The first season weaves together the stories of hobbits, elves, dwarves, Númenóreans, Istari and orcs, offering a sprawling narrative full of mystery, action and awe – all set against a familiar Tolkien backdrop.
With the upcoming release of the second season of Rings of Power, new secrets will be revealed, new parts of Middle-earth will be explored, and long-awaited characters – such as Tom Bombadil – will be introduced into the narrative.
But amidst the excitement of the upcoming new season, it feels like an eternity has passed since the series premiered. Who was Sauron? Who was the Stranger? And what was the significance of the mithril?
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If you need a refresher before Rings of Power returns, here’s a full recap of season one.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Summary Season 1
Galadriel, Halbrand and the Númenoreans
The first season begins with Galadriel, a famous elf warrior, on a quest for revenge.
During the Elves’ battle against the evil Morgoth, her brother Finrod was killed by the elusive and powerful Sauron, and Galadriel remains convinced that Sauron still poses a threat to Middle Earth despite Morgoth’s defeat. Driven by a desire to avenge her brother, but also to eradicate the threat she (rightly) believes Sauron continues to pose to Middle Earth, Galadriel leads an expedition to find Sauron.
However, her mission to hunt Sauron ends in a dead end. Since there are no further clues, the Elven King Gil-Galad orders her to return to the Elven homeland of Valinor.
Galadriel, however, is far from ready to give up her quest. In a moment of defiance, she jumps from the ship bound for Valinor and decides to swim back to Middle Earth. Her life is saved by a ragged mortal named Halbrand, and together they are carried by the current on his raft to the island kingdom of Númenor, ruled by Queen Míriel.
In Númenor, Galadriel continues her search for Sauron and discovers that the Southlands in the southeast of Middle-earth may play a central role in his plans. She convinces Queen Miriel to send an army to support the Southlands, where a great battle is about to take place. The forces of Númenor, led by General Elendil and his son Isildur, sail for Middle-earth.
Meanwhile, Galadriel and Halbrand’s relationship is changing. Galadriel is fascinated by Halbrand’s mysterious background and charisma. Halbrand, in turn, is fascinated by Galadriel’s single-mindedness. These frictions – which could become romantic – simultaneously bring them closer together and drive them apart, as each discovers the other’s complexities.
They also sail with the forces of Númenór to Middle-earth to defend the Southlands.
Bronwyn, Theo and Arondir
The Southlands and their inhabitants play a central role in the story of the first season of “Rings of Power”, not least because they serve as a magnet that brings the different storylines together as the story progresses.
The region’s inhabitants were once allied with Morgoth, and after his defeat, a detachment of elves, including Arondir, were stationed there to monitor the population. But while the other elves become complacent, the vigilant Arondir notices signs of a resurgence of evil. While investigating, Arondir is captured by orcs, now led by a figure named Adar, and forced to work on an extensive underground tunnel system.
The Orcs use these tunnels to launch attacks in the Southlands, including on Bronwyn’s village, where she lives with her son Theo. Bronwyn calls on the villagers to leave their homes and seek refuge in a nearby abandoned fortress. As they flee, Theo discovers the broken hilt of an old sword and takes it with him.
The central battle of the season unfolds as Adar’s forces lay siege to the fortress. The Southrons manage to hold out until Galadriel, Halbrand, and the Númenóreans arrive and defeat Adar’s army.
However, Adar’s true goal is achieved: the handle Theo found is a key that, when activated, triggers a chain of events that culminate in the eruption of a dormant volcano.
The ensuing eruption transforms the Southlands into a volcanic wasteland of darkness, ash and fire: it becomes Mordor, Sauron’s great fortress, with Mount Doom at its center.
All the major players survive the outbreak, but Isildur is missing and presumed dead. Bronwyn’s people leave to establish new lands (presumably what will later become Gondor), while the remaining Númenóreans return home, but with a vow to return and continue the fight against Sauron in Middle-earth.
After the outbreak, Galadriel takes the badly injured Halbrand to the elven city of Lindon, where she realizes to her horror that he is the enemy she has been hunting for so long: Sauron in human form.
Galadriel rejects Sauron’s offer to join him as queen and flees Lindon to Mordor, planning her next steps to defeat him. She is still stunned by the betrayal but feels vindicated.
Elrond, Prince Durin and the Mithril
The first season of Rings of Power revealed that Middle-earth’s greatest bromance, that between Legolas and Gimli, was preceded by an equally unconventional relationship: that between Elrond and Durin IV.
But at the beginning of the season, the friendship between Elrond and the dwarf prince of Khazad-dûm has been broken by time. The two have not seen each other for 20 years: for the eternal Elrond, just a blink of an eye, but for Durin, a long and eventful eternity.
Knowing that the Elves need the Dwarves’ help to build a great forge, Elrond tries to repair the damaged friendship. This requires humility and patience (and the help of Durin’s wife, Disa). Ultimately, however, Durin’s father, King Durin III, must be persuaded to help the Elves.
Unbeknownst to the Elves, King Durin’s Dwarves have discovered a valuable resource deep within the mines of Moria: Mithril. This rare ore is a substance that can restore the Elves’ fading magical light, thus preserving Elves’ influence over Middle Earth.
King Gil-Galad tasks Elrond with manipulating the dwarves to obtain the valuable material. Although King Durin refuses to give in to Elrond’s requests, Prince Durin shares a small, thumb-sized piece of mithril with Elrond, who takes it back to Lindon for study and gives it to Celebrimbor.
Celebrate
Towards the end of the season, the elf blacksmith Celebrimbor becomes a key figure.
He is supposed to forge a crown for Gil-Galad out of mithril, but instead, under the guidance of Halbrand and with the encouragement of Galadriel, he makes three rings. These rings are supposed to preserve the power of mithril and are worn by Galadriel, Elrond and Celebrimbor themselves.
The Harfoots, a lineage of Hobbits from the Shire (from a time long before the Shire existed), are a nomadic people who subsist by foraging and moving from one lush place to another: it is a peaceful and simple, if hard, life.
Their peace is disturbed when a blazing fireball shoots through the nearby night sky, crashing to the ground and creating a circle of flames.
Nori, a curious young Harfoot, investigates the crash site and discovers a disoriented man at the center of the fire. This stranger, as he is called, possesses mysterious and powerful abilities, and Nori takes care of him, hiding him from the other Harfoots.
As the Stranger slowly regains his unfathomable magical powers, he leaves the Harfoots, only to find Nori realizing that he is being pursued by mysterious agents of evil. Nori rushes to warn him and catches up with the Stranger just as he is being attacked by this mysterious white-robed trio. A dangerous battle ensues, where he gains control of his magic to defeat them.
But the stranger and the Harfoots cannot coexist: he attracts a danger for which they are not equipped. The stranger feels drawn to the east and prepares to leave. Nori, thirsting for adventure, joins him.
Together they set out for the eastern lands of Rhûn, with him telling her to “always follow her nose.”
His connections to the hobbits, his connection to fire, his power over magic, and many other small details all suggest that the stranger is not so unknown after all, but may actually be… Gandalf.
The board represents the second season of Rings of Power
The titular Rings of Power have now been forged and Sauron has been exposed. The second season of the fantasy series promises more thrilling action and drama in Middle Earth and offers the prospect of many more secrets.
How will Sauron manipulate the creation of the One Ring? Will Galadriel continue her hunt for it or join forces with the Elves again? What will the Stranger find in Rhûn?
Look forward to more battles and unexpected twists as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.
Read more about The Rings of Power:
The second season of The Rings of Power premieres August 29 on Prime Video – you can sign up now for a free 30-day trial of Prime Video.
If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV guide and streaming guide, or visit our dedicated fantasy hub. For more information about the biggest TV stars, visit The Radio Times Podcast.
