Easter Eggs & Breakdown of the Rings of Power Season 2 Premiere (Ep 1-3)

The Rings of Power Season 2 has finally arrived and if you want to check out our review and discussion of the first 3- episodes then check that out here. Otherwise here is the breakdown and easter egg hunt of the first 3- episodes, especially for Tolkien fans who know the lore.

Sauron’s Prologue Uncovers Many Truths 

First of all we finally get a look at how Adar “killed” Sauron and their confrontation at Forodwaith. We know the reason why Adar didn’t recognise Halbrand in season 1 episode 7, because during the ‘Dawn of the First Age’ Sauron was adopting the form and appearance of Slow Horses Star Jack Lowden.

Jack Lowden’s Sauron interestingly mentions the “seen and unseen world” and in his dialogue essentially describes to the orcs the process and effect that the Rings of Power would have- whether purposefully or coincidentally: “for i seek a new kind of power, not of flesh but over flesh, the power of the unseen world, one that we shall use to enslave the peoples of Middle-earth to our very will”. This could be linked to the power of the rings ultimately enslaving the bearers to the will of Sauron.

The King of the Southlands Title & Sigil Finally Answered

Sauron dies and becomes Halbrand and we know that he gets the sigil of the King of the Southlands from the ancestor of one of the servants to the King. Interestingly, the part on the boat after the nightmare is probably the point where in a previous interview Charlie Vickers mentions that at the start of Season 2 there was a part where Sauron nearly repents and almost feels bad for his actions.

The Foreshadowing of Elrond

Elrond is adamant that the rings must be destroyed, which is clear foreshadowing and a call to of course him telling Isildur to destroy the ring into the fires of Mount Doom. This seems like an almost ironic character trait that he will adopt throughout the show, probably until he takes the ring after Gil-galad’s fall.

Halbrand’s manipulation of Adar

When Halbrand meets Adar for the first time in season 2, Halbrand expertly mentions the powers of the unseen world that Adar had mentioned to Galadriel in Season 1 episode 7 which he had originally heard from Sauron in the prologue scene which is what initially makes Adar not turn Halbrand away straight away or even kill him- because there must be some truth to it due to this link.

Halbrand ends up pretending that Sauron and Galadriel are collaborating and that he has the trust of the Elves so he should go and sort it out, which is clever as it is of course a lie but gives Adar a reason to let him go and essentially become Annatar.

The Stranger’s Identity Revelation Teased

The Stranger mentions his home “beyond the sunset” which is probably in relation to Valinor and later in episode 2 with Poppy when they are making up fake names for him, he mentions that a name is not made up but given- implying that he already has a name and identity he doesn’t need a new one. So hopefully this is the beginning of the building blocs of finally finding out the identity of The Stranger.

Waldreg’s Irony

It is of course without a doubt ironic that Waldreg ends up dying at the hands of Sauron after spending the whole of Season 1 essentially seeking him out and worshipping him. Especially, given the fact he was actually beating his original master.

Cirdan References the Sea

The Sea is always right and right it was by throwing away the 3 elven rings straight away. Though, it was nice to see reference to the sinking of Beleriand by Cirdan and reference to the Valar Ulmo who is the master of the seas. We get to see Cirdan’s wisdom when showing the effects of the ring Narya in the sea and the potent effects it may have and to show Elrond that the three elven rings in fact do not have Sauron’s taint.

Lindon Lights up and is Freed

Of course, the final moments of episode 1 is showing the healing effects of the elven rings of power with the poison and decay in Lindon going away. The healing of the nature and the preservation of light but also of the Elves life is seen on display here and links to Galadriel’s monologue in the Lord of the Rings about the preservation effects of the Elven rings and how it keeps the Elven realms secure and safe.

Celebanner foreshadowed to Galadriel

This scene is a clear nod as to what is to come with Celebrimbor this Season and his relationship with Annatar where we see him chained to the trunk of the Lindon tree by the roots, tied up and killed with the tips of the roots passing through him and him becoming a statue. A clear foreshadowing to his eventual death by banner at the hands of Sauron.

White Towers

A cool little easter egg is when Gil-galad mentions “clouds black covering over white towers” which is of course in relation to the black clouds of Sauron over Celebrimbor’s tower in Eregion which is often the focal point in wide shots of the Eregion city. However, this could also be and cool nod and link to the dark clouds of Sauron looming over the white towers of Minas Tirith in the Lord of the Rings that Sauron uses as a way to support his orc army as they march to siege the white city.

The Return of Silm Shady

The Dweller (Bridie Sisson) returns and we have finally found her master that she was working for which was Ciaran Hind’s evil wizard character. He clearly has a staff and distinct magical abilities.

The Duo Have the Same Inkling About the Rings

It is clear that both Elrond and Durin IV are against the idea of the Rings of Power and don’t trust the process of the ring making. Elrond in Season 1 was able to sus out that the identity of Halbrand was fake and everyone was being lied to, Durin IV has this near exact same reaction and instantly doesn’t trust Annatar and maybe this is a testement to their friendship and bond that they both are able to see beyond the deception while others and mainly seniors around them (Gil-galad and Durin III respectively) don’t and instead fall right for it.

The Person Behind the Mask

It is interesting that the show focused on this regular soldier of the evil wizard putting himself forward despite the evil wizard having stronger servants, and he even mentions that you are just a man and normal person with no abilities. The fact this scene was even in there raises some eyebrows as to maybe there’s more to this ‘mortal’ and ‘average’ person than meets the eye. Maybe there is someone of importance behind the mask.

Annatar’s Revelation 

As mentioned in the appendices and the Unfinished Tales Annatar uses his “servant and emissary of the Valar” ploy that Tolkien created for the character and as in the lore Celebrimbor believes it right away. It was interesting that in Annatar’s explanation of himself he mentions that there are “forces beyond good and evil” which is somewhat reminiscent of Gandalf’s famous passage and dialogue to Frodo in Moria in The Lord of the Rings.

The Return of Shelob

The spider returns once again in a Tolkien adaptation and is much smaller than we see in The Lord of the Rings, but this whole passage with Isildur is reminiscent of the horror aspects that we see in the Peter Jackson movies when Frodo was in Shelob’s Lair.

Isildur’s Fate Foreshadowed 

When Isildur looks into the pond/ body of water and sees those dead sunken soldiers, it makes one instantly think of his own death and how it was depicted in the Lord of the Rings movies with him being shot by orc arrow and falling into a river and dying a similar death.

Ents on the Horizon

It wouldn’t be Lord of the Rings without some Ents and that seems like the thing that picked Theo up at the end of the episode 3 and Theo actor Tyroe Muhafidin did mention that he will have his own Merry and Pippin moment this season, and that looks like what we could be seeing next in episode 4!