The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Catch-Up: Everything You Need to Remember Ahead of Season 2

It has been two years since avid fans of J. R. R. Tolkien got their return to Middle-earth with the franchise’s prequel series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. With Season 1 leaving open doors for certain characters, there are also certain plotlines that viewers need to keep an eye on this season.

From a peculiar character finally getting the origin story they needed to Galadriel becoming the heroine she was destined to be, Season 2 is looking to be bigger than ever.

Here’s everything you need to remember about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1!

Galadriel and “Halbrand’s” Journey

The journey that Galadriel and Halbrand shared together in Season 1 led them both down a shaky road. As such, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 fully forged the rivalry between the two, setting the bar ever higher.

In the beginning, Galadriel was mutinied out of her position as Commander of the Northern Armies of the High King Gil-galad. She set out on a quest to hunt down Sauron, driven by her need to avenge her brother.

Incidentally, she came across Halbrand, a mysterious Southlander. However, Galadriel soon discovered that Halbrand had been usurped as the king by Sauron, setting things in motion for the impending war ahead.

Though they faced problems along their path, including Queen Míriel on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 3, “Adar,” Galadriel and Halbrand certainly developed a strong bond.

Both characters were intensely pulled toward each other as they developed a close admiration for each other’s determination. Galadriel and Halbrand, despite their different motivations, were able to find some purpose with each other.

As the season progressed, their trust in each other began to shift slowly. Halbrand’s injuries during Orodruin’s explosion led him to the one place where he could enact his plans: Celebrimbor’s forge. With her growing suspicions, Galadriel realized that their relationship was simply a trick.

By the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1, Galadriel discovered that “Halbrand” was Sauron after finding evidence disproving his claim as king. However, despite this, she decided to keep it a secret, knowing it could help her take down Sauron in Season 2.

Bronwyn, Theo, Arondir, and Mordor’s Birth

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 also focused on the devastating events that formed Mordor.

Adar, an elf who was corrupted by Morgoth, and his Orc armies took over the Southlands. Adar also believed that the territory could be used as a haven from Sauron’s inevitable invasion.

Meanwhile, Arondir, a Silvan elf stationed in Tirharad to oversee the de-corruption of Morgoth’s influence, found himself influencing events as well. Though the war had ended, Arondir managed to find love with Bronwyn and grew a close bond with the healer.

Unfortunately, the two were kidnapped by orcs and subsequently put into slave labor under Adar.

As the two discovered Adar’s plan to use underground tunnels to attack the Southlands, Bronwyn fled and told the village everything. The elves followed Bronwyn’s plan, but her son, Theo, found a mysterious object that could placate Adar: the hilt of Morgoth’s sword.

Arondir, Theo, and Bronwyn joined the fight for the Southlands. However, Bronwyn got seriously injured in the battle, influencing Theo to give Adar the hilt to save his mother.

With the hilt in hand, Adar has Waldreg do the dirty work by destroying the dam, causing Orodruin to erupt and create Mordor out of the Southlands.

The Stranger’s Reveal

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 also set up important lore regarding the iconic Hobbits before the Shire’s establishment. In the show, the Harfoots serve as the ancestors of the Hobbits, who also live their own peaceful lives.

However, things for them were up-ended after a fiery object landed close to the tribe in the night. Nori, a very curious Harfoot, decided to venture out and accidentally discovered the being of the source: a mysterious Stranger.

Due to the Stranger’s unpredictable magical powers and his claim of “witches hunting him down,” Nori decided to hide him away from the rest of the tribe. 

Stranger helped the Harfoots on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 7, “The Eye,” and grew friendly with Marigold, Malka, and Sardoc along the way.

Furthermore, the Stranger was also able to regain some of his memories thanks to Nori’s actions and realized that he needs to go to Rhûn for the thing he has been searching for. With the Stranger’s path now made, Nori joined him and said goodbyes to her tribe as they made their way to Rhûn.

The Future of the Rings of Power

Now with his plan in motion, Sauron has taken on a new form in Annatar, described as the “Lord of Gifts.” However, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 has provided the important elements needed to stop him once and for all.

On The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 Episode 8, “Alloyed,” Galadriel ordered Celebrimbor to forge three rings instead of two like Sauron wanted. While both Narya and Vilya were the ones to be used by Sauron, Nenya was the one kept by Galadriel.

By forging another Ring of Power, Galadriel can hold power against Sauron should he ever reveal himself in the future. In fact, this ring was meant to preserve Galadriel’s life all the way into the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

With a new identity, Sauron once again remains completely hidden to the rest of Middle-earth. However, given the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1, his return may come sooner than expected. 

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What are your hopes for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 premieres on Prime Video on August 29.

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