Sauron makes the final push to get his rings made as war comes to Eregion.

The writers are forcing conflicts that feel out of character and obviously unnecessary in the deeply frustrating sixth episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s second season. As the show gears up for big fights across Middle-earth, things aren’t looking good for anyone but Sauron (Charlie Vickers), who solidifies his control over the master elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and the city of Eregion.

The episode opens by catching up with Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) happening upon some orc deserters fed up with helping Adar “chase a ghost.” He makes quick work of them and finds a map leading to their camp, where he’ll hopefully be able to help Galadriel (Morfydd Clark). But besides demonstrating how the plots will come together, the scene shows how much Adar (Sam Hazeldine) is losing control while pursuing his vendetta against Sauron. It feels like everyone would have been better off if he just stayed in Mordor.

Adar makes a compelling pitch to Galadriel. She’s a kindred spirit, one of the few people who really understands that Sauron’s greatest power is how skillfully he plays on other people’s desires. “Sooner or later he sees you, not just who you are, but who you wish to be,” Adar explains. “He makes you believe that his power has become yours – irresistible power.” Sauron granted his wish for children and gave Galadriel her army, and it’s haunting how Galadriel echoes Adar’s sentiment that the world feels drained of color now that they are no longer basking in the light of Sauron’s attention and seeming affection.

But that makes what follows all the more infuriating. Adar has a great plan: Combine Morgoth’s crown and Galadriel’s ring to kill Sauron and ensure that he stays dead this time. But as soon as Galadriel agrees to the team up – even putting aside her prejudices to call Adar’s forces uruk instead of orcs – he immediately betrays her. Sure, there are elves that would want to exterminate all of the orcs, but if you had the greatest elven general vouching for you after you helped her rid the world of an existential threat, your argument for being left alone in Mordor would be a lot stronger. Adar knows Sauron is a master manipulator, yet he’s unwilling to entertain Galadriel’s pleas that he’s playing right into his hands by bringing an army to his doorstep. Maybe he was blinded by Sauron getting to him during his brief captivity in Mordor, but it just seems like such a misplay after Adar so expertly bested everyone last season.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 6 Gallery

Also when did Adar realize Halbrand was Sauron? Did he figure out he’d used the Black Speech to control the warg? If he had any reason to suspect before then, why not just stab him again with the crown and give himself a few more centuries to establish power while Sauron rebuilds himself out of worms? This season shows how well Sauron can play on people’s pride and fears; he doesn’t also need to win by default because his opponents are acting foolishly.

The best demonstration of Sauron’s power remains Celebrimbor. His slow progress in crafting the nine rings for men has left him so agitated that his workshop is filled with discarded metal and rats, and he can’t even remember one of his primary smith’s names. (Thus presenting Charles Edwards with an appropriately Shakespearean rant about the fickle nature of metal.) This leaves Sauron room to step in and seize control of Eregion. His costume has grown more grand to establish himself as an elven lord rather than just Celebrimbor’s mysterious muse; he pushes Celebrimbor to walk the line between madness and brilliance as he fully isolates him. In another stroke of luck, the warning message Adar’s forces carve into a returning scout is in a language only Sauron can read. Maybe Adar should have taught more of his children the Elven tongues?

The writers are forcing conflicts that feel out of character and obviously unnecessary.

“Continuing work on the rings requires more mithril from Khazad-dum, which hasn’t been making deliveries because King Durin III (Peter Mullan) is accumulating a horde of treasure that would make the dragon Smaug proud. Sauron comes personally to retrieve his metal, promising wood for the expanded mining operations or “something more precious” in a bit of foreshadowing to a word that will be closely associated with the One Ring. The king’s refusal demonstrates Sauron doesn’t quite have full control over his creations, though a glimpse of the Balrog in the flames makes him leave seemingly content in the understanding that Durin’s defiance won’t last long.

The relief that Durin IV (Owain Arthur) feels about his father refusing to give more materials to the shady craftsman is short-lived – the king reveals this is all just a negotiation tactic. “The whole world’s gone mad, my son,” he says while laying out his plans to become Middle-earth’s preeminent arms dealer. J.R.R. Tolkien was haunted by his service in the British Army during World War I, and the horrors he experienced on the battlefield resonate throughout The Lord of the Rings. This scene conjures similar nightmares, pushing Durin IV to try desperately to reach his father one more time. But neither words nor physical attack will pry the ring from his finger, and in fact the jewelry seems to imbue the king with uncanny strength.

Luckily, the younger Durin has a fantastic wife in Disa (Sophia Nomvete). Their relationship is a true anchor of Rings of Power’s storytelling: She gives him the strength to confront his beloved father’s weakness and stands by him to face down miners with the help of some summoned bats. While darkness descends on Middle-earth, the couple is a testament to the power of love and fighting for what is right.

Love also finds a way in probably the best visit to Númenor this season, which is admittedly a low bar to clear. Elendil (Lloyd Owen) is charged with high treason and inciting a riot and Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) plays at being merciful, prompting a lot of theatrical noise from the assembled crowd when Elandil is offered the chance to pledge his loyalty. This just leads to him loudly declaring his allegiance to Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) again, and Pharazôn’s advisor suggesting his execution take the form of the ancient trial by abyss.