As the dust settles on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale, the time has come to take a deep dive into that ending and peel through the layers of many, many game-changing moments packed in that hour or so episode of television. Here are The Rings of Power season 2 episodes and ending explained and a brief review.

Over the course of The Rings of Power season 2 episodes, we have seen Sauron, posing as Annatar, scheming against Celebrimbor in Eregion to forge the titular Rings of Power — objects that would allow him total control over all the major races of Middle-earth. Does his master plan come to fruition in the finale? Let’s unpack everything that happened in The Rings of Power season 2 last episode and what it means for future seasons.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an adaptation of British author and the father of modern fantasy JRR Tolkien’s books. Specifically, it is not based on any particular book but takes material from the appendices of his magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings, and builds an expansive narrative surrounding Sauron’s first rise, creation of the rings, decline of Númenor, and many more events that would shape the future of Middle-earth and the Third Age (which is when the events of The Hobbit and LotR take place).

Anyhoo, let’s dive right into The Rings of Power season 2 ending explained. We will discuss every major thing that happened in The Rings of Power season 2 last episode and its ramifications for future seasons.

The Rings of Power season 2 ending explained: What it means for the future of Middle-earth

Galadriel vs Sauron

The duel between Galadriel and Sauron has been a long time coming. (Image: Courtesy of Prime Video)

This duel has been a long time coming. The moment Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers) was revealed to be Sauron in disguise in the finale of The Rings of Power season 1, we knew the writers were treating Sauron and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) are sort of Yin and Yang. Galadriel is a fierce sun while Sauron is encroaching shadows. In the episode, Galadriel pursues Sauron and finds him somewhere far from all the action.

They trade barbs and Sauron once again offers the Elf a position by his side as a queen of all Middle-earth. Galadriel refuses and in the end, she is stabbed by the crow, which may or may not be Morgoth’s crown. Adar, if you remember, believed Sauron can be killed by the crown and stabbed him in the head back in episode 1. However, Sauron did not die. He did lose his fair form and took half a millennium to recover. Galadriel recovers thanks to Elvish medicine, so it is not lethal to her, either. But since she is incapacitated, Sauron has the Nine Rings that grant him dominion over all Men.

So… the Stranger was Gandalf?

As theorised, the Stranger was indeed revealed to be Gandalf. (Image: Courtesy of Ross Ferguson/Prime Video)

Indeed, as suspected, the so-called Stranger (played by Daniel Weyman) that has been wandering with Harfoot (proto-hobbit) Nori (played by Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards) is really Gandalf, the Istari who is known to be friendly with hobbits like Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. Gandalf has been on a journey of self-discovery since he crashed like a meteor on the earth. We know Gandalf was not really an old man or a wizard — he was one of the Istari, who were avatars of Maia spirits. Interestingly, Sauron himself was a Maia called Mairon before being corrupted by Melkor (later called Morgoth, the first Dark Lord of Middle-earth).

The name Gandalf comes to him naturally, though he is assisted in the process by Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear), himself an enigmatic character who is older than the stars.

Celebrimbor’s torture and death

Celebrimbor was first mentally and then physically tortured by Sauron. (Image: Courtesy of Ben Rothstein/Prime Video)

We know Sauron is pure evil and would not think twice before tormenting someone, but it was still disturbing to see him inflict physical pain on Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) after torturing him mentally for days. Since Celebrimbor’s purpose was fulfilled in Sauron’s eyes and he had gotten all the rings he needs to dominate all Middle-earth (he will gain power over all the Rings of Power thanks to the One Ring). Both Edwards and Vickers have been absolutely phenomenal this season and if there is some justice in this world, they either or both should get Emmy nominations.

The Balrog of Khazad-dûm

Durin’s Bane killed King Durin III. (Image: Courtesy of Ross Ferguson/Prime Video)

The Balrog that the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm accidentally awakened last season finally comes into play in the finale. If you have read LotR or watched the Peter Jackson-directed LotR trilogy which had actors like Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen in the cast, this is the same Balrog that Gandalf fights towards the end of The Fellowship of the Ring and falls to his death (before returning as Gandalf the White in the next movie). It is called Durin’s Bane in LotR and there is a dark reason behind that. It caused the destruction of the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm, and the kingdom was renamed to Moria, which means a black chasm or pit. However, all this happens in the Third Age. In The Rings of Power season 2 finale, the Balrog fights and kills King Durin III (Peter Mullan), which means now Durin IV (Owain Arthur) is the king. And for now, Durin’s Bane’s threat is contained.

Dwarves come to Elves’ aid

The Dwarves came to aid the Elves in the Siege of Eregion. (Image: Courtesy of Ben Rothstein/Prime Video)

Although they were delayed thanks to the Balrog, the Dwarves did come to the aid of Elves in the Siege of Eregion. LotR and other stories set in Middle-earth (which is a continent) and the wider Arda (which is the name of this world) are all about people uniting against a common evil foe. Morgoth and later Sauron could be defeated only because warring races like Elves, Men and Dwarves set their differences aside to vanquish them. We know Rings of Power is leading to an eventual battle (which occurs in the beginning of the first The Lord of the Rings movie, The Fellowship of the Ring), but it appears thanks to Elves like Elrond and Dwarves like Durin IV, the great alliance is beginning to take shape.

Sauron becomes the Dark Lord

Charlie Vickers as Annatar or Sauron. (Image: Courtesy of Prime video)

It was bound to happen. Adar was a threat to Sauron and the reason he almost died hundreds of years ago. We have seen what Sauron does to those he almost loves if he is capable of love (like Galadriel and Celebrimbor). Those he hates? He has no mercy in him for them. Adar dies the same way Sauron was stabbed to quasi-death by Orcs in the first episode of the season. He is betrayed by the Orcs, who he refers to as his children, perhaps because Orcs are too terrified of Sauron to disobey his orders. Now, Sauron is in charge of all the Orcs, which means he has tens of thousands of soldiers in his army already. He is already the Dark Lord we know him in LotR. Now, all that remains is the corruption of the nine kings of men who will become the Nazgûl like we saw in the movie trilogy. By the way, we may witness Nazgûl, the Fellowship and the rest on the big screen once again as Warner Bros is rebooting the LotR franchise.

The Narsil reveal

We got a glimpse of the Narsil that caused much woe to Sauron. Its original wielder is Elendil (Lloyd Owen), who becomes the first High King of Arnor and Gondor. The sword shatters and breaks when Elendil attacks Sauron. It is Isildur (Maxim Baldry) who takes the shard still attached to the sword’s hilt and cuts the One Ring off Sauron, destroying his corporal body. That will happen in season 5, though. But fans of Jackson movies will notice that this is the same sword that was reforged by Elven Smiths for Aragorn in The Return of the King. Aragorn renamed it Andúril.

What’s next?

All the Orcs are now under the command of Sauron. (Image: Courtesy of Ross Ferguson/Prime Video)

Now that Sauron is the Dark Lord of Middle-earth he is once again free to spread darkness death and destruction on Middle-earth. He will also perhaps gain new allies in the form of Easterlings and even the Dark Wizard (played by Ciarán Hinds) But his dominion will not go unchallenged. Elves, Men, Dwarves and more will oppose him. But with the One Ring, Sauron is nearly invulnerable.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 brief review

Here is The Rings of Power review: This season, The Rings of Power has been supremely thrilling from start to finish. Its narrative strands still feel spread too thin, but after the finale, there is a feeling that it is all coming together. The season was also vastly improved in terms of focus on individual characters rather than the whole plot. Sauron and Celebrimbor’s dynamic was fascinating and tragic and so satisfying to watch. A huge improvement over season 1.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 full cast

The Rings of Power cast boasts of names like Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Robert Aramayo, Benjamin Walker, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Daniel Weyman, Owain Arthur, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Trystan Gravelle, Maxim Baldry, Ciarán Hinds, Peter Mullan.

Watch The Rings of Power season 2 on Amazon Prime Video here.