Following the explosive start of Season 2, fans of The Rings of Power are still reeling from the three-part premiere. Episode 4 opens with Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) preparing for a journey to Eregion.
The stakes are rising for nearly every character, with alliances shifting, power struggles emerging, and major decisions being made. Elrond seeks Galadriel’s advice on organizing their troops, but their relationship remains tense. Galadriel resents Elrond’s newfound command over her, especially since it came on High King Gil-galad’s (Benjamin Walker) orders.
Elrond tries to smooth things over by offering Galadriel a new role, naming her his second in command. Although it’s not the position she previously held, this olive branch softens her, and she reluctantly agrees to assist. Their journey to Eregion begins, but it is far from straightforward.
The Dangerous Journey to Eregion
The group sets out from Lindon, heading towards Eregion. But they encounter a serious obstacle: the bridge that would have taken them across a large chasm has been completely destroyed, likely by Sauron’s forces.
This leaves the group with limited options. Camnir (Calam Lynch), a member of the company, presents two alternatives. They can either take a longer route to the north or a more dangerous path through the hills to the south.
Galadriel immediately warns against the southern route. She suspects a trap, explaining that her ring seems to signal an evil presence in the hills.
Despite her concerns, Elrond decides to take the southern path, reasoning that both routes are probably under surveillance anyway. He threatens to send Galadriel back to Lindon if she continues to focus too much on the warnings from her ring. Galadriel agrees to proceed but does so reluctantly.
The Stranger’s Mysterious Journey
Meanwhile, in Rhûn, the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) finds himself alone. After accidentally sending Nori (Markella Kavanaugh) and Poppy (Megan Richards) flying away in a sandstorm, he follows a goat to a small settlement. This settlement is occupied by a lone farmer (Rory Kinnear).
The Stranger attempts to ask the farmer about the stars he is searching for, as they are visible above a nearby hill. However, the wind blows his sketch of the constellation away, leading him to a tree that matches a branch he’s seen in his dreams.
The tree reacts violently when the Stranger tries to break off one of its branches, trapping him within its limbs. The scene then shifts back to Nori and Poppy, who wake up elsewhere in the desert, far from where they started. They’re disoriented and lost but quickly discover they aren’t alone.
The sound of horses sends them running straight into the path of a young man named Nobody (Gavi Singh Chera), whose real name is Merimac. Merimac, though not familiar with the term “Harfoot,” has many Harfoot-like features, which raises questions about his identity.
Merimac takes Nori and Poppy back to his village, where they meet its leader, Gundabale (Tanya Moodie), known simply as “The Gund.” The village, built into the walls of a deep crevice, unsettles Nori and Poppy.
It doesn’t feel right for their people to be living in such a place. Gundabale clarifies that they aren’t Harfoots or Hobbits but rather Stoors, an ancient group related to both.
Despite her initial anger at Merimac for bringing strangers into the village, Gundabale allows Nori and Poppy to explain their presence. Nori tells her they are on a mission to help a giant—whom they refer to as the Stranger—find his destiny.
The mention of a wizard raises alarm. In this part of Middle-earth, the only wizard is the Dark Wizard (Ciaran Hinds), a figure closely associated with Sauron. Upon hearing this, Gundabale orders that the two Harfoots be detained.
The Dark Wizard’s sentries return with a report, revealing that the Stranger, whom they call “the Istar,” killed two of their members during the sandstorm.
They note that the Stranger seems to be heading towards a “hermit” in the north, while the Harfoots have gone missing. The Dark Wizard instructs them to stop searching for the Stranger and focus on capturing the Harfoots instead. The Wizard plans to find the Istar himself.
Tom Bombadil Returns to Middle-earth
Back at the hermit’s settlement, the Stranger is released from the tree’s grip by the hermit, who introduces himself as Tom Bombadil.
This is a familiar name for fans of The Lord of the Rings books, where Tom plays a significant role early in Frodo’s journey. Played by Rory Kinnear in The Rings of Power, Tom Bombadil brings much-needed lightheartedness to an otherwise heavy story.
After freeing the Stranger, Tom offers him food and asks about the stars he has been searching for. The Stranger reveals that he is hoping to reunite with his friends under these stars.
Tom, showing his power, magically turns the Stranger’s star sketch into a piece of bread. While Tom jokes that he may not be the one the Stranger is looking for, it becomes clear that Tom’s importance in the Stranger’s journey is greater than he realizes.
The Stranger, witnessing Tom’s command over nature, asks him to teach him how to wield similar powers. Tom explains that the Stranger isn’t yet ready to learn but assures him that the time will come.
Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of approaching horses, and Tom warns the Stranger that the Dark Wizard is working to join forces with Sauron. Together, they plan to increase their power, with disastrous consequences for Middle-earth.
Tom tells the Stranger that it is now up to him to stop Sauron and the Dark Wizard, a heavy burden for someone who doesn’t even remember his own name.
Peril at the Barrow-downs
Elsewhere, Galadriel, Elrond, and their company arrive at Tyrn Gorthad, the ancient Barrow-downs. This location, a resting place for long-dead kings, has a dark reputation.
Elrond and Vorohil (Charlie Rix) proceed cautiously but soon hear eerie voices singing a song. They discover the remains of Gil-galad’s messengers, along with a message intended for Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards).
Before they can process what they’ve found, the Barrow-wights—ghostly spirits tied to the burial ground—emerge. They drag one of the company, Daemor (Oliver Alvin-Wilson), to his death. It becomes clear that Galadriel’s earlier warnings about the danger of this route were well-founded.
The group’s weapons are ineffective against the Barrow-wights, but Elrond cleverly arms them with swords and weapons that were buried with the ancient kings. These are the only tools that can send the Barrow-wights back to rest, and the group uses them to fight their way out.
At the same time, Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) and Isildur (Maxim Baldry) are searching for Theo (Tyroe Muahfidin), who was captured after a risky mission into a wildmen camp.
Despite Theo’s previous harsh words to Arondir, blaming him for Bronwyn’s (Nazanin Boniadi) death, Arondir remains determined to find him. The search leads them to an abandoned camp, where they discover that something terrifying happened. Weapons have been left behind, which is highly unusual.
Arondir’s instincts tell him that the death wasn’t caused by Men, and although the settlers are eager to go to war, he advises caution.
The group decides to look north, following the lead of Estrid (Nia Towle), who raises Arondir’s suspicions. Arondir later confronts Estrid, noticing a burn mark on her neck, which reveals her allegiance to Adar (Sam Hazeldine).
Arondir uses this information to gain control of the situation, forcing Estrid to guide them toward the wildmen.
The Ents Enter the Fray
As the group continues their search, they stumble upon a cluster of white flowers—the same flowers Arondir had found near a dead body earlier. This discovery leads them to a marsh, where Isildur and Arondir are quickly pulled down into the muddy water. Estrid, who remains uncuffed, attempts to help but instead unleashes a giant slug-like creature.
Despite the new threat, Isildur and Arondir manage to escape, and Arondir begins to trust Estrid more, handing her the key to her manacles. However, Estrid soon betrays them, stealing Isildur’s sword.
She claims that even if they forgive her, the rest of the settlement won’t, as she sees herself as beyond redemption. Isildur tries to reason with her, but their conversation is interrupted by an even bigger problem: the arrival of the Ents.
The Entwife responsible for the flowers Arondir had found makes her presence known, and she does not welcome them kindly. Arondir attempts to plead for mercy, admitting to trespassing, but the Ents don’t seem to understand.
Their patience is running out, and Estrid’s betrayal now endangers them all. The latest episode of The Rings of Power sets the stage for even greater conflicts ahead, with key characters facing new dangers and evolving dynamics.
Galadriel and Elrond’s uneasy alliance, the Stranger’s enigmatic journey with Tom Bombadil, and the looming threat of Sauron and the Dark Wizard all hint at an epic showdown.
As the story deepens, new alliances are formed, while betrayals create fresh obstacles. With each episode, Middle-earth grows more perilous, and the balance of power becomes increasingly unstable, promising dramatic developments as the season progresses. Fans are in for a thrilling ride.
