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7 View Of The Southlands (Episode 1)

The Tower of Ostirith isn’t mentioned in the books, but it is an authentic part of Tolkien’s lore that there were groups of Wood Elf soldiers keeping an eye on Morgoth’s former allies. Their settlements and forts could be found in numerous locations throughout the Mountains of Shadow that surrounded the Southlands, so this place could have existed at some point.

The view of the Southlands to start the series is a good narrative choice because this is where some of the most important events in the next seven episodes take place. It also sets up one of the main characters, Arondir, and the exposition in this scene helps explain why he and his peers are in the Southlands in the first place.

6 The Ruined Village (Episode 2)

This brief but terrifying scene features two fan-favorite characters and deepens the mystery as to what is happening in the Southlands. The first few episodes had certain characters following a trail of clues that would eventually lead to Adar and his Orc army, and this is the scene where Bronwyn and Arondir explore a whole village that seems to be in ruins.

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This comes to a head when they discover a lopsided house that gives the whole sequence a creepy Dutch angle. Lit by little more than the torchlight, they discover an ominous hole in the floor. This was part of a system of channels that led to the heart of Orodruin, which proves to be more destructive than any army.

5 The Eruption Of Orodruin (Episode 6)

It took until episode six to understand exactly what it was that Bronwyn and Arondir had discovered in that ruined town, and Arondir’s captivity only made the whole mystery even more insidious. There’s even some real-world science involved in these deadly fireworks, as it appears that Adar and his Orcs knew enough about chemistry to mix saltwater with lava to create a deadly and massive explosion.

4 The Workshop Of Eregion (Episode 2)

The darkness of the ruined village in the first episode was followed by an epic, sweeping view of one the mightiest kingdoms of the second age: Eregion. It’s all sunlight and trees as opposed to the shadows creeping up from the Southlands and it’s a nice juxtaposition.

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3 Singing To The Mountain (Episode 4)

Tolkien made a lot of hints about the relationship that Dwarves have with their creator, Aule, and the living rock they make their home. Rings of Power elaborates on this and it’s an interesting tale on a lesser-known part of Middle-earth’s cultural background.

Princess Disa’s powers go well beyond those of her royal responsibilities. The hymns and chants she sings are a way of praying to the mountain, asking it for bounty, mercy, or just giving the beloved walls of Moria some love.

2 A Shortcut To Blackberries (Episode 1)

One of the earliest scenes in the first episode is a callback to the part of the story in The Fellowship of the Ring when Frodo and Sam run into Merry and Pippin near Farmer Maggot’s field. This is when Poppy and Nori, with several Harfoot children in tow, sneak past a forbidden barrier to indulge in a rich field of blackberry bushes.

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Like the scene from Fellowship, which had a Ringwraith pursuing the heroes,there’s also a malevolent presence lurking in the background of this happy scene. Luckily, Nori takes special note of a suspicious footprint in the mud and is smart enough to get everyone away, similar to how Frodo knew to get off the road.

1 Sauron’s Return To Mordor (Episode 8)

An ominous moment that foreshadows a rough time for the heroes but an exciting romp for the viewers, the closing moments of the season finale showed the recently revealed Sauron returning to Mordor. This might mean that a meeting between him and Adar is imminent, and some kind of confrontation between these two opposing characters might be a major plot point in the next season.

On the other hand, there are a few other stops that Sauron is likely to make, and his return to Mordor may only be a quick visit to see how his long-term plans for the region are unfolding. He has yet to build the Dark Tower, also known as Barad-dûr, and there are still 16 rings that have yet to be forged.

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