REVIEW: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,’ Episode 8 — “Alloyed”

It’s here, the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1, and with it comes grief, impending doom, complex decisions, and of course Sauron. From start to finish, I’m in love with The Rings of Power Episode 8, “Alloyed.” In this episode, we see the first rings forged, Sauron emerges, and Galadriel and the Harfoots fight for survival and a future.

While everything in this episode is executed well, it’s the middle section of The Rings of Power Episode 8 that captures the wonder and magic of Tolkien’s world in a way we haven’t seen yet. With the Stranger captured by the mysterious coven, we see the power of destructive magic, but we also see the courage of the Harfoot. The smallest among everyone, Tolkien’s hobbits are able to capture the strongest parts of the world and this is no different. Undeterred in the face of burning woods, Nori and her family stand strong to keep the Stranger safe and on a path of good, despite the great loss for themselves.

Additionally, the reveal of Sauron hiding in plain sight is as heartbreaking as it is well-executed. Galadriel is tortured by the love she carries with her and the grief that has never left her side. It’s a moment of vulnerability that we see exploited and it’s heartbreaking to see. But the importance of the events of this episode and her consoling of Theo in Episode 7, when put together with her warrior persona crafted for the series, audiences see Galadriel in a dynamic light.

She is fierce with a blade, strong in her convictions, and still susceptible to her grief all the same. As visions of her brother are conjured to sway her, Clark’s somber performance is stunningly sad and lonely, despite happening in a lush green landscape.

Galadriel’s dilemma, when confronted with the power, offered to her by Sauron is one of the highest points of the series. It’s temptation packaged as intimacy and connection which allows us to see Galadriel in a different light. We see her in pain, struggling to fight back against someone much more powerful and it’s a lot to take in. It’s a lot to not become hopeless. But at the same time, we see her overcome.

Without giving away more of the plot of The Rings of Power Episode 8, this finale manages to wrap up Season 1 of the series well while also opening new paths for the story to continue down in subsequent seasons. With a few stumbles at the beginning of the series, this finale captures the resiliency and the magic of Middle-Earth beautifully. It captures the friendship, the family, and the hope for the future even while casting the story into uncertainty and darkness at the same time. But Lord of the Rings is about holding onto the moments of goodness even as evil swells.

Additionally, this episode, like the ones before all carries direct nods to the lines pulled directly from Tolkien’s work and Peter Jackson’s adaptations. These nods to existing fans help parse out some narrative moments or just simply provides a moment of recognition without becoming hamfisted fanservice, especially in this episode.

Truthfully though, this episode leaves me excited for the next season because of everything that is set up and especially the folkloric song that accompanies the credits. Doom is coming, darkness is coming, and I can’t wait to see how Season 2 expands the story. With a whole cast of standouts, we finally get to see Galadriel at the center, with her complexity on display.

The Rings of Power Episode 8 may not have been some grand epic finale, but it did capture the sweeping uneasiness of what the future holds. There is hope in Middle Earth, but it’s either being nurtured from a spark or at risk of being stomped out by Sauron’s watchful eyes.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is streaming now, exclusively on Prime Video.