The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7 Review: The Sacrifice Play

Leading up to its endgame, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7 showcases the lasting impacts of the sacrifices made in the most heartbreaking ways.

This episode continues the thematic exploration set throughout The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4, “Eldest,” and The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 6, “Where is He?” It caps off that deep dive with a climactic battle.

As Adar’s siege of Eregion begins, Episode 7 centers around Elrond, Adar, Durin IV, and Celebrimbor as they’re forced to make hard choices. Even though those decisions come at a high cost, the emotional stakes mostly pay off.

Celebrimbor, who’s become the most crucial character in The Rings of Power Season 2, is facing his own conundrum thanks to Annatar’s manipulation. While it feels like a little game in Annatar’s grand plan, it finally reaches a climax here.

Since Episode 6, Celebrimbor’s been trapped in Annatar’s illusion as he continues making the Nine Rings of Man. However, he nearly breaks free by noticing a few looping elements, from the mouse to the non-melting candle.

Unfortunately, Annatar persuades the troops to hold Celebrimbor in his chambers because he is “losing his mind,” which Mirdania also seems to believe.

Season 2 has continually presented Celebrimbor’s decline into isolation with a heartbreaking tone. Even though it was playing the long game, this choice is still impactful because of the development between him and Annatar.

So, when Annatar finally reveals himself as Sauron, Annatar’s monologue has this tone of sympathetic gaslighting that almost makes you understand his perspective. 

As a first-time fan of The Lord of the Rings, I considered Sauron the “big bad” of the franchise. Yet, with Annatar’s speech about his backstory and being tortured under Morgoth, I’ll admit I was tempted to learn more about him, given this little breakdown.

This causes a big boiling point in Celebrimbor’s arc, where Mirdania and the Elven troops try to stop him. Thanks to Annatar’s manipulation, he causes Mirdania to die even though everyone believes Celebrimbor’s gone insane.

It’s an extremely disheartening moment to watch, as you’d think that someone, at least Mirdania, would believe Celebrimbor. However, at this point, Annatar is at his limit and will try everything to get his plan done.

Fortunately for Celebrimbor, the cavalry for Eregion’s defense will shortly arrive thanks to Elrond and Galadriel.

Sadly, Episode 7 still has sacrifices to give up for them as well.

The episode places great importance on Elrond as he tries to rally whatever forces he can against Adar. After a long time, he’s able to meet with Durin IV, but their personal problems hold them back from committing to action.

Durin IV has been dealing with his father, Durin III, over mining, which causes his men to join Durin IV’s side. This leads to an inspiring moment that’s intercut with all of the action between Elrond and Adar.

Elrond joins the fight with High King Gil-galand but is cut short when Adar reveals he continues to hold Galadriel captive. This directs us to Episode 7’s conflicting negotiations between the two Elves.

Here, Elrond does make a good point: Adar believes that the Orcs are his children, yet they also have their own free will. It’s just unfortunate that the only free will they have is being construed by Adar to stop Sauron at any cost.

This issue has been somewhat lurking throughout Season 2 with Adar’s storyline. We’ve seen this with Glûg’s Orc family on The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 1, “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” which continues to have its influence here.

Episode 7 feels like it is starting to bring its minor arcs to light. When we get those moments, the series maintains a natural flow that works.

With all this occurring, Season 2’s final battle gives us all the painful moments and sacrifices that were somewhat missing in the previous episodes.

This begins with Elrond and his team fighting their way through Adar’s armies. Even though they nearly make it, Rían gets shot down and uses her final moments to stop the Orcs from getting through Eregion’s foundations.This is because Adar decides to release his merciless monster, which has no regard for anyone.

With Adar using any means necessary that go against Glûg’s philosophy, this could finally drive the Orcs against Adar, which you don’t expect. Hopefully, it will finally reach a turning point during Episode 8.

However, Celebrimbor makes the biggest sacrifice of all by not only slicing his thumb off but by distracting Annatar. With everything Celebrimbor has gone through, these ending moments were hard to watch.

He hasn’t just been manipulated by Annatar, but he has to self-sacrifice himself here in order to let Galadriel escape with the Rings.

Plus, Annatar breaking free of his emotional shell will make the finale all the more thrilling.

With Annatar’s plan finally coming to light, Episode 7 finally reaches those dark places hinted at previously. As this season comes to an end, I hope the finale will make a huge landing that will have larger implications to come in the future.

Stray Thoughts:

• On these last two episodes, Arondir has been relegated to a side character. It’s still good to see him reunited with Galadriel, Elrond, and the rest of the Elves, though!
• Annatar saying, “You sought peace, I gave it to you,” in that way might be the biggest red sign of gaslighting I’ve seen from this show so far.
• Okay, it was pretty funny seeing Elrond using the catapult to kill the Orc! Unfortunately, it was also sad to see his horse go too.
• After seeing the autonomy of the Orcs on the first three episodes, I’m somewhat happy we’re getting a pay-off to that with them questioning Adar’s decisions.
• Why does hearing Sauron’s backstory for the first time (and a first-time fan) remind me of Kratos’s backstory from God of War just a bit? 
• I’ll admit that Celebrimbor and Galadriel’s celebration did decrease the emotional impact of what happened to Mirdania. However, Annatar’s reveal was pretty exciting as he showcased his magic against the guards.

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New episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 premiere Thursdays on Prime Video.

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