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The opening episode of the second season of The Rings Of Power, Elven Kings Under The Sky, wastes little time in plunging viewers back into the shadowed grandeur of Middle earth. It begins not in the immediate aftermath of the previous season’s revelations but with a lengthy and striking flashback set at the dawn of the Second Age in the frozen wastes of Forodwaith. There Sauron, appearing in an earlier and more ethereal form, addresses a gathering of orcs in the wake of Morgoth’s defeat. He declares a new vision of power, one that seeks dominion not merely of the flesh but over flesh itself, drawing upon the unseen world to enslave the free peoples. The orcs remain restless and distrustful. When one attempts defiance, Sauron responds with swift and brutal violence, asserting that he alone represents their future.
Adar, the figure who claims fatherhood over the orcs, steps forward as if to place a spiked crown upon Sauron’s head. Instead he drives the crown’s points into the back of Sauron’s neck. The orcs surge forward in a frenzy of stabbing and assault until their would be master lies broken. A violent burst of light and energy erupts from the body, freezing the surrounding landscape in ice and shock. Sauron’s physical form vanishes, yet his essence endures as a dark viscous substance that seeps into the depths. Over a long span of time this remnant feeds upon rats and insects, gradually reforming until it emerges into the world and consumes a human traveller, taking the shape of the man later known as Halbrand. This sequence ties directly into the events that brought him into contact with Galadriel upon the open sea, providing a clear origin for the deception that drove much of the first season.
In the present the story shifts to Lindon, where the elves confront the fading of their light and the consequences of the three rings forged in Eregion. Elrond, deeply unsettled by the knowledge that Halbrand was Sauron, seizes the rings and flees, determined to see them destroyed rather than worn. Galadriel pursues him on horseback through the wooded terrain, her urgency matching the gravity of the moment. When they reach High King Gil galad the truth is finally spoken aloud. Galadriel acknowledges the identity of the man she once trusted, yet she insists the rings themselves remain pure and necessary if the elves are to remain in Middle earth and resist the growing shadow. Elrond refuses to accept this reasoning. He escapes with the artefacts, throwing himself of a cliff into the waters below, and seeks out Círdan the shipwright, hoping the elder elf will cast them into the depths of the sea.
Círdan goes out to sea with that intention. Yet the rings exert a subtle and powerful pull. Rather than discard them he returns to Lindon wearing one and carrying the others. As Gil galad prepares to announce the departure of the elves from Middle earth, Círdan presents the rings as works of perfection. In the ensuing confusion one falls at Galadriel’s feet. She places it upon her finger. Gil galad does likewise. The great tree of Lindon, previously withered and bare, responds at once. Golden light and leaves return, restoring a sense of vitality to the realm. Elrond watches with a mixture of relief and profound unease, recognising both the immediate relief of the restoration and the deeper peril it may invite.
Meanwhile in the newly established land of Mordor, Sauron continues his campaign of manipulation while still wearing the guise of Halbrand. He allows himself to be taken before Adar, enduring interrogation and rough treatment at the hands of the orcs and their human collaborators. Through careful words he plants the idea that Sauron has returned elsewhere and that he himself, having earned a measure of trust among the elves, can serve as a useful instrument in locating the true threat. Adar, wary yet pragmatic, eventually grants him leave. As Halbrand rides away a warg under his influence turns upon and kills Waldreg, the human who had participated in his torment. The moment is cold and calculated, underscoring the character’s capacity for quiet cruelty even while he maintains an outward appearance of cooperation.
The episode also turns attention to the continuing journey of the Stranger and Nori as they press eastward through arid and unforgiving terrain toward the lands of Rhûn. The Stranger is troubled by recurring dreams in which he reaches for a staff beneath the stars, only for the vision to shift into scenes of fire, destruction and the shadowy presence of a mysterious Dark Wizard. By day the pair find themselves lost among strange stone trees, hungry and increasingly uncertain of their path. Nori, practical as ever, urges the Stranger to attempt once more to command his unpredictable powers in the hope of drawing sustenance from a barren tree. He hesitates, mindful of past failures, yet complies. The effort goes awry. The tree shatters in a burst of force that throws him backward, yet the explosion reveals a swarm of insects and grubs that provide an unexpected meal. Nori greets the bounty with relief and good humour while the Stranger remains quietly frustrated by his lack of mastery.
They soon realise they are being watched from a distance by figures in unsettling masks. Setting a trap, they spring it only to discover that the follower is none other than Poppy Proudfellow, Nori’s steadfast friend, who has been trailing them with supplies of food and one of Sadoc’s old maps. Guided by the words of a traditional Harfoot walking song, the three companions at last break free of the circular paths that had trapped them and arrive at the borders of Rhûn. Even so, the masked watchers continue to shadow their progress, hinting that greater dangers lie ahead. These scenes, though lighter in tone than the intrigues of Lindon and Mordor, add warmth and a sense of folk tradition while deepening the mystery surrounding the Stranger’s true nature and purpose.`
Performances carry much of the weight. Jack Lowden. portraying the earlier form of Sauron, brings a cold intensity to the opening scene, while Charlie Vickers continues to navigate the dual nature of Halbrand with careful control, shifting between apparent vulnerability and underlying menace. Morfydd Clark as Galadriel conveys determination tempered by the weight of recent revelations. Robert Aramayo’s Elrond registers genuine moral conflict, and Benjamin Walker’s Gil galad projects the authority of a ruler facing an impossible choice. Sam Hazeldine steps into the role of Adar with a measured presence that suggests both paternal care for the orcs and strategic calculation.
The pacing of the episode is deliberate and risks reverting to the tedious slog of the first season’s opener. The extended flashback occupies a substantial portion of the running time and succeeds in clarifying important back story, yet the present day developments are slower by comparison as characters debate the fate of the rings and manoeuvre for position. The decision to have the elves don the rings provides a visually striking climax and a clear statement of intent, yet it also raises questions about the long term consequences that the series will need to explore carefully.
Overall the episode succeeds in re-establishing the central conflicts and expanding the mythology in ways that feel consistent with the larger narrative. The depiction of Sauron’s regeneration adds a layer of horror and inevitability to his character. The moral tension among the elves is well drawn, particularly in Elrond’s resistance and Galadriel’s willingness to accept risk for the sake of survival. The visual spectacle remains a significant strength, and the quieter character moments provide necessary grounding. While certain plot developments unfold at a measured pace and some secondary storylines receive limited attention, the episode lays a solid foundation for the season ahead. It balances revelation with atmosphere and leaves you with a clear sense of the gathering storm, both among the free peoples and in the shadows where Sauron continues to shape events according to his own design.
Where to watch The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power – Season 2, Episode 1: Elven Kings Under The Sky: