Alloyed is the eighth and final episode of the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It aired on October 14, 2022 on Prime Video. It was written by Gennifer Hutchison and showrunners J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay and directed by Wayne Che Yip.
The title of this episode possibly refers to the forging of the three Rings of Power.
Synopsis[]
Season One Finale. New alliances are forged.
Plot[]
The Stranger sleeps under a tree as it rains in the Greenwood. His journey is complex and brings him to new places he's never seen. He still has the apple Nori gave him, using it as a reminder that he's good. He notices Nori in the distance and chases after her. He trips and the apple rolls away, so he pursues it. He finds Nori whose eyes change color as she shifts into her true form as The Dweller. The Ascetic and The Nomad surround him as the Ascetic reveals they have come to serve him, calling Lord Sauron. They kneel before him in servitude.
Galadriel and Halbrand gallop toward Lindon, his body limp over his horse.
Elrond tells Celebrimbor that Gil-galad arrives tomorrow and is expecting a way to save all Elvendom. Celebrimbor wonders if there's a way to work with what little ore they have, comparing it to the creation of the sun. Elrond doesn't see how that's relevant now, as they're out of time to make a difference. The Elves must prepare to abandon the shores forever. Galadriel rides into the square accompanied by Halbrand on horseback. The old friends are surprised to se one another. They rode for six day without rest in the hopes the Elves could help.
As the artificers tend to Halbrand, Elrond and Galadriel discuss how they came to be in Eregion. He's sorry for not trusting her and sending her on the ship. She leapt from the ship because she believed she wasn't worthy of it yet. She knew her task was not yet complete. She didn't cross the bitter ocean only to drown now, nor will she let him. He's missed her greatly. The only thing they can do now is swim.
Celebrimbor enters his workshop where a recovered Halbrand is searching for Galadriel. Halbrand knows who Celebrimbor is which flatters the Elf, who opens the bellows so his workshop can be seen in full. The masters Halbrand apprenticed spoke of Celebrimbor's work, though he never dreamed he'd get the chance to see them in person. He sees a set of gemstones on the table, which Celebrimbor is hoping he can use to capture the essence of the Valinor for Middle-earth the same way Fëanor once did. Halbrand picks up the mithril, which isn't enough for Celebrimbor to use. The Southlander suggests he combine it with other ores to better stretch it out. Celebrimbor believes it's impossible without diluting the ore's unique qualities. Halbrand suggests using the right ore to amplify the qualities. Where he came from, precious metals were rare, so they combined them to strengthen the metals and hide their flaws. He returns the ore as Celebrimbor muses over the suggestion, though Halbrand calls it a gift.
In Númenor, Pharazôn tells a group of Draftsmen that Tar-Palantir will soon perish. It is their job to forge a tomb for him granting him immortality in stone. They have been tasked to capture his visage, so they can propose a design. Eärien and Kemen are among the apprentices chosen to have an hour with the king.
Eärien sketches the king and he stirs in his sleep. She dabs the corners of his mouth, when he awakens and grabs her arm. He believes she is a young Míriel, one who is not yet Queen. He warns her that the old ways of their people must soon be restored or their island will fall. She runs out of the room and shouts for help. When she returns, the king is opening the secret passage tot he tower. He tells her to go up but not to do as he did. He looked for too long and can no longer tell the past, the present, or the future apart. Eärien ventures into the tower where she discovers the Palantír.
Elrond and Celebrimbor tell High King Gil-galad of their plan to craft a singular object that would save their kind. Celebrimbor wants to design a crown, as a circular form will be ideal. It will allow the light to arc back upon itself in one unbroken round, building to a power that is but unbounded. They would place that power upon their High King. Gil-galad believes this is perilous, but Galadriel reminds the King that a perilous journey is sometimes the right one. He makes his disliking for her abandonment of her ship clear. They are running out of time quickly. Since the mountain of fire's eruption, the Great Tree is bleeding leaves. When the last petal falls, so shall all of their people. They needed a solution much sooner. Gil-galad is appalled to learn the suggestion came from a low man. Celebrimbor argues they are on the cusp of building a new kind of power not of strength, but of spirit. Not of the flesh, but over flesh - a power of the Unseen World. Galadriel recognizes the saying as being one of Sauron's, but stays quiet. Gil-galad commands they all return to Lindon immediately. With the king and Elrond gone, Galadriel asks Celebrimbor about his phrase "a power over flesh." He was conferring with his smiths and Halbrand.
Elrond stops Gil-galad to request three months to try and save their people. He believes he's owed that much, but the king disagrees. Elrond asks him to do it not out of recompense, but because he's asking. He recites Gil-galad's quote regarding hope never being meager. His agreements allows the Elven-smiths to assemble with help from Halbrand and Galadriel. Celebrimbor chisels the mithril ore in half.
Galadriel watches Halbrand help Celebrimbor. She speaks with an Elven Loremaster to request a royal lineage for the Southlands. Their records are limited regarding the mortal world, so he will have to scour the catacombs. She pulls him aside as Celebrimbor and Elrond pass. She tells the Loremaster to speak of this to no one. Halbrand emerges and they speak about his alliance with Celebrimbor. He can hardly believe he's there working with the Elven-smiths. He thanks her for saving his life. She sees the scales as being balanced, but he admits she's done so much more for him. He had all-but given up when she believed in him, saw strength in him, and pushed him to new heights. He'll see to it that no one forgets that.
The Ascetic gives assurance to the Stranger to not fret, as the veil in his mind will weaken the more his powers awaken. The Mystics have come to welcome him in and bring him to their lands. He shows them the stars which the Ascetic explains is called the Hermit's Hat, a pattern visible in only one place. Far the east, where the stars are stranger, the lands of Rhûn. He fell from the stars, but he is greater than them and fire obeys his will. He fell below the dust, yet dust fears him. In Rhûn, he shall learn to command them all, and every being will be his slave. As they speak, the Stranger grows more upset and his powers create a wind storm. The trees bend to his will and he can't stop. The Dweller blows dust in his face to render him unconscious. She instructs the Nomad to bind him, though something is wrong.
In the distance, Sadoc spies on the group then turns to the Harfoots, reminding them this is their worst idea yet. Poppy notices the Dweller is gone as they tie up the Stranger. Goldie blows on a whistle to distract the Mystics, giving Nori and Sadoc time to untie the Stranger. Goldie finds the real Stranger hidden in the bushes. The Dweller reveals herself as being the Stranger tied to the tree. Sadoc wrestles the Dweller as Nomad fires an arrow into his side. The Mystics prepare to kill Nori until a storm arrives. The wind billows into a tornado around the Stranger, who emerges as the Ascetic tells him to calm himself. He forms a blast that knocks the Ascetic and Nomad to the ground, though the Dweller remains upright with her staff. She uses her staff to raise him above the ground then blast him into a tree.
Poppy is pinned to a tree by the Nomad's throwing knives. Sadoc impales her foot allowing Nori and Goldie to free Poppy. The Nomad emits a high-pitched wail.
The Ascetic tells the Dweller to make the Stranger see, so she approaches him with her staff. The Halfings throw rocks at her which stops her momentarily. She pulls flames from the campfire and blows them at the Halflings hiding spots. Nori grabs the Dweller's fallen staff and brings it to the Stranger, begging him to take it. He warns her to stay away or he'll harm her again. They showed him what he is. She tells him to choose what he is by what he does. She knows he's here to help. The Dweller has Goldie, Sadoc, and Poppy pinned at the base of a trunk, approaching with the flames. The Stranger reaches for the staff. Goldie tells Poppy to close her eyes, promising it will only hurt for a moment. As the Dweller throws the fire, it vanishes from her hands, and the flames in the area subside. The Mystics turn in confusion to see the Stranger now equipped with the staff. He bids them a return back to the shadows. The Mystics realize he is not Sauron but the other, the Istari. He proclaims he's good and holds up the staff, sending a wave of light that pulses across the Mystics and sends them crumbling into moths. The staff turns into light and disappears. The Harfoots happily reunite, until Goldie notices Sadoc alone on a stone, his wound growing. Poppy, Nori, and Goldie surround him and he reveals he's going to wander off-trail now. His missus will be waiting for him. He would like to sit a while and watch the sun come up. They sit next to him as he watches the sun peak over the ridge, light flooding his face. He closes his eyes and dies.
On a ship crossing the Sundering Seas, Valandil gazes at the water then crosses it. Elendil visits Queen Regent Míriel in her quarters, where she's counting the steps to the main post. He commends her progress, but she doesn't want his patronizing ways. He instructs her to come with him as he'll help her. She understands his loss and if he wishes to take a leave of duty when they return. He mentions how she once asked him why he pulled Galadriel from the sea. He claimed to have little choice, but he could have left her there, refused to follow her to Middle-earth, or stopped his son from going. He made the choices he did because "Elendil" does not only mean "one who loves the stars." He never imagined it would lead him here. Her father once told her that the way of The Faithful is committing to pay the price even if the cost isn't known, and trusting it will be worth it in the end. They both understand the cost and will make sure the end is worth it. She leans on him until the announcement comes of Númenor being in sight.
They move to the upper-deck where Elendil sees the black sails hung around the island, indicating the death of their King.
Tar-Palantir lays in his bed, dead, with Pharazôn by his side.
An explosion in Celebrimbor's workshop brings Galadriel to visit. The mithril refuses to bond with lesser ores and tapping into the Seen and Unseen worlds weakens the boundaries between the two. It makes no sense of Celebrimbor as they used more pressure than ever before. They are running low on time, so Galadriel suggests leaving it be for the day. Halbrand realizes they might be using too much force in their forging. The metals shouldn't be forced to join, but drawn or coaxed together. Celebrimbor tells them to dismantle their workings and start again. The Loremaster arrives with news for Galadriel.
Galadriel stands in the gardens with the scroll showing the lineage of the Southlands. Halbrand finds her, excited to announce their new plan to make two smaller artifacts. She refuses to go until he tells her who he really is. She tosses the scroll to the ground. There is no King of the Southlands, as the last man to bear the crest died over a thousand years ago without an heir. He reminds her that he found it on a dead man. She refuses to accept the truth because he saved her on the raft, but he sees it as her saving him. She mentions his convincing Míriel to save the men of Middle-earth, though he counters that Galadriel convinced her while he wanted to stay in Númenor. He fought beside her against both their enemy. He has been awake since before the breaking of the first silence. In that time, he's had many names. She stabs at him with her dagger, though he catches her wrist and puts her to sleep.
She awakens in the meadows of Valinor, where Finrod teases her for taking a tumble. She looks to her brother for the first time in over an Age, taking his hand. They sit under a tree as he speaks of her keeping his dagger all this time. He calls her brave, having fought so hard for so many years to complete his task. His task wasn't just to hunt Sauron, but to ensure peace. He learned that was Sauron's task as well. She reminds Finrod that he died because of Sauron. Finrod corrects her that Sauron was seeing a power not to destroy Middle-earth, but to heal it, just as her fellow Elves are trying to do. He tells her to let the work proceed. He asks if she remembers what he whispered to her under the tree, then whispers for her to touch the darkness once more. Galadriel realizes this is all an illusion created by Sauron, who has taken Finrod's form. She turns her back on him and is suddenly taken back tot he raft. Sauron, in Halbrand's form, asks her to look at him. He insists to being her friend. When Morgoth was defeated it was as if a great, clenched fist released its grasp on his neck. He felt the light of The One again and he knew if he were to ever be forgiven, he had to heal everything he helped ruin. She doesn't believe any penance can undo the evil he's done. He reminds her of her words after their victory - that he can be free of his past. He told her that he had done evil, but she didn't care at the time. She doesn't see a future with him anymore. She gazes into the reflection of the water where Sauron dons his armor and she the clothing of a Queen. Sauron can see her greatness and her light. He would make her a Queen, fair as the sun, stronger than the foundations of the Earth, and him as King. They were brought together for a purpose. She will bind him to the light and he will bind her to power. Together, they can save Middle-earth. He doesn't see a difference in saving or ruling Middle-earth. She holds the dagger to his throat, for that alone is why she will never rule by his side. He tells her she doesn't have a choice, because the shadow will spread and darken to cover the world. He wonders what the Elves will do to her when they learn Sauron lives because of her. She shouts back that he will die because of her. The hallucination brings her to the water where she's drowning once more from the raft. This time, there's no one to save her.
Elrond yanks her from the waters of the Glanduin. She attacks him believing he's an illusion. He convinces her of his identity by reminding her of the first moment they met. She cries into him then asks where Celebrimbor is, learning they are nearly finished. She flees to the workshop.
Galadriel confronts Celebrimbor about the artifacts he's making. She tells them never to treat with Halbrand again if he were to return. She asks Elrond to trust her again, so he nods in resignation. She tells Celebrimbor to make three artifacts - one will corrupt, two will divide, but with three, there is balance. The powers they forge must be for the Elves alone, untouched by other hands. The purity of the lesser ores in the alloy is crucial. Celebrimbor needs gold and silver from Valinor. She gazes upon her dagger as he reminds her that true creation requires sacrifice.
The Harfoots return to the Grove, where Nori and the Stranger sit on a hill overlooking the orchard. He remembers fragments and impressions, but in order to discover the rest, he must go to Rhûn. He knows the Mystics were right about the place with a certainty he can't explain. She asks what Istar means and he chuckles, as that means "wise one" or "Wizard" in her language. She realizes that he can't wander with them anymore. In order for his journey to be an adventure, it must be shared with someone. She's had enough adventure as any Harfoot could ask for.
Malva, having taken up the role as Trail-Finder, calls announcements to the Harfoots who prepare to migrate again. Poppy tells her she's holding the map upside down, which means things aren't going to be as easy as Malva thought. Malva snaps at Poppy that, if she's so smart, she should be the trail-finder instead. Malva turns to her people and reminds them that nobody goes off trail, and nobody walks alone. Vilma holds the star-book, reminding Malva that Sadoc is still with them.
Largo hands Nori a makeshift backpack, telling her to go on as she's part of something bigger now. Goldie knows the Stranger needs her, and that she belongs out there. Nori hugs her community goodbye. She then hugs Poppy, who double-checks that her friend has everything packed. She gives Nori a quick goodbye before Dilly pulls her aside. Largo packs her snails while Goldie gives her an extra blanket. He takes her in as she's all grown up. He feels her failed her as he didn't teach her anything. She recites back all the advice he's given her over the years, as she heard it all. They give a Harfoot goodbye. She promises Goldie that she'll be careful, but Goldie knows she'll be bold. The Brandyfoot's share a tight hug and Nori leaves before they all lose their nerve. Poppy shouts after her and they share a tight hug full of tears. Poppy questions why everyone she loves leaves her. Nori thinks they have to or they'll never learn anything new. She promises to come back one day, and Poppy promises to look after everyone. They are each other's best friends. After a final hug from Poppy, Nori joins the Stranger on the hill. He tells her how everyone is waving, but she can't look back or she'll never leave. He suggests she lead off, but she has no idea where to go. He suggests they follow their noses - when in doubt, she should always follow her nose. The Harfoots continue the next stage of their migration while the Stranger and Nori begin their adventure in the opposite direction.
Back in Eregion, Galadriel sacrifices her dagger to the heat, where it melts. The Elven-smiths adds the pure gold and silver to a pot, where Elrond drops their last piece of mithril. Celebrimbor carefully pours the liquid into his forger, where it produces three shards. The Elven-smiths spend all day carving it and bending metals into the shape of rings.
Elrond returns to the lake where he discovers the scroll revealing there is no King of the Southlands. He rushes back to the workshop, where the three rings are being adorned with beautiful gemstones; white, red, and blue. Galadriel gazes over to Elrond, and when he returns her look, she notices he's holding the scroll. The trio turn their attention to the three Elven Rings of Power before them.
Sauron stands on a mountain overlooking Mordor and the erupted Orodruin. He begins his descent of the mountain.
Cast[]
- Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
- Markella Kavenagh as Nori Brandyfoot
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond
- Charles Edwards as Lord Celebrimbor
- Charlie Vickers as Halbrand
- Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
- Ken Blackburn as Tar-Palantir
- Ema Horvath as Eärien
- Leon Wadham as Kemen
- Benjamin Walker as High King Gil-galad
- Sir Lenny Henry as Sadoc Burrows
- Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow
- Sara Zwangobani as Marigold Brandyfoot
- Alex Tarrant as Valandil
- Lloyd Owen as Captain Elendil
- Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel
- Will Fletcher as Finrod
- Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva
- Maxine Cunliffe as Vilma
- Dylan Smith as Largo Brandyfoot
- Beau Cassidy as Dilly Brandyfoot
- Bridie Sisson as The Dweller
- Edith Poor as The Nomad
- Kali Kopae as The Ascetic
- Josh Metcalfe as Elven Loremaster
Appearances[]
| Characters | Creatures | Events | Locations |
| Organizations, factions, and groups | Objects, artefacts, and weapons | Races | Miscellanea |
Characters
Creatures
|
Events
|
Locations
|
Organizations, factions, and groups
|
Objects, artefacts, and weapons
|
Races
Miscellanea
|
Notes and Trivia[]
- The episode closed with a dedication to Dr. John Dundee Payne (1946-2021), the father of showrunner J.D. Payne.
- The song playing at the end of the episode is "Where the Shadows Lie" written by Bear McCreary and performed by Fiona Apple. It was derived from the epigraph of The Lord of the Rings novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Gallery[]
