When The Rings of Power season 2 concludes, Angya, the Ring of Power originally possessed by Durin III, is displayed near a meeting of Dwarves, hinting at who will wield its power in season 3. Durin III died confronting The Balrog of Khazad-dûm (who will come to be called Durin’s Bane), leaving the possession of his ring and the rule of Khazad-dûm in question, especially with the rumors of Durin IV’s brother hoping to succeed the throne.

Those aware of Tolkien’s appendices at the end of The Lord of The Rings know that Angya will continue to be in the possession of those with the Durin name until Durin VI. Angya then passes down Durin’s line to Thráin II and is stolen by Azog the Defiler, as seen in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. This history and the ending of The Rings of Power season 2 hint at who will wear this ring in season 3.

The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Ending Hints Durin IV Will Wear His Father’s Ring

Many Things Suggest That Durin IV Uses Angya In Season 3

Angya is shown on a pedestal of stone with the other six Dwarf rings in the line of sight of Prince Durin IV, Princess Disa, and Narvi. Durin IV gazes at the rings as he considers the many challenges ahead. Durin IV will need to defend his kingdom, fulfill his father’s commitment to disperse the other six rings among the Dwarf-lords, and confront his brother, who may attempt to lay claim to the throne. These accumulating pressures suggest Durin IV wears Angya in season 3 of The Rings of Power.

Tolkien clarifies that the Rings of Power could never gain full control of the Dwarves, who were made to resist domination.

Tolkien clarifies that the Rings of Power could never gain full control of the Dwarves, who were made to resist domination. The Rings of Power enflamed in them the lust for treasure. Durin VI continues to mine Mithril until he is slain by the Balrog, as is his son Náin I. With the considerable amount of Mithril shown in Khazad-dûm in The Rings of Power and the generations between Durin IV and Náin, it is reasonable to believe Durin IV will take the ring for himself.

Why Durin IV Might Be Tempted To Wear A Ring Of Power In Season 3

He Will Want To Exhibit A Level Of Strength And Profit Associated With His Father

Many temptations could lead Durin IV to wield a Ring of Power. War is expensive, and defending Khazad-dûm against Sauron’s newly acquired army of Orcs will require a lot of wealth and aid. Tolkien makes it clear that Khazad-dûm stands against Suaron into the Third Age, and the ring’s revelations may be one of the means for the necessary profits.

Durin IV will also have to either give the other six rings owed by his father to the Dwarf-lords (rings he knows could destroy his people) or pay back their tributes. Since Durin IV may avoid the large veins of Mithril secured by the Balrog, it is conceivable he wields his father’s ring to discover alternative catches to send to the Dwarf-lords before he considers giving them the other rings. And although the ring may change him, he might believe his demise is worth saving all Dwarfkind.

IMDB’s Highest Rated Episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Episode Number
Title
IMDB Score

S1.E6
Udûn
8.1

S2.E7
Doomed to Die
7.8

S1.E8
Alloyed
7.7

Durin IV also faces the threat of his brother usurping the throne. To maintain his position at Khazad-dûm, he will want to exhibit a level of strength and profit associated with his father. Durin IV will need to be seen as someone who can accumulate wealth and speak to the mountain in a way impossible without a Ring of Power.

What Durin IV Wearing His Father’s Ring Would Mean For The Dwarves & Khazad-dûm

A Rift Between Middle-earth And The Dwarves

Tolkien is unclear about what happens after Angya is given to Durin III by the Elven-smiths. It was not displayed or spoken of until it was taken by Azog and given to Sauron, leaving plenty of room for The Rings of Power to play with. Durin IV wearing his father’s ring would undoubtedly lead to great wealth for Khazad-dûm, but it would cost them their relationship with the rest of Middle-earth. Ravenous greed takes over Durin IV as he digs deeper into the mines, leading the way to the destructive release of Durin’s Bane.

It is unlikely that Sauron would be able to control Durin IV in any way, since the rings given to the Dwarves did not hold that type of power over them. But Durin IV, driven by his ring-enhanced greed, could seek to expand Middle-earth for all Dwarves, leading to the dispersal of the other rings, which the Dwarf-lords do come to possess at some point. All these happenings would lead to a rift between Middle-earth and Dwarves.

The Rings of Power reveals that Durin IV will possess Angya, and if the temptation for him to wield its power is strong enough, he will continue the path forged by his father. If Durin IV takes this path, it will continue the debilitating fall of Khazad-dûm and its people.