'The Rings of Power' Season 2 Finale Explained

The Rings of Power The second season ended not only with storm clouds raging on almost every horizon in Middle-earth, but also with the deaths of several major characters – some of them towering figures from JRR Tolkien's works The Lord of the Rings Tradition. JD Payne And Patrick McKay, The showrunners of Amazon's expensive, sprawling series spoke to Vanity Fair about some of the most provocative twists.

In the finale, which just aired on Prime Video, it is officially confirmed that the wizard known as “The Stranger” is Gandalf. The Dark Wizard remains nameless, but may not be who fans suspect. The rings were counterfeited, but their creator was killed. And a familiar fire demon has been unleashed, while the Dwarven King pays with his life for digging too deep and greedily.

Here's how it all came about — and what the showrunners consider their biggest controversies. Spoilers ahead…

The evil end of Celebrimbor

Vanity Fair: The final episode is about the completion of the rings with which Sauron will control Middle-earth, but also about the death of their creator, the elven blacksmith Celebrimbor. Can you explain the meaning of his last words to Sauron?

JD Payne: The two Charlies absolutely nailed it throughout the season, but especially in the final scene. Charles Edwards (who plays Celebrimbor) is vulnerable and you feel pathos for him, but there is also something triumphant. He is a victim and is tortured and killed, but then he is also able to rise up in that final moment. Celebrimbor says, “No, you are their prisoner, Sauron – Lord of the Rings.” And you just watch for a moment Charlie Vickers (as Sauron) reacts to this and a tear runs down his face. And then the orcs come and he goes through this transformation and is now ready to start manipulating again, all in this one shot. Both give full throttle.

Using the phrase “Lord of the Rings” seems like a big moment. It is presented as a curse rather than an honor.

Payne: It is something with which Annatar (the elf disguise that Sauron assumes) initially seduces Celebrimbor. He says: “You, Celebrimbor, will be the Lord of the Rings. You will forever eclipse Fëanor (the even more ancient elven creator of mystical objects), and it will be that celebrated achievement of the age.” And in the end, Celebrimbor can say, “No, that is not me, that is you, Sauron – Lord of the Rings. By the way, you don’t.” want To be Lord of the Rings because they will only rule you.

Patrick McKay: The two poles of this story are: “You are the Lord of the Rings!” “NO, You are the Lord of the Rings!” It has a changed meaning, right? The first time an honorary title is awarded, the second time it is in a sense a kind of death sentence. That's what this season is about. The fate of the world is decided by two people in one room.

How does he get the idea that the power of the rings actually makes you a prisoner?

McKay: I think Sauron is a slave to his own ambition. Celebrimbor knows that Sauron's will is bound to the rings and that happens to all of us in certain ways, right? When we are workaholics we think that our work gives us the opportunity to go out and control the world, but no, we are actually slaves to our work. We are slaves to what drives us. Sauron is so driven that Celebrimbor knows he can never escape him. He says: “I foresee the end. A ring alone will lead to your utter ruin,” which also turns out to be true. Sauron eventually puts so much of himself into these creations that his entire existence becomes tied to them. When Frodo and Gollum, entangled with each other, finally get the ring into the lava, it is does Destroy Sauron. Celebrimbor can see this prophetically, so to speak.

Is this because Celebrimbor also lost its own path when it was created?

McKay: Worse, the darkness overwhelmed him and almost destroyed him. Celebrimbor, more than anyone, understands the evil power of these rings. This is the way Sauron does everything. “Evil destroys itself,” is what I think he means.