Episode 4 of The Rings of Power commences in the heart of Numenor, at the palace of Minas Tirith—a misnomer, for indeed, we are in the realm of men. Queen Regent Miriel is enveloped in a nightmarish vision, a colossal deluge ravaging and obliterating all in its path, only to jolt awake in a cold sweat.
Out in the bustling streets, Tamar's rousing speech resonates, painting the Elves as job-stealing invaders. Is this merely a metaphorical allusion? Indeed, it is—a mockery of the kind that Tolkien himself detested, as he penned in numerous missives.
Amidst the Numenorian disdain towards their Queen's potential alliance with the Elves, Pharazon strides forth, his reassuring words echoing through the crowd.
He emphasized that in this movie, "this land will always be the kingdom of humans, not the paradise of elves."To soothe the tumultuous mood, he offers an array of libations, quenching the thirst for both drink and reassurance.
Galadriel, the wise elf, returns to Miriel's chambers, her words carrying the weight of revelation. She declares that Halbrand, alias the sinister Aragorn, is the exiled heir to the throne of the Southlands. But Miriel remains unconvinced, her skepticism unwavering. Yet, Galadriel persists, urging them to unite in defense of the people of the Southlands before Sauron's shadow falls.
Yet again, Miriel refuses, her stubbornness unyielding. Galadriel, her patience wearing thin, unleashes a fiery threat, revealing the tempest that lies within the Queen Regent. Following this ominous warning, Galadriel is promptly imprisoned, her negotiation skills, alas, leaving much to be desired.
Elsewhere, Arondir is shackled in chains, his fate uncertain. He encounters Adar, an elf whose scarred visage speaks of a history of hardship. Adar whispers tales of deceit and deception, revealing that Arondir has been fed many lies. He speaks of a desire to reshape the world, but stresses that only the Gods possess such power. When Arondir inquiries about Adar's true identity, the mysterious elf remains silent, instead bidding him to deliver a message to the men who have sought refuge in the ancient watchtower. With that, Arondir is released, the chains of his imprisonment loosened, yet the chains of destiny remain tightly bound.
Deep in the Southlands, a group of refugees find themselves sheltering in the Guardtower, their resources dwindling. Bronwyn struggles to ration the dwindling supplies, but Theo insists on venturing back into town for provisions, countering her argument for hunting. Stubbornly, Theo defies her advice and heads into the town, gathering a cart laden with supplies.
Theo's companion, Rowan, sensing the ominous shadow of the gathering clouds, decides to flee the town in haste. Tragically, he abandons Theo, unaware that the young man has already entered a house. Suddenly, an orc appears, and Theo hastily grabs that peculiar sword hilt. It transforms into a blade, and after a harrowing battle, he seeks refuge in a well, hiding from his pursuers.
Meanwhile, Elrond returns to Celebrimbor, reminiscing about his father's words about the fate resting in his hands. Without a word of transition, he appears back at the mines, the journey to which was omitted from the narrative. No scenic shots of his journey nor a treasure map like Indiana Jones's guide his way. Just a fleeting glimpse of the mine entrance before we join Elrond inside.
Durin claims he's mining quartz, but Elrond, eavesdropping from afar, realizes the truth—they're delving into the ancient mine beneath Mirrormere. Elrond ventures alone, unaccompanied by dwarven guards, and discovers a concealed door in the rock face. Passing through, he encounters Durin, who forces him to swear silence about his secret.
It transpires that Prince Durin has stumbled upon a new ore, the contents of the mysterious box revealed in previous episodes. It is mithril, a rare and valuable metal. Durin believes this could herald a new era for the dwarves, but he operates in secrecy, for his father enforces stringent rules against mining too deeply.
In this passage, Elrond profoundly states that "twenty years is indeed an eternity to be apart," alluding to the identical span of time that elapsed in episode 2, not an additional two decades. (My gratitude to Nexus for dispelling my initial misunderstanding!) Amidst a cave collapse, fortunately, all the dwarves emerged unscathed. Nevertheless, the mine was subsequently shuttered, curtailing Durin's mining endeavors. Yet, a heartfelt conversation ensued between Durin and his father, King Durin III, who mended their strained relationship. Prince Durin, ultimately, resolved to accompany Elrond to the serene realm of Lindon.
Meanwhile, Galadriel paced within her confinement, contemplating her negotiating prowess or its absence. Halbrand astutely observed that the true source of Miriel's ire lay in the mention of her father, the king sequestered in the tower, unseen for countless years. That evening, the Queen Regent reached a decision and ordered Galadriel's escort back to the Elves under armed guard. This was indeed welcome news, aligning precisely with Galadriel's aspiration when she bravely swam hundreds of miles across the open sea to return to her homeland.
As the cell door swung open, Galadriel, unarmed and undefended, single-handedly overpowered five armored warriors, shoving them one by one into the confinement and securing it with a firm lock. She cast a triumphant glance at Pharazon, a smirk playing on her lips, before gracefully retreating.
The army, rallied in search of Miriel's bedridden and gravely ill father, found Galadriel apologetic, insisting on the importance of truth between them. After much deliberation, Miriel chose to trust Galadriel and guided her to a lost palantir. Upon touching it, Galadriel was immersed in the same devastating flood vision that had haunted Miriel's dreams. Fearing this fateful future, Miriel contemplated sending Galadriel away.
Meanwhile, Rowan, Theo's loyal friend, returned to the tower, only to discover that Theo was still trapped in the depths of the well. During the dead of night, Theo attempted a daring escape, but fatefully stumbled into the orcs' clutches. However, his plight was miraculously saved by Arondir, who had been released earlier by Adar. Undeterred by the midnight hour, they hastened through the forest as the sun began to creep above the horizon, forcing the orcs to abandon their pursuit.
In Numenor, Galadriel departed without Halbrand, now a freed man. However, Miriel hesitated in sending Galadriel away, her resolve wavering as she noticed the petals of the White Tree gracefully falling. As Galadriel's vessel sailed into the distance, Miriel addressed the council, resolutely deciding to personally escort Galadriel back to the shores of Middle-Earth.
