The road goes ever on and on, but Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4 brings the Stranger to an important stop in his journey. There, he meets Tolkien legend – and it’s not the only first-time live-action appearance in the episode.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4, titled “Eldest,” marks a turning point with significant developments. In the episode, the stakes rise as several key characters face challenges shaping Middle-earth’s future.
1. What happens at the end of Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4?
In the fourth episode of The Rings of Power Season 2, numerous storylines intersect as Middle-earth’s tensions rise.
Elrond and Galadriel embark on an important voyage to Eregion, where they want to warn Celebrimbor of Sauron’s growing strength. Their path is obstructed as they come across a wrecked bridge.
Despite Galadriel’s unwillingness to choose a different path through the forest, Elrond insists they continue. As they move forward, they are assaulted by ghostly entities and learn that Adar and his army of Orcs are approaching Eregion.
Meanwhile, the Stranger is separated from Nori and unexpectedly meets the strange Tom Bombadil, who foreshadows the Stranger’s future battle against both Sauron and a dark wizard. This revelation makes the Stranger concerned about the enormous responsibility that lies ahead.
Nori and Poppy arrive at the Stoor settlement, where they meet the leader, Gundabel, and a guy named Merimac. They were initially suspicious, but they gained trust when they mentioned Sadoc Burrows.
Gundabel recounts an ancient prophecy about a messiah who will lead the Stoors to safety, but Nori minimizes her involvement in it.
2. What happens with Elrond and Galadriel?
In ‘LOTR: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Episode 4, the Elves, known for their fairness and altruism, face a dangerous position. Galadriel was taken aback when Gil-galad informed that Elrond would lead the caravan to Eregion to warn Celebrimbor about Sauron’s imminent menace.
While Galadriel trusted Elrond’s leadership, she was concerned by the obvious discord among the Elves. Still unhappy that Galadriel had stopped him from destroying the ring, Elrond was concerned that she would be seduced by Sauron once more.
The secrecy surrounding her previous interactions with Sauron exacerbated his anxieties. Despite their shared purpose of combating the darkness approaching Middle-earth, Elrond, and Galadriel,, they disagreed.
As they traveled to Eregion, they realized that Sauron had destroyed the bridge that led to their objective. With little choice except to travel into the woodland, Galadriel feared a trap and pleaded against it, inspired by images from the ring.
Conversely, Elrond was adamant about moving forward, refusing to let the ring define their destiny. He emphasized that Galadriel could return to Lindon if she disagreed but chose to remain.
Elrond’s battalion was quickly assailed by the souls of fallen kings, turning the forest into a fight. Though they were able to repel the ghosts, their woes worsened when they observed Adar and his massive Orc army moving towards Eregion.
Unbeknownst to them, Sauron had aligned himself with Adar, disguised as the king of the Southlanders, to wage war against the Elves. An Orc’s stray arrow gravely wounded an Elf, but Galadriel used the ring’s power to heal him, astounding Elrond with her magic.
In a dramatic turn of events, Galadriel opted to sacrifice herself to ensure the safety of Elrond and the others. However, Elrond felt her motivations were more about protecting the ring than helping the Elves. She gave the ring to Elrond and started a violent onslaught on the Orcs, eventually confronting Adar again.
Elrond saw the perils of relying on the ring’s dark powers and realized their situation demanded unity. Despite their differences, he was resolved to save his long-time buddy and face the evil that threatened Middle-earth.
3. What did Tom Bombadil tell The Stranger?
Separated from Nori and Poppy, the Stranger became stranded in the hard countryside until he encountered Tom Bombadil. Tom, a mysterious character who claimed to have observed the universe’s birth and the conversion of woods into wastelands, spoke in riddles and hinted at his abilities. When the Stranger asked to learn from him, Tom said he wasn’t ready, citing visions of trees around him.
Tom, who greatly respected the trees, only freed the Stranger when he chose to. The Stranger also heard a woman’s voice outside Tom’s cottage, which Tom disregarded as insignificant, possibly belonging to his wife, Goldberry.
Tom Bombadil’s revelation to the Stranger was crucial: he predicted that the Stranger would face both Sauron and the Dark Wizard, a terrifying prophecy that left the Stranger extremely concerned. Struggling with his unmastered talents, the Stranger’s desire to learn magic from Tom arose from his recognition of the enormity of the task ahead.
Understanding the importance of his role in halting the evil lord’s goal for dominance over Middle-earth, he felt the weight of this responsibility profoundly. Episode 4 emphasized that his path is set—facing these strong opponents is his destiny.
4. What happened between Nori and the Stoors?
In ‘LOTR: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Episode 4, Nori and Poppy accidentally discover a small Stoor encampment after losing track of the Stranger. They met a strange individual who introduced himself as “Nobody” but later disclosed his true name was Merimac, which his mother had given him. Merimac seems curiously intrigued by Poppy, almost as if he were under a spell.
Things became tense when they met Gundabel, the Stoors chief. Gundabel, first dubious of their search for a giant, directed her men to restrain them. However, she changed her mind when she heard the name Sadic Burrows, freeing them from their bindings.
Gundabel believed in an old prophecy of a savior leading them to a promised land of peace. Nori, feeling she didn’t fit this role since she had no place to call home, tried to explain this to her.
The situation took another twist when masked agents of the Dark Wizard arrived, demanding information about the wandering halflings.
Gundabel’s exact role in the larger story remains unclear. Still, it’s interesting to note that in the future, a Stoor named Smeagol—who will become Gollum—will significantly impact the struggle against Sauron.
5. Is Theo found?
Arondir quickly saw through Estrid’s ruse and recognized she wasn’t who she claimed. She had directed them to look for Theo in the forest, but Arondir believed she was leading them into a trap.
During a talk between Estrid and Isildur, Arondir unexpectedly confronted her, exposing a Mordor mark on her neck. This news devastated Isildur, who had become attached to Estrid and had affection for her.
By the end of ‘LOTR: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Episode 4, Arondir has discovered Theo, and they have a moment of reconciliation in which Theo apologizes for blaming Arondir for his mother’s fate. Just as Isildur was going to kiss Estrid, her fiancé approached and embraced her.
Estrid was pleased to find him alive, leaving Isildur with a grief he was not expecting. Arondir watched Isildur’s wounded countenance and knew just how he felt.
Looking ahead, it seems likely that Arondir will ally with other Elves like Elrond and Galadriel. They’ll need to unite against the formidable enemy they face.
With Sauron working with Celebrimbor to set traps for the Elves, the stakes are high. Adar’s capture of Galadriel, something Elrond and Gil-Galad didn’t foresee, will undoubtedly impact their plans. It will be intriguing to see how they rescue her and how the Stranger prepares for the upcoming battle against the Dark Wizard and Sauron.
About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an American TV series, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Set 3,000 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the show will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Beginning with a time of peace, the series will follow the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the rings of power.
The cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, and Dylan Smith among many others.
No Comments on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4 Ending Explained