Prime Video Series Rings of Power Returns for Season 3 with Major Character Death

The fantasy series "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" has returned to Prime Video with its first four episodes of Season 3, jumping ahead five years after a two-year break. Sauron is now rising to power, commanding a massive orc army and building his ringwraiths, also known as Nazgûl enforcers. He recruits several men to fight for this role, and Theo wins a spot. Meanwhile, a flashback reveals a past romance between Galadriel and her long-lost husband Celeborn.

Rescue and Tragedy

In the present, Galadriel and Arondir meet an orc named Marnûkh who promises to guide them to an imprisoned elven blacksmith who can forge a ring. The trio travels to the mountainous orc prison of Gundabad in Episode 4, only to discover the blacksmith died weeks earlier, though they manage to rescue a captive Celeborn. As they fight their way out, a ringwraith confronts Arondir, and the shadowy knight removes his mask to reveal that Theo has joined Sauron's inner circle. When Arondir tries to reason with him, Sauron appears and commands Theo to kill the elf, resulting in Arondir being murdered with a sword.

Conflict Across Middle-earth

Other regions face severe turmoil as human cities struggle to stay free. In Numenor, King Pharazon survives an assassination attempt by a follower of the deposed Queen Regent Mirel. Earien, the daughter of Elendil, is discovered working as a spy for the Faithfuls and is killed by Pharazon. In the dwarven mountains, King Durin IV faces a challenge for the crown from his brother Thrain, who wants to ally with the ringwraiths. After learning that his wife Disa previously had a fling with Thrain, Durin loses the physical showdown and forfeits his right to rule. Elsewhere, Gandalf dons his famous pointed hat after speaking with the Secret Fire and sets out to save the world from Sauron after traveling with Tom Bombadil.

Context

The series draws upon the rich fantasy lore and appendices created by J.R.R. Tolkien, expanding upon the Second Age of Middle-earth long before the events of the famous trilogy. Prime Video streams the production, which requires massive budgets and extensive visual effects to bring the sprawling fictional continent to life.