The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 4 Recap: Powerless

I went into this week’s Rings of Power (“TRoP”) episode still reeling from a very mixed three-episode premiere, and my hopes weren’t high. Alas, I was disappointed. The fourth episode, entitled ‘Eldest’, not only introduces new characters and plotlines to perplex and bore viewers, but it somehow succeeds in also butchering the only engaging plotlines we have followed thus far.

And so, without further ado, let us analyse the shortcomings of this episode as the second season of The Rings of Power hurtles onward towards disaster.

WARNING: Spoilers and heavy themes discussed below!

The Rings of Power: The Elves Unrecognisable?

In a scene which impressively works to undo the one redeeming feature of this series, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) snaps at Elrond (Robert Aramayo), spitefully bemoaning him for suddenly trusting her after his previous doubts. This immature behaviour comes completely out of left field after her character arc in the show’s first season. It undermines the familiar, wise Galadriel we were beginning to see. Alas, this Galadriel continues to bear no resemblance to that of the films or books. Elrond stubbornly refuses to listen to the warnings given to him by Galadriel by virtue of her ring of power, Nenya.

Once again, the elves are presented as childish and petulant and are reduced to a vocabulary and dialogue which wouldn’t feel out of place in a school playground. The decision to prioritise hollow drama, visual effects and set pieces over compelling characterisation and faithfulness to the source material continues to diminish any respect this series may otherwise command, and is on full display in the opening scenes of this episode.

TRoP: A Meandering Plot

Meanwhile, out in the east, the stranger (Daniel Weyman) continues to search for his lost friends. He runs into a bizarre figure who utters meaningless phrases, dialogue no doubt intended to make us think of him as somehow mysterious or wise, before being, I kid you not, swallowed by a tree.

Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards) are in no more favourable a position, however, as they flee a foreboding figure on a horse, only to meet a fellow Harfoot, Merimac (Gavi Singh Chera). It does not take long for the suggestion to arise that there is an initial mutual attraction between him and Poppy.

Our stranger is rescued by none other than the figure from before, who we soon learn is supposed to be Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear), a fan-favourite character from Tolkien’s books. There is potential here, sprouting from the fact that Tom’s origins are left a total mystery in the books.

Whilst it stands to reason that as some kind of spirit he was present during the Second Age, it does feel somewhat reductive to introduce his character as a plot device, whose purpose is simply to teach the stranger his purpose and how to use magic. As he tells the stranger, Sauron and the dark wizard pose a dire threat to Middle Earth, and he must face both.

TRoP: More of the Same

Elrond and Galadriel’s host traverse the dark wood in what soon devolves into yet another cheap horror sequence. The Barrow-Wights, so terrifying and sparingly used in Tolkien’s lore, are instead shown to be poorly CGI’d floating skeletons with glowing eyes. There is some poetic value to the scene, however; these creatures have been awakened by the activities of Sauron (Charlie Vickers), and it is only by working together and beginning to rebuild the trust of their friendship that Elrond and Galadriel can vanquish these foes.

In the Southlands, we are treated to yet more of Arondir’s (Ismael Cruz Cordova) inconsequential antics as the writers boldly ask us to feel invested in a manufactured love plot between Isildur (Maxim Baldry) and Estrid (Nia Towle). No sooner has she ingratiated herself with the Númenorean than Arondir exposes her as an agent of Adar (Sam Hazeldine). Biting off more than they can chew, the writers ask us to care about her and Isildur and the emotional fallout of this revelation- alas, we cannot. We have been given no reason to.

TRoP: No Lord of the Rings

It becomes increasingly apparent that this episode intends to resort to cheap horror set pieces to retain any of the audience’s attention. Let’s break this down. First, Isildur loses his footing and becomes encased in a thick mud pool. However, we only see this from Arondir and Estrid’s perspective.

As the lack of any tension or suspense continues to confound the viewer, Arondir’s attempts to pull Isildur free appear to be thwarted by some unseen force; they are both suddenly sucked into the mud. Estrid does her best to help, which doesn’t count for much. The culprit for this baffling sequence of events is soon revealed to be none other than a rather big centipede.

Upon making short work of the creature from the inside, Arondir utters what must be the most laughably bad line of the episode. Ripping off Lord of the Rings in the most blatant way possible, he explains, ‘there are nameless things in the deep places of this world’. Are we seriously meant to liken this cheap CGI insect, which comes out of nowhere with zero suspense and not even a remote consequence, to Shelob? Or the Balrog? Or even the faceless horror from the pools outside the entrance to Moria?

The flippant and nonchalant disregard I can only assume these writers feel towards Tolkien’s work is exemplified by this terrible attempt to cite the books at their convenience to justify and legitimise their decisions. One almost wonders if Arondir’s next line is intended to be satirical in its flagrant disregard for the severity and gravitas of the lore; ‘this one, we shall call ‘supper”.

TRoP: Light in the Dark

We are then thankfully given some reprieve; a compelling scene ensues between Nori and the Stool leader Gundabel (Tanya Moodie) as they compare mythologies on the origins of their people and their wandering ways. We’re given a somewhat sad and tragic backstory for these Harfoots, progenitors of the later Hobbits we know and love; they are journeying in search of a home, the ‘Suzat’, which has thus far eluded them.

We, the audience, may know that one day they will succeed, and their believed homes will be a thing of fame unto themselves. Alas, that makes it no easier to watch a solitary tear roll down Nori’s cheek as she contemplates the feeling of not belonging anywhere.

After all their trials and tribulations, Galadriel entreaties with Elrond, desperate to convince him of the need to trust her and her ring. There is a satisfying conclusion to this scene. Elrond restates his intention never to trust the rings but agrees to Galadriel’s request to prioritise defeating Sauron over all else, even her life. Perhaps there is trust between them yet, and with it, there is reason to be optimistic about their character dynamic moving forward.

TRoP: An Unwelcome Development

Isildur now inexplicably trusts Estrid thanks to her miserable attempt to save his life against the ‘nameless horror’, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, the second he takes pity and unbinds her, she betrays him.

We are scarcely given a moment to process this ludicrous scene before the show pulls yet another stunt designed to make us enjoy this series out of nostalgia for the films; an Ent attacks the pair, and we are supposedly meant to care when they are almost crushed underfoot. As he takes great pains to rescue his companions and placate the ancient beings, one cannot help but feel that Arondir would have been better off simply allowing events to take their course.

Mere presumption turns into downright insult as we are expected, after watching Estrid do nothing but burden and then attempt to kill Isildur, to suddenly believe that they have feelings for one another as they lean in for a kiss.

As if to rub salt in the wound, Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) is revealed to be alive and well after being kidnapped by an Ent for no reason whatsoever (where, one wonders, did they get that idea from?) and miraculously spared the violence inflicted upon Arondir, Isildur and Estrid for no discernible reason. The inconsistency and laughably poor nature of this plotline are succinctly rounded off by the sudden and baseless reconciliation between Arondir and Theo, which carries no emotional weight to begin with.

The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4: What of the Ring?

In a final action-packed sequence, Elrond’s party scouts out a host of orcs moving towards Eregion. As one is shot by an arrow, his blood attracts the orcs, and soon the situation turns desperate. Employing her newfound abilities, Galadriel heals the wounded warrior, momentarily stunning Elrond and perhaps warming him to her ring and its capabilities.

Deciding to fight alone as a diversion in order to allow the others to escape, Galadriel heroically, if perhaps a little rashly, takes matters into her own hands. Elrond, however, uncharitably ascribes her actions to a mere desire to save her ring and not her friends. Time will tell whether he is right to judge his friend so harshly. As Adar arrives and comes face to face with Galadriel, we are left wondering: what on earth does the rest of this season hold in store? And can we look forward to better things?

Episode five of The Rings of Power aired on Thursday, 12th September, on Amazon Prime.