DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7, “Doomed to Die,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Boy howdy, if you didn’t think war plagued Middle-earth before, I imagine you changed your tune after “Doomed to Die.” The penultimate episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is its best yet. It’s wall-to-wall action, complete with stunning visuals, a rich episodic plot and plenty of overarching narrative payoff. Plus, the performances, particularly from Charles Edwards, Robert Aramayo and Charlie Vickers, are top-shelf. It’s riveting, nuanced work all around.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, “Doomed to Die”
We open with Celebrimbor (Edwards) sipping a hot beverage on a peaceful, sunny morning in Eregion. Absolutely nothing bad is happening at this moment. There’s no siege. Nope. He heads inside to continue forging the nine rings for men. He spots a mouse scurrying across the floor. Celebrimbor uses more of the finely-grained mithril courtesy of Sauron’s blood Narvi.
After he shapes the nine rings, Brimby spots the same mouse moving in the same manner. He also notices a jewel is missing from Fëanor’s hammer. Brimby kneels to observe the mouse before catching his reflection in the mirror, which shows him how he truly appears—dirty and bloody. Annatar, aka Sauron (Vickers), asks Celebrimbor if he’s fallen. Brimby mentions the mouse and the missing jewel, but Sauron’s already in gaslight mode, stating that our Brimby’s always been quite forgetful.
Celebrimbor thanks Sauron for pushing him to create something that’ll leave an indelible mark on Middle-earth. Sauron looks touched. Then, he asks Celebrimbor how much longer it’ll take to finish the rings. “What is another few days to perfect something that shall last forever?” Brimby asks. Sauron pivots, revealing he’ll miss working with Celebrimbor. Sauron ventures outside — the real outside — as fireballs soar across the sky, destroying Eregion’s impressive architecture.
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Launch the Counterattack
Across the river, Adar (Sam Hazeldine) and his Orcs position their trebuchets to launch more fireballs. Elsewhere, Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) asks Sauron about Celebrimbor. Brimby’s the Lord of Eregion. Should they launch a counterattack? Sauron informs her and the guards that Celebrimbor believes they shouldn’t act. His reasoning? The river will protect them.
However, the enemy repositions their trebuchets, aiming for the mountains above the river. They hurl massive stones at it. This causes an avalanche upon impact, with the debris damming the river. Sauron orders everyone to prepare for a ground assault. At the same time, Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) arrives at the treeline facing Eregion as it burns.
Choosing a Side
Later, in Khazad-dûm, Narvi (Kevin Eldon) informs King Durin III (Peter Mullan) about the Siege of Eregion. Durin III surmises the Elves will need their mithril and gold now more than ever. They can name their price. He orders Narvi to clear the way to the mines so they can keep digging. Narvi reminds the king that his son and daughter-in-law are still impeding their path. Durin III doesn’t care. Every minute of delay costs them unthinkable wealth.
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So, Narvi and a small host approach the entrance to the mines, wherein Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) and Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete) stand guard, their weapons at the ready. Narvi and his crew drop their weapons, claiming they’re Team Durin/Disa now. The ring has driven the king to madness. Oh, and the prince has a visitor. Durin should be careful, though. This particular visitor has been banished from Dwarven lands. We see it’s Elrond (Aramayo). Finally! I’ve been waiting for our favorite BFFs to reunite.
Durin and Elrond chat about their current predicaments. Durin is about to overthrow his father. Elrond needs aid as he prepares to defend Eregion. We don’t see Durin’s response, but we don’t need to. Durin would go to the ends of Middle-earth and beyond for his best friend.
Sauron’s Illusion Frays at the Seams
Meanwhile, the Orcs storm the outer wall of Eregion, attempting to take it down. Commander Malendol (Simon Haines) and his archers fire on the approaching Orc legions. Inside the forge, Celebrimbor spots the same mouse. Sauron barges into said forge, demanding to know if the rings are finished. Celebrimbor shushes him. Check out that mouse! Brimby addresses the anomalies he’s seen, such as the candles that haven’t burned an inch all day.
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Sauron explains he simply gave Brimby the peace he needed to finish the rings. Celebrimbor notes that no emissary of the Valar would behave like this. Brimby demands to know the Lord of Gifts’ true identity. Sauron claims he’s the one keeping the storm at bay. After Sauron orders Celebrimbor to produce the nine rings, the latter refuses, hurling Fëanor’s hammer through a window. Then, Brimby hears explosions in the distance. The forge transforms into what it’s always been since the siege began — a space touched by war.
Celebrimbor sees the battle transpiring outside. He returns to the forge, sobbing. Give Charles Edwards all the awards for his performance in this episode alone. Celebrimbor smashes the mithril vial, only to find there’s no mithril at all. It’s full of Sauron’s black blood. “True creation requires sacrifice,” Sauron says, revealing his slashed palm caked in black blood. I love the callback to the Season 1 finale here. Celebrimbor finally realizes that his ring-forging buddy is none other than the Dark Lord Himself.
Come On, Brimby, Let’s Get You to Bed
Next, Celebrimbor runs outside to find Mirdania on the parapet as the battle rages around them. He tries to persuade her that “Annatar” is Sauron; however, she doesn’t believe him. She’s under the Dark Lord’s sway. Even Celebrimbor’s guards are incredulous. Sauron slithers into the scene. Brimby suggests they cut him open to see the color of his blood. Sauron shows his palm, which is now red instead of black. The ultimate gaslighter.
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Mirdania tries to escort Celebrimbor back to his forge (the epitome of that “C’mon, grandma, let’s get you to bed” meme). Brimby wrestles his arm away from her. Suddenly, Sauron twitches his hand. This sends Mirdania hurtling over the edge of the wall, making it look like Celebrimbor shoved her. Mirdania lands on the muddy ground as the Orcs stab her. RIP, Mirdania. Sauron gives Celebrimbor an ultimatum: Give our Dark Lord the nine rings, and he’ll spare Eregion. If Brimby refuses, though, it will fall.
Meanwhile, the Elves finally enter the fight, with Elrond and High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) leading the charge. They all look cool as hell. They face Adar and the Orcs. I love the juxtaposition of the Elves bathed in light and the Orcs submerged in darkness. Adar reveals he has Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) in chains. Elrond treats with Adar, wherein the latter demands Nenya in exchange for Galadriel. Elrond hits a nerve, asking Adar if he’s willing to sacrifice the lives of his children, the Orcs, to sate his appetite for vengeance against Sauron.
A Non-Romantic Diversion Tactic
Of course, Galadriel doesn’t want Elrond to give Adar her ring. Elrond abides by her wishes, refusing to hand over the ring. He asks for a private moment with Galadriel before Adar kills her. He grants Elrond’s wish. We see Elrond remove a pin from his cloak. Then, he apologizes in Sindarin, asking for her forgiveness. She urges him to “win.” Elrond kisses Galadriel on the lips while surreptitiously slipping the pin into Galadriel’s hand. Before y’all go crazy and wonder why Elrond is smooching his future mother-in-law, it’s a diversion tactic.
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Meanwhile, Prince Durin speaks to the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, rallying them to fight for the Elves and Eregion. It’s downright inspirational. He should moonlight as a motivational speaker. At the same time, Galadriel uses the pin to free herself of her restraints. The Dwarves cheer after Durin’s speech. Elsewhere, Elrond barrels headfirst into battle, fighting off Uruks left and right. Even his horse gets in on the action. Unfortunately, an Orc kills Elrond’s horse. That Orc doesn’t live for long, though, and Elrond sends him flying from a trebuchet.
Later, Glûg (Robert Strange), everyone’s favorite Orc, asks Adar if they should sound the retreat. There’s no way they’ll knock down the walls of Eregion before sunrise. Adar urges the Orcs to keep going. Glûg doesn’t understand why Adar is so willing to sacrifice the lives of his children. Doesn’t he love them? Adar claims he loves them too much to see them become prisoners of Sauron. Adar heads inside his tent to find Galadriel missing. He orders his soldiers to look for her.
Arondir Joins the Fight
Then, we see Galadriel moving through Adar’s camp in an oversized cloak, the hood shrouding her face. She watches from afar as Adar kneels over the bodies of dead Orcs. Suddenly, a group of Orcs discover her identity. Thankfully, Arondir fills them full of arrows. Galadriel learns that Arondir plans to kill Adar himself. He doesn’t care if it costs him his life. Galadriel encourages Arondir to direct his ire toward saving Eregion. There’s a dearth of Elven heroes; they need him.
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Later, Sauron supervises Celebrimbor as the latter finishes the rings. We see Brimby’s wrist is shackled. Sauron believes Middle-earth will thank them once they’ve healed it and restored peace. The Dark Lord talks about Morgoth torturing him. Now, he’s doing the same to Brimby. Hey, hurt people hurt people. Ever the gaslighter, Sauron tries to persuade Celebrimbor that the “abuse” he feels is his fault. Celebrimbor brought this on himself. That’s why Sauron is acting this way. Men will literally start a war instead of going to therapy.
After Sauron leaves, Celebrimbor tosses the rings into the fire to melt them. Unfortunately, Sauron’s blood protects them. He tries to remove his wrist restraint. Unfortunately, he cannot wriggle his hand out of it. So, he decides to chop off his thumb. And it’s gross. I’ll give him points for resourcefulness, though. While Elrond and the Elves slay Orcs, Celebrimbor leaps through the window of his forge with his now thumb-less hand (and the nine rings). Then, Brimby’s rocked by an explosion, which sends him toppling over the side of a wall. He lands on his back.
Galadriel and Celebrimbor
The guards crowd above him, wondering whether they should escort him back to the forge by orders of Annatar, the Lord of Eregion. Galadriel appears and puts the guards in their place, reminding them that Celebrimbor is the Lord of Eregion. She apologizes to Brimby for letting Sauron into the city. She blames herself. Brimby admits he, too, fell for Sauron’s machinations. He hands Galadriel the nine rings in a velvet bag. She urges him to escape via the tunnels, but Celebrimbor decides to face Sauron. He’ll distract the Dark Lord so Galadriel can flee with the rings.
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Before they part ways, Celebrimbor dispenses some wisdom: It’s not strength that keeps the darkness at bay; it’s light. The guards vow to escort Celebrimbor back to his forge. Once they depart, Galadriel conceals the rings on her person. Meanwhile, Elrond encourages Rían (Selina Lo) to fire an arrow on one of the Orcs’ buckets of pitch. The battlefield is strewn with Elf and Orc bodies alike. Unfortunately, an Orc archer fills Rían with arrows. In her final moments, she fires on a bucket of pitch, causing an explosion.
Adar decides to send Damrod the Hill-troll (voiced by Benjamin Walker) into the fray — his secret weapon. Glûg protests at this, arguing that Damrod will slaughter their own. Arondir, now firing arrows with Eregion’s archers, notices the Orcs clearing a path for Damrod. Meanwhile, Celebrimbor and his guards return to the forge. Sauron demands to know where the rings are. Naturally, Brimby refuses to disclose that info.
Doomed to Die
Commander Malendol tries to confront Sauron, but the latter takes away his voice. Celebrimbor’s guards surround Sauron, their swords raised. Then, with the flick of his hands, Sauron forces the guards to kill each other. After this, he does away with Malendol, leaving Celebrimbor undefended. Meanwhile, Elrond, Arondir and Gil-galad (who has a freakin’ sweet spear) take on Damrod. Our Elves overpower the Hill-troll, who goes down laughing.
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Later, Adar joins the Orcs on the battlefield. We see dark give way to day as the few Elves remaining stand among the dead. Elrond sees a rider on the hills and excitedly informs Gil-galad and the Elves that Durin is here. The Dwarves will save them. However, it’s Vorohil (Charlie Rix), who falls before Elrond. He suffers a few arrow wounds. Vorohil informs Elrond that the doors of Khazad-dûm are shut. The Dwarves aren’t coming. “Durin will come,” Elrond repeats to himself in despair.
Gil-galad orders his forces to prepare for battle as they barrel headfirst toward Adar and the Orcs. At one point, Adar stabs Arondir. Thankfully, we don’t see his body, so — no body, no death. Then, the Orcs finally break down the outer wall of Eregion. They barge into the city.
Never Make War in Anger
After this, Adar squares off against Elrond. Elrond tries to stab Adar, but the latter grabs the Elf’s wrist and twists it. Then, he lifts Elrond by the neck, asking, in Sindarin, “Have you forgotten your Rúmil? ‘Never make war in anger.'” He drops Elrond.
And in Adar’s hand is Galadriel’s ring, Nenya.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams new episodes every Thursday on Prime Video.
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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.
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