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Before you proceed, be warned – there are major spoilers ahead. If you haven’t watched the first three episodes of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season 2, do so before reading further.
Season 2 of “The Rings of Power” is here and it’s better than ever. The series continues to draw on the rich and intricate lore that author J.R.R. Tolkien created. Many of these references and themes have already been brought to life in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. These films have taken complex and abstract concepts and turned them into pop culture phenomena. The Prime Video series continues this tradition, immersing viewers in a world filled with magic, power, and intrigue.
The premiere episode introduces a number of high-fantasy concepts, but the second episode focuses on a specific item – “ithildin”. We follow the story of Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), a skilled artisan who has just forged the three elven rings of power. He continues to work in Eregion, using his forge to create more wonders and further establish his legacy. One such wonder is an invisible substance that glows in moonlight – ithildin. Fans who pay close attention may realize that they’ve seen this before.
Ithildin’s Appearance in The Fellowship of the Ring
Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
“The Rings of Power” is required to maintain a separate continuity from Peter Jackson’s movies due to copyright issues surrounding “The Lord of the Rings”. However, the series cleverly provides origin stories for many concepts popularized by the previous trilogies. For instance, season 1 offers an explanation for mithril, the dwarven ore that shapes the fate of the underground city of Khazad-dûm (later Moria). The series also follows legendary characters like Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elrond (Robert Aramayo), and Sauron (Charlie Vickers), who reappear in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”. The next item to be explored is ithildin.
Viewers of “The Rings of Power” may not immediately recognize the significance of ithildin, but it will become important later in the series. Celebrimbor, while in Eregion, enlists the help of an assistant named Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) to reveal his latest creation. Initially invisible to the naked eye, the magical ithildin is made from the purest mithril ore and reveals its secrets in moonlight and starlight. Its exact purpose is not immediately clear, but fans of “The Fellowship of the Ring” will understand its significance. It will eventually be used on the “Doors of Durin”, the entrance to the Mines of Moria, which will be crucial for our heroes in the future.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Description of Ithildin
New Line Cinema
Despite criticisms about the creative liberties taken by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, it’s evident that the creative team behind “The Rings of Power” have done their research. Celebrimbor’s ithildin, although briefly seen, is clearly inspired by Tolkien’s own drawings of the Doors of Durin. The detailed artwork is a preview of what will eventually appear on the doors, featuring “the emblems of Durin” and “the Tree of the High Elves”. As Gandalf explains:
“They are wrought of ithildin that mirrors only starlight and moonlight, and sleeps until it is touched by one who speaks words now long forgotten in Middle-earth.”
The scene is faithfully adapted in Peter Jackson’s “The Fellowship of the Ring”, but the novel provides even more detail. Gandalf reveals that the elvish inscription reads, “The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter.” Below this, in smaller letters, it says, “I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.” This is the same Celebrimbor featured in “The Rings of Power”, with the dwarven craftsman Narvi also appearing in the second season, played by Kevin Eldon. Viewers will need to keep watching to see if the iconic doors are shown being built and carved into the mountain that houses Khazad-dûm.
Don’t miss new episodes of “The Rings of Power”, streaming on Prime Video every Thursday.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
