The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 7 Review: The Eye
After episodes of exposition, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 7, “The Eye is where the series finally hits its stride.
Despite the fact that the Harfoots, and the Dwarves, still feel disconnected from the main plot the series does feel more cohesive. Instead of continuing to add elements to the world, the series is finally focusing on the relationships between the characters and what really drives them.
One example of this is Durin. His confrontation with his father after the King refuses to help the elves really encapsulates Durin’s motives and objectives. Durin wants to please his father, but with the help of Disa he needs to accept that he might not be able to.
This also led to the audience seeing some great moments between Durin and Disa. Sophie Nomvete is a powerhouse especially when she is ready to criticize her father-in-law.
Similarly, in the Southlands we see every character start to go through a loss of some type. It’s heartbreaking to see Elendil mourn Isildur, even begging the horse to make the trip back with him. There’s palpable regret at that moment and it gives the character another layer of dimension that we haven’t previously seen.
We see Theo go through a grieving process when he thinks that Bronwyn is dead. Considering she almost died on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 6, “Udûn,” it probably wouldn’t have been that surprising to the audience.
Earlier episodes didn’t really give his character the space to breathe and be anything beyond a petulant kid. These episodes add more impact to his character.
The Harfoots and the stranger also get into some conflict. Introducing three more strangers who seem to be hunting the stranger that’s been helping the Harfoots adds a more menacing layer and more urgency to their plotline.
While I haven’t cared for how their plot has been paced throughout the season, I am enjoying seeing the character growth of characters like Marigold, Malka, and Sardoc who were so against Nori’s friendship with the friendly giant.
Despite losing their caravan the fact that they’re now willing to help this stranger and warn him of the danger he may face is a very hopeful and lighthearted moment in an episode that needed a little bit of levity.
What “The Eye” finally seems to understand is that they have to give the audience more than just a fierce one-dimensional character in order to build some narrative tension. Even characters like Galadriel, who seem to have such a myopic get a moment to reflect and breathe as they figure out what’s next.
While it’s clear that we can’t expect all the questions to be answered by the finale, “The Eye” gives us some hope that the series may come together if the writers continue to focus on what is driving their characters.
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 Fridays on Amazon Prime.
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.