Rings of Power Alloyed Review: Identities revealed in a wonderful season finale

Alloyed is an excellent season finale, which ties up loose ends and sets a course for the next leg of this journey.

Throughout the first season, most of the characters have been on a journey without a defined destination in sight. Galadriel is on a quest for vengeance, but can’t find Sauron. The Stranger is trying to find his lunacy. The Harfoots are literal nomads with no physical destination in mind. Queen Regent Míriel is trying to stave off devastation due to a great wave. Finally, Elrond does have a solution, but can’t convince the dwarves to help.

Alloyed focuses on providing answers that cap off this weird, strange leg of this journey trip. Galadriel finally comes face-to-face with Sauron. The deception hurts, but she finally finds a way to erase a totem of her rage, her brother’s dagger to help preserve a future for the elves.

Alloyed does a great job of using a red herring early in the episode. One character is revealed to be Sauron but the character isn’t the dark lord. Realizing the character isn’t actually Sauron is pretty easy. However, the character believes he’s evil. The journey he goes on in this episode would not have worked without the reveal in the beginning.

Even Míriel and Elendil find a new reason to continue fighting even though Galadriel dragged them into a battle that has dearly cost them.

The performances are outstanding with Morfydd Clark‘s shining brightest as Galadriel. The final confrontation between Galadriel and Sauron is full of terrific tension.

The only nitpick is the absence of Durin as well as Adar, Arondir and Bronwyn in the Southlands. Overall, Rings of Power seems poised to get better from here on out.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood in the season finale. There may be some minor spoilers. The Rings of Power is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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Good and evil is a choice

If the bulk of the first season was about mysterious characters masking their true identities either by choice or amnesia, then the season finale is about ripping off those concealers. In the cold open, the three witches surround The Stranger and give him the name of Sauron.

They believe he’s the dark lord who has just forgotten his place. Of course, this is a red herring and an obvious one. However, for The Stranger, it makes sense for him to believe these three witches. He’s hurt people unintentionally and has no memory of his former life. The red herring is effective because it allows the Stranger to choose his path.

Nori, Poppy, Marigold and Sadoc Burrows are on the trail. In a terrifying scene, the three witches trick The Harfoots. They pose as The Stranger, then transform into their porcelain-like forms. They surround the Harfoots. Nori sneaks away and finds The Stranger. Burrows is mortally wounded during the fight.

He says he’s evil. Nori tells The Stranger that being good or evil is a choice and he’s not evil. Eventually, The Stanger remembers enough of his identity to defeat the three witches. He is one of the Istar, which translates to wizard. They are beings from Valinor sent to fight Sauron. He has enough of his memories to know where he needs to venture next.

The wizard battle was phenomenal. The parting of ways between Nori and The Stranger is sweet and seems to indicate the Harfoots won’t be a part of season two at least not right away.

Sauron revealed in Alloyed

Galadriel arrives with a wounded Halbrand in Lindon. Similar to The Stranger storyline, discovering Halbrand is in fact Sauron is easy to discern.

Until Alloyed, Halbrand aka Sauron has played the part of a reluctant king. His past sins make it difficult for him to see himself as a leader. He’s reluctant to offer much aid and simply wants to be left alone. Now that Halbrand is in Lindon he doesn’t hesitate to offer his thoughts on bonding the Mithril to another metal which could increase the potency of the rare ore.

Elrond and Celebrimbor don’t think anything of it and go along with Halbrand’s insight. Galadriel immediately picks up on Halbrand’s enthusiasm. She requests the records of Halbrand’s line from an assistant in secret.

Once Galadriel confirms Halbrand’s line died centuries before, she confronts Halbrand and a mental struggle between the two begins.

I love how quickly Galadriel picks up on Halbrand’s change in behavior. She figures it out based on Celebrimbor’s zealous desire to turn mithril into a crown for High King Gil-galad. What follows is the most breathtaking sequence in the series.

Preserve Peace

Without hesitation, Galadriel tries to slit Sauron’s throat. He blocks and a mental battle ensues.

Sauron proceeds to throw Galadriel into a three temptations scenario. First, he tries to appeal to Galadriel through charm and sincerity. Sauron maintains he never lied to Galadriel. He told her repeatedly he had done wicked things, but Galadriel saw the light within him. He wanted to remain in Númenor, while it was her decision to bring him along.

Sauron then enters Galadriel’s mind. He takes on the visage of Galadriel’s brother Finrod. Sauron tries to convince her that his way will bring peace to Middle-earth. Under a ton of strain, Galadriel still sees through Sauron’s deception.

The scene shifts back to when Galadriel and Halbrand were shipwrecked. Sauron wants Galadriel to be his queen and help him rule over Middle-earth. Galadriel can bind him to the light, while he can bind her to power.

Galadriel digs a bit deeper. She questions whether Sauron plans to save Middle-earth or to rule over the region. Sauron sees no difference which is the end of civility. Like every power-hungry villain, Sauron doesn’t love being questioned. \

He asks how the elves will react when they find out Galadriel was helping Sauron the whole time. After all, she is the reason Sauron survives. Galadriel counters with she will be the reason Sauron dies. Lightning crackles and Elrond breaks Galadriel from the torment.

She doesn’t reveal that Halbrand is Sauron. She simply says they should make three rings for the elves and offers her brother’s dagger, which is used to forge the rings.

Clark and Charlie Vickers are phenomenal. The scenes between them once the subterfuge is revealed are the most gripping scenes of the series.

Alloyed Final Thoughts

Alloyed is a terrific season finale from start to finish. Character identities are revealed. Important storylines are capped off in satisfying manners. Just enough seeds are planted for the future so this journey can continue down multiple paths.

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