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Shadow and Flame is the eighth episode of the second season of the American fantasy television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien's history of Middle-earth, primarily material from the appendices of the novel The Lord of the Rings, it is set thousands of years before the novel in the Second Age. The episode depicts the climactic battle in the Siege of Eregion as Sauron's deception reaches its peak. It was written by showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay, and Justin Doble, and directed by Charlotte Brändström.

The series' second season, which was greenlit in November 2019, began filming in the United Kingdom in October 2022. "Shadow and Flame" premiered on the streaming service Amazon Prime Video on October 3, 2024.

Plot

As the siege of Eregion continues, the forces of Sauron launch their final assault on the Elven stronghold. Celebrimbor desperately tries to warn the defenders about Sauron's true identity, but the Nine Rings he created have already corrupted many. Galadriel fights alongside the surviving Elves, while Elrond confronts Adar in a deadly duel. Durin IV arrives with his Dwarven army, joining the battle in a last-minute effort to save the city. However, Sauron reveals his ultimate weapon— a massive creature of shadow and flame.

In a climactic encounter, Galadriel faces Sauron in his true form, but is overwhelmed. As hope begins to fade, Elrond sacrifices himself to weaken Sauron, allowing the Elves and Dwarves to regroup. The episode ends with the survivors retreating, with Eregion on the brink of total destruction.

Production

Development

Amazon acquired the global television rights for J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in November 2017. The series was developed by J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay and ordered for production in 2019. Following the success of the first season, a second season was confirmed, with filming moving from New Zealand to the United Kingdom.

Casting

The episode stars Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Robert Aramayo as Elrond, Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor, Owain Arthur as Durin IV, and Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir. Additional cast members include Amelia Kenworthy as Mirdania, Kevin Eldon as Narvi, Sam Hazeldine as Adar, and Charlie Vickers as Sauron.

Visual effects

The visual effects for the episode, especially the depiction of Sauron’s transformation and the creature of shadow and flame, were created by a range of companies, led by DNEG and Outpost VFX, with Jason Smith overseeing the VFX.

Music

The episode's score, titled "Flame's Descent," was composed by Bear McCreary and Jens Kidman, and was released digitally on Amazon Music in conjunction with the episode's premiere.

References

External links

• "Shadow and Flame" at IMDb

1. "'The Rings of Power' Season 2 Finale Recap: Highs and Lows".
2. "The 'Rings of Power' Season 2 Finale Makes a Not-So-Surprising Revelation". ELLE. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
3. Phipps, Keith (2024-10-03). "The Rings of Power Season-Finale Recap: A Stranger No More!". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
4. Broadwell, Josh (2024-10-03). "Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Commodified Coolness". Men's Journal | Streaming. Retrieved 2024-10-03.

• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episodes
• 2024 American television episodes