DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 3, “The Eagle and the Sceptre,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Now, it’s time to return to Númenor and check in on Isildur, Arondir and Theo. The majority of the Elves take a backseat in “The Eagle and the Sceptre” as political tension and Dwarf ring-making are center stage. We also get a Shelob appearance, Damrod the Hill-troll and an Orc nuclear family.
I love the action sequences, particularly Arondir’s impressive bow-and-arrow acrobatics. As usual, the visuals are captivating, and Sauron and Celebrimbor’s scenes are compelling.
RELATED: Read our recap of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 2
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Season 2 Episode 3, “The Eagle and the Sceptre”
We open with Elendil (Lloyd Owen) attempting to pacify Berek, Isildur’s horse, in the aftermath of Mordor’s creation. Valandil (Alex Tarrant) notes that Berek won’t listen to anyone. He wants his rider. So, Elendil sets him free. I was hoping Rings of Power would take a creative swing for the fences by telling this episodic narrative from the horse’s perspective.
Anyway, Berek runs to Mordor, where he encounters a band of Orcs. He uses his hind legs to kick one of the Orcs, who gets impaled on some branches. Then, Berek follows his nose to Shelob’s lair. He finds Isildur (Maxim Baldry) unconscious, bound by Shelob’s web. He wakes Isildur, who tries to wriggle free by grabbing an Orc’s blade. The two burst out of their web restraints and wrestle on the ground while Shelob looms over them. The creature eventually descends upon the Orc, crushing his head.
Then, Isildur hops on Berek and rides out of Shelob’s lair as the latter tries to pursue them. Meanwhile, Elendil is back in Númenor. He believes his son is dead. He and Eärien (Ema Horvath) attend King Tar-Palantir’s funeral. Eärien notes that Elendil refuses to speak of Isildur but will let his words flow freely for the late king. She reassures her father that he’s not responsible for Isildur’s death. That blame lies with another. Eärien flashes back to hearing Tar-Palantir’s warning about the fate of Númenor and discovering the palantír, Míriel’s Elvish Seeing Stone.
RELATED: TV Review: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2
The Fall of a Ruler
Next, Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) emerges for her father’s funeral. Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) watches from afar. Elendil rushes to his queen’s side. After this, a grieving mother approaches Míriel and slaps her in the face. However, Míriel doesn’t send the woman away. The queen regent asks the woman about her lost loved one and embraces her. Both women shed tears.
That evening, Míriel sits in her chambers while procuring a golden bracelet that unlocks the room holding the palantír. Pharazôn enters quietly to ask Míriel about her coronation wardrobe. Does she wish to wear dark crimson, which will reassure Númenóreans that they can expect change, or white, a color her father wore? Míriel insists on wearing white. After all, it’s a color of good luck. An eagle appeared at her dad’s coronation. Pharazôn states that eagle sightings at coronations are rare.
Pharazôn asks Míriel what she has behind her back — it’s the golden bracelet key. She slips it on her wrist before he spots it, declaring she has nothing to hide.
RELATED: Rings of Power: Season 1 Recap — What to Remember
Talking Smack
Later, Pharazôn, Eärien, Kemen (Leon Wadham) and Lord Belzagar (Will Keen). Kemen complains about Míriel, insisting she’s unfit to rule because of her “infirmary.” Belzagar agrees, but Pharazôn remains mum. Valandil eavesdrops on their conversation and pops in to put Kemen in his place. The next time he hears Kemen talk smack about the queen regent, Valandil will give him an infirmary. Damn.
After Valandil departs, Eärien shares with the class that she has dirt on Míriel that could make the people despise her. At the same time, we see Míriel utilize the golden bracelet key to unlock a room. Unfortunately, the palantír has been stolen.
Damrod Arrives
Next, in Mordor, one Orc asks Adar (Sam Hazeldine) if it’s prudent to mount a defense against Sauron. They now have a home in Mordor. Adar insists they must quash the threat Sauron poses to their existence. Aw. Poor Orc dude has a family to think about.
RELATED: House of the Dragon: Our Top 8 Highlights From Season 2
Then, Damrod the Hill-troll stomps into view. Fun fact: he’s voiced by none other than Benjamin Walker, aka High King Gil-Galad. Damrod will be Adar’s secret weapon in the fight against Sauron. The Hill-troll asks about the Dark Lord.
A Proposal for the Dwarves
Later, in Eregion, Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) chats with Durin (Owain Arthur) and Disa (Sophia Nomvete). The Elven smith and Lord of Eregion proposes seven rings for the seven Dwarf kingdoms. Sauron, aka Annatar (Charlie Vickers), interrupts the conversation in support of the rings. Durin asks where Elrond is, and Sauron responds that the Elf is overseeing affairs in Lindon. Durin looks rightfully suspicious of “Annatar.”
Sauron reveals that Elrond constantly sings Durin’s praises. Elrond hails Durin as the most intelligent of the Dwarves. Perhaps Sauron should consult a different Dwarf? Oof. Get some aloe vera for that burn, Durin. Disa asks if they can have time to consider this proposal and bring it to their king. Sauron is about to remind them that time is of the essence until Celebrimbor grants Disa’s request.
RELATED: Rings of Power: What We Know About Ciarán Hinds’ Mysterious Dark Wizard
Outside, Disa confronts Durin regarding his behavior. Durin doesn’t trust “Annatar,” citing that Elrond would never say such nice things about him. This cracked me up. Disa reminds her husband that Khazad-dûm is in peril. She can no longer hear the mountains, and they need a solution. Plus, Sauron is right — presenting this to King Durin III might be an opportunity to mend fences between father and son.
The Dark Lord Manipulates
Meanwhile, Sauron informs Celebrimbor that Gil-Galad disapproves of them creating rings for Dwarves. Celebrimbor brushes this off, claiming he rules his own realm, Eregion, and doesn’t need to answer to Gil-Galad. He begins writing a letter to the high king about closing his forge now that the three rings of power have proven effective. However, it’s all a lie; Celebrimbor will continue making rings without Gil-Galad’s knowledge. Sauron smiles at this.
Later, Isildur and Berek stop at a pool of water. A parched Isildur kneels to drink from said pool. He stops, though, upon seeing a corpse in the water. Yeah, just say “No” to soupy corpse water. Isildur rides into the forest, where he spots a destroyed encampment with corpses and dead horses littered about. A woman, Estrid (Nia Towle), hides under a wagon, blade in hand. When Isildur nears the wagon, she stabs him in the thigh.
RELATED: Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Gets Action-Packed Trailer
Isildur and Estrid struggle on the ground before the latter apologizes profusely for stabbing him. Estrid admits she thought Isildur was an Orc. She tends to his thigh wound. After their introductions, Isildur reveals he must return to the Númenórean camp. Estrid replies that said camp is gone. Isildur doesn’t believe Elendil would leave without him. Estrid procures a map she found detailing another Númenórean village — Pelargir. Estrid is also looking for her people.
An Elf Savior
Thus, the pair sets out for Pelargir. Estrid clarifies that she’s in search of her betrothed. Perhaps he’s in Pelargir. They spot the village from afar but don’t see any ships going in or out of it. Then, the duo stumbles upon an injured man whom Isildur tries to help until he spies the symbol of Adar on the man’s forearm. Suddenly, more of Adar’s men descend upon Isildur and Estrid. They knock Estrid off Berek and steal him, much to Isildur’s dismay.
Thankfully, help has arrived. Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) launches into action, performing a full-on gymnastics floor routine while taking out Adar’s men with his arrows in one fell swoop. Afterward, Isildur thanks Arondir for saving them. He claims the “wild men” have been a problem in this forest. Arondir grabs his bundle of branches before heading back to Pelargir.
RELATED: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Meet the Characters
That evening, we see the branches are for Bronwyn’s funeral pyre. Isildur and Estrid are among the funeral attendees. Arondir bids farewell to his love before attempting to light the pyre. When he hesitates, though, Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) does it for him. Meanwhile, in Khazad-dûm, Narvi (Kevin Eldon) informs King Durin III (Peter Mullan) about the immense hunger among his people. They must fix the light shafts so they can grow crops again.
The Corruptive Influence of the Rings
Then, Durin arrives to speak with his father. He apologizes for his behavior without blatantly apologizing. King Durin seems to accept it. Before the king departs, Durin voices his concerns regarding Celebrimbor’s rings. It doesn’t feel right. There’s something inherently, inexplicably evil about them. Aw, I love that he and Elrond, our two besties, have the same gut feelings about the rings.
After that, Theo tends to Isildur’s wound. Isildur asks how Bronwyn died. Arondir answers, revealing she succumbed to her arrow wound. He had forgotten how deadly Orc arrows are. Arondir feels remorse, claiming he didn’t do enough to defeat Adar and protect Bronwyn.
RELATED: House of the Dragon: 12 Predictions for Season 3
Next, Arondir urges Theo to become the village healer. They’ll need his expertise. Theo pivots, asking Arondir if the latter knew his father from watching them (Theo and Bronwyn) all these years. Arondir claims he didn’t. Theo pushes Arondir away, insisting they no longer need to interact with his mother out of the picture.
Missing Home
Then, Theo and Isildur chat about Númenor and how much Isildur misses it. He reveals he left because he heard that Middle-earth was magical. Now, he longs for home. Theo decides to facilitate Isildur’s journey home by urging him to meet that night to rescue Berek.
That night, Isildur and Estrid trade stories. Isildur reveals his mother drowned while saving him, something he never admitted to his father or sister. Theo eavesdrops on their chat, his eyes welling with tears upon hearing Isildur’s guilt regarding his mother’s death. Theo emerges to tell Isildur it’s time to save Berek. After they leave, Estrid puts her blade to the fire, cauterizing the symbol of Adar on the back of her neck. Oh, I knew she was trouble.
RELATED: 5 Exceptional Lord of the Rings Games to Play After Gollum
Later, Theo and Isildur find the men who stole Berek. Theo tries to distract them while Isildur grabs his horse. Theo claims he’s one of Adar’s, showing the wound on his forearm where he used to stick the Lord-Father’s blade. Suddenly, someone (or something) starts attacking the camp. Theo tries to flee but is scooped up by something quite massive. Isildur, now on horseback, calls out for Theo.
A Sign of Good Luck
Next, we see Míriel’s coronation play out. Funnily enough, Pharazôn opts for the dark crimson he tried to get her to wear while she wears white. Sly. During the coronation, an attendee calls her the “Queen of Lies.” Eärien grabs the court’s attention, revealing the palantír that Míriel uses. Eärien claims that the queen regent involved Númenor in a war because of the Seeing Stone. She sends it rolling down the stairs. Elendil touches it, but it sends him flying backward.
Chaos ensues, with the Númenóreans cursing Míriel even after she delivers a moving speech where she vows to do what’s best for them. They surround her. Elendil tries to reach out for her, but the two are separated.
RELATED: Relax in Middle-earth With This Lord of the Rings Video
After this, an eagle appears, signifying an auspicious omen for Míriel. However, Pharazôn views this as a sign that he’s destined to rule. He approaches the imposing creature. Belzagar leads the group in chanting Pharazôn’s name as the usurper (and Míriel’s cousin) lifts his sword in celebration, drinking in the people’s love for him. It’s giving Aegon Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in Their Halls of Stone
Later, in Eregion, Durin and Disa arrive with mithril for Celebrimbor and Sauron to create more rings for the Dwarves. Sauron looks thrilled. He’s one step closer to implementing his plan to bring all of Middle-earth under his rule.
RELATED: Read our The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power recaps
The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 are now streaming on Prime Video. After that, weekly releases will be on Thursdays.
6 Books HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Fans Have to Check Out
[email protected]
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
- RESIDENT ALIEN Recap: (S04E02) The Lonely Man - June 13, 2025
- MURDERBOT Recap: (S01E06) Command Feed - June 13, 2025
- REVIVAL Series Premiere Recap: (S01E01) Don’t Tell Dad - June 12, 2025
