After seven episodes of sharp writing, world-building, and thrilling action, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 showed it could surpass expectations and deliver an unforgettable finale. The final episode of the sophomore season finally opens with Sauron’s master plan to rule Middle Earth, bringing everything together with intense action sequences and stunning revelations. As the end credits roll in, it feels like the series is now entering a new and more intense phase, with characters ready to take the fight to the menacing villain. Season 2 of The Rings of Power started very strong but finished even stronger.

The finale of The Rings of Power season 2 is directed by none other than Charlotte Brandstrom. She has been a frequent collaborator on the series and directed five out of eight episodes of this season. Meanwhile, the finale is written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay, who also serve as the showrunners for the series. They haven’t left any stone unturned to end the season with a bang and take viewers on a journey that’s filled with enthralling sequences.

The finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 begins in Khazad-dûm with an emotional conversation between King Durin III and his son, Prince Durin IV. The prince pleads in front of his father to throw the ring away. Moreover, he tells his father to stop digging the mountain before something catastrophic happens. As always, King Durin doesn’t listen to his son and keeps on digging. A few moments later, he shows Prince Durin why he kept on digging the mountain. They realize the mountain is filled with that amount of mithril, which could make them invincible. But their conversation is short-lived because something demonic crawls its way up to the surface from the very depths of the mountains. The monster, known as Balrog, is on the loose and attacks the father-son duo. The entire sequence ends with one of the most epic shots in the history of fantasy television and marks the end of King Durin’s reign. Meanwhile, things are turning from bad to worse in Númenor as Pharazôn summons the leaders of the Faithful and labels them as traitors. As a result, they arrest everyone who supports Miriel and is looking for Elendil. On the other hand, The Stranger is finally reunited with Elanor and Poppy. However, they are not alone and are in the captivity of The Dark Wizard. As a result, The Stranger comes face to face with The Dark Wizard and gets to know the truth about his powers.

Surprisingly, this is the only time in the episode we see these places, because the rest of the episode is focused on the siege of Eregion. The opening sequence of Eregion shows the ongoing war and Galadriel picking up her sword to help her side. Meanwhile, Celebrimbor is in a lot of pain and covered with multiple arrows on his body as Sauron tries giving him one more chance to help him get back the nine rings. Although Celebrimbor refuses to help him, Sauron keeps him alive by inflicting more and more pain. The scene between Sauron and Celebrimbor is probably one of the darkest and most brutal sequences to have ever been shown in any adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. The scene shows how this show won’t shy away from taking darker routes to enhance the viewing experience. Now, everyone knows how the conversation between Celebrimbor and Sauron must have ended, but no one could have expected it to be this brutal. Additionally, it features one of the most jaw-dropping revelations in LOTR history. It is one of those scenes that will be remembered for a very long time for its intense nature and impeccable performances by Charles Edwards and Charlie Vickers.

The rest of the episode is all about Sauron taking things to greater heights. He is becoming more brutal with every passing minute and does something unbelievable. With that one masterstroke, Sauron has now taken control of everything. Once again, the finale features an act of betrayal that many people couldn’t have seen coming. The final moments of The Rings of Power season 2 finale featured a breathtaking fight sequence between Sauron and Galadriel. It is the perfect sequence between two people who have a history of closeness and bitterness. The villain uses everything, including deceptions, to outshine Galadriel, but the warrior Elf stands her ground. At this moment, the tension between destruction and salvation balances on a knife’s edge, with both powers at their peak, threatening to reshape the world around them.

The finale marks the beginning of a new era for the heroes of Middle Earth. Sauron is now more powerful than ever and has an army of Orcs with him. Meanwhile, the heroes are also united to restore peace in the region. The first phase of the war has ended, and it’s only the beginning of a tumultuous time. The makers have done a phenomenal job in stitching a narrative that not only takes viewers into the most perilous era of Middle Earth but also to a time when new heroes are born. Brilliant storytelling, sharp conversations, breathtaking action sequences, and important revelations make The Rings of Power season 2 finale so extraordinary. The episode brings several key plotlines together, culminating in a tense and thrilling confrontation that raises the stakes for the future of Middle Earth.

The finale solidifies The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as a bold addition to the Tolkien universe.

All episodes of LOTR: The Rings of Power season 2 are streaming exclusively on Prime Video.