‘The Rings of Power’ Episode 7 – Hey, Guess What? It’s Mordor!
The Rings of Power Episode 7 wants you to think about the price of doing good.
Last week’s Rings of Power gave us the big old battle. It was an action-packed episode that ended with a real bang as Mount Doom was set off. This week we get a slower episode, one that focuses on the aftermath of the big blowup.
The shadow of spoilers lies over all that follows – BEWARE.
In the Land of Shadows
The Rings of Power Episode 7 starts down in the region formerly known as the Southlands where everyone is recovering from the devastation wrought by Mt. Doom going off. Luckily all the important people survived the eruption. One of Isildur’s is the only named person who dies. After being split up a little the various heroes regroup at the Númenórean camp. Halbrand has been injured, and the queen is blind now.
Worse everyone thinks Isildur is dead, which he obviously is not. The Southlanders depart to head to Pelargir, and the old Númenórean colony. Galadriel and Halbrand set off to get him healed. The islanders head back to their home as well. However the queen promises they will return, their fight with the darkness is not over.
It’s Harfoot O’Clock in Rings of Power Episode 7
Back in our shortest storyline, the Harfoots have finally reached their destination at the Grove. However, it’s been destroyed by burning rocks. Old Sadoc says they came from a volcano. I guess the implication is they came from Mt. Doom? This seems odd as they only damaged this one area and there is no other sign of the eruption, like smoke. Anyway, the Harfoots ask the Stranger to use his magic to heal the trees, and he tries, but it causes a branch to fall and almost hurt people. Sadoc then sends the stranger off to find other humans in Mirkwood.
The next morning the trees have been healed and are full of fruit. The Stranger has saved the Harfoots. That night the three beings hunting the stranger show up. Nori tries to send them off in the wrong direction, but all this leads to is them burning the Harfoot caravan. Ultimately Nori, Poppy, Nori’s Mom, and Sadoc set off to try and warn the Stranger.
Under the Mountain 
Lastly, we have the Elf/Dwarf plot. Elrond and Durin IV work hard to convince Durin III to let them mine mithril. But the old king will have none of it. With some prompting from Disa, the pair decide to mine anyway. They find a large deposit but get caught by the King and his men. Elrond is exiled from Khazad-dûm. The two Durins have a couple of heart-to-hearts, but in the end, Druin IV is removed as heir to the throne and left contemplating removing his father. The Rings of Power Episode 7 ends with the reveal that Durin IV is right, as the mithril mine holds a Balrog.
The Rings of Power Episode 7 is All About the Price of Doing What’s Right
The episode had likely the strongest theme out of any in the show. Each group had to think about the price of doing the right thing, and trying to save others. In newly minted Mordor, Halbrand, Galadriel, and the Númenóreans have all paid a price for trying to help people and fight evil. With little to show for their efforts but death, it’s fair that they’re wondering what the point was. Theo also struggles with the guilt of giving Adar the hilt in order to save his mom.
The Stranger tries to help the Harfoots, but is exiled when it seems to go wrong. Nori tries to help the Stranger when people come looking for him, but it gets her people’s caravan burned. In Moria, Durin IV tries to do the right thing by saving the Elves, but it gets him punished badly. Worse it seems that if the Dwarves do save the Elves it will lead to the end of Moria, and the awakening of the Balrog. Despite these setbacks, all the heroes seem committed to doing what’s right.
Some Thoughts on Rings of Power Episode 7
I’m not a big fan of the Balrog. It’s way too early in the timeline and seems to be cramming so much into this show. Also, the show seems to imply that the Balrog is like… right there. It’s not a matter of digging too much, it’s digging at all.
Galadriel finally mentioned her husband Celeborn. A lot of people have been yelling about how he’s been removed from the show. It turns out she thinks he died in the fight against Morgoth. Now, this shouldn’t be true – he’s alive in the Lord of The Rings. I’m guessing he’s been captured or something all these years and saving him will be part of how she transforms from rage warrior to queen.
The Dwarf bits are the strongest the show has. The writing and acting are on point. Elrond, Disa, and the two Druins are the best characters and have the most real conversations. It’s a step up from everything else.
Man, the Númenóreans really peaced out of the village without searching at all. They didn’t even stay to look for their queen, they just left.
Speaking of, Mt. Doom’s eruption seems pretty localized. They were able to walk about the area of destruction in a couple of hours. Back at their camp, there isn’t even any smoke in the sky or signs of a disturbance.
Next week is the final episode. We will just have to see how everything comes together. Will these setbacks turn our heroes away from their paths? Time will tell.
6/9 Rings For Mortal Men Doomed To Die
