In the blink of an eye, we’ve reached the very last episode of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1. Delivering visuals like no other, this prequel aimed to set up the conditions that led to Sauron’s rise in the Second Age.
But sadly, the show has left us with more queries than answers—right from debating who or where Sauron is to wondering when the newly introduced Balrog is going to strike.
Since the show is supposed to be five seasons long, there is a huge possibility that S1 will end on a cliffhanger. However, these are the five questions I really hope it answers before the curtains close.
1. Who are the Mystics?
The Mystics made contact with the Harfoots in Episode 7 and they did not leave a good impression. They found Nori at a time when she was doubting the Stranger, and she unwittingly points them in his direction.
When her family comes to the rescue, the Mystics make it clear that they are not kind folk, burning down the lush forest that was restored only a few hours ago. We’re yet to understand where they came from, and what’s their connection to the Stranger or even Sauron.
2. Who is the Stranger?
I can deal with not knowing who Sauron is right now, but having multiple characters with mysterious identities will just wear off the audience’s patience. One such character is the Stranger.
Curiously, I don’t think he’s Sauron or someone evil. Although his magic tricks initially backfire (sometimes horrendously so), the Stranger’s intentions always seem good. He also tries to make up for it, as we see in Episode 7 when he restores the dead forest.
Gandalf, the Blue Wizard, or whoever else—the TROP finale should definitely let the cat out of the bag and tell us who the Stranger is.
3. How will the show deal with the Dwarves, mithril, and the Balrog?
Mithril was supposed to be the solution to Elves’ dying life source. But King Durin III is firm in his stance that the Dwarves won’t be mining for the precious material even if it is the only thing that can save the Elves.
This decision will have two consequences. On one end, the lack of mithril is going to make the Elves look for another alternative. One can theorize that Celebrimbor will sell off the idea of creating the Rings of Power as that alternate solution.
The second is that Ep 7 also revealed there’s a Balrog nesting deep within the mines holding the mithril. Instead of Sauron, could this Balrog be S1’s big villain?
4. Is Celeborn really dead?
All this while, fans were curious about why Galadriel hasn’t spoken about her husband. It was assumed that she’s either not met him or married him yet. In a shocking reveal in Ep 7, Galadriel states that he went to war, never returned, and is presumed to be dead.
We all know that is not true—Celeborn is a vital part of the Lord of the Rings movies. He is well, alive, and the ruler of Lothlorien. His absence thus far can be explained as a creative decision to help focus more on Galadriel. But now that he’s been mentioned, I can’t help but think it’s for an important reason.
One theory is that he will return for the finale, with the show adopting Glorfindel’s storyline for Celeborn. Glorfindel was an Elven warrior who fought a Balrog and died but was brought back to life for his bravery. The show already has a Balrog… so this speculation does hold some ground.
5. Will Sauron appear at all?
Sauron’s name has been invoked plenty of times, and even with having the Stranger and Halbrand as candidates, we aren’t any closer to unmasking the dark lord. It almost makes us question if Sauron will even appear this season.
In the books, we know that Sauron tempts Celebrimbor in Eregion. Right now, in Episode 7, Galadriel has planned to take Halbrand to Eregion in order to treat his wounds.
Could this be the moment Halbrand springs up and reveals himself as Sauron (at least to the audience)? Or, will we be finally meeting Sauron’s amicable persona, Annatar, here?
The previews for Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Ep 8 give us very few clues and a lot of questions. Here’s hoping the finale is the one episode to answer them all.
6. 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 Five Big Mysteries LOTR The Rings of Power Must Answer in Its Finale