Finally, Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings Of Power has given us a genuinely good episode. Color me shocked. Partly this is thanks to the fact that there are none of the show’s worst subplots to be found. No Harfoots or Stoors, thank the Valar, and no Númenorean nonsense. No not-Gandalf and no dime store Tom Bombadil. The lack of all these things allows the show to focus on its strengths.

Those strengths are on full display here, though I say that with some qualifiers that I will get to in a moment. First, let’s focus on what worked in Episode 7, “Doomed To Die”.

I would like to give credit where it’s due, namely to the actors. Charlie Vickers continues to be really, really good as Annatar / Sauron and even his wig seemed a little less crappy looking this episode. Not great, but better. (See the top picture, the hair is less evenly cut, looks more natural).

Likewise, Charles Edwards (despite, as I’ve pointed out, being too old to accurately portray an immortal elf who is younger than Galadriel) is excellent as Celebrimbor and really does a fantastic job in what is likely his biggest and most important episode. Yes, I fear next week will be an even bigger episode for the elven smith—and not in a good way—but this was the one where he really came into his own.

Celebrimbor

Credit: Amazon

The scenes where Celebrimbor begins to awaken to the illusion he’s been placed under are really great. He notices the mouse shows up on repeat. The ruby from Feanor’s hammer is missing. The candles haven’t burned down all day. As the smith begins to realize the truth, Annatar tries to convince him that he’s mistaken (while planting seeds of doubt about Celebrimbor’s sanity in the minds of the elven soldiers and Celebrimbor’s assistant, Mirdania). Later, when Celebrimbor tries to warn them that they’ve been deceived, he rambles about the mouse and the ruby and tells them to “cut open” Annatar to see that his blood is black ichor. Annatar shows them his hand the blood is red, and when Mirdania tries to lead Celebrimbor away he shouts “Get your hands off me!” and Sauron uses his magic to throw the elven woman from the ramparts, making it appear as though the smith threw her off himself. He is taken back to the forge, where Annatar cuffs him to the workbench.