Episode 7 of Rings of Power commences with Galadriel and her companions narrowly escaping a devastating pyroclastic flow, leaving them breathless but alive. The raging inferno swallows most of the village, yet amidst the chaos, a blazing steed rushes by, and Galadriel finds Theo unscathed, with many structures still standing miraculously. With all survivors gathered, they embark on a quest for salvation.
Elsewhere, the eccentric Harfoots decide to enlist the Stranger's aid to address the turmoil in their world. As a tree crashes down on Nori, they are relieved to find her unharmed, for as we know, the Harfoots have a reputation for leaving their wounded behind. The Stranger's magic seems to take hold, and the trees sprout an abundance of food, which they greedily gather.
However, the Harfoots are not alone. They are being observed by the enigmatic trio from the previous episode. Silently, they move away, but Nori makes a rash decision to confront them. This proves to be a folly, as the leader ignites their caravan, burning everything, including their food supply. Consequently, they choose to follow Nori, though Sardoc remains skeptical of this decision.
Elrond pleads with King Durin III for access to the Mithril mines, offering to furnish the city with game, grain, and timber from the elder forests for the next five centuries. This is indeed a long-term arrangement, and Elrond's knees buckle as he begs the Dwarf King for assistance. Disa, however, is displeased and believes they should reopen the mines themselves to explore a safe method of mining mithril. As Durin slides a piece of mithril across the table, it comes to rest beside the infected leaf, miraculously healing it.
Elrond and Prince Durin commence mining mithril together, their banter adding a touch of humor to the gravity of the situation. Indeed, these two, along with Disa, are the show's brightest spots. When King Durin spots his son in the mines, a fiery exchange ensues between them. The scenes culminate with the aforementioned leaf drifting through the depths of the mines, eventually coming upon a formidable Balrog.
Deep in the Southlands, Galadriel pondered, deciding it was best to rally their forces to the verdant realm of the living, far from the devastation wrought by the volcano's fury. The subsequent scene shifted to Elendil and his comrades, revealing hundreds of Southlanders and Numenorians unharmed, unaffected by the blaze, as they traversed the dense woods.
As Theo and Galadriel walked side by side, Theo's heart was heavy with the conviction that her mother and Arondir had perished. Galadriel, however, cautioned, "What cannot be known hollows the mind. Fill it not with guesswork." Her words rang hollow, as she had spent much of her time in the first episode speculating about Sauron's whereabouts and leading a quest across the world, solely reliant on hunches and suppositions. Thus, hypocrisy was now another unsavory trait to add to her list.
They emerged from the Southlands, and Galadriel revealed a devastating truth—Celeborn, her husband, had fallen in battle. She had bid him farewell as he went to war, yet a question lingered—why hadn't the commander of the northern armies joined the fray? She had been seen amassing helmets like pieces of a Jenga puzzle, indicating her participation in some conflict. Why had she not utilized that time to search for her beloved husband, instead of chasing shadows of Sauron?
After another recycled scene, reminiscent of The Fellowship, Theo and Galadriel now fled from an orc instead of a Ringwraith. They narrowly evaded Adar and his ferocious orc horde as they drew near.
Finally, they returned to find Arondir and Bronwyn, both unscathed. Galadriel approached Miriel, now blind, yet resilient. Ships awaited, ready to ferry them back to safety. Miriel vowed that Numenor would rise again, and when that day came, they would be prepared.
Bronwyn, too, embarks on a journey, steering towards an ancient Numenorean settlement nestled at the confluence of the Anduin River. It is known as Pelargir, a verdant oasis of fertile land and pure waters. Meanwhile, Galadriel ventures forth towards the High King, while Halbrand, though wounded, remains resilient and unharmed. Far in the Southlands, Adar makes a momentous decision, renaming the region as Mordor, a name that would resonate with dread and terror.
