The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Partings

The closer we get to the end of The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, the more this series feels like the definition of “all talk and no action.” This trend continues on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 5, “Partings,” where the series shies away from commitment, and continues to explain the series lore through exposition. 

In fact, Prince Durin says it best on this episode when Elrond starts speaking in flowery prose.

PRICE DURIN: Aulë’s beard! Enough with the quail sauce! Give me the meat, and give it to me raw!

First, let’s talk about the Harfoots. While The Stranger is starting to come into focus a little more, the plot continues to inch us towards a conclusion. Nothing is really resolved and it’s continuing to drag the story down. 

As usual, there are some beautiful shots and great cinematography. Poppy’s song captured with shots of the Harfoot migration stands out as some gorgeous shots. 

However, the plot continues to be plagued by the same politics and seems to just abruptly end halfway through the episode with nothing resolved. The only productive things this plot does is introduce us to the three new figures hunting the Stranger, but the episode doesn’t give us more than a single imposing shot.

This is a threat I want to see more of, and this is just the start of hallow threats and stakes that plague this episode.

The imposing orc threat on the Elvyn tower is another case where the potential for conflict is squandered. As the threat comes closer and factions start to build off this plot has the potential to sew discord.

Just like the other episodes, though, this plot gets us invested and cuts away. 

Nowhere is this more present than Waldreg and Adar. When Adar gives Waldreg a knife and makes Rowan kneel, the moment is tense. As an audience, we are very invested in what Waldreg is about to do. However, the series cuts away at the second it should follow through and the next time we see the Orcs they’re marching towards the tower.

Similar dynamics are present in Numenor as well. As the city moves towards war there’s a lot of talk about if what they’re doing is right, but it feels like the time for hand-wringing has passed.

It was somewhat interesting to hear Isildur and Elendil talk about wanting to serve and what that means to the Island of Numenor, but the plot goes on a little too longer than necessary to end with the ships departing to Middle Earth.

Elrond and Durin’s plot, while introducing conflict, suffers from a lot of exposition. The introduction of the elves facing extinction unless they get the ore the dwarves are mining feels shoehorned into the plot.

By the end of the episode, it’s almost a relief when Durin insists that Elrond stop dancing around the issue and give him “the meat.” 

In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 5, “Partings,” treads the same grounds as previous episodes. While there are some standout moments it fails to make us care about the characters enough to have the audience note any of the events that happened. 

What did you think of this episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power airs new episodes on Fridays.

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