Picking up right where it left off in episode six: “Udûn”, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power opened on the red and ash-covered Southlands, burning from the volcanic eruption. Galadriel, played by Morfyrdd Clark (Saint Maud, Crawl), awakes, and observes the destruction around her. She finds Theo, played by Tyroe Muhafidin (Dusk, Caravan), and guides him to safety. Elsewhere in the rubble, Isildur, played by Maxim Baldry (Years and Years, Skins), manages to save one of his friends but not the other. He follows instructions from Queen Regent Míriel, played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson (The Accountant, Star Trek Into Darkness), to help people out of a burning building, but in doing so, he seems to get caught in the fires himself. Míriel leaves without him, but by not showing his death or taking a proper moment to mourn him, it appears evident that he will have survived this ordeal.
Galadriel and Theo head toward where she believes other survivors will gather. Theo pouts as they narrowly escape orcs, who can travel easily under the shadow of the volcanic cloud. The furious young man questions how he can let go of what has happened to him, believing his mother and friends dead and his home destroyed. In a moment of rare growth, Galadriel advises him not to see it as a personal attack but rather to trust in higher and more knowledgeable powers. It was refreshing to see her learn from her previous mindset and her advice to him was just as valuable to herself. Theo finds his family and friends. Galadriel joins with a now blinded Míriel and a heartbroken Elendil, played by Lloyd Owen (Apollo 18, Miss Potter). Míriel vows to return for revenge, while Elendil finds it challenging to keep his composure. He later finds Isildur’s restless horse, Berek, and frees him. Berek sprints off, presumably towards Isildur. Galadriel finds Halbrand, played by Charlie Vickers (Medici), injured. She determines he needs Elvish medicine to be healed, and the two of them ride away together. The plausibility of Halbrand being able to ride with his near-fatal injury successfully was dubious, to say the least.
The Harfoots were disappointed to discover that the volcanic eruption had destroyed the spot they had planned to settle. Predictably, The Stranger, played by Daniel Weyman (Gentle Jack, A Very English Scandal), tries to use his magic to make the tree produce again but only ends up nearly harming Nori, played by Markella Kavenagh (My First Summer, Picnic at Hanging Rock), and one of her friends. The Stranger is sent away. The following day, Nori is surprised to find that everything has regrown; the Harfoots have plenty of food. This, of course, was because of The Stranger. Later, some mysterious evil-looking stalkers are seen tracking down The Stranger. Nori cannot help but to try and misdirect them. But one of them, The Dweller, played by Bridie Sisson (Cowboy Bebop), burns up all their possessions. Nori and a few other Harfoots leave in the morning to try and warn The Stranger. Just after Nori revealed herself, the rest of the Harfoots did as well, and this seemed somewhat out of character for all of them. The discipline and severity of their desire to stay hidden added ruthlessness to all of them. There was no difficult decision, simply a willingness to reveal themselves.
Elrond, played by Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones, Behind Her Eyes), teams up with Prince Durin, played by Owain Arthur (The Palace, The Patrol), to try and convince Durin’s father, Durin III, played by Peter Mullan (The Magdalene Sisters, Tyrannosaur), to let them mine mithril to save the elves. Durin III speaks to his son alone and declines the proposition. Prince Durin lets Elron down, who gives him back a piece of Mithril. It rids an elven leaf of disease. They dig a little into the mine and find it much more extensive than they ever anticipated. Durin III catches them, kicks Elrond out of the mines, and has an argument with his son. Prince Durin claims that his father is not fit to wear the crown. His father removes his prince attire. Durin III throws the leaf into the mine, revealing that the Balrog is hiding there. Adar, portrayed by Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones, Birdsong), renames the Southlands to Mordor.
“The Eye” had some stunning imagery in the episode’s opening and some enjoyable moments, including Galadriel’s growth. However, some plot points remain questionable, and characters acting out of line with their previously established traits and ideologies significantly undermine their actions.
Rating: 6.5/10