The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 recap, Easter eggs, and ending explained: Sauron and Galadriel go head to head in an epic finale

EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsLord of the Rings TV ShowsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerThe Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 recap, Easter eggs, and ending explained: Sauron and Galadriel go head to head in an epic finaleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsLord of the Rings TV ShowsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerThe Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 recap, Easter eggs, and ending explained: Sauron and Galadriel go head to head in an epic finaleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Prime Video) It’s here: The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 has arrived, and the finale has plenty to process. Last week’s episode left us with Arondir’s fate unclear, Adar victorious, Celebrimbor breaking down, and Galadriel on the run. This week, season 2 is brought to a thunderous close. There’s plenty to dig into, and we’ve got the lowdown on all you need to know here, with a complete recap, all the Easter eggs from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, and your biggest questions about the ending answered. So, for everything you need to know about the season 2 finale, head to the below. Adventure awaits! The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 recap (Image credit: Amazon Studios) The episode begins with Durin IV heading down to speak to his father. King Durin refuses to take off his ring, though it works out for the moment – he breaks through into a vast mithril cavern. Everything seems to be perfect, until a monstrous creature appears: the Balrog. In a seriously emotional moment, King Durin sacrifices himself to fight the Balrog, ensuring his son gets to safety. King Durin is killed, though, and rocks fall between him and Prince Durin and Disa. That effectively saves the rest of Khazad-dûm from destruction. However, the Stranger isn’t keen on going with the Dark Wizard and turns him down, once he sees that Poppy and Nori are in danger. “When your senses have returned, I will be waiting,” the Dark Wizard says, but not before a brief, magical showdown. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox Meanwhile, over in Numenor, everyone faithful to the Sea Queen is declared a traitor. That puts Elendil in danger, and his daughter runs to warn him before he can be arrested, meaning he escapes. (Image credit: Prime Video) Over in the Southlands, Theo finally returns home safely. Isildur and Estrid share a kiss, and Kemen arrives from Numenor. All is not well, though, as he won’t give the Southlands the aid that was promised, and Isildur’s friends aren’t allowed to leave with him. Isildur boards a ship home, leaving Estrid behind. Catching up with Galadriel, who is on the run with the nine rings for men, she encountersAdaronce more. Curiously, her ring – which he took from Elrond at the end of episode 7 – has healed him, returning him back to his old, Elven look. When he gives the ring back, however, the corruption returns. “Adar is the name I earned,” he says, before asking Galadriel to help him earn it back – it means father. The orcs, however, aren’t so keen on this. They betray him and stab him to death, just as Adar urged them to do to Sauron so many years ago. Sauron, meanwhile, watches on. Back in the forest, Galadriel and Sauron come to blows. “I know your mind,” Sauron says, telling Galadriel: “The door is still open.” Galadriel declares: “The door is shut.” Their battle rages on and Galadriel is forced to fight against Sauron in disguise as Halbrand, herself and Celebrimbor. She also takes some serious wounds, culminating in Sauron stabbing her with his crown. As for the Stranger, we finally learn his name when the Stores call him “Grand Elf.” He likes the sound of that enough to take on a name… drumroll! He is none other than Gandalf. He has a staff now, too. In Khazad-dûm, Durin is still dealing with the death of his father, but already other dwarven lords – including his brother – are making moves for the crown. It seems he’ll have no time for mourning, or for offering aid to the elves. The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8 Easter eggs (Image credit: Amazon Studios) The Lord of the Rings– this one is pretty self-explanatory. Celebrimbor namedrops the whole story in his fatal showdown with Annatar/Sauron. One alone shall prove your ruin– another self-explanatory Easter egg, referring to Frodo carrying the One Ring to Mordor, which ultimately leads to Sauron’s destruction. Though, of course, Frodo has plenty of help along the way. Saruman– we don’t learn who the mysterious Dark Wizard is, but, since he calls Gandalf “old friend” and refers to five other Wizards, we can guess he’s Saruman. The door is shut– Galadriel’s showdown with Sauron alludes to something she tells Frodo in The Fellowship of the Ring: “I say to you, Frodo, that even as I speak to you, I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind, or all of his mind that concerns the Elves. And he gropes ever to see me and my thought. But still the door is closed!” Fëanor’s hammer– Sauron takes the hammer, which he’ll most likely be using in the construction of a certain One Ring. Narsil– Elendil draws a sword in Númenor, which is none other than Narsil. That’s the sword that Isildur uses to cut Sauron’s One Ring from his hand during the War of the Last Alliance. It became known as the Sword that was Broken, as this shattered the blade. Aragorn wields it much later in the Third Age. The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 ending explained Who dies in The Rings of Power season 2 finale? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) Is the Stranger Gandalf? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) Yes, the Stranger has finally been revealed as Gandalf. Most of us called this from the very beginning, but we at last have confirmation, as the mysterious man finally claimed the name for himself – and a staff – at the end of the episode. Who is the Dark Wizard? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) The Dark Wizard’s identity is not revealed, but it seems a foregone conclusion. Not only does he look and speak like Saruman, but he also says there are five people like him and Gandalf – AKA the five wizards. Unless this is all an elaborate bait-and-switch, and he’s actually one of those Blue Wizards, it seems pretty safe to say the Dark Wizard is Saruman. Is Celebrimbor dead? (Image credit: Prime Video) Sadly, everyone’s favorite Elven smith is indeed dead. Sauron/Annatar murders him in the episode in a rage – torturously slowly – after Celebrimbor gives Galadriel the nine rings for men and she flees with them. What happens to Adar? (Image credit: Prime Video) Is Arondir alive? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) In episode 7, it looked like Arondir might not make it to the end of season 2 after Adar stabbed him several times with an arrow. But, in episode 8, Arondir is alive and well. Where are the elves at the end? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) What’s next for Durin? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) Durin’s father is dead, which makes him king. However, it’s not that simple. Other dwarf lords are making plots, including Durin’s own brother. It looks like his season 3 story will involve a power struggle. What’s next for Sauron? (Image credit: Prime Video) Sauron takes Fëanor’s hammer with him from Eregion, which means he’s most likely turning his attention to forging the One Ring. We all know how that turns out… Where are the rings now? (Image credit: Prime Video) Sauron took the nine rings for men from Galadriel, but she escaped with her own ring, Nenya. That means the elven rings and the dwarf ring that belonged to King Durin are not in Sauron’s possession, while he has the nine – and, most likely, he’ll soon have the One Ring, too. Where is Isildur going? (Image credit: Amazon Studios) Check out ourThe Rings of Power season 2 reviewfor our verdict on the entire season, or see what there is to know aboutThe Rings of Power season 3through the link. 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