Spoiler-Free Review Of ‘The Rings Of Power’ Episode 5
Image Source: Vanity Fair
Fast-paced is one word that can be used to describe Episode 5 of The Rings of Power. Compared to the last few episodes, this one is definitely not setting up the story. We are now right in the middle of it with intrigue, politics, betrayal, redemption (maybe?), and hope. If you are wanting more of an epic fast-paced cinematic feel to the show, this episode definitely has that feel.
For the first time in the series, we actually see all the storylines at various different points in one episode, which is very exciting because it really gives the feel that the story is progressing. Plus, it is fun not to have to wait an entire two weeks just to find out where the last storyline left off. The suspense building throughout Middle-earth and Númenor is palpable throughout. The last couple of episodes have had some “aha I knew it” moments. This episode, however, is more “oh my gosh did that actually happen?” There is a lot of politics between the races of Middle-earth, and definitely some insight into old (or new!) feuds. There are insane reveals, and also quite a bit of betrayal in almost every single character’s storyline. However, in the midst of the growing darkness, there is still hope.
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At the beginning of the episode, we briefly see more characters that were in the main trailer, so if the pattern tracks, we may be seeing new characters and/or images, settings, etc. until the end of the season. The characters we do see are just as intriguing as they were in the trailer, and really do not give us much indication as to who they are or where they came from. It was also just what we saw in the trailer and nothing more. Hopefully, this mystery will be solved, or at least partially, by the end of the season!
As always, the production design does not disappoint, bringing even more of the world of Middle-earth. This episode uses a lot of lighting to show the contrasting sides of the light and the dark, helping to immerse the viewer even more into the world, while at the same time, helping to heighten the tension in scenes. Strategic lighting and camera angles give little hints about the characters and places, adding so much more depth to the story.
Image Source: IGN
There are many memes and jokes among the Tolkien fanbase at this point about when Sauron will show up in the series. The showrunners and writers have thrown so many red herrings at us that the joke is now “Who will be Sauron this week?” This week, they seem to have either thrown us another red herring or told us straight off that one of the suspects is not Sauron…or at least, it seems that way, which is an interesting development. However, the questions remain. Have we already met him? Will we see him this season or will he be revealed later on? Whatever the case, they sure are keeping fans on their toes guessing and second-guessing at every turn.
Image Source: GLITCHED
This episode is also filled with many Easter eggs to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. Super fans will almost immediately recognize scenes that mimic scenes from the movies, places that mimic the movie, and various little nods to Jackson’s creation of Middle-earth. If you’re a fan of the movies, this episode is sure to be a delight in searching for them all.
The music in this episode is astounding as it has been in the entire series so far. Bear McCreary has created beautiful themes. Particularly in this episode, the music had similar musical sounds to that of Howard Shore's amazing masterpiece for The Lord of the Rings. The music adds to the Easter egg scenes mentioned above in a way that is nostalgic for movie fans. This episode also uses a sung poetic song just like in The Lord of the Rings movies. One of the characters starts to sing it in the scene, then the song continues over a montage sequence. It definitely brings back the feel of Pippin or Aragorn singing in The Lord of the Rings. Even though the poem itself is not directly taken from Tolkien's writings, it has the same feel and sound as if it were.
Even though there are only three more episodes left in Season 1, there are still a lot of loose ends to tie up. Of course, we know that there are several more seasons left, but fans are hoping that at least they will tie up some storylines or give some closure at the end of this season. We will just have to wait a few more weeks to see. The good news is, Amazon has just announced that Season 2 is now in production and will begin shooting on October 7. Hopefully, that means we at least won’t have too long to wait for Season 2. For now, we wait for next week, and whatever adventure Middle-earth will take us. Things will be more exciting if this week’s episode is any indication!
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