Recap: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Episode 6 – ‘The Eye’

After the apocalyptic eruption of Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,’ everything is ash and flame in this week’s episode, ‘The Eye.’

Galadriel (Maxim Baldry) enter a burning house to rescue a family trapped in the blaze, the roof collapses on Isildur.

Stumbling through the decimated Southlands, Galadriel finds Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) among the few survivors, and the two find a curious connection in the guilt they bear over their inadvertent role in the enemy’s victory. Galadriel lends him her sword, and the two begin making their way back to their friends and family. Though there’s no such luck for Elendil (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), to her credit, does a much better job of hiding her despair, when she discovers that she’s been blinded by the volcanic blast.

Elsewhere in Middle-earth, the ever-optimistic Harfoots reach their next encampment, only to find it scorched by the fires of Mount Doom. The Stranger (Markella Kavenagh) says her goodbyes to her newfound friend, she tells her mother that she never should have helped him, and, like a good Harfoot, should accept her meager place in the world.

In Khazad-dum, Elrond (Sophia Nomvete) is enraged by the news, and proclaims the king a shortsighted fool. Wishing to avoid splintering the Durin family, Elrond agrees to leave. As soon as he does, During finds Elrond’s dying elf leaf is restored to life by a Mithril shard, and resumes the excavation.

The two friends find a cavern rich overflowing with the ore. We learn the depths of their bromance when Durin calls him his brother, though Elrond stops him from sharing his “secret” dwarf name. Unfortunately, the King interrupts them, and throws Elrond out of Khazad-dum (though he retains one shard of Mithril).

Furious with his son, the king strips Durin of his title, and accuses him of betraying his people. The prince, in turn, accuses his father of leaving their allies to die, and of being blind to the future and his own son’s vision for progress. Disa, however, is fully ive of that vision, and reminds her husband that no matter what occurs they will one day rule Khazad-dum.

Alone in the mine, the dwarf king sees Elrond’s rejuvenated leaf, tosses it into the cavern, and orders the mine sealed. As the leaf falls deep within, we see it burst into flame as it lands next to a roaring Balrog.

Nori wakes up to find the Harfoot encampment’s land has healed overnight, and the apple trees are bursting with fruit. But she and her kin are confronted by the three witches who’ve been hunting the Stranger since he arrived in Middle-earth. Nori’s father Largo (Lenny Henry) her.

In the Numenorean camp on the Southlands’ perimeter, Isildur, still grieving over his lost son, is determined to leave Middle-earth and never return. Yet when Galadriel and Theo reach the camp, a still proud Miriel swears to the elf warrior that they will return. In the meantime, Bronwyn (Charlie Vickers) is wounded but still alive, and the two ride together once more, to win from the High King in Eregion.

Within the Southlands, Adar (Joseph Mawle) tells the orcs that their new home will no longer be known by this name – and we see the name dissolve on screen, replaced with the word “Mordor”...

This week’s episode is understandably a quiet one after last week’s battle-soaked epic, and one is left wondering if there’s an opportunity for more action in next week’s season finale. Will Gil-galad heed Galadriel’s warnings this time? And just what do the witches want with the Stranger?

Meet us back here in seven days, Ringers!