In this week’s episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, we journey to the East once again. After the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) becomes separated from Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards), the story shifts to the distant and enigmatic lands of Rhûn in Episode 4, “Eldest.”
This episode introduces us to Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) and the Stoors, giving viewers a fresh look at a region that remains largely unexplored in J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings.
Rhûn is located at the far eastern edge of Middle-earth. It is a vast area stretching from the Iron Hills and Mirkwood to the lands east of Mordor. Although the story in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings reaches as far east as Erebor and Lake Town, Rhûn extends even further.
In Season 1, the Stranger and Nori travel from Rhovanion to Rhûn. They were likely south of Greenwood, known as Mirkwood during the Second Age, when they began their journey. They follow the Hermit’s Hat constellation to uncover more about their mission.
The Geography and Importance of Rhûn
Rhûn’s geography is largely unknown. The main route into Rhûn is through the Sea of Rhûn, a large inland sea formed by rivers flowing from Mirkwood and the Iron Hills.
In The Rings of Power, Rhûn is portrayed as a sprawling desert with sparse vegetation and rocky formations. This depiction highlights how little is known about Rhûn’s views since Tolkien’s stories primarily focus on the western parts of Middle-earth.
Despite the lack of detailed information, Rhûn holds historical significance. When Erú Ilúvatar created the Elves and Men, they awoke in Middle-earth in regions called Cuviénen and Hildórien.
Tolkien did not provide exact locations for these lands, but they are said to be in the far east, near the Sea of Helcar. It is believed that the Sea of Rhûn might be what remains of the Sea of Helcar.
In The Lord of the Rings, the only known inhabitants of Rhûn are the Easterlings. These are the people Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) see entering Mordor through the Black Gate in The Two Towers. Though they do not ride oliphaunts, the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) mentions “mûmakil thieves,” hinting at a connection.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
The Easterlings are known as fierce warriors who allied with Morgoth in the First Age and later with Sauron (Charlie Vickers). Khamul the Easterling, a powerful ruler from Rhûn, is the only Nazgûl with a known identity.
Uncovering New Lore in Rhûn
Season 2 of The Rings of Power goes deeper into the lore left by Tolkien. Rhûn is one of the largest gaps in the lore, and the show fills it with new details. The Harfoots refer to Rhûn as “where the stars are different” due to the Stranger’s quest related to the Hermit’s Hat constellation.
To everyone’s surprise, the Stranger discovers Tom Bombadil’s dwelling. Tom is a well-loved and mysterious character in Tolkien’s lore, and in the series, he is depicted as a hermit with a hat.
Tom Bombadil reveals that he has existed for a very long time. He has witnessed many events and mentions that Rhûn was once green. Tom also notes that another Istar, the Dark Wizard, came to him before.
This Dark Wizard, who now has a fortress in Caras Gaer, seeks the Stranger and the Harfoots and has a pact with local warriors known as the Gaudrim. This alliance suggests his intentions are not good.
The Dark Wizard and the Stoors
The Dark Wizard is also searching for Nori and Poppy, who are on a strange journey through Rhûn. In their quest for water, they encounter Merrimac (Gavi Singh Chera), who has been pursued by the Gaudrim.
In the Season 2 premiere, “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” Poppy mentions that the Harfoots’ Wandering Song contained clues about showing Rhûn and that their tribe probably traveled there in the past.
Merrimac, though not a Harfoot, takes Nori and Poppy to his village, where the chief, Gundabale (Tanya Moodie), explains that they are Stoors.
Stoors are a branch of Hobbits, with Sméagol (Andy Serkis), who later becomes Gollum, being the most famous. The Stoors were likely nomadic like the Harfoots but have settled in Rhûn. They live in holes carved into rocks, similar to how Hobbits will later live in the Shire.
Rhûn’s Role in the Second and Third Ages
The Second Age, the setting for The Rings of Power, is not well-documented in terms of Rhûn’s history. This era is mostly known for the rise and fall of Númenor. As Rhûn is far from the western shores, it is not significantly influenced by Númenor. However, as Númenor rises in the West, Sauron’s influence grows in the East, with the Men of Rhûn being among his strongest allies.
In the Third Age, the Istari arrive in Middle-earth. Saruman (Christopher Lee), Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and Radagast (Sebastian McCoy) come together, while the two Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando, arrive a few centuries earlier.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
The Blue Wizards’ mission is to travel to Rhûn to spread resistance against Sauron, but their success is uncertain. Later, Saruman visits Rhûn before settling in Isengard. His extensive knowledge of Rhûn and its people, including the Easterlings, suggests he spent significant time there. Some theories propose that Saruman’s travels to Rhûn contributed to his eventual corruption.
These details are important to consider as Season 2 of The Rings of Power progresses. The show introduces two Istari in Rhûn, raising questions about whether the Stranger and the Dark Wizard are the Blue Wizards known to have journeyed there. Alternatively, the Dark Wizard might be Saruman in his early travels to the East.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.
In its debut season, Apple TV+’s Sunny takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster with Suzie (Rashida Jones) as she grapples with the grief of losing her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and her son Zen (Fares Belkheir).
Each episode reveals more about their mysterious deaths and the unsettling truth behind them. What initially seemed like a plane crash turns out to be the result of a far more sinister plot.
Suzie’s primary source of solace and support is Sunny, her homebot, which Masa left behind for her. Sunny was designed to help Suzie cope if something ever happened to Masa.
Alongside her new friend Mixxy (Annie the Clumsy), Suzie sets out to uncover the truth about her family’s disappearance. This quest for answers drives the plot of the show, leading to unexpected revelations and dramatic twists.
Revelations and New Challenges
At the end of Episode 8, a significant twist unfolds: Zen is alive. Hime (You) and her yakuza associates have been holding him hostage. This revelation shifts the focus from the grief of loss to a fight for rescue and justice. Episode 9 goes into Sunny’s unconscious, providing viewers with a deeper understanding of the homebots Masa was building and the origins of Sunny.
The season finale, which aired recently, brings the story to a gripping climax. Suzie, Zen, Mixxy, and Masa’s father, Hiromasa (Jun Kunimura), find themselves in the clutches of the yakuza. Their struggle to escape Hime’s control leads to a shocking twist that dramatically alters the future direction of the series.
The Tense Finale: Betrayals and Unexpected Turns
In Episode 7, Sunny’s actions against the yakuza demonstrate her capabilities. After Sunny kills a yakuza member, Hime realizes the full extent of what the homebot can do.
Suzie presses Hime for information about Masa, but Hime insinuates that Masa is dead. She reminds Suzie of the shoes she received, a grim sign that the plane crash victims were found deceased. This interaction highlights Hime’s manipulative nature and her involvement in the plane crash cover-up.
Hime orders the group to be locked in a warehouse while she and Tanaka (Anam Sekiguchi) take Sunny with them. With Noriko’s (Judy Ongg) help from prison, the team manages to convince a yakuza guard to release them. Mixxy volunteers to tie up the guard, allowing Suzie, Zen, and Hiromasa to escape.
Still from Sunny (Credit: Apple TV+)
The escape leads them to a Japanese Setsuban festival, where people throw soybeans at people dressed as demons. Amidst the festive chaos, they locate and rescue Sunny. Initially, Sunny is hesitant to approach Suzie due to her fear of being harmed.
Suzie reassures her of her intentions, leading Sunny to decide not to erase her memory. Hiromasa introduces them to someone skilled with homebots who can correct any issues in Sunny’s programming. Mixxy offers to take Sunny back to Kyoto, but a significant twist occurs at the end of the episode.
Mixxy’s Betrayal: A Devastating Twist
As Mixxy drives away with Sunny in the back of a van, Tanaka accompanies them, revealing that Mixxy has been working with the yakuza all along. Mixxy appears regretful, but it’s unclear if she was coerced or offered a substantial amount of money to cooperate.
This betrayal is particularly distressing because Suzie had worked tirelessly to save Sunny and had already been cautious about trusting others. Mixxy’s deceit further complicates Suzie’s ability to trust people, adding to her emotional burden.
Hints of Mixxy’s treachery were present earlier in the series, especially in Episode 5 when Mixxy led the group through the woods in a suspicious manner.
This betrayal is particularly disheartening because Suzie has been struggling with trust issues, and Mixxy’s betrayal reinforces her fears. Masa gave Sunny to Suzie to help her retain her humanity, but Mixxy’s actions threaten to undo that progress.
The episode also follows Hime as she interacts with her cousin, who has taken over as head of the yakuza after her father’s death. At the festival, Hime stabs her cousin with a shard of glass, removing him from power. With him out of the way, Hime can assume control of the yakuza clan.
Additionally, with Mixxy’s help, she gains access to Sunny’s dark programming and can apply it to any homebot she wishes. This means she can create a powerful army of bots capable of committing serious crimes, enhancing her influence and making her a more formidable villain.
Suzie and Zen’s Temporary Safety
Despite Sunny falling back into the hands of the yakuza, Suzie and Zen find temporary safety in Hiromasa’s cabin, where Masa had previously hidden. The episode includes a narration of a letter Masa wrote to Suzie before his disappearance. The letter expresses hope for the future, but Hime’s claim that Masa is dead casts doubt on the letter’s assurances.
It’s unclear whether Hime is telling the truth about Masa’s death. She might be keeping Masa alive for future programming needs or he could be hiding and planning a return. Alternatively, Hime’s statement might be true, and Masa has been dead all along. The uncertainty surrounding Masa’s fate adds a layer of complexity to the story.
Apple TV+ has not confirmed if Sunny will return for a second season. If the show does come back, Suzie will likely face the challenge of rescuing Sunny again and dealing with Mixxy’s betrayal.
Future episodes could follow Suzie’s battle against Hime and the yakuza to retrieve Sunny. With Zen back in her life, Suzie will be different from the person she was in Season 1. Season 2 might feature a more determined Suzie, driven by a renewed sense of purpose.
Still from Sunny (Credit: Apple TV+)
Another season could also goes into Hime’s role as the new crime boss of her clan. Hime is a complex character who, despite her ruthlessness, shows some vulnerability. There are many questions left unanswered: Will Noriko be released from prison and reunited with her grandson?
Will Noriko and Hiromasa rekindle their old romance? Will Sunny need to erase her memory to fully rid herself of the Dark Manual? Will Masa’s true fate ever be revealed? The first season of Sunny has been full of twists and excitement, and future episodes could continue to show these thrilling developments.
Season 1 of Sunny is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
