One of the most celebrated symbols from J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories has finally appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2. In Episode 5, the famous Doors of Durin make their debut. These doors are a special result of the friendship and teamwork between Elves and Dwarves during the Second Age.
Narvi the Dwarf (played by Kevin Eldon) reveals these doors to those who worked on them, and they look just like how Tolkien imagined them. This is a significant piece of craftsmanship that will influence the future of Middle-earth.
How Do the Doors of Durin Work?
Anyone who has watched The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring remembers the scene where Gandalf (played by Ian McKellen) tries to find the password to open a beautiful door made of light, carved into the Misty Mountains.
These are the Doors of Durin. In The Rings of Power, the doors look the same as they do in Peter Jackson’s movie. This is not due to design choices but because Tolkien himself drew many of the elements in his stories.
The doors are made of stone with Dwarven skills and are decorated with ithildin, a magical silver that is only visible when starlight or moonlight shines on it. When closed, the doors look almost invisible and blend perfectly with the rock. The symbols on the doors include references to the partnership between Elves and Dwarves.
They include the sigil of Khazad-dûm (a crown and stars) and a hammer-and-anvil representing Dwarven craftsmanship. Below, the Star of Fëanor refers to Celebrimbor’s heritage as Fëanor’s grandson. There are Sindarin letters C, N, and D, referring to Celebrimbor, Narvi, and Durin. Trees by the door’s pillars symbolize the two Trees of Valinor.
The most famous symbol on the Doors of Durin is the inscription on the top arch. It reads in Sindarin: “Ennyn Durin Aran Moria: Pedo mellon a minno.” This translates to: “The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria: Speak, friend, and enter.” This is a riddle. Instead of a secret password, the inscription itself provides the answer.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
In The Fellowship of the Ring novel, it is mentioned that intonation matters. The correct interpretation is: “Speak ‘friend’ and enter.” The Sindarin word for “friend” is “Mellon.” When spoken, the Doors of Durin open.
The Doors of Durin Have Only Been Opened a Few Times
In Season 2, Narvi the Dwarf plays a key role in the Khazad-dûm storyline. The revealing of the Doors of Durin in Eregion is the first time he appears outside the mountain.
As the Delve-master (responsible for coordinating tunnel digging), he has advised King Durin III (played by Peter Mullan) and shown loyalty to Prince Durin IV (played by Owain Arthur) and his wife, Disa (played by Sophia Nomvete).
The revealing of the doors is hinted at in Episode 2, “Where the Stars are Strange,” when Celebrimbor shows his assistant, Mirdania (played by Amelia Kenworthy), his first work with ithildin. Although important, the Doors of Durin have only been opened a few times in Middle-earth’s history.
In the early Second Age, when Elves and Dwarves were cooperating, Celebrimbor set up Eregion (known as Hollin in the books) near the Misty Mountains. This increased trade and improved relations between the two races. Thus, King Durin III decided to open a new entrance to the mountain, also known as the west gate of Khazad-dûm.
The doors are known to have opened only twice in history. While they likely opened many times during Eregion’s peak, they were shut indefinitely after the Sacking of Eregion. They were opened again by the Fellowship of the Ring when crossing the Misty Mountains through the Mines of Moria.
Gandalf managed to open them once, and the Dwarf Óin also did when Balin (played by Ken Stott) failed to reclaim Khazad-dûm from the Orcs. Unfortunately, Óin was killed by the Watcher in the Water (the monster in the lake just outside the Doors of Durin).
The Revealing of the Doors of Durin Is Adjusted to Fit ‘The Rings of Power’ Timeline
In The Rings of Power, Celebrimbor and Narvi celebrate the Doors of Durin during the same time as the forging of the Rings of Power. Sauron (played by Charlie Vickers) appears at their revealing in his Annatar disguise.
The books do not give a specific timeline for when the doors are completed, but this happens in the early Second Age, with Eregion established only in the year 750. Celebrimbor and Annatar start forging the rings in the year 1500 of the Second Age, so there is a gap of about 500 years between these events.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
Annatar’s presence at the revealing of the Doors of Durin is significant. He shows coldness towards Celebrimbor and uses this event to try to convince him to forge the Nine Rings for Men.
While the friendship between Elves and Dwarves is important, Annatar sees it as a distraction from something more powerful. In the end, Celebrimbor refuses but lets Annatar use his forge. Later, Celebrimbor joins the ongoing forging of the Nine Rings.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is available for streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes released weekly on Thursdays.
Emily in Paris Season 4 ends in a way that no one expected, with a thrilling cliffhanger that leaves viewers wanting more. The second part of the season brings plenty of surprises as Emily’s (played by Lily Collins) relationship with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) crumbles as quickly as it began.
Although things fall apart between them, new relationships bloom in the midst of chaos. The show’s focus shifts from Paris to the beautiful scenery of Rome, where the characters face both personal and professional turmoil.
Mindy Saves Her Singing Career
Mindy (Ashley Park) tries to find a way to save her band and prepare for their Eurovision performance. She decides to perform at a cabaret, Crazy Horse, which involves topless shows.
However, this causes issues with her boyfriend, Nicolas (Paul Forman), who is caught up in a power struggle with his brother over their father’s luxury business. Nicolas is worried that Mindy’s cabaret job will harm his public image, which is important for his career.
Though they manage to stay together for a while, their relationship breaks apart when Mindy and Benoit (Kevin Dias) pose for a photo shoot to promote their Eurovision band.
The photos become tabloid headlines, leading Nicolas to ask Mindy to leave Eurovision to avoid hurting his reputation. Upset that Nicolas is acting like her controlling father, Mindy breaks up with him.
Nicolas then sabotages the band by releasing their Eurovision song without permission, which gets them disqualified. Devastated, Mindy flees to Rome with Emily.
While in Rome, Mindy finds hope in her music career when a video of her impromptu street performance goes viral. This leads to an invitation to judge a singing competition in Shanghai, giving her career a second chance, even though her love life remains in pieces.
Sylvie Chooses Her Career
Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) experiences trouble in her marriage when she suspects her husband, Laurent (Arnaud Binard), has rekindled his relationship with his daughter’s mother.
Still from Emily in Paris (Credit: Netflix)
She seeks revenge by kissing a stranger at Laurent’s club, ensuring he finds out. Afterward, she travels to Rome, where she rekindles a romance with an old friend. Sylvie’s marriage is on rocky ground, but she finds new joy in her career.
When Sylvie learns that Emily is visiting Rome for a meeting with Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), a man who works at a fashion house and may sell his company to Nicolas’ family business, Sylvie immediately travels to Rome to get involved.
Despite regretting how her actions affect Emily and Marcello’s relationship, Sylvie grows to love the excitement of her work. As she struggles to run Agence Grateau, her dedication to her job becomes even stronger.
Gabriel’s Michelin Star Win
After Emily and Gabriel’s relationship hits a rough patch, Gabriel is faced with more disappointment when he learns that he won’t be a father. Camille (Camille Razat) decides she wants to adopt a child, leaving Gabriel to cope with the loss of both Emily and the idea of fatherhood.
In a surprising turn, Gabriel finds comfort in Genevieve, who even kisses him during a party at her new home. However, Genevieve’s actions become increasingly odd, as she starts imitating Emily’s work style and even flirts with Gabriel.
Despite Genevieve’s strange behavior, she informs Gabriel that he is receiving a Michelin star. Overjoyed, Gabriel celebrates with his friends Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) and Antoine (William Abadie). During the party, Gabriel kindly rejects Genevieve’s romantic advances and laments that Emily isn’t there to share his success.
Emily Chooses Rome and a New Romance
In a surprising twist, Emily decides to put her career on the back burner and focus on her new romance with Marcello in Rome. She enjoys carefree moments in the sun at famous landmarks like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain.
But when Sylvie interrupts their time together to schedule a business meeting with Marcello, tension arises. Marcello accuses Emily of using him for work, but she later manages to smooth things over by visiting his hometown and showing her commitment to him.
Despite her best efforts to keep work and love separate, Emily can’t resist getting involved in Marcello’s business. This leads to more conflicts, but she eventually lands a deal for a six-month trial with Marcello’s company.
As her relationship with Marcello remains uncertain, the two reconcile during a rooftop party. With success in both love and work, Sylvie decides to let Emily run Agence Grateau’s new Rome office.
Gabriel Faces a Difficult Decision
Back in Paris, Gabriel learns that Emily is moving to Rome. Heartbroken, he reflects on how he let her slip away. Alfie, who now has a girlfriend, encourages Gabriel to follow his heart and go after Emily.
Still from Emily in Paris (Credit: Netflix)
Gabriel’s resolve strengthens when he receives a voicemail from Emily, congratulating him on his Michelin star in French. This leads Gabriel to make the decision to find Emily in Rome, just as she begins to settle into her new life with Marcello.
With both Gabriel and Emily heading for Rome, Season 5 is sure to bring even more surprises as their stories continue to unfold. Emily in Paris Season 4 ends with shocking twists as Emily and Gabriel’s relationship falls apart.
Mindy’s music career faces obstacles, but she finds hope in Rome. Sylvie deals with marital issues while discovering joy in her work. Gabriel wins a Michelin star, and Emily decides to move to Rome, setting up excitement for Season 5.
