Episode 6 of Rings of Power commences with a captivating scene of Adar gliding his fingers through the gritty soil, as his horde of orcs gaze in anticipation. He rouses their spirits, proclaiming that they are breaking free from their bondage and facing one final challenge—the elimination of a mere contingent within the guardhouse. However, upon their arrival, the locale appears desolate... or so it seems. It transpires that Arondir and a few allies were lurking in wait for a devastating ambush.
Alone and unwavering, Arondir dismantles the tower's defense by severing a solitary rope that anchored a cascade of boulders. His strategy executed, he traps the orcs within and flees, efficiently eliminating several in the chaos of falling debris.
The scene shifts to three diminutive ships traversing the vast seas towards Middle Earth. It's crucial to note the minuteness of these vessels, as it will bear significance later. Atop the deck, Isildur encounters Galadriel, astonished by her ability to discern the impending shoreline while he remains oblivious. And indeed, as the camera pans out, a distinct landmass looms on the horizon.
Elendil informs Miriel that it will be several days before they reach the mainland and can then journey eastward. Conversing about the East, Arondir rejoins the group, informing them that their humble village offers a strategic advantage. They devise intricate traps and deliver an inspiring speech, bracing themselves for the impending orc onslaught as night draws near.
The moment arrives, resembling a makeshift Battle of Helms Deep, or perhaps one might jestingly call it the Battle of Helm's Bargain. Apologies, I shall desist from further jests! Despite the fires and minor traps laid by the villagers, the orcs persist in their assault. Arondir, surprisingly ambushed from behind despite his superior senses, pivots and flips, kicking a hulking orc into a one-on-one confrontation. Ultimately, the orc overpowers him, choking him until our elf hero is rescued by the valiant Bronwyn.
The villagers, having thought they'd vanquished all the orcs and saved the day, were left dumbfounded. For, with a shocking revelation, they realized they'd been butchering their own kin, unknowingly. The ease of their victory now made sense. The orcs, sneering maliciously, emerged from their hiding places, raining arrows upon the villagers, including a grievously wounded Bronwyn. As chaos ensued, the villagers scrambled for cover within the tavern's confines.
Bronwyn's chest was pierced by an arrow, blood gushing profusely. Swiftly, the wound was cauterized, miraculously bringing her back to consciousness. Yet, just as hope began to flicker, Adar appeared, wreaking havoc among the villagers.
Before the inevitable end for Bronwyn, Theo's voice rang out, revealing the location of the sword hilt that Arondir had cunningly concealed beneath a stone. With horror, Arondir watched as Theo handed it over to the orcs.
Suddenly, Galadriel appeared, leading a formidable army, seemingly defying logic as they materialized from just three ships. As the battle intensified, Adar fled with the sword hilt in hand, only to be intercepted by Halbrand, who halted his escape. Galadriel, poised to deliver the final blow, halted Halbrand, sparing Adar's life with a cryptic remark: "One cannot quench their thirst with seawater."
Galadriel pondered the brutal idea of exposing her captive orcs to the sunlight, a torture that would strip them of their misery. Adar, sensing his impending doom, confessed to killing Sauron, but Galadriel remained unconvinced. Instead, she decreed the eradication of every orc, save for Adar, who would bear the agony of watching his children perish before his eyes.
Adar, defiant in the face of Galadriel's cruelty, questioned her dark nature. Just as her blade hovered over his throat, Halbrand intervened, saving Adar's life. Galadriel retreated, leaving Adar with a grim realization—Halbrand, he surmised, was none other than Sauron himself.
In front of the assembled crowd, Bronwyn poses a question to Halbrand, inquiring if he is indeed the king. His gaze roams the gathering as he responds, "Yes," he whispers, his tone soft yet decisive. There, the mystery is unravelled.
As the episode draws to a close, Theo realizes with a start that the sword hilt they had been searching for is nowhere to be found, having been swapped in a sneaky maneuver. Waldreg, the aged man, is the true possessor, and as he clumsily drops the sword, chaos erupts in its wake.
A distant rumbling grows louder, and the orcs, sensing its approach, begin chanting "Udun" in unison. The tunnels they have been constructing now reveal their true purpose—funneling all the water into the depths of a volcano. Consequently, the volcano ignites, unleashing a devastating pyroclastic cloud. The villagers, panic-stricken, scramble for cover, but Galadriel stands her ground, unwavering. As the fiery cloud bears down on her and the villagers, poised to annihilate everything in its path, the episode reaches its dramatic climax.
