The Rings Of Power Season 2 Ending Explained (In Full)

The Rings of Power season 2's ending adequately wraps up several plot points, answers major questions, raises other theories, and sets up huge storylines for season 3. Since The Rings of Power season 1's ending, many began theorizing about the future of the show. The Rings of Power season 2 answered this theorizing with a more confident story centered around the crafting of The Lord of the Rings' Rings of Power as Sauron manipulated his way to the top of Middle-earth's power hierarchy, and the free peoples opposed his darkness. This story culminated in The Rings of Power season 2's ending; The Rings of Power's cast mostly assembled to defend Eregion from Adar's army as Celebrimbor conducts his final stand against Sauron. As Sauron's Rings of Power plan leads him to Galadriel in a fight for the Nine Rings of Men, Elrond and the elves fight off an onslaught of orcs. Meanwhile, The Stranger discovers his true identity, the dwarves of Khazad-dûm catch a glimpse of the fiery doom slumbering beneath them, and the men of Númenor reckon with their enduring power struggle as The Rings of Power season 2 ends. The Stranger Is Gandalf: The Rings Of Power's Big Mystery Solved Perhaps the biggest reveal of The Rings of Power season 2's ending was that of The Stranger's identity. Since he was revealed as one of The Lord of the Rings' Istari, many have assumed The Stranger was an early version of Gandalf the Grey. This was supported by several pointed nods, references, and Easter eggs to the wandering grey wizard, raising questions over how Gandalf could exist in Middle-earth's Second Age. Regardless of the seeming disregard for Tolkien's original works, The Rings of Power season 2's ending reveals The Stranger as Gandalf after all. Given the many obvious references to the iconic wizard, this was to be expected. However, amid other theories that The Stranger and his Dark Wizard counterpart were the two rarely mentioned Blue Wizards from Tolkien's books, the potential for otherwise was always present. Nonetheless, the references to The Stranger as Grand-Elf by the Stoors, the finding of his staff, and the confrontation with the Dark Wizard confirmed the character as the Second Age’s version of Gandalf, also known as Olórin. How Galadriel Survives Her Fall After Fighting Sauron The other major storyline of The Rings of Power season 2's ending surrounded the fate of the Nine Rings of Men. At the onset of the episode, the Rings were in Galadriel's grasp as she looked to escape Eregion while saving as many lives as she could. Eventually, Sauron catches up to her and confronts her. Amid more offers of crowns and partnerships, taunts, and torments, Sauron and Galadriel clash until the former gains possession of the Nine Rings. He demands Galadriel give him her Ring, Nenya, before she jumps from a cliff above Eregion. Later, it is revealed that Galadriel survived her fall, begging the question of how. The answer to this has been seeded throughout The Rings of Power season 2: the elven Rings of Power. As had been shown before this, the elven Rings, specifically Galadriel's, have been shown to possess immense healing powers. Galadriel held the Ring as she jumped, which likely helped her survive the fall. Afterward, the combined powers of hers and Gil-galad's Rings saw Galadriel's wounds dealt by Sauron's weapons heal. The Rings Of Power's Nine Rings Set Up Sauron's The Rings Of Power Season 3 Story As alluded to, Sauron's ending in The Rings of Power season 2 saw him gain possession of the Nine Rings of Men. These Rings were the object of Sauron's desires in the latter half of The Rings of Power season 2, after successfully crafting those for the dwarves. In gaining the Nine Rings of Men, Sauron's story for The Rings of Power season 3 has been established, linking to The Lord of the Rings' Nazgûl. Now that Sauron has the Nine Rings of Power, he will seek out the lords of men he desires to bend to his will. In The Rings of Power season 3, this plot will unfold. Sauron will find those to give the Rings to, leading them down the path of becoming the nine Nazgûl seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Who these subjects will be remains to be seen, but Sauron's plan will undoubtedly involve establishing the Ringwraiths, as well as crafting The Lord of the Rings' One Ring. Why Adar Turns Good In The Rings Of Power Season 2's Finale Before Sauron and Galadriel's fateful confrontation in The Rings of Power season 2's ending, Adar also meets his end. The character is killed by his own orcs, as was often theorized throughout season 2, who fell under Sauron's control. Shortly before this, however, Adar's character took an intriguing turn. After obtaining Galadriel's Ring in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7, Adar reverted to his fair elven form. This helped him realize the error of his ways in sacrificing so many of his Uruk children. The power of the Ring helped him realize this, turning his heart into a desire to forge a truce between the elves and the Uruk. Although Adar still wishes to defeat Sauron alongside Galadriel, he vows to recall his army to Mordor and lead them into an age of peace alongside the other races of Middle-earth. Unfortunately, this truce does not last as Adar is killed by his own orcs. The Rings Of Power Season 2's Ending Introduces Rivendell The Rings of Power season 2's ending saw the Siege of Eregion conclude as the elven city was destroyed. However, many of its inhabitants managed to escape as a host of dwarves appeared to fight the orcs. Led by Elrond, Gil-galad, Arondir, and Galadriel, the elves retreated north of Eregion to a hidden valley in the Misty Mountains. This valley will eventually become Rivendell, the stronghold of Elrond highlighted at length in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The Real Meaning Of Elendil's New Sword, Narsil Another plot point that was resolved in The Rings of Power season 2's ending was that of Elendil's. Despite the ending of his arc, major foundations were built for his future story in The Rings of Power season 3. This came in the form of a new weapon, first teased in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 5. Elendil received the sword of Narsil in The Rings of Power season 2's ending, a weapon given to him by Queen Míriel that signifies him as one of the true Númenórean faithful. This weapon is one of the most powerful in the entire franchise, as evident by its future in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not only does Narsil become a symbol of Elendil's strength as he becomes the High King of Gondor and Arnor, but it is eventually used by Isildur to cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger during The War of the Last Alliance. Later, it is reforged into Andúril, Flame of the West, for Aragorn during The War of the Ring. The Real Meaning Of The Rings Of Power's Season 2 Ending Perhaps the most tragic aspect of The Rings of Power season 2's ending is the demise of Celebrimbor. After being tortured by Sauron for the location of the Nine Rings, Celebrimbor is killed by the Dark Lord. Given Celebrimbor's heartbreaking story up to this point, this ending is suitably tear-inducing, yet the greatest of elven smiths lives on in the true meaning of The Rings of Power season 2's ending. As Celebrimbor mentioned during the Siege of Eregion, the true meaning of The Rings of Power is that it is light, not strength, that overcomes darkness. Celebrimbor's words ring true at the end of the season, as the darkness of Sauron permeates many of the show's storylines. However, despite the bleakness of The Rings of Power season 2's ending, the main characters of the show endlessly remind themselves, each other, and the audience that Celebrimbor's wisdom was correct. Release Date September 1, 2022 Network Amazon Prime Video Showrunner John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth. Directors J.A. Bayona, Sanaa Hamri Writers Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams Seasons 3