If, much like your humble correspondent, you hastily conjectured that the mysterious Stranger who plummeted from the heavens in the opening salvo of "The Rings of Power" was none other than Sauron, let "Alloyed" shed clarity on this enigma — or does it hold more secrets? The season's climactic episode revealed this shocking twist mere moments into its narrative, yet, as not all wanderers are lost, so too are not all significant plot revelations to be taken at face value.
The Stranger's true identity was unveiled through the veil of three enigmatic women who had been shadowing him for several episodes — two of whom seemed to be known as the Ascetic and the Nomad — who delivered profound proclamations like, "You fell from the stars, yet you eclipse their grandeur" upon finally encountering him. However, he was not readily swayed by them, especially when they assaulted Nori as she and her Harfoot compatriots ventured to rescue him, including their leader, Sadoc Burrows, who was fatally wounded by a well-aimed dagger. It was a tragic loss, for the hobbits have always embodied the purest essence of Middle-earth, but in his final breath, the elder hobbit seemed content. "My wife will be awaiting me," he whispered.
Although still a cosmic newborn, a nebulous conglomeration of dust rather than a fully realized star, The Stranger was able to vanquish the three entities who had pursued him in a truly spectacular display, realizing (or perhaps deciding) that "I am sufficient." With her dying words, one of them realized, much too late, that, oh dear, he was not Sauron but "the other one." To be precise, he is one of the Istari, which translates to both "wise one" and "wizard," of whom only three were ever named: Radagast, Saruman, and Gandalf. I shall leave you with one guess: Which of these wizened figures is The Stranger?
If we required a stark reminder that hobbits are the beating heart and soul of "The Lord of the Rings" in its entirety and Middle-earth in particular, Nori's tender farewell to her family and dearest friend after deciding to journey to Rhûn and uncover more about her mysterious counterpart served that purpose admirably. "The world is not as vast as it seems, Poppy," she whispered to her BFF, "It's merely that we are so infinitesimal in its vastness." And if we sought further confirmation that The Stranger is indeed Gandalf, albeit not explicitly identified as such, his parting words in the episode provided that assurance as well: "When in doubt, Eleanor Brandyfoot, always trust your nose."
Amidst an unforeseen pairing that ignites immediate intrigue, Halbrand unexpectedly stumbled upon Celebrimbor in his workshop within the lush hills of Eregion. There, he presented a potential remedy to the elves' mithril scarcity: a blend with another ore. Initially, the master smith frowned upon the concept, fearing it would diminish the precious metal's "unparalleled essence." Yet, Halbrand, honed by his purportedly harsh upbringing, knew that the perfect alloy could in fact enhance those qualities. ("Perhaps there's a way to achieve more with less," murmured Celebrimbor, a remark unintentionally echoing the vast expanse of Amazon's billion-dollar investment.)
Time shall be the ultimate judge, but in the interim, Celebrimbor, Galadriel, and Elrond presented High King Gil-galad with an idea conceived by Halbrand: utilize the meager mithril reserves to craft a regal crown for the High King himself. Alas, Gil-galad was unmoved, but that was merely a fraction of the challenge. Galadriel, always right and deserving of unwavering attention, sensed a discordant note after hearing Celebrimbor repeat an odd phrase he'd overheard from Halbrand. She had a scholar delve into the history of the Southlands, and her suspicions were justified: that line had been extinguished for over a millennium, implying Halbrand was not who he claimed to be.
Who, then, could he be? Surely not the Dark Lord of Mordor, known to some as Mairon and Annatar, the Master of the Rings? The epitome of deception and disguise? Kudos to the perceptive few who guessed it: Halbrand is Sauron, and Sauron is Halbrand. He didn't divulge this truth to Galadriel idly. After leading her through the shadowy recesses of her own mind, from the serene riverside where she and her brother once confided to the raft where she first encountered Halbrand, he revealed their reflection in the water as a dark king and queen.
"All others cast doubt upon you," he whispered. "I alone behold your grandeur; I alone behold your radiance." He wished to bind her to the light, and she to his power in this sinister union, and together they would safeguard Middle-earth. "Save or rule?" she queried, unconvinced by his silken tongue. He saw no distinction, which is why, she declared, she would never stand by his side. If his words reminded you of something, there's a reason: they echoed Galadriel's words to Frodo after he offered her the ring. The seed of that speech originating from the Dark Lord is indeed significant.
By the time Galadriel awoke from the water, nearly drowned, Sauron had vanished towards Mordor, and Elrond was there to rescue her. She, however, did not reveal what had transpired — to do so would tarnish Elrond's trust in her and even cast aspersions on her loyalty. She also declared that three rings must now be crafted instead of a solitary crown, as one would corrupt its wearer and two would divide its bearers. With the aid of Halbrand/Sauron, Celebrimbor finally mastered the art of bending mithril to his will, and the rings he forged were striking indeed: one clear as crystal, one crimson, and one azure.
Many more Rings of Power shall be forged before this series reaches its conclusion — seven for the Dwarf-lords in their stony halls, nine for the fleeting mortals destined for death, and one for the Dark Lord on his shadowy throne. But for now, the three rings for the Elven-kings beneath the sky shall suffice. How they shall be employed remains a mystery, as does the trajectory of "The Rings of Power" after this promising, flawed, yet occasionally thrilling first season.
