The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 finally came to an end, featuring themes of sacrifice, love, and power. In the last episode, titled Shadow and Flame, a demonic creature, the Balrog, emerged from the Misty Mountains after the dwarves upset the natural balance due to their greed.
The Balrog was briefly seen in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 and finally emerged from hiding in season 2. This demon, created from Maiar, was a loyal servant to the dark lord Morgoth. He is incredibly powerful, capable of destroying kingdoms and spreading terror.
Named Durin's Bane, he participated in the great battle during the First Age, along with other demons. However, the battle resulted in Morgoth's defeat, leaving Durin's Bane alone. The creature then hid deep within the Misty Mountains, where the dwarves discovered Mithril in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2.
Mithril is a rare metal found in the Misty Mountains, where the famous dwarven city of Khazad-dûm is located. As the series progressed, we saw the dwarves and King Durin III driven by greed, continuing to dig into the mountains to extract as much Mithril as possible.
However, they didn't realize that their greed would lead to Khazad-dûm's destruction. By disturbing the Balrog’s resting place, they awakened the demon, who seeks revenge and instills fear among the dwarves.
Read on to find out more about the Balrog’s actions and its impact on Khazad-dûm.
How Balrog can change the future of Khazad-dûm in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Throughout the episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, King Durin III becomes obsessed with his ring, driven by greed. The final episode begins with King Durin III and his son, Prince Durin IV, confronting the Balrog inside the mountain.
After witnessing the giant monster, King Durin III asks his son to leave and forgive him. The King even removes his precious ring and takes up his sword to fight the Balrog. However, the Balrog cannot be easily defeated, and the confrontation leads to King Durin III's death.
Though the Balrog only killed the King in the finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, his emergence is a clear symbol of doom. Now that he’s awake, Khazad-dûm may face dire consequences for disturbing the monster.
According to J.R.R. Tolkien’s acclaimed books, the Balrog doesn’t emerge until the Third Age, but in the series, he awakens earlier. Additionally, Khazad-dûm becomes Moria after dark forces, including Durin's Bane, take over the city.
Since the series has deviated from the books, fans can expect a darker future for Khazad-dûm in the Second Age. The Balrog is unlikely to stop as long as the dwarves continue mining for Mithril, which could play a central role in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, as the show has been renewed for another chapter.
Prince Durin IV becomes the King after his father's death
As King Durin III removes his ring before dying, his son, Prince Durin IV, becomes the new leader of Khazad-dûm. The former Prince disapproved of his father’s use of the ring, but now that he is the ruler, King Durin IV may have to use it.
Unlike his greedy father, Durin IV has a kind heart and is loyal to his family and the people of Khazad-dûm. However, as the new King, the pressure to protect Khazad-dûm from the Balrog might force him to make hasty decisions.
Furthermore, Prince Durin IV’s story isn't detailed in Tolkien’s books, so The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 will allow fans to learn more about him. With season 2 concluded, the looming threat of the Balrog will likely be a key focus in the next season.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is on Prime Video.
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