The Lord Of The Rings: Rings Of Power Season 1 Episode 5 resolves the quandary that exists in the hearts of the elves, men, and dwarves.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Season 1 Episode 5 Recap
Rings Of Power Season 1 Episode 5 makes things more difficult by testing the characters’ allegiances and forcing them to make decisions that are unpopular in their communities. Most of these decisions, based on instinct, create tensions between outsiders and locals. Few people do this better than Nori and The Stranger. Because of the danger they pose, the Harfoots actively avoid all other tribes. Nori, on the other hand. Her heart is open in ways that others don’t understand, but at what cost? “Am I a peril?” The Stranger inquires of Nori. “No, you’re here to help,” she responds. How did she find out? The Stranger’s purpose is so hazy that even he is unsure if he is a threat to those around them. He’s definitely a threat to fireflies.
Are we bad from birth, or do we break bad? “Partings” raises these questions almost immediately, and there is no easy answer. Each storyline refracts from the previous one, with characters dealing with the costs of being a stranger in a strange land, which creates unexpected dangers for those they care about. But, as the saying goes, “All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost”. That’s easy for Gandalf or Poppy to say, but being an Elf on the verge of extinction can lead to some bad decisions.
Assuming the Stranger is gold that doesn’t glitter, he is welcomed into the Brandyfoot caravan because they value compassion over prejudice. We can see the warmth within the Brandyfoot family, which warms both those around them and those watching.
However, as we catch up with the other Harfoots, we see some of the distrust that we’ll see throughout this episode. Malva encourages her husband Sadoc to expel The Stranger and the Brandyfoots, effectively dooming the family unless The Stranger can demonstrate he is not a danger. Despite his reservations, The Stranger demonstrates his worth by saving Nori, Poppy, and Malva from a pack of wolves. The Harfoots are eager to welcome him in, but Nori is having second thoughts. He can create magic but not fully control it, which worries Nori. Perhaps he is a peril.
Many people on Nmenor can relate. The Nmenóreans haven’t exactly welcomed Galadriel and Halbrand with open arms. The sea is always right, but an Elf in Nmenor makes people nervous. Nonetheless, the Queen Regent offers her navy to guard the Southlands. Sending her citizens to war is a controversial position, and Kemen hopes to persuade his father, Pharazón, to take action. Of course, Kemen’s father would never take orders from an Elf, but Kemen isn’t looking at the big picture. If Nmenor returns to Middle-earth, they will be able to unite with the south and seize control of trade routes and commerce. The fact that Pharazón sees war as an opportunity should tell us everything we need to know about him.
The High King Gil-galad, like Pharazón, has hidden agendas. To smooth things over, Gil-galad invites Durin to dinner so he can give him the third degree on what’s going on in Khazad-dum. He and Celebrimbor reveal their true motives: they are aware of the mithril, and it is necessary for the Elves’ survival. Mithril contains the Valar’s light, which keeps the eternal souls of the Elves healthy. If the Elves do not obtain mithril soon, they will be forced to return to the Undying Lands or die on Middle-earth.
These scenes exemplify the show’s most frustrating aspect. We know the Elves are aware of the mithril and that Elrond was dispatched to confirm its existence, and it feels like we’ve been waiting forever for Elrond to catch up. Nonetheless, it raises an intriguing future question. This week, we were introduced to a Balrog somewhere in Khazad-dûm. Saruman blames the Balrog’s release on Dwarves delving “too greedily” in Fellowship of the Ring. Is it possible that this is the fault of the Elves?
The fast-paced eight-episode season can result in some jerky plotting. Rings Of Power will still be shorter than Peter Jackson’s trilogy by the end of this first season, but spending some time in these locations has provided an opportunity to dive into characterization on levels other than plot. Most importantly, while we waited for Galadriel to persuade Mriel, we got to know Isildur.
Isildur has a lot of Luke Skywalker energy. He’s eager to embark on an adventure and accomplish something meaningful. His ambition, however, has led him astray. Isildur jeopardized his friends’ safety, cost them their jobs, and broke their trust. The two-punch apology was amusing, but it won’t get him aboard the ship bound for Middle-earth. Isildur stows away on one out of necessity, hiding near the ship’s oil supply. Unfortunately, ambition also leads Kemen astray, and he attempts to blow up the ships, leaving Isildur to save him. Everything works out for the latter, who gets a job as a stable sweep on a boat bound for Middle-earth. He’ll have to earn his place.
The Southlanders are as divided as the Nmenóreans on the watchtower Ostirith. Half of them want to fight in a Helm’s Deep scenario, while the other will bow to Adar, an outsider. He wishes the Orcs could enjoy the sun as much as he does, adding a layer of sorrow to his character. He appears to be regretting his decision to become a Dark Lord, but his motivations and allegiances are ambiguous. He’s an Elf living among Orcs, but when the bartender mistakes him for Sauron, he’s almost furious.
We now see collaboration where there was once isolation. Characters in Rings of Power must decide between putting their friendships or their heritage first. Should Elrond turn on Durin in order to protect the elves? Should Mriel heed the advice of King Palantir and postpone her journey to Middle-earth? The political gamesmanship in Lord of the Rings is still viewed with skepticism, with a focus on the value of true community ties and friendships in bringing these characters to the light.
