"Halls of Stone" Reveals Power's Corruptive Cost
The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5 Goes Further into the Maelstrom
Mae govannen, friends! Josh here. This week’s Rings of Power review is a guest piece written by
. Aaron “is a writer living outside Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife have four children. Aaron grew up reading one Inkling, C.S. Lewis, and discovered another Inkling, J.R.R. Tolkien, through his wife. They almost named their first child Arwen or Éowyn but decided against it once they found out it was a boy. Aaron did manage to give their last child the initials of C.S. At his Substack, The Wardrobe Door, he is reviewing The Rings of Power each week and will start reviewing Agatha All Along once it premieres. He writes about faith, culture, and C.S. Lewis.”I’ve enjoyed Aaron’s past TV reviews and asked if he’d write one for me for this season of The Rings of Power. And what an episode to review! Here is Aaron’s recap and analysis of “Halls of Stone”
"Halls of Stone" Reveals Power's Corruptive Cost
The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5 Goes Further into the Maelstrom
by
Spoiler-free Thoughts
It should be no surprise that The Rings of Power deals with power, specifically the type that comes from Rings, but “Halls of Stone” highlights the temptations inherent with power and a desire for more of it. We’re seeing those temptations take hold across Middle-earth.
In the early moments of episode five, I worried this would be a disappointing episode. Some storylines and characters seemed to move too quickly. The foreshadowing of changes planted episodes ago and even last season suddenly appeared fully formed. While the question of pacing, which has lingered with the show through two seasons, may still be valid, by episode's end the crescendoing tension in this episode overwhelmed those concerns for me and left me excited for what’s to come.
“Halls of Stone” focuses on highpoints of the series so far, particularly Khazad-dûm and Eregion, and builds up the intrigue and outrage in Númenor. As a result, it stands out as one of the best episodes of the show so far.
Spoilers for The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5, “Halls of Stone”
Power is not inherently evil, not even in Middle-earth. But power can quickly corrupt when it seeks to grow beyond its established limits and ignores wisdom from the past, especially in Middle-earth.
In Khazad-dûm, King Durin III quickly embraces his new Ring of Power and immediately enters his house-remodeling phase, knocking down load-bearing walls to brighten up the space and give his kingdom a more open concept. The Ring allows him to “see” the mountain and know the right places to dig to restore the sunlight shafts that had caved in.
But he doesn’t stop at restoring his kingdom, he seeks to expand its power by increasing the taxes on his people, forcing the other dwarven kingdoms to pay tribute to him in exchange for Rings, and digging deeper into the mountain, beyond the restrictions he himself placed decades ago.
Both Narvi, the delve-master, and Prince Durin, notice the change. The younger Durin explains to Celebrimbor, “It’s like he’s colder. Quicker to anger.” Prince Durin says greed has never been the way of the king before, but it’s a motivation now.
As his new-found greed is established, King Durin tells Narvi, “We should be delving much deeper,” obviously calling to mind Saruman’s warning to Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring movie. “The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep,” he says, awakening the Balrog of “shadow and flame.”
Disa stumbles into an unexplored area of the mines and begins to sing until something roars back. When Prince Durin warns his father of “a nameless evil, ancient and powerful” in the mines, King Durin dismisses their concerns. “Disa is mistaken,” he says. “There is no danger.”
Across the sea in Númenor, Pharazôn has seized control of the kingdom, but his eyes are looking beyond his own shores to “the white tower of Eressëa, the very gateway to the Undying Lands.” He tells his son Kemen that all his life he believed the ruling scepter was “high enough.” Now that he has reached the pinnacle of power in Númenor, however, he wants more. He believes the elves have placed Eressëa in their sights to mock men, to remind them “that no matter how high we climb, some things will be forever withheld from our grasp.”
Those faithful to the old ways are being persecuted. The Sea Guard who went to Middle-earth with Míriel and are loyal to her, including Elendil and Valandil, are being stripped of their rank, led by Kemen and Elendil’s daughter Eärien. Father and daughter finally have a one-on-one conversation, leading Elendil to foreshadow the fate of the island kingdom and perhaps Eärien herself. “Take care to keep your feet beneath you,” he says, “it’s a long way to the bottom.”
Later, many of the faithful are gathered by the water in the oldest shrine in Númenor to help “the souls of those we have lost” find peace. The high priest says they will meet again in the “far green country under a swift sunrise,” a description of Valinor used by Frodo in the books and given to Gandalf in the films.
Their moment of mourning, however, is interrupted by some royal guards and Kemen, who says the shrine is condemned by order of the king. Kemen continues to mock the faithful and break their relics, until Valandil punches him. During the scuffle, Valandil overpowers Kemen, breaks his arm, and holds a sword at his throat. Elendil begs him and orders him as his captain not to kill Kemen. As Valandil shows mercy and walks away, Kemen stabs him from behind, killing him.
I’ve been on Kemen is the real villain of the show for a while, but this cemented his case. Sure, Sauron forges the Rings and brings about death and destruction across all creation, but at least he’s a Maia. Kemen is just a petty tyrant with the most punchable face. He is the Dolores Umbridge of Middle-earth. I feel like he’s being positioned to become a Ringwraith, but I don’t want him to even achieve that level of success.
Meanwhile in Eregion, Celebrimbor seems more wary of Annatar’s plans. He notices Annatar is impatient during their celebration with the dwarves (which includes the unveiling of the famous Doors of Durin with a password “known only to friends). Celebrimbor continues to refuse the plan to make the Nine Rings for men. He rightly asks Annatar, “It is a game you play, is it not? Sowing seeds in others' minds and then convincing them that the fruit is of their own thought.” But Sauron has been weaving plans within plans.
Annatar works to recruit Mirdania, Celebrimbor's protégé, after she wears a Ring that makes her invisible and puts her in the unseen realm. She sees Sauron’s true form: skin made of flames, reeking of death and “pitiless and eternal” eyes. But he manages to convince her that the figure in the vision was Celebrimbor, who has become “diminished” and “vulnerable to the shadow.” Then, in a skin-crawlingly creepy moment, Annatar lightly brushes aside her hair and tells her that she seemed the “perfect likeness” to Galadriel.
Annatar overcomes Celebrimbor’s skepticism. He confesses that something may indeed be wrong with the dwarven Rings, as they “brought deceit into the process.” Annatar says the letter Celebrimbor sent to High King Gil-galad saying the forge was closed caused the seven dwarven Rings to be “forged beneath a cloak of deception.” He presents Celebrimbor a choice: go to Lindon and confess or “plunge straight on even deeper into the maelstrom.” Annatar tells Celebrimbor that he should be “mindful someone is not manipulating you,” all the while he manipulates the elf lord. Celebrimbor agrees to make the nine Rings for men.
Sauron has assured they’ll be no interference until it is too late. Elrond reaches Lindon, but Gil-galad says they cannot send an army to Eregion. Meanwhile, the horde of orcs gather outside with a captured Galadriel. Adar says he has not brought her as a prisoner but as a potential ally with a common enemy.
In “Halls of Stone,” we see the dangers of a hunger for power. More than any previous moment in the show, Sauron embodies the evil mastermind in this episode. Learning from his master Morgoth, he plays everyone to his melody. King Durin, Pharazôn, and Celebrimbor have all reached greatness, but they want more. What they don’t realize is the further they reach out, the more ensnared they become.
Ominously, throughout the episode, several towers are shown in darkness lit by flames at the top. In one instance, Annatar is standing on a ledge looking down to see how to best complete his schemes. Everyone else may be out for power, but, as Gandalf told Saruman in The Fellowship of the Ring, “There is only one Lord of the Ring … and he does not share power.” Someone needs to tell Durin, Pharazôn, and Celebrimbor. And someone needs to punch Kemen.
Previous analysis of Rings of Power season 2 in Jokien with Tolkien:
Episodes 1–3:
Episode 4:
Unfinished Tales
Where I share likes, dislikes, stray observations, quotes, and speculation/theories that didn’t make it into the above
Josh here again! Loved Aaron’s recap and thoughts on this week’s episode!
Man, I got chills when Annatar said “Men are capable of great frailty. But when the darkness falls, there are always some who rise forth and shine. Eärendil, Tuor, Beren, son of Barahir.” Of course Sauron would be intimately familiar with Beren’s feats!! Must have really galled him to have to praise Beren like that. And to describe Eärendil as “rising forth and shining” when he literally became the Morning Star… *chef’s kiss*
Simply amazing to watch Annatar continue to deceive and manipulate Celebrimbor. All of us familiar with the story from Tolkien know what happens, but seeing the how (and it being entirely believable within the frame of the show) is a delight.
Annatar saying that Mirdania reminded him of Galadriel’s “perfect likeness” “when the light caught [her] hair”…chat, is she actually Celebrían? (Elrond especially curious 👀)
Got some real “Dead Poets Society” vibes from all the Sea Watch members from the Faithful saying “Thank you, Captain” and “Valar bless you, Captain” to Elendil.
Loved seeing Celebrimbor and Narvi standing in front of the Doors of Durin that bear their name: “The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.” Wish we had seen Narvi crafting them or Celebrimbor drawing the signs, however!
Speaking of Elendil, he and Miriel swore to walk the way of the Faithful “come way may” at the end of last season. But boy are they going through it. Elendil thinks he has lost Isildur, is losing Eärien, and now lost Valandil this episode. (P.s. where is Elendil’s other son, Anárion? Is he lost somehow too?). And there is more loss on the horizon.
If you weren’t sad enough about Valandil already, this is your reminder that Isildur names his youngest son…Valandil. </3
Prince Durin’s eyebrow raise at Celebrimbor was amazing haha
While I’m glad we finally got Pharazon sharing about his jealously of the long life of the elves and chafing at the Gift of Ilúvatar (death), I wish we’d gotten just a little bit earlier last season or this season about it. Still, better late than never.
Ahh, I really enjoyed this episode and there’s so much more to discuss! But this is already long! Hop on the Discord though if you want to discuss further!
CELEBORN WATCH:
Was Celeborn mentioned in Season 2, Episode 5? no
Was Celeborn IN ROP Season 2, Episodes 5? Still no
(I did this each week last year on Twitter and had too much fun with it, so I’m continuing the tradition)
Appendices
I couldn’t squeeze it in today, so either on Tuesday or in a separate, short email I have a few recent Tolkien releases to highlight! Stay tuned!
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I'm hoping this will be the model for the show going forward. A small number of storylines per episode but significant progress and some strong dramatic scenes for each. I wasn't all that into Numenor last season but it is so much more engaging now.
Agreed with everything said. Easily one of the strongest episodes and really focussed on the “power corrupts” element of story telling. These are always the parts of fantasy lore that I enjoy, when things are just about to go bad. Yes, heroes riding to the rescue is all very honourable but I find that descent into darkness the most interesting as already corrupt people find temptation too much
Really looking forward to what comes next