Editor’s be aware: The under comprises spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2.

Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power provides to the lore of Middle-earth by exploring the Second Age, hundreds of years earlier than Peter Jackson‘s movies. This offers a novel story of good versus evil as the characters combat for his or her houses. With battle spreading throughout Middle-earth, the characters in the sequence face a variety of threats, from each Sauron (Charlie Vickers) and Adar (Sam Hazeldine), but additionally from the harmful creatures that inhabit the world. The Rings of Power has proven many creatures in Middle-earth, from big spiders to balrogs, however Season 2, Episode 6, “Where Is He?” brings in a sea worm, tying it to the Numenórean storyline. The beast is giant and horrifying, with tentacles, big tooth, and a pointed nostril, so it is no shock that the Numenóreans see it as a menace. But what’s the mysterious sea worm, and is it as deadly because it seems to be?

What Does the Sea Worm Do in ‘The Rings of Power’?

The sea worm performs a small however necessary function in the sequence, serving as proof of the Valar’s favor. Its presence builds off the Numenórean storyline, which follows a battle for energy. Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), the former King’s daughter, is one of the dwindling Faithful who serve the Valar. But she has fallen out of favor with the Numenórean, who selected Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) to succeed the King. Pharazôn has no ties to the Faithful and really persecutes them. Though it seems solely briefly, the sea worm creates a shift in the battle between the two rulers.

Elendil (Lloyd Owen) is one of the few who assist Míriel, however a battle in Episode 5, “Halls of Stone,” results in his arrest. Refusing to denounce his beliefs and swear allegiance to Pharazôn, Elendil is placed on trial. Ironically, Pharazôn chooses to punish Elendil in the outdated manner, following the traditions of the Faithful that he desires to destroy as King. So, slightly than executing Elendil for his rise up, Pharazôn has the monster summoned, planning to forged Elendil into the sea to face the beast, supposedly giving him the probability to outlive, nevertheless slim. But, in accordance with their beliefs, Míriel takes Elendil’s place, as his so-called treason was executed in her identify.

Míriel descends into the waters, and the sea monster’s tentacle pulls her beneath. But when Míriel comes head to head with the beast, it does not assault. Watching her for a minute, the sea worm launched a loud name and spit her again out. Míriel’s miraculous survival features her the favor of the Numenórean as soon as once more, displaying that the sea worm holds sway regardless of the fading of the outdated methods. The observe connects historical Numenór to the threatening creature, and that it reveals a tie between the sea worm and the Valar, as the beast is trusted to ship their judgment. However, past that, a lot is left unknown about the creature.

Does the Sea Worm Appear in Tolkien’s Legendarium?

Though there are numerous variations on account of the limits on what Prime is allowed to adapt, a lot of The Rings of Power is impressed by J. R. R. Tolkien‘s writings. With the inclusion of acquainted characters, like Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) or Elrond (Robert Aramayo), the sequence has some parts of established lore, and the constructing battle between Miriel and Pharazôn is a component of that. However, no sea worm is talked about in the writer’s in depth legendarium. The Rings of Power created the trial-by-sea-monster as a brand new twist for the sequence, and it makes for an fascinating inclusion, because it builds the stress round Míriel’s storyline and offers a manner for the Valar to seemingly intervene — if Numenór will pay attention.

While there is not a sea worm or any comparable creature tied to Numenór, the existence of sea monsters in Middle-earth is just not with out precedent. In The Lost Road and Other Writings, Tolkien establishes the existence of sea serpents or fish-dragons, although their inclusion is little greater than an Elvish legend from linguistic writings. But, you will need to be aware that few of Tolkien’s settings are close to the sea, so sea monsters will not be a significant concern. Considering Numenór is an island nation, the sea worm is a logical addition to The Rings of Power. The greatest situation with there being no equal to the sea worm in Tolkien’s writings is that there’s little details about the creature, particularly as a result of the half it performs in the present, whereas necessary, is brief.

The Sea Worm Is Connected to the Valar in ‘The Rings of Power’

Yet, Season 2 is just not the sea worm’s solely look, because it performed an earlier function in The Rings of Power. At the starting of the story, Galadriel is distributed to Valinor as the Elves’ manner of honoring her, however she refuses to surrender her quest for Sauron, leaping off the boat because it enters the Undying Lands and making an attempt to swim for shore. During her swim, Galadriel encounters a monster, which is a sea worm. While it’s unclear if that’s the identical creature that judges Míriel, it’s, not less than, the identical species. In Season 1, the sea worm terrorizes the crew of a wrecked ship that held Halbrand (who is de facto Sauron). Galadriel joins the survivors, setting into movement her deceit at the arms of Halbrand. Elendil ultimately saves the two of them, bringing Galadriel and Halbrand to Numenór.

This is one other transient half for the sea worm, however it helps to put the location of the sea worm. Given that Galadriel misplaced her ship simply outdoors of Valinor, it is sensible that Elendil encounters Galadriel and Halbrand in that path, hinting that the creatures populate the waters between Numenór and Valinor, reinforcing the connection between the sea worm and the Valar. Though it judges Míriel harmless, the sea worm is much less docile when it encounters a ship holding Sauron, who’s an enemy of the Valar. If the sea worm is really doing the bidding of Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar, then maybe it’s not as harmful because it seems to be. The lack of rationalization round the sea worm creates a brand new thriller for Middle-earth, including to the world in an sudden manner.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is accessible for streaming on Prime Video.

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