RELATED: LOTR Rings Of Power: Characters And Their Possible Fates As Of Episode SevenThere were a lot of easter eggs and references in these episodes for both book readers and movie fans. Part of the intention was to leave a path for viewers to follow into season two no matter what movies, books, or games they love from everyone’s favorite high-fantasy franchise.
5 The Legend Of Finrod Felagund
It’s a nice touch that the dagger of Finrod would be used to make the three Elven rings. Book readers know how meaningful this is even beyond Galadriel’s sacrifice. According to the lore in Rings of Power, the mithril carries the light of a Silmaril. This is unique to the show and doesn’t appear in Tolkien’s lore, but has some interesting connections to the House of Finarfin.
It’s never revealed which one of the three jewels this was, but Galadriel’s brother Finrod died to recover one from Morgoth. One of the most vocal opponents of the Oath of Feanor, Finrod was determined that someone worthy would recover the Silmarils as opposed to his cousins, who had been corrupted by them. The story is told in The Silmarilion and only referenced in other works of how Finrod set out to aid Beren in his quest to recover one of the Silmarils and win the hand of Luthien.
4 Pelargir
With the fall of Numenor yet to come, and the overall timeline of the second age going through some changes, the use of this name might be confusing or misleading. Book readers know more of the detailed lore of Numenor’s last years, and that those who were loyal to the Valar had been preparing settlements along the west coast of Middle-earth for their arrival years in advance.
RELATED: Rings Of Power: Important Places In The Southlands That Also Appear In The LotR MoviesPelargir was one of these settlements and it dates from the year 2350 of the Second Age, so not that far off from the time when Bronwyn leads the survivors of the Southlands to their new homes on the coast. The city would eventually become Gondor’s most important access point to the sea, and movie fans will recognize this location as the same one where Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn took the Black Ships from Sauron’s forces.
3 The Palantir
During this period, a Palantir wasn’t such a rare thing. They were made by the Elves, perhaps Feanor himself, and given to Numenorean families that were loyal to the Valar. Seven survived the destruction of the island and were brought to Middle-earth, and despite the way they’re treated in the show, they didn’t become dangerous until Sauron got his hands on one centuries later.
It’s not at all strange that Miriel has a Palantir, but book readers will know that Elendil also would’ve had one, which means that Eärien would have also been familiar with these devices because her father had one at home. In the series, this has been changed slightly to make them prescient devices, more about fortune-telling than communication, to explain how Elendil finds out that Numenor is about to be destroyed. In the lore, he’s warned in advance so he can make his escape with the rest of the Faithful, but it’s not made clear by whom or how.
2 Celembribor And Annatar
It might have been a good guess that Halbrand was Sauron up until this episode, but the book readers recognized him as soon as he started making nice with Celebrimbor. According to Tolkien’s lore, when Sauron first appeared after the War of Wrath, it was as the smith Annatar who arrived in Eregion claiming to be a messenger of the Valar. It wasn’t exactly a lie, and that’s the kind of misinformation that was Sauron’s specialty.
RELATED: Lord Of The Rings: Things Only Book Readers Know About Celebrimbor Sauron would have known Celembribor’s grandfather Feanor and no doubt knew who he was. The story is slightly different, with Gil-galad being the one that was seduced by Annator’s charms, and his most important craftsman, Celembribor, was always suspicious. This is why he made the three rings for the elves in secret.
1 The Eye Of Sauron
It’s more of an abstract concept in the books that Peter Jackson interpreted into an enormous burning eye, but the main point is the symbolism of a powerful entity with a supernatural vision that sees everything. In the last scene of episode eight, he seems to be returning to his old home in Mordor.
Book readers know he was in exile for a time after Melkor’s defeat in the War of Wrath before returning and building up his dark powers again. It’s also a reference to Sauron’s real power, that of manipulation and coercion, his uncanny ability to discern everyone’s deepest hopes and desires. He’ll likely use this power again when it’s time to create the other rings.
MORE: LOTR Rings Of Power: The Cult Of Melkor, What You Need To Know
