One of the most engaging aspects of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 has been the callbacks to the LOTR movies. Fans saw Isildur experiencing his own version of the Dead Marshes, for example. Now, Episode 7, “Doomed to Die?” nods to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in big ways.

The callback to The Two Towers takes place during the Siege of Eregion and the attack on Celebrimbor’s Forge. These throwbacks are mired in tragedy and remind viewers of the toll taken during these wars. It’s also an indictment that hope doesn’t always work out the way the heroes intend.

Rings of Power’s Ravager Arc Homages the Assault on Helm’s Deep

Rings of Power Uses a Runner and a Bomb to Harrowing Effect

The Two Towers had Sauron and Saruman’s army trying to break down the wall in the Battle of Helm’s Deep. King Théoden needed Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and some Lothlorien Elves to work with his Men to stop the charging Uruk-hai. The villains used rams, cleared a path and used a runner to ignite a bomb and breach the wall. Rings of Power introduces a siege machine known as the Ravager. It’s similar in design to the Grond ram from Return of the King, but its technical use is akin to the rams and hooks from The Two Towers.

This new device uses hooks to rip walls down the way Sauron’s forces tried to do in the films. The giant troll, Damrod, is the one clearing the path for this to be used as Adar’s orcs try to break into the Forge. He kills a lot of the heroes, versus the runner from The Two Towers, who didn’t hurt anyone in his sprint. The runner set off his bomb in The Two Towers, but Rings of Power’s Arondir heads down from the Eregion wall and uses Elrond and King Gil-galad to slay the troll. When Elrond’s team tries to use their own bomb, however, disaster follows.

The archer Elf, Rian, tries to ignite a hot oil bomb near the Ravager. Unfortunately, she gets struck with arrows. Before she dies, she gets a flaming arrow off that blows the oil up. This makeshift bomb doesn’t just kill Adar’s minions — it injures members of Elrond’s army as well. They save the wall but at a dire price, compared to The Two Towers where the broken wall did give the heroes more access to kill Sauron’s minions. It’s part and parcel of improvising in such desperate times. Elrond is heartbroken because he needs numbers.

Rings of Power Breaks Elrond’s Faith in Durin IV

Rings of Power Doesn’t Bring the Calvary In

In The Two Towers, Gandalf told Aragon to look to the East at dawn. Gandalf vowed to arrive with backup: the Rohirrim. They did just that, raced down and help destroy the Uruk-hai. Whatever was left ended up fleeing to set up Sauron’s reprisal in Return of the King. A similar vow is made in this show.

Durin III has a civil war in Khazad-dûm with his father, King Durin IV, but he promises Elrond he will come with his army. All Elrond has to do is look to the North. Unfortunately, when the moment comes at the end of the episode, Durin IV is nowhere in sight. It crushes Elrond, who feels betrayed, confused and vulnerable. This allows Adar’s orcs to overpower the Elves and move a step closer to raiding Eregion.

Durin IV Actor Details

Rings of Power Actor
Owain Arthur

Character Played
Durin IV

Date of Birth
Mar. 5, 1983

Place of Birth
Bangor, Wales

Notable Movies
The One and Only Ivan, Coffee Wars

Notable TV Shows
Casualty, Death in Paradise

Elrond doesn’t want them killing Sauron and Celebrimbor’s elves. Unfortunately, without backup, he can’t do a thing. Prince Durin IV has obligations, unlike Gandalf. But in this case, a lot more lives are being lost by the second as Adar makes his most ruthless move yet. Ultimately, Elrond is left helpless and pondering if a miracle will happen with just one episode left.