Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8 is a dramatic, emotional finale that somehow finds the silver lining of its undeniable tragedy: Celebrimbor dies, Sauron wins, but the Elves are united. Last week’s penultimate episode of Rings of Power was a bloodbath. While Celebrimbor kept a palmful of his marbles and forged the Nine, Sauron maintained his illusion as fire and blood rained down on Eregion, with Adar’s Orcs slowly destroying the great city.

Battle ensued (after Elrond kissed Galadriel , yikes), with the Elves and Uruks colliding on the muddy marshlands outside the city’s walls. Meanwhile, Prince Durin rallied the Dwarves to join the fight with their axes, only to call them off to appease the king, who’s gone mad with greed in the depths of Khazad-dûm. That’s before we get to the Stranger and Tom Bombadil – and rest assured, we get a great answer to his identity ( and I was right! ).

The Balrog waketh! Durin finds his father deep in the mines, his “mind and soul” corrupted by the ring. As rams into the wall (and a deep grumble creeps up from beneath), he orders the king to take off his ring or he’ll cut off his hand. “You’re strong enough to wield an axe, but are you strong enough to wield it against your father?” he asks, and Durin admits he can’t.

He recalls arm wrestling with his dad, and he’d let him raise his hand just a little bit, just enough to let him feel some pride before he slammed it down. “Be strong again Father..

. take it off,�.