The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2’s second-to-last episode, “Doomed to Die,” is filled with action as the Elves go to war.
The fight against Sauron (Charlie Vickers) reaches a critical point when Adar (Sam Hazeldine) attacks Eregion, where Sauron has Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) held captive.
The Elves go to battle against Adar, but they are severely outnumbered. This episode, full of death and destruction, is unforgettable for many reasons.
However, one quieter scene gives the series what it has been missing: the friendship between Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Durin (Owain Arthur).
Elrond and Durin spent much of Season 1 together when Elrond visited Khazad-dûm. Their unlikely friendship became a highlight of the series.
But they went their separate ways and did not meet in Season 2 until Episode 7. Their single scene provides a much-needed moment of lightness in the dark story.
The episode does not just show a moment of the two friends together. It also tests Elrond and Durin’s friendship again.
Although they say they are as close as brothers, Elrond and Durin have faced challenges before. Elrond’s disappearance for years angered Durin.
Yet, Season 1 ended with them in a good place as each character followed their own path. Now, both find themselves in a tough spot: Elrond faces a battle, and Durin struggles to take control of Khazad-dûm from his father, who is under the influence of one of the Seven Dwarven Rings.
This time, The Rings of Power puts Durin in a position where he must choose between his friend and his people. This choice could further threaten Middle-earth.
Elrond and Durin Share a Memorable Scene in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Episode 7
In Episode 7, Elrond visits Khazad-dûm again, but this time he comes to ask Durin for help in fighting Adar.
From the moment they enter the same room, these old friends fall back into their familiar banter. Durin playfully insults Elrond, and they compare what has happened in their lives since their last meeting.
As they catch up, the conversation turns serious. Elrond is not there just to visit. He needs Durin to arrange an alliance between the Dwarves and the Elves to fight the evil in Middle-earth. Despite everything going on in his life, Durin agrees to help.
True to his word, Durin plans to gather the Dwarves while Elrond holds back Adar’s army. The Dwarves plan to join the battle at first light, surprising their enemy and aiding the Elves to victory.
The scene between Elrond and Durin is much more than a break from the intense action of the episode. Underneath their jokes, the moment reveals how strong their friendship is. Few Elves and Dwarves can make their people work together after years of conflict.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
Durin has already convinced the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm to recognize the danger of the Ring given to them by Sauron, so getting them to go to war is not too much to ask.
However, despite his promise to Elrond, things become more complicated. This puts Elrond and Durin’s friendship in a difficult position.
‘The Rings of Power’ Tests Elrond & Durin’s Friendship Again
While the agreement seems solid because of the bond between Elrond and Durin, events take a turn for the worse after their meeting. Their deal begins to fall apart when Durin’s father, King Durin III (Peter Mullan), insists on mining in the areas Durin guards.
Under the influence of the Ring, King Durin wants to keep mining mithril to gain wealth, while Durin tries to stop him, understanding the dangers of further mining (after seeing the balrog).
This situation means that if Durin keeps his promise to Elrond, he risks letting his father destroy their home with his greed.
Now, Durin must choose between his friend and his people. This scenario reflects Elrond’s situation in Season 1 when he promised Durin he would not reveal the news about mithril to the Elves.
Elrond learned that mithril was the only way King Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker) thought could save their people.
Elrond kept his word to Durin by informing him about the situation and getting help. Unlike Elrond’s choice, there is no clever solution for Durin to save both his friend and his people.
He has no time to think. He must recall the Dwarven army he promised Elrond for the sake of his people, leaving the Elves without backup and disappointing his friend.
Durin’s Choice Has Consequences in “Doomed to Die”
Durin finds himself in a difficult situation with no clear way to win. His choice ultimately hurts both Elrond and the trust between them. Elrond, already engaged in battle, expects Durin’s army and has faith in his friend.
But he and the Elves wait for the Dwarven reinforcements that do not arrive, leaving their army in a desperate fight as their numbers decline.
When the sun rises, Elrond looks eagerly for his allies, but they do not come. Even after Vorohil (Charlie Rix), sent to guide the Dwarves, arrives to tell Elrond that the gates are closed, Elrond remains hopeful, saying, “Durin will come.” However, the other Elves around him quickly lose faith in Dwarven support.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
Adar wins the battle, and Elrond must accept that Durin is not coming. This heartbreaking moment closes the episode as the betrayal sinks in.
It adds a new layer to Elrond and Durin’s relationship. Although Durin has shown anger towards Elrond, Elrond has never done the same.
With the already shaky relationship between Elves and Dwarves, this broken promise could worsen mistrust between them. Now, even Elrond may find it hard to rely on his friendship with Durin.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available for streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.
Fans of the Harry Potter films noticed some key moments missing from the books. This missing part is odd because it helps explain the title.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) and his friend wonder about the self-proclaimed prince who owned the potions book Harry found.
This book has easy potion recipes written in the margins, and Harry becomes fascinated by the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. However, when he finds dark spells in the book, he has even more questions about who owned it.
The movie shows that the Half-Blood Prince is Severus Snape (played by Alan Rickman) when Harry tries to use one of the questionable spells against the Death Eaters who killed Dumbledore (played by Michael Gambon).
Snape stops him, blocking Harry’s sectumsempra spell and confirming his identity. But the movie does not give much explanation.
The reveal happens at a tense moment, right after Snape casts the curse that kills Dumbledore. While it reveals who the Half-Blood Prince is, it raises many questions.
How did Harry not recognize Snape’s handwriting after six years of classes? More importantly, why is Snape called the Half-Blood Prince? The film does not explain the nickname that inspired the title, but the books reveal more about Snape’s background.
Why Did Snape Choose the Name ‘Half-Blood Prince’?
Hermione (played by Emma Watson) points out that there is no Wizarding royalty, so the name Prince is hard to understand until she finds a record of a witch named Eileen Prince in the Hogwarts library. She believes Eileen could be the Half-Blood Prince, and if not, it could be someone in her family.
This means Prince is a family name rather than a title, which is what the trio first thought. Hermione is usually right.
After Snape claims the name, Hermione does her research and learns that Eileen Prince is Snape’s mother. This explains part of the name. Snape calls himself a Prince to honor his mother and her family, but that is only half of his chosen name.
The first part of the name is easier to understand because blood status is important throughout the series. Eileen married a muggle man named Tobias Snape, making Severus a half-blood wizard.
Even though his father was a muggle, Snape shows prejudice against non-magical people by calling Lily Potter (played by Geraldine Somerville) a “mudblood.”
His difficult home life, shown in flashbacks in the final book, gives Snape a reason to want to distance himself from his father and his muggle name.
This desire inspires him to create a different name for himself. As a half-blood wizard and, through his mother, half a Prince, Snape decided to call himself the Half-Blood Prince, writing it in his potions book for Harry to later find.
Why Did Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Cut the Explanation?
This omission is not the biggest cut the films made. Many details from the book were left out of the movie, and the brief explanation does not fit.
The ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince focuses on Dumbledore’s death, and adding a scene to explain this detail would interrupt the emotional impact of Harry losing his professor and mentor. Ultimately, this information does not change much of the story, which justifies the cut.
Still from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Credit: HBO)
However, the explanation gives an early look into Snape’s past, helping to build his complex story.
At this moment, Harry and the audience believe that Snape is evil, but understanding his past shows he is more than just that.
Snape’s past becomes more important in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 when his dying memories reveal his love for Lily Potter and his role as Dumbledore’s spy.
But including his mother in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince lays the groundwork for this history. It hints at Snape living in a muggle area where he meets Lily and shows that there is more to his character.
