There are so many tantalizing storylines spread across the Rings of Power series that are all about to culminate in the final episode. Ahead of its release this Friday, a teaser trailer for the season's ending has exploded onto screens. This trailer features several hints, possible misdirections, and inevitable revelations.
Solving of the mystery of Sauron’s true identity. The use of Mithril to heal the ailment of the elven race. The apex of the conflict between Galadriel and the orcs who have consumed the Southlands. And of course, the actual creation of the rings themselves. These are just a few things that look as if they will be drawing to an epic close. There are four major scenes in the teaser trailer that seem to be the most significant. Here's what they could mean for the end of the series, and the fate of Middle Earth as a whole.
The Stranger
There are several flashbacks in the trailer, combined with several new scenes, that heavily suggest the identity of the stranger in the meteor being Sauron. The first clip shows the bearded man moving the trees with his anger, while Galadriel’s voice says, “Evil does not sleep.” The writers are planting the idea that the meteor man is the exact evil that the she-elf refers to. This same clever timing tactic is used further in the trailer to reaffirm this direction for the character as Arondir asks, “What are you?” and the meteor man’s face appears on-screen. As this was a question originally asked of Adar in the 4th episode, the teaser subsequently pairs the stranger with the evil actions of this villainous character.
Finally, the three figures in white have been following the man in the meteor throughout the series. In the trailer, they speak the ominous words: “You will be known at last for who you truly are, for you are Lord Sauron.” The figure they are speaking to is off-screen and yet to be revealed, but judging by their mission following the meteor man so far, it yet again points to Sauron being his true identity. But is all of this simply a misdirection in the trailer, so that there is more of a surprise in the final episode itself?
The Creation of the Rings
While seemingly the main premise for the show, there has been a distinct lack of any ring-related action, bar Celebrimbor building his tower and talking of a greater power he desires to forge. However, with the new final episode trailer, audiences get a glimpse at what looks to be the melting of metals, the pouring and casting of what might just be the rings of power.
The context for this is still unclear. Perhaps with the threat posed by Adar and the creation of Mordor blackening the skies over the Southlands, the race to create the rings might have increased. The elves may now think that this might be their only salvation from the rising evil. The cast they pour into, however, seems to be too large, more like a bowl. And with no mention specifically of Celebrimbor wanting to create rings specifically, it is all still up for interpretation.
'Heroes Will Rise'
The trailer also features several overlaid taglines. ‘Heroes will fall’ and ‘Heroes with rise’ are two fairly prominent ones. The implications for the first are fairly obvious, with a huge array of characters that might meet their demise in the final episode. Audiences know the ones who will survive, who live to tell the tale in The Lord of the Rings such as Galadriel and Elrond, but for the majority of the others, it’s fair game.
Of all the remaining characters Halbrand seems the most likely to die, as his wound looked fairly fatal in the last episode — if it weren't for his high chances of being the dark lord Sauron himself. This might be exactly what the tagline means, however. It may refer not to the death of a character, but the fall of a potential hero. Halbrand may go from mighty king of the Southlands, and friend of Galardriel, to the villain she has been chasing all along. He may no longer the hero the story has tried to suggest he is.
Meanwhile, ‘Heroes will rise’ is a clear nod to the characters who will step up and become heroes in the last moments of the show. It may apply to characters such as Theo and his newfound drive to do good, after a multitude of episodes where he teeters on the edge of falling to the darkness calling to him from the cursed sword. It is also likely to apply to Nori and Poppy, two characters that have shown time and time again that they are hero material. In the final moments of the season they are likely to prove it, perhaps stepping in to save their friend the stranger.
Gil-galad Has The Mithril
Milthril has played a much larger part of the show than might have been expected. Rings of Power appears to be less about the Rings of Power, but more about the mithril of Elven salvation. This material is at the heart of the political warfare going on between the elves and dwarves. Gil-galad manipulates Elrond into betraying his friendship with Durin, all to learn about their discovery of the mythical metal. With more and more information being drip-fed to audiences, it’s revealed to be the elven race's only chance of survival. The light of valar from their tree and from themselves has diminished and left Middle Earth, and now the trapped light found in mithril is the only way to rejuvenate them both.
The trailer shows a stern looking Gil-galad and a despondent-looking Elrond. In a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment, king utters the line ‘For all Middle Earth,’ holding what looks to be the shard of Mithril that Durin gave to Elrond. So far, Gil-galad has not been portrayed kindly. He is shown to be a fairly arrogant and self-righteous elf, and this line sounds exactly like a lie he might spin to justify the forceful taking of Mithril from the mines of Kazad-Dum, due to King Durin not allowing it freely. It would be in keeping with the self-importance of elves that they would believe that if they were to diminish and be forced to leave Middle Earth, then everyone would suffer from their absence. Gil-galad is doing it for himself and his kind. He masks it under the common misdirection of being ‘for the greater good’, despite this resulting in the destruction of an entire kingdom by the Balrog.