Thu Sep 12 13:06:00 UTC 2024: ## “The Rings of Power” Sets the Stage for Númenor’s Downfall

**Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” continues to expand upon Tolkien’s world, offering viewers a deeper dive into the Second Age and the rise and fall of the powerful kingdom of Númenor.**

The series has already hinted at Númenor’s tragic fate, with episode 5 revealing the political machinations that will ultimately lead to its destruction. Queen Regent Miriel, driven by visions in the Palantir, a seeing stone gifted by the elves, steps down from the throne, allowing her ambitious cousin Pharazon to assume power.

Miriel’s decision stems from a belief that her rule is the root of Númenor’s misfortune. However, her reliance on the Palantir and her trust in the elves, who represent the “immortality” that Númenorians crave, may ironically hasten the kingdom’s downfall.

**The series delves into the lore surrounding the Valar, the divine beings who created Middle-earth, providing context for the unique relationship between Númenor and the elves.** The Valar bestowed the island of Númenor upon the Dúnedain, the original inhabitants, after the War of Wrath, offering them a new home and long lifespans. However, the Valar also imposed the “Ban of Valar”, forbidding humans from sailing to the Undying Lands, the realm of the Valar, fuelling a growing resentment amongst some Númenorians who longed for eternal life.

**Pharazon, fueled by envy and disdain for the elves, is poised to become a key player in Númenor’s downfall.** He believes the elves have intentionally kept the Undying Lands within sight to taunt mortals with their mortality. His thirst for power and the influence of his supporters, including his son Kemen and the treacherous Eärien, will likely drive him to ignore warnings and pursue his ambitions, ultimately leading him to sail towards the forbidden Undying Lands, triggering Númenor’s destruction.

**With only three episodes left in the season, “The Rings of Power” is expected to explore the relationship between Númenor and the Valar in greater detail, potentially offering glimpses of Valinor itself.** The series promises to bring Tolkien’s lore to life, culminating in the epic downfall of Númenor, a pivotal event in the history of Middle-earth.

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