Beware! The forthcoming article doth contain spoilers for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 2, Episode 6, titled “Where Is He?”.
In the sixth installment of the second season of “The Rings of Power,” Sauron entices Celebrimbor back to his craft through a clever display of magic – all whilst paying homage to the esteemed Middle-earth figure, Fëanor. But who truly is Fëanor, and wherefore his legacy hold such significance in Season 2 of “The Rings of Power”?
Whence does Fëanor emerge in The Rings of Power Season 2?
Fëanor, grandfather to Celebrimbor, stands as the greatest Elf-smith in the annals of Middle-earth. His craftsmanship birthed the Silmarils and the palantíri, and he even devised an alphabet, Tengwar, which did traverse throughout J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical realm. Not confined solely to the workshop, Fëanor was deemed by Tolkien as the mightiest of all Elves, both in form and intellect. Thus, he was a skilled combatant, requiring a legion of Balrog fire demons to vanquish him. Such events unfolded in the First Age, eons ere “The Rings of Power” Season 2.
Amongst these tales – with a grand statue gracing Eregion’s central square – one might assume Fëanor to be a heroic figure of the Elves. However, truth’s nuance is as a thorny path. Fëanor’s tragic flaw was his pride – a fervent attachment to the Silmarils. When the jewels were purloined by Morgoth, his insatiable desire transmuted into madness. Swearing an oath with his progeny, Fëanor sought to retrieve the gems at any cost, even from their kin. Thus unfolded a saga of bloodshed and sorrow amongst the Elves, tarnishing Fëanor’s legacy with shades of gray.
Wherefore Fëanor’s Relevance in The Rings of Power Season 2?
Indeed, the chronicles of yore seem distant to the assemblage of “The Rings of Power.” Yet, who holds a candle for Fëanor, amidst his stained reputation? Celebrimbor bears this torch ardently. Throughout Season 2, his innate desire to match or surpass his forebear’s feats is recurrently displayed. Thus, Sauron capitalizes on the Elf-smith’s artistic insecurities to lure him into crafting the Rings of Power. This mirrors the original lore set by Tolkien, where Celebrimbor’s fixation on Fëanor plays a pivotal role in his unwitting alliance with the malevolent lord of shadows.
Nevertheless, Fëanor’s saga finds fuller expression in Tolkien’s texts – constrained by both the series’ time allotment and legal confines. The Prime Video production is limited to content from “The Lord of the Rings” and its appendices; material from “The Silmarillion” – wherein Fëanor’s tale predominantly resides – remains beyond reach.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 2 may be savored on Prime Video, with new chapters gracing the screen each Thursday.
