The Rings of Power Season 2 Ending Explained (In Full)

Warning! This article contains spoilers for the finale of The Rings of Power season 2.

The rings of power The Season 2 finale wraps up several plot points, answers major questions, raises other theories, and sets up huge storylines for Season 3. The rings of power Season 1’s ending, many began theorizing about the future of the show. The rings of power Season 2 answered this theorizing with a more certain story centered around the crafting of The Lord of the Rings‘ Rings of power How Sauron manipulated his way to the top of Middle-earth’s power hierarchy, and the free peoples against his darkness.

The story picked up in The rings of power season 2’s finale; The rings of powerThe cast mostly gathers to defend Eregion from Adar’s army as Celebrimbor conducts his final stand against Sauron. Like Sauron Rings of power Plan leads him to Galadriel in a fight for the nine rings of men, Elrond and the elves fight an onslaught of orcs. Meanwhile, the stranger discovers his true identity, the dwarves of Khazad-dûm catch a glimpse of the fiery doom slumbering beneath them, and the people of Númenor reckon with their enduring power struggle as The rings of power Season 2 ends.

The Stranger is Gandalf: The Great Mystery of the Rings of Power Solved

The theories came true after all

Perhaps the biggest discovery of The rings of power Season 2’s ending was the stranger’s identity. Since he was revealed as one of “The Lord of the Rings” Istari, many assumed the stranger was an early version of Gandalf the Grey. This was supported by several pointed nods, references and Easter eggs to the wandering gray wizard, raising questions about how Gandalf could exist in Middle-earth’s second age. Despite this seeming disregard for Tolkien’s original work, The rings of power The end of season 2 reveals the stranger as Gandalf after all.

Given the many obvious references to the iconic wizard, this was to be expected. However, among other theories that the Stranger and his Dark Wizard counterpart are the two rarely mentioned Blue Wizards from Tolkien’s books, the potential for otherwise is always present. Nevertheless, the references to the Stranger as Grand-Elf by the Storrs, the finding of his staff and the confrontation with the Dark Wizard confirm the character as the second-age version of Gandalf, also known as Olorin.

How Galadriel survives her fall after fighting Sauron

The battle for the nine rings left Galadriel injured, but alive

The other main storyline of The rings of power Season 2’s ending surrounded the fate of the nine rings of men. At the beginning of the episode, the rings were in Galadriel’s grasp as she looked to escape Eregion while saving as many lives as she could. Eventually, Sauron catches up to her and confronts her. Among more offers of crowns and partnerships, taunts and torments, Sauron and Galadriel clash until the first gains possession of the nine rings. He demands that Galadriel give him her ring, Nenia, before she jumps off a cliff above Eregion.

Later, it is revealed that Galadriel survived her fall, begging the question of how. The answer to this was seeded over The rings of power Season 2: The Elven Rings of Power. As has been shown before, the elven rings, specifically Galadriel’s, have been shown to possess immense healing powers. Galadriel held the ring as she jumped, which probably helped her survive this case. Then, the combined powers of her and Gil-galad’s rings saw Galadriel’s wounds dealt by Sauron’s weapons heal.

The Nine Rings The Rings of Power Set Up The Story of Sauron The Rings of Power Season 3

Sauron’s plan is nearing its final stages

That said, Sauron’s end in The rings of power Season 2 saw him gain possession of the Nine Rings of Men. The rings were the object of Sauron’s desires in the latter half of The rings of power Season 2, after successfully crafting these for the dwarves. In gaining the nine rings of men, sauron’s story for The rings of power Season 3 is established, link to “The Lord of the Rings” Nazgûl.

Now that Sauron has the nine rings of power, he will seek out the lords of men he wishes to bend to his will. in The rings of power Season 3, this plot will unfold. Sauron will find those to give the rings to, leading them down the path of becoming the nine Nazgul seen in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Who these subjects will be remains to be seen, but Sauron’s plan will undoubtedly involve the Ringwraiths, as well as crafting “The Lord of the Rings” One ring.

Why Adar turns good in the Rings of Power season 2 finale

The end of Adar reflects the tragic nature of his character

Before Sauron and Galadriel’s fateful confrontation in The rings of power Season 2’s finale, Adar also meets his end. The character was killed by his own orcs as often theorized throughout season 2, which fell under Sauron’s control. Shortly before that, however, Adar’s character took an intriguing turn. After receiving Galadriel’s ring in The rings of power Season 2, Episode 7, Adar returned to his beautiful elven form. This helped him realize the error of his ways in sacrificing so many of his Uruk children.

The power of the ring helped him realize this, turning his heart into a desire to explore a terminal. Between the elves and the uruk. Although Adar still wants to defeat Sauron alongside Galadriel, he vows to recall his army to Mordor and lead them into an age of peace alongside the other races of Middle-earth. Unfortunately, this promise doesn’t last as Adr is killed by his own orcs.

The end of The Rings of Power Season 2 introduces Rivendell

The valley of Imladris is here

The rings of power Season 2’s ending saw the Siege of Eregion conclude as the elven city was destroyed. However, many of its inhabitants managed to escape as a lot of dwarves came out to fight the orcs. Led by Elrond, Gil-galad, Arondir, and Galadriel, the elves retreat north of Eregion to a hidden valley in the Misty Mountains. The valley would eventually become Rivendell, the stronghold of Elrond Highlighted at length in The Hobbit And The Lord of the Rings.

Will the Balrog return in Rings of Power Season 3?

The Balrog’s return is imminent

The rings of power Season 2’s finale opened with an epic scene in which Durin IV confronted his father. Durin III succumbed to the power of the ring and opened a pathway through the mountain into a chasm filled with mithril. However, within this crest was also the Balrog, the demon born of shadow and flame that has long been teased as the doom of the dwarves. That said, the Balrog didn’t stay long, and beckoned his return The rings of power Season 3.

In Tolkien Lord of the Rings series, the Balrog is said to destroy Khazad-Dum in the Third Age. Granted The rings of powerIn a slightly altered timeline and changed order of events, the Balrog is teased in the Second Age to turn the great dwarven kingdom into the decaying state of Mori. The tears in The rings of power Season 2’s ending was more prominent than any other, likely meaning the Balrog will return in Season 3 And further.

The real meaning of Elendil’s new sword, Narsil

Elendil’s new weapon portends a massive future for the Númenórean captain

Another plot point that was resolved in The rings of power Season 2’s ending was that of Elendil. Despite the end of his arc, major foundations are being built for his future story in The rings of power Season 3. This came in the form of a new weapon, first teased in The rings of power Season 2, Episode 5. Elendil receives the sword of Narsil in The rings of power Season 2’s ending, a weapon given to him by Queen Míriel that signifies him as one of the true Númenórean faithful.

This weapon is one of the most powerful in the entire franchise, as evidenced by his future in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Narsil not only becomes a symbol of Elendil’s strength when he becomes the High King of Gondor and Arnor, but it is eventually used by Isildur to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger during the War of the Last Alliance. Later, it was reforged in Andúril, Flame of the West, for Aragorn during the War of the Ring.

Is the ring of power of the dark wizard Saruman?

Gandalf has an enemy in the Second Age of Middle-earth

Back in the Middle-earth lands of Rhûn, more about the Dark Wizard is revealed in The rings of power Season 2’s finale. Before Gandalf’s identity is revealed, the wizard has to save Storrs, Norri and Mon from the Dark Wizard and his servants. Although the Dark Wizard says he wants to help Gandalf defeat Sauron, the heroic Istari comes to realize that it is only in this way that his dark counterpart can fill the void afterwards. This leads to a brief confrontation in which the Dark Wizard tries to kill the Storrs before escaping.

The rivalry between Gandalf and the Dark Wizard is thus left for The rings of power Season 3, begging the question of whether the latter is Saruman. after all, The dynamic between the two in The rings of power is similar to that of Gandalf and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The Dark Wizard may still be one of the aforementioned Blue Wizards, but it seems like an early version of Saruman is also present. The rings of power Season 2’s finale.

The real meaning of the rings of power’s season 2 ending

Celebrimbor’s words have never been more meaningful

Perhaps the most tragic aspect of The rings of power The end of season 2 is the death of Celebrimbor. After being tortured by Sauron for the location of the Nine Rings, Celebrimbor was killed by the Dark Lord. Given Celebrimbor’s heartbreaking story up to this point, the ending is suitably tear-inducing, but the greatest of​​​​Elven smiths live on in the true meaning of The rings of power Season 2’s finale.

As Celebrimbor mentioned during the Siege of Eregion, the true meaning of The rings of power is that it is light, not strength, that overcomes darkness. Celebrimbor’s words ring true at the end of the season, as the darkness of Sauron permeates many of the show’s storylines. However, despite the discomfort of The rings of power Season 2’s finale, the show’s main characters endlessly remind themselves, each other and the audience that Celebrimbor’s wisdom was correct, and only light can drive out darkness, setting up more resistance from Middle-earth’s free peoples in season 3.