The Rings of Power Episode 4 Review: Dense and Eventful Episode Resentations And Focuses On Storytelling
Stars: Morfydd Clark, Markella Kavenagh, Daniel Weyman
Director: Wayne Yip
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has already divided millions of viewers around the world, sparking heated discussions and even finding itself at the center of reality. The Amazon Prime Video adaptation of the Second Era of Arda takes inspiration, as already known, from the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings and the references contained therein, deepening or compressing if necessary with the help of new characters and narrative strands.
After having focused their attention on the presentation of the characters and their respective contexts, The Rings of Power shifts much of its efforts to plot developments. Avoiding getting lost in small talk or basking too much in their refined aesthetics, JD Payne and Patrick McKay bring a dense and eventful episode to the screen. While we still have a lot to prove to win the trust of audiences and critics, we can say with certainty that the showrunners are taking an increasingly clear and in some ways curious direction. While waiting to find out if the bar will rise further, let’s deepen together what is shown in this episode.
The Rings of Power Episode 4 Review: The Story
As mentioned in our review of the third episode of The Rings of Power, Numenor is still at the center of the story. This time, however, the alternation between the points of view is much more intense and constantly moves between the island, the halls of Khazad-dûm and the desolations of the Southlands now besieged by orcs. In this context, the episode focuses particularly on the figure of Tar Miriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), deepening his connection with the realm and his relationship with his father Tar Palantir. Looking closely at the perspective of the people, it will be possible to notice the aims of Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) and the relentless work of persuasion by Galadriel, eager to unite Humans and Elves to defeat the evil that rises in the east. Also on the island, the course of events will lead Elendil’s (Lloyd Owen) children to suffer the difficulties of excessive responsibility or sad ranks. Returning to the point of view of the Elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova), it will be possible to observe the mysterious Adar in action for the first time (Joseph Mawle), a “fatherly” figure for the Southlands orcs and ready to put all the surrounding territories to fire and sword along with his army. But not only that: what seems an Elf, albeit corrupt, intends to claim something of great value, intertwining his path with the resistance of the Human refugees in the tower of Ostirith.
Between the two extremes of the lands of Arda, we are finally given a new look at the events that bind Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo), with the latter particularly engaged in tackling the task entrusted to him by Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker) and at the same time curious to discover what his friend Durin IV (Owain Arthur) is hiding from him about the dwarven work in the depths of the old mines. Between proposals and omens, the protagonists of the Second Era thus begin to move towards the future that awaits them.
A lot happens in this fourth episode titled The Great Wave (and viewers won’t have to wait long, once the episode has started, to understand the reference), but we don’t want to spoil the many surprises it has in store. Suffice it to say that in just over an hour, The Rings of Power will focus on three main characters who in their way will carry the overall story well forward. The first is Galadriel, who arrived with Halbrand in Númenor, intent on convincing Queen Miriel to reform an old alliance between Elves and Men. Also in this case the requests of the young and enterprising elf will find it difficult to be heard. And yet in Khazad-dûm Elrond must try to convince the dwarves (and in particular his old friend Durin IV) to enter into a certain type of alliance, even if even in this case there is a lack of mutual trust between the two races.
We can summarize the plot of the fourth episode in these few lines, which are only the basis of an hour of television that brings characters and narration forward. The emphasis is constantly placed on an impending threat, on a future that is ready to arrive and that will upset everyone’s tranquility. A very strong tension is created that goes beyond the boundaries of the individual characters and that makes one perceive a truly mythological dimension. This is perhaps the most focused goal of this episode: The Rings of Power is just one segment of a great epic that had a past and that will have a future, putting into perspective everything we have known so far on Middle-earth.
The Rings of Power Episode 4 Review and Analysis
As happened in previous episodes, The Rings of Power showcases its technical sector with the great and right emphasis, leaving you speechless with breathtaking atmospheres and scenarios alternating with enviable aesthetic care both for the eyes and for the ears of the spectator. Unlike the previous episodes, however, we finally notice a marked intensity in the rhythm and management of the plots, with continuous changes of scenery and numerous developments on which to focus one’s attention. In the chaotic chaos of narrative elements in turmoil and constant motion, even the less pleasant moments appear more digestible.
Even Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel seems to benefit from it, avoiding supplanting herself in continuous extremes of her ferocity and taking the right consequences until she shows (perhaps for the first time) the glimmers of her greatness of soul. To stand out beyond all measure is Tar Miriel, much more multifaceted than his appearance, and the usual Elendil who shines as she did in the last episode – perhaps, in style and aesthetics, the best casting so far. Firmly clinging to his strengths, between the interesting sequences that see Arondir as the protagonist and the nefarious scenarios revealed in Numenor, it is still Elrond and the Dwarves who steal the show. Robert Aramayo’s character perfectly embodies the Elrond that fans were hoping to find, net of an aesthetic that doesn’t quite do justice to his interpretation.
Between references to Tolkien’s lore and small details that give further character to the character, Elrond is also present in all the sweetest and most intriguing dialogues of the episode – except for the intense exchange between Miriel and Galadriel. If most of the leading roles appear in great shape, the same cannot be said for some supporting actors of the show: the young Theo, although with much more space available, continues to show no great merits and the young Isildur and Earien do not benefit in the least from the innumerable sequence of events to acquire adequate depth concerning their colleagues.
Loading its events of charm, mystery and pathos, the fourth episode of The Rings of Power finally manages to move the waters in a convincing way, moving with ease between the different narrative strands presented so far. An episode, perhaps the first to date, which makes concreteness and passion its strengths – eliminating, not surprisingly, scenarios such as that of the Pelopiedi who are not able to bind themselves to the context presented so far. Middle-earth hosts numerous events, and just as many are bound to happen very soon.
Now more than ever, we have the feeling that the various pawns are moving in one direction: in one way or another, the series will have to deal with its responsibility towards a story that is just waiting to be told and we want to prepare for great things given the second half of the season. We can only hope for a continuous crescendo, which starts from here to be admired by spectators from all over the world – exalting, once its end has come, the strength of a great story of tribute to the magical Tolkien universe.
By mid-season things start to expand more and more, getting bigger and bigger. And, perhaps, the total absence of the Pelopiedi and Nori is even coherent, as if they were characters too small at the moment to realize the extent of the events taking place. Focusing on elves and humans, and on dwarves with a glorious past, The Rings of Power builds a gigantic sense of the epic, a goal that Tolkien himself set himself at the time of the creation of his Legendarium, placing us as spectators of a story with a primeval flavor. All enhanced by the images, spectacular, grandiose, which only rarely betray a television nature that is rarely perceived and which is constantly hidden by the majesty of Bear McCreary’s soundtrack. As we said above, this visual richness is essential to build and make more tangible the sense of myth and wonder that is not productive quality, but an integral and fundamental element for the success of the work. The pure sense of cinematic language.
The Great Wave will not be remembered only for the story that tends towards evolution and a point of no return. Similarly, the main characters begin to go beyond the simple character description of the beginnings to become more three-dimensional and less stereotyped. Each relationship faced during the episode shows new emotional sides of the individual, making him more empathetic in our eyes. This is the case of Elrond and Durin IV, who finally seem to stop playing roles to make room for a moving sincerity. This is the case of Galadriel, so different from the one we know and that she begins to show a more human side, confirming a character still to be discovered, at the moment a victim of her immaturity but ready to grow and improve.
It must be said: that the magic is happening. Reasoned writing confirms that only clashes with the spectator’s impatience. Writing that perhaps does not always hit the target in the best way (in this regard, some moments, also thanks to not too appropriate editing, quickly increase the rhythm, disorienting initially), but knows very well what are the stages of a path and where it leads the end of the road taken. And so, we cannot help but ride that great wave of the title, ready to drag us with it and which in its majestic scope is an anomalous spectacle, perhaps rejecting, but on which we cannot help but lay our gaze.
The Rings of Power Episode 4 Review: The Last Words
The Rings of Power Episode 5 ignites like a flame in the night, acquiring intensity and density never shown before. Guided by an ambitious direction and an excellent technical sector, we begin to become attached to the characters and a world full and vibrant with energy. While waiting to know the outcome of the events shown so far, we can look to the future with more certainty than doubts about what the show has to offer – for better or for worse.
