Walls collapse, arrows fly, and swords cut the skins of the enemies in the seventh episode of The Rings of Power, which mostly ends up proving why it was a terrible idea to make this material into a series. The realization hits you sharply during the scene where Celebrimbor breaks out of Sauron's illusion and notices that he is not living in a paradise. The elven Smith's disconsolate countenance suggests tragedy and heartbreak, but none of these emotions land. Celebrimbor's pain is reduced to a plot point. Perhaps things could have been better if we had remained in this world without any breaks. The one-week gap between the episodes truly takes us out of The Rings of Power. This release model works for shows that have meaty, memorable characters. We follow the show as it patiently unravels the characters, telling us about their motivations while generating drama through their actions. There is nothing exciting to learn about Galadriel, Celebrimbor, Sauron, Elrond, etc. They are more or less pawns in a chess game. They wear expensive costumes, walk in front of the green screen, and make believable faces. These people are suitable for a movie that continuously follows them for a certain duration. Within the arena of, say, a 3-hour-long epic, Celebrimbor's pain could have registered with fervor.
But it's not just Celebrimbor; even King Durin's madness could have taken an intense, palpable form in a film. Here, it moves out of your sight and towards the back of your head. When one of the dwarves mentions that everybody has got frustrated with their king, you see where the feeling is coming from but do not participate in the cry for independence. The rebellious streak remains impersonal and distant. Some of the death scenes make you go, "meh." Is this all Mirdania was meant to do here? She gave you the impression that she will play some crucial role in the future. Alas, she goes out with a whimper. Her death is reduced to a "shocking moment." Another archer is disposed of like a nameless, faceless creature. Adar unleashes a troll to gain an upper hand in the battle. This giant, ugly monster looks intimidating. He comes across as a mini-boss with the potential to kick serious ass. However, as soon as you think the troll is reaching the heights of menace, he is defeated. The episode introduces some conflict between Adar and his children, though it's too soon to say if it will lead to anything substantial. The Rings of Power has so far not managed to leave you with optimism.
There is one brief, amusingly kinetic moment in Episode 7 involving a horse using his back feet to kick enemy soldiers. This visual is better than the other battle sequences. The final scenes are charged with a superb sense of anticipation and hopelessness. These moments are significantly greater than anything you have watched in The Rings of Power yet. Observe how Elrond's confidence slowly morphs into defeatism. The final shot is just perfect. However, only time will tell if the excitement generated by the ending will remain till the season finale.
Final Score – [5/10]