The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne explain how Peter Mullan’s Durin III’s reign will impact the Dwarf Kingdom in season 2. Based upon J. R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy world, The Rings of Power explores the rising tensions of the Second Age of Middle Earth, as Sauron sets out to create an artifact that could allow him to dominate all who live. Durin’s arc sees him grapple with growing tensions between the Rings of Power character and his son, Durin VI (Owain Arthur), over whether they should assist the Elves’ schemes.

Ahead of the season 2 premiere in August, McKay and Payne opened up to Total Film (via GamesRadar+) about how the new episodes will continue the downfall of one of Middle Earth’s royal dynasties. Incorporating motifs of a ruler’s condition affecting his kingdom in the new season, the showrunners hint that Durin III and Durin VI’s fractured relationship will ripple into the state of the Dwarven Kingdoms. Check out the showrunner’s tease below:

“A recurring motif in mythology centers around a king’s failing health leading to a sickness in the land that endangers the entire kingdom. Season 2 sees a fractured relationship between King Durin and his son take on a similar larger dimension.”

The Rings of Power Has Already Established The Downfall Of The Dwarves

Durin VI & His Family Are Doomed To Have A Tragic Fate.

Ever since the realm of Khazad-dûm was introduced in season 1, those who live there have found themselves doomed by the narrative. Durin III himself is set to be one of the individuals deceived by Sauron’s scheme, becoming one of the owners of one of the seven rings given to the Dwarves. Furthermore, his fate in the inevitable War of the Last Alliance is currently unknown, so his isolationism and fears may end up playing into Sauron’s hands and cost him his life.

With the Dwarves having been doomed by the original Lord of the Rings events, it has been clear that Durin VI and his family were not destined to emerge from the War of the Last Alliance as victorious.

Even Durin VI would not be spared a tragic tale, as his actions would leave consequences of their own for his bloodline, as seen with the Balrog awakened in the depths of Moria that would face Gandalf (Ian McKelllen) during the War of the Ring. In the Lord of the Rings timeline, Middle-earth’s Third Age, which will happen after the events of The Rings of Power, would see Moria fall once the Balrog rose and took the life of Durin IV, forever titling the beast Durin’s Bane. Orcs would later claim Moria and hold the once-proud Dwarven seat of power from being reclaimed by Durin’s descendants, leaving behind a tragic legacy for the dynasty.

With the Dwarves having been doomed by the original Lord of the Rings events, it has been clear that Durin VI and his family were not destined to emerge from the War of the Last Alliance as victorious. Season 1 may have shown a friendship between Prince Durin and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) that evokes better days between the two kingdoms, but these actions only make Moria’s ultimate fate more tragic. With McKay and Payne teasing a growing divide between father and son in The Rings of Power season 2, the fall of the House of Durin may hold even more tragedies.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1 is available on Prime Video, with season 2 set to have a three-episode premiere on August 29.