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EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsLord of the Rings TV ShowsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerThe Rings of Power season 2 episode 5 recap and Easter eggs: Annatar’s deception grows deeperWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Prime Video)
The Rings of Power season 2is now already more than halfway through, and it seems danger is lurking around every corner. The latest episode takes no prisoners either as one of the darkest outings of the Lord of the Rings show yet. However, with so many storylines and characters to navigate, you’d be forgiven if you were a little confused about where we stand in all corners of Middle-earth.
Below, we break down all the major happenings in episode five, from whatAnnatar’s latest plan means to just how much danger Khazad-dûm is really in. Then there’s what’s going down in Numenor, which could have big implications on the rest of Middle-earth.
However, before we get any further digging into one of thebest shows on Amazon Prime Video, take this as yourspoiler warning. We’ll be getting intomajor details of The Rings of Power season 2 episode 5 belowso make sure you’re up to date before reading on.
The Rings of Power season 2 episode 5 recap
(Image credit: Prime Video)
The latest episode of the fantasy epic begins in Khazad-dûm where the influence and power of the new rings rear their head. King Durin is opening up the mountain kingdom to the light, using the power of his ring to be able to tell his men where to dig. However, not everyone is so keen about his approach, as Disa tells Prince Durin she’s worried about the fact that its power may be too tempting for the leader to contain. And as we see a little while later, it already is causing issues as the King tells the other Dwarven lords they must pay a bounty to be able to use the rings.
Later in the episode, Disa buys a tuning crystal, but ends up losing it in the tunnels of the mine. As she goes into the darkness, she sings out to find it, but something terrifying replies in the depths of the mountain. This rings warning bells for Disa and Prince Durin as the King vows to ignore his restrictions and keep digging deeper into Khazad-Dum to find more gold. What could go wrong?
Meanwhile in Eregion,Sauronin Annatar form is still manipulating Celebrimbor and the work at the Elven forge. Celebrimbor has a surprise for them too: the Doors of Durin, which are covered withIthildin. Annatar is trying to convince Celebrimbor to make rings for men, as they are suffering the most in Middle-earth. “It is a game you play is it not? Sowing seeds in others’ minds,” he asks Annatar at one point, almost blowing the whole disguise wide open.
Undeterred, Celebrimbor refuses, getting Annatar to take on the task on his own, after he vows to find men who are pure of heart. “I shall make the nine myself,” he says, but it proves to be harder than he imagined. Mirdania gets the rough side of this after she tries on one of the rings they’ve been working on, which takes her into the unseen world. “It was tall, and its skin was made of flames,” she warns of a beast she saw hunting them.
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Annatar uses it as an opportunity to try and persuade Celebrimbor to help with the making of the rings, as well as leaning on Mirdania to persuade him too with a cheeky compliment that she looks like Galadriel (calm down Haladriel shippers).
(Image credit: Prime Video)
Numenor is not immune from political machinations either as tension grows among the men. Now Pharazôn has taken the throne, he’s made the decision to cement his reign with an iron fist. Speaking to his son Kemen, he instructs him to squash all potential traitors. Ominously, he tells him too that his mother had a prophecy that he would “come to ill ends”. If he does his dirty work, Pharazôn will clarify how.
Elsewhere, Elendil tries to counselMírielto make a stand as the sea guard will protect her. However, she’s now so preoccupied with the fate of Numenor, and that it may have changed, so she wants to keep the status quo. This leaves Elendil in a challenging position – especially as his daughter Eärien has declared herself team Pharazôn – about whether to show loyalty. Ultimately, he decides against it, handing in his captain’s robes to Kemen, just as his men also do.
It’s a decision that has bloody consequences in the final act as while praying in the temple for the souls that have been lost, Kemen’s men march in and overthrow him and Valandil. Kemen destroys a priceless artefact, as Valandil challenges him, aiming his sword at his neck, only not killing him on Elendil’s orders. Kemen is not as noble, stabbing Valandil in the back, murdering him in the most cowardly way.
We see very little of the Elves outside of the forge this week, aside from a small update as Gil-galad plots where to send his efforts – Eregion or towards Adar. He decides the latter as we get a tiny glimpse of just how the Orc’s ‘father’ is fairing with his new prisoner Galadriel. “I brought you here not as a prisoner, but as a potential ally,” he tells her. “For we share a common enemy.” Watch out Sauron.
The Rings of Power season 2 episode 5 Easter eggs
(Image credit: Prime Video)
Palantír:Míriel and Elendil discuss the vision he saw in the Palantír, which is one of the crystal balls used in J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels to predict events to come. Elendil’s vision was himself riding lost from a city he doesn’t know. Given the fate of Numenor to come, it seems pretty clear it can’t mean anything good, even if it does reassure Míriel.
Rings for men:Annatar’s big plan in the latest episode of The Rings of Power is to get Celembrimbor to make rings for men, nine of them to be exact. These are the final rings that Sauron oversees before he instructs Celebrimbor to make the One Ring to Rule Them All. He suggests that they find trustworthy ring bearers, from Numenor to Rhûn. In The Lord of the Rings we never really find out who these men were, other than the Witch-king of Angmar, Khamûl, and the unnamed Ringwraiths. Could we learn more about the Nazghûl here?
The One Ring:At one point Mirdania puts on one of the rings that they’re working on that has been made using moreMithrilthan ever before. It makes her invisible and she enters the “unseen world”. It certainly seems that this might be an early prototype for the eventual One Ring, given its familiarity to the realm.
The Balrog:In the depths of Khazad-Dum, Disa spots something. When she uses her voice to locate her tuning crystal, a groan erupts from under the water. What’s hiding under there? Well, it seems pretty certain that it’s the Balrog, as we know the creature lives under the mountains from the Lord of the Rings –and it even appeared in the season 2 trailer.
For more, check out our guide toThe Rings of Power season 2 release scheduleand ourThe Rings of Power season 2 review.
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More about lord of the rings tv showsThe Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 is the show’s version of The Two Towers – and it’s the best episode of TV released all yearThe Rings of Power season 3 has a “strong” story as showrunners give an update on writing: “We’re hoping to turn it around as fast as possible"Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►
More about lord of the rings tv showsThe Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 is the show’s version of The Two Towers – and it’s the best episode of TV released all yearThe Rings of Power season 3 has a “strong” story as showrunners give an update on writing: “We’re hoping to turn it around as fast as possible"Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►
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More about lord of the rings tv shows
The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 is the show’s version of The Two Towers – and it’s the best episode of TV released all yearThe Rings of Power season 3 has a “strong” story as showrunners give an update on writing: “We’re hoping to turn it around as fast as possible”
The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 is the show’s version of The Two Towers – and it’s the best episode of TV released all year
The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 is the show’s version of The Two Towers – and it’s the best episode of TV released all year
The Rings of Power season 3 has a “strong” story as showrunners give an update on writing: “We’re hoping to turn it around as fast as possible”
The Rings of Power season 3 has a “strong” story as showrunners give an update on writing: “We’re hoping to turn it around as fast as possible”
Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►
Latest
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
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