Welcome back to the blog readers. With the exception of the third and fourth episodes of this season, Rings of Power has absolutely and definitely been better this season than the first season was. And based on how last week's episode ended, I knew we were in for one hell of an episode this week. So, with that being said, would this episode, titled "Doomed to Die," written by J.D. Payne, Patrick McKay, and Justin Doble, and directed by Charlotte Brändström, be everything I hoped it would? Stick around to find out.
NOTE: I will be using spoilers for my thoughts, so DO NOT read ahead if you have not seen the episode.
For the first time in this show's history, I was actually excited to watch an episode of this series. Knowing just what we would be getting this week may have been one of the main reasons I was, but I have been extremely surprised at the quality of this whole season. I have had a buzz that did not exist last season. And it got to a point where I declared that last week's episode was the best of the series so far. I will get to the point where I declare that this week's episode is the best of the year. No, I am not kidding you. All of the performances were stellar, especially Charles Edwards (who truly gives an Emmy-worthy performance) and Robert Aramayo. The battle itself was exhilarating and full of twists and turns that truly makes you feel despair at the end, and there is so much rich story amongst all the chaos.
I first want to praise the performance of someone who I have not gained the opportunity to yet. That is Robert Aramayo's performance as Elrond. Aramayo has been one of those under-the-radar actors in this jumbo-sized show, and his performance has not really had the door it needed to shine on its own. We got flashes of it in the first season in the scenes between Elrond and Durin IV, but this episode is an absolute showcase as to the type of performer Aramayo can be. I found his performance in this episode to be as heartbreaking as anything I have ever seen. The passion that Aramayo shows during the battle is amazing to watch, especially since we have never seen anything like that from him. And the ending of the episode is what makes you really feel for him because you can feel the anguish and the sadness he feels when he realizes that he has lost the battle. All you need is one line. I will discuss that later.
Finally, we need to talk about the performance of Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor. It feels like a rinse-and-repeat kind of model, but I am happy to do this because Edwards has been brilliant this season, and this episode specifically is going to get him an Emmy nomination. I truly believe that in my heart of hearts. This season, he has done such a brilliant job depicting the decline and descent into madness of Celebrimbor, and any of these performances could have been enough. But this week, there is a breaking point, and Edwards really makes your heart break over this character. That descent into madness is fascinating, yet miserable to watch, and it is all because of Charles Edwards and his Emmy-worthy performance.
There is so much rich story in this episode that doesn't just happen at Eregion in this episode. The episode starts where last week's picks up as the Orcs have begun their attack on the city. They have been bombarding the city all night with fireballs as Sauron has trapped Celebrimbor in an illusion where everything is fine to get him to finish the Rings of Power for Men. He eventually gets suspicious and forces Annatar to break the illusion. Celebrimbor finally realizes the truth and tries to convince his people that they have been deceived, but he has successfully deceived them by making them convinced that Celebrimbor has lost his mind. He is imprisoned in his forge after Sauron makes him kill one of the smiths and eventually escapes all the chaos with the Rings he stole. He is almost imprisoned again until Galadriel convinces the soldiers that he was deceived. They, minus Galadriel (who has the Rings), confront Sauron and all but Celebrimbor are killed before we end on him this week. This is so heartbreaking and makes me afraid for Celebrimbor's fate in next week's finale.
Next, we go to Elrond and his journey throughout this episode. It has been a few weeks since we have seen him in a prominent role, but we get a chance to see that this week. Knowing that the Elves alone cannot defeat Sauron and the Orcs at Eregion, he decides to go to Khazad-dûm to get assistance from the Dwarves led by his friend Durin IV. Durin IV is able to rally his troops in support of Eregion, but is forced to ignore his friend when he learns a greater evil may have been awoken by his father. Elrond charges with the Elves of Lindon (including High King Gil-galad) but cease when they see Galadriel held hostage. Adar tries to negotiate with Elrond but he declines and slips Galadriel a means of escape. He then charges onto the battlefield to take on the Orcs and the giant troll Damrod with the assistance of Elf Arondir. By dawn, they believe they have won but there is another wave of Orcs and no Dwarves to be found. He tries to assure the few Elves remaining that Durin will come, but he winds up trying to assure himself of this. All of the remaining Elves, including Arondir, are killed and Adar takes Galadriel's Ring of Power (which Elrond had) from him as he continues to assure himself Durin will come as the Orcs successfully breach Eregion's walls and enter the city. This whole battle sequence was exhilarating and you can feel the utter heartbreak that Elrond feels when he realizes the Dwarves will not be coming. Hopefully he does come because it looks like we are not done in Eregion for next week's finale.
Rings of Power gives what I believe to be the best episode of television of the year with Emmy-worthy performances, a stellar action set piece, and a story richer than any gold you could get your hands on. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.
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