent role in season 3.

This season has actively driven toward the forging and wielding of the rings of power. Sauron’s presence has wreaked havoc across Middle-earth. The season 2 finale, “Shadow and Flame,” brings all of this to a head. The episode concludes on a somber note, leaving viewers with a sense of loss, but also with a multitude of storylines ripe for exploration in season 3.