The Rings of Power showed how prejudice and distrust can cause a lot of trouble. The show this week shows just how toxic keeping secrets from those who should be allies can be, and sets the stage for the series to really get going. If last week's "Adar" was all about reminding us of the distrust put between the people of Middle-earth since the war with Morgoth, this episode is about challenging them. Nmenor's regent Miriel and her visions of the island's eventual doom are some of the secrets being kept from each other. For the most part, if last week was telling us that there are problems between these peoples, internally and Externally, this week is about being beholden to the more personal problems that come when people try to hide things. There are three big secrets at the center of 'The Great Wave'. As Galadriel's presence in the Nmenorean court becomes an increasing headaches for Miriel, her attempts to exile the elf back to Middle-earth--with none of the support she wants to gain to take the fight to the orcs--it's The captured Arondir discovered that the Orcs are not lead by Sauron directly, but one of his own: Adar is an elf. Even as Elrond tries to patch up their friendship, Durin is trying to keep his big secret from the Dwarfs.
The airing of these secrets across the episode allows each of Rings of Power's different narratives to begin moving forward with a sense of urgency. Even though the secret of Mithril still harbors some fears of ill- will between Elves and Dwarfs, Elrond and Durin reforge their damaged friendship in Khazad-dm. Arondir is now holed up in his former watch keep because he knows how dire the threat is in the south. For Middle-earth and the audience, just as she is about to push Galadriel away for good, Miriel decides to take the step to ally with the Elven.
Even as slow as The Rings of Power has been, at this halfway point things are starting to pick up, like we are operating on elf time again instead of human time. The first half of the series has used dwelled-upon time for a fundamental message. The need to be honest with each other, to look past prejudice and hope in a better, unified tomorrow, is an important message to preach, and it is at the heart of Lord of the Rings. Theo, who discovers there is a fellow refugee at the watchtower who not only knows he is hiding a blood-powered blade secret, still represents that sense of darkness.
Now is the time for the show to finally begin confronting that evil, to bring it out into the light.
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