"Adar" is the third episode of the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It aired on September 9, 2022 on Prime Video. It was written by Jason Cahill & Justin Doble and directed by Wayne Che Yip.
The episode is named after the character Adar, which is the Sindarin word for "Father."
Synopsis[]
Arondir finds himself a captive; Galadriel and Halbrand explore a legendary kingdom; Elendil is given a new assignment; Nori faces the consequences.
Plot[]
The Orcs drag Arondir to a slave encampment where they force slaves to do manual labor or suffer the consequences. Lurka and Vrath argue over who has sun duty, with Vrath finally caving when Lurka mentions it's for Adar. Vrath drags Arondir outside and chains him to the ground, tossing him a shovel while telling him to dig. Médhor startles Arondir and so does the presence of Revion. Looking around, Arondir realizes the gravity of his situation and sees Orcs whipping, torturing, and killing slaves.
Galadriel awakens on the ship. Halbrand brings her food as she questions if their hosts are saviors or captors. He assures her the food isn't poisonous - for humans, anyway. They go above deck where Númenóreans surround them. Their captain, Elendil, approaches the newcomers. He recognizes Galadriel as being one of the Eldar. He's obliged to deliver her to his betters, telling her they can answer her questions. They are nearly home now. Galadriel notices her dagger in Elendil's waistband. The ship passes through the island and regal sculptures carved in the rock. Galadriel recognizes it as the Island Kingdom of Númenor.
They row a smaller boat to the dock, where Elendil escorts Galadriel and Halbrand through the city. Halbrand watches children play and admires the architecture, wondering how Men like him built this. Galadriel corrects him - Men like him did not build the city. His people stood with Morgoth during the Great War, while these people stood with the Elves. When the war ended, the Valar granted them the island, which has changed much since then. She has sorrow for them now, as Elves were turned away from the island, though she doesn't know why. Halbrand pauses to admire the blacksmiths at work in their rooms.
Elendil escorts them to the throne room where Chancellor Pharazôn is holding court. Halbrand suggests Galadriel let the past go to not antagonize anyone there. A Guardsman doesn't want to allow them entry as the Queen Regent is busy, but upon seeing Galadriel, he allows entry. Halbrand and Galadriel stand before Queen Regent Míriel, and Halbrand whispers for them to kneel, though Míriel corrects this as no one kneels in Númenor. Galadriel introduces herself as Galadriel of the Noldor, daughter of the Golden House of Finarfin, and Commander of the Northern Armies of High King Gil-galad. Halbrand looks at her puzzled, then says he's Halbrand of the Southlands. Galadriel asks for continued mercy and passage back to Middle-earth. Murmurs break out in the court, as it's been a long time since the island was permitted to make such a journey on an Elf's behalf. She reminds them of their gift from the Elves, which offends Míriel. Her ancestors paid for the island with blood. Galadriel and Míriel continue their tense conversation with thinly veiled threats. Halbrand proposes they stay long enough for the Queen and her advisor to weigh their request. Pharazôn gives them three days with the Elf restricted to palace grounds. He mocks her ranking in the armies to the humor of the court. Halbrand offers his gratitude to Elendil with a hug. Two guards escort Galadriel and Halbrand out of the court. She wants to hurry to save the people of the Southlands, but he convinces her to let him keep the peace he's spent years searching for. They shake on their decision, and he pulls her close to drop her dagger back into her hand.
Míriel watches them depart as Pharazôn advises her to resolve the matter quickly, for even one Elf can start an avalanche. He doesn't want to invite her father's cloud overhead. He tells her about Elendil - born from a noble line he became a Sea Guardsman with a son, set to follow him into the service.
On the sea, Isildur follows the commands of the Sail Master as the waves crash beneath the ship. The Sail Master shouts commands to the slacking cadets. Isildur grows distracted by a view of the mountains, which almost call to him. Imrahil unties the wrong rope, so Isildur rushes to save him from flying off the ship with help from Ontamo, Valandil, and other cadets.
They dock on the sandy beaches where the cadets finish their lessons. Valandil, Isildur, and Ontamo watch as Imrahail is reprimanded by his father, the Sail Master. Ontamo criticizes Isildur for his head being lost in the clouds during the ordeal. In nine days, they will face the Sea Trial, which will set them on the course to make officers in four years. Isildur's sister Eärien arrives and he happily greets Berek, his horse. She exchanges quips with her brother's friends before giving him a serious look at the mention of their father.
Queen Míriel speaks to Elendil about the significance of the White Tree, though he isn't one for signs and portents. She references the origin of his name from the Western Shores, pressing beyond its initial definition, “One with the stars” to its true translation in Eldar, - “Elf-friend.” She accuses him of being loyal to the Elves despite Númenor not permitting Elves in centuries. The sea put Galadriel in his path, and the sea is always right. He did what he believed was prudent. If that's true, she asks him to provide a service, and a guard presents him with a sword.
Across the Sundering Seas in Middle-earth, the Orcs continue their forced labor in the Southlands. Arondir notices the pain the sun brings to the Orcs. He picks up an ax and gets to work. He and Médhor carry a log through the tent while discussing how far the passages run. Médhor knows they're looking for something, ransacking villages to find it for their leader, who is revered amongst the Orcs. They call him Adar, an Elvish word, though Sauron had many names in his days. Revion tells them to make their escape in sunlight so one of them can survive and bring help. Lurka commands them to rip the whole tree down, though Revion proposes a way to spare the sacred element. Magrot emerges while mocking the Elf. He gives the company a water ration as a reward for their strength. Revion is trepidatious but accepts the jug, passing it to each member of his company. Médhor takes a drink when Magrot slices his throat with the sword, laughing as the Elf falls to the ground. Arondir holds his friend in his dying moments. Arondir interferes with the struggle between Revion and Vrath by volunteering to cut the tree down. He places his palm on the tree and speaks to it in Quenya before taking his ax to the last tree in the area.
In Númenor, the guards argue over who has to tell Pharazôn of Galadriel's latest escape. Meanwhile, she watches the docks while plotting how to steal the ship. Elendil interrupts to suggest a different ship to steal, though he can't let her take anything as he's tasked with guarding her. She threatens him with her dagger, though he reasons that she would end up even further from her destination if she kills him. He muses over her similarities to both his children. She feels hated by all who look at her, and he responds in Quenya that not all hate her. He was raised in an area where people still speak the language, and it's taught in their Hall of Lore. She asks to see the Hall of Lore and grows excited over the prospect of riding.
Galadriel and Elendil gallop across the fields and beach, joy emitting from the Elf for the first time.
Halbrand tries to get a job as a blacksmith, willing to work for free in an attempt to start anew. Smithy can't let him forge steel until he's earned his guild crest.
Halbrand eats food when he hears Tamar gossiping with his friends. He tries to get Halbrand's name, but the man claims his name depends on how close he is to someone. Tamar sits across from Halbrand, and he notices the guild crest on the man's shirt. Tamar calls him a low man who is on a lucky streak, taking everything they have for free. Halbrand talks back to them, and Tamar jabs about Galadriel liking someone of better breeding than Halbrand. The man enters a dark state for a few moments before snapping out of it to offer rounds of drinks on him. After drinking a fair bit, he bids them farewell while their opinion is still high. In an alley, he flips the guild crest he stole. Tamar and his friends surround Halbrand to confront him about the theft. Halbrand doesn't want trouble, but it's too late for that now. The group restrains Halbrand so Tamar can hit him. A fight as Halbrand bursts back with lethal moves, easily defeating them. Guards surround Halbrand while pointing spears at him.
Galadriel and Elendil look over scrolls in the Hall of Lore. She muses over the remarkable structure made by Elros himself. She knew him but was closer to his brother, Elrond, whose tapestry hangs on the wall. She's grateful to him for taking her to the hall. It was nearly torn down, but their last King fought for it to remain, showing loyalty to the Elves, so Númenor forced him from the throne. The King spends his days in the tower, an exile in his kingdom. The loremaster returns with documents for them to review. It's the account of a human spy retrieved from an enemy dungeon. He drew the tower's location on a piece of parchment. Galadriel recognizes it as the sigil she's been hunting. She realizes it's not a sigil, but a map of the Southlands, holding it to a map for confirmation. There's an inscription on the account in Black Speech, speaking of a place and plan to create a place of their own where evil would not only endure but thrive. It would be enacted in Morgoth's defeat by his successor. She grows serious as matters are far worse than she imagined, and the Southlands are in grave danger. If Sauron has returned, the Southlands are but the beginning.
In The Wilderlands, the Harfoots begin celebrations for the Harvest Festival, which includes wearing costumes, dancing, and chanting their motto behind Sadoc. In a hut, Goldie worries about Largo's ankle, which is not improving. She can't carry the cart without him and fears she'll be left behind. He assures her that no Brandyfoot has ever been left behind. After he lost Rose, he felt like the wheels broke under him. Then he saw Goldie in the grass in the clearing, looking beautiful, and he instantly knew he would grow old with her. She laughs about the memory. He promises they'll all make it to the Grove. He'll stay at the front of the caravan, and they have Nori to help them.
That night, Nori tries to steal the Star-book when Poppy yanks her back. Sadoc will kill her if she touches it. Poppy doesn't want to help the Stranger. The sensible thing to do is give him food and send him to the humans. Nori's trying to figure out where he belongs, and her dedication to the Stranger confuses Poppy. Nori blackmails Poppy by leveraging her prank against Malva. Poppy keeps watch while Nori flips through the pages of the book in search of the star chart. She finally finds it just as Poppy bellows to Sadoc who is approaching. He enters the hut and sits to work on his speech while Nori hides under the desk. She tries to grab the papers from under the desk. Poppy runs up and disguises her directions for Nori as a conversation about Sadoc's speech. She flees once Nori has the papers.
The community dances while eating, and plays music until Sadoc takes the podium to begin his speech. Nori sneaks back into camp for the remembrance part of the ceremony. They remember those who were left behind. They couldn't wait for them in life but welcome them to their circle now. With each name, the Harfoots repeat “We wait for you”. Sadoc pauses in sorrow before reading several members of the Proudfellow family as Poppy listens in tears. The Stranger finds the texts that Nori left him and some food. He ventures closer to the camp to read the texts over an open flame but gets too close and can't put the fire out. He trips in his efforts and comes crashing into the camp, scaring the Harfoots into a feeble attempt at hiding. The Stranger rises and calls out for Nori, with the entire community turning to face the girl.
Sadoc reprimands Nori for lying, stealing, and bringing an outsider into their midst. Malva and Vilma agree with his actions, though Largo thinks it's quite extraordinary that a being fell from the stars. Nori asks about the stars on the page, but they're too burned for Sadoc to read. She didn't bother to read them because she thought they would have time later. She covers her slip by insisting it was just her who helped the Stranger, calling him a friend, though Vilma doesn't think she needs friends; they need to survive. Nori doesn't see the point in surviving with friends. They stick to the path, flee every danger, and never explore anything new. Goldie cuts her off as their way has kept them alive for a thousand years. Malva gives the order - their laws are clear, and any Harfoot that breaks them is to be decaravaned. Sadoc yanks Malva back as he decides to spare Nori because she's still young. They will depart as planned, and the Brandyfoot cart will be with them - at the back of the caravan. Largo runs after Sadoc to speak with him about the situation. Goldie critiques Nori, as she basically stamped their names in the book of the left-behinds. Nori insists there's a reason he came to them, though Goldie reminds the girl that she's not special, just a girl. Nori understands that but can feel how special the Stranger is. He watches the events unfold from a distance.
The people of Numenor watch a marionette show depicting Galadriel's defeat. Elendil and his children sat nearby to eat. Isildur was thrilled to hear about Galadriel, as her reputation precedes her. Elendil has to keep an eye on the Elf until she can depart for Middle-earth. Isildur's Sea Trial is in nine days and their Western relations have invited themselves over for a feast to see him off. Isildur is thinking of deferring for a season, something Eärien already suspected. Elendil is upset she didn't tell him sooner despite her carrying a lot on her shoulders lately. Isildur heard from his brother Anárion that Elendil deferred twice, and this upsets the father even further. Elendil tells Isildur the same thing he told Anárion - there's nothing for them on the western shores, as the past is dead. It wasn't easy to convince the sailing master to accept Isildur after his fight with a Queen's guard and getting kicked out of horse training. He only has the best intentions for his son and knows the waters will heal any heart. A message arrives for Eärien telling her that she made an apprentice in the Builder's Guild after Isildur convinced her to reapply.
Galadriel finds Halbrand in the dungeons, asking about his quest for peace. He had a dispute about a woman. She knows he doesn't belong on this island but is unsure if she doesn't belong anymore. She is certain that he's more than he said. She hands him a scroll from the Hall of Lore that depicts the mark on his necklace. Many years ago, a man who wore that mark united the scattered tribes of the Southlands under one banner - the same that may unite them today against the evil seeking to claim their lands. She calls him the King of the Southlands. He warns her that the heir of the mark is heir to more than nobility, for it was his ancestor who swore a blood oath to Morgoth. He's not the hero Galadriel is looking for because his family lost the war. Galadriel's family started it, and she doesn't believe it's chance, fate, or destiny that brought them together but something greater. She wants him to come to Middle-earth to redeem both their bloodlines.
In the tower above the island, Míriel visits her father to tell him the moment they feared is here; the Elf has arrived.
The Harfoots begin migrating, with the Brandyfoots falling behind because of Largo's injury. Poppy, who's one cart ahead of the Brandyfoots, stops to let them catch up to her, though they fear being left behind as they can't keep up. The Stranger emerges from under the cart and calls her “friend.” Nori realizes he is the answer to their problem - they will help each other. Dilly asks Goldie if they could bring him. Together, they push the cart ahead but keep a decent distance from the other members.
Arondir and Revion watch as the Orcs react poorly to the sun. They use this opportunity, coordinated with other prisoners, to attack using their chains as weapons. They bring the chains into the center to break them. One captive gets free but is speared down. Lurka and several other Orks emerge, and a tug-of-war with the chains begins until Arondir leaps into the air and brings the tent down. The collapse exposes the Orcs to the sunlight and allows the prisoners more time to work on their chains. Lurka releases the Warg who killed two prisoners before Arondir drags it off with a chain. He fights the creature while Revion frees himself at Arondir's insistence. The Orcs pull Arondir off the now-caged creature. The Elf uses a broken tree limb to kill an Orc. He then severs Revion's chain and spears the Warg when it goes after Revion. Arondir follows Revion and witnesses him being shot with two arrows and dying. Arondir is dragged into the passage, and Lurka stops his near-execution to rule that they bring him to Adar.
In the depths of the passage, the Orcs kneel to Adar while they chant his name.
Cast[]
- Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir
- Augustus Prew as Médhor
- Simon Merrells as Watchwarden Revion
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
- Charlie Vickers as Halbrand
- Lloyd Owen as Captain Elendil
- Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel
- Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
- Maxim Baldry as Isildur
- Anthony Crum as Ontamo
- Alex Tarrant as Valandil
- Ema Horvath as Eärien
- Sir Lenny Henry as Sadoc Burrows
- Beau Cassidy as Dilly Brandyfoot
- Markella Kavenagh as Nori Brandyfoot
- Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow
- Sara Zwangobani as Marigold Brandyfoot
- Dylan Smith as Largo Brandyfoot
- Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
- Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva
- Maxine Cunliffe as Vilma
- Joseph Mawle as Adar
- Jed Brophy as Vrath
- Michael Morris as Guardsman One
- Antonio Te Maioha as Sail Master
- Edward Clendon as Other Orc
- Luke Hawker as Magrot
- Robert Strange as Lurka
- Phil Grieve as Bazur
- Preston O'Brien as Guardsman Two
- Phil Vaughan as Smithy
- Jason Hood as Tamar
- Mana Davis as Worker One
- Winham 'Mu' Hammond as Worker Two
- Gabe Wright as Messenger
Appearances[]
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| Organizations, factions, and groups | Objects, artefacts, and weapons | Races | Miscellanea |
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Organizations, factions, and groups
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