Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) was one of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain Elven-smiths and Celebrimbor’s (Charles Edwards) protogé, with her fate in The Rings of Power even more tragic than her mentor’s. Mirdania, like the Elves of Eregion (and most of Middle-earth), was manipulated by Sauron (Charlie Vickers) into helping craft the Rings of Power before meeting her demise at his hand. Celebrimbor was likewise deceived by Sauron, meeting the same fate, but there was one significant difference between their deaths.

Mirdania’s Rings of Power character foretells, nearly verbatim, what is to befall Celebrimbor. Celebrimbor often mimics her actions in the proceeding scene or episode, creating a symmetry between the characters. Mirdania and Celebrimbor both offered shelter to Sauron, even though they were told to do otherwise. They also both help him craft rings for men. After initially aiding Sauron, they glimpsed who he really was but were further manipulated into not seeing his actual corrupt state, continuing their work. And in the end, they were both murdered by Sauron’s hand. However, despite these similarities, Mirdania’s demise is even more devastating than Celebrimbor’s.

Mirdania & Celebrimbor Both Meet Tragic Ends Because Of Sauron (But Mirdania’s Is Worse)

Mirdania and Celebrimbor were both slain by Sauron, but Mirdania’s response to his influence was far worse. Mirdania believed she was thrown over the city walls by a tainted version of her friend and lord, Celebrimbor. She was blinded by Sauron’s deceit until her demise, even after seeing his true form and being told of his identity. Mirdania never pushed against the illusion created by Sauron and eventually fulfilled his final role for her by becoming the cause for others to mistrust Celebrimbor. Mirdania assisted Sauron until the end, even with her own death.

Although Celebrimbor’s actions and death mirrored Mirdania’s, he came to the very difficult understanding that The Dark Lord was influencing and manipulating him into seeing a world contrary to reality. Celebrimbor, comprehending that Sauron had made him a pawn, came to resist Sauron, hoping to prevent the spread of his influence. He also comes to identify his true allies, something Mirdania failed to do, by trusting Galadriel (Marfydd Clark) with the Nine. Celebrimbor died seeing the world for how it actually was while resisting Sauron with his death.

Celebrimbor’s Rings Of Power Season 2 Ending Allows Him To Go Out On A High Note

Celebrimbor understood his role in the destruction of Ost-in-Edhil and the forging of the Nine. Although this realization led to a heartrending end for the Elven-smith and lord, he heroically accepted the truth. Tolkien’s lore has Celebrimbor revealing the location of the Nine under Sauron’s torture, as shown in Unfinished Tales. The Rings of Power takes a different approach, allowing him to maintain a steadfast resistance against Sauron, never revealing their location. Celebrimbor, amid all his mistakes, died a victor.

Celebrimbor met the same end but diverged from Mirdania’s tarnished conclusion by overcoming his fears and illusions of grandeur…

Mirdania died under the impression that she was resisting darkness, but she was ultimately one of Sauron’s puppets until the end. Celebrimbor met the same end but diverged from Mirdania’s tarnished conclusion by overcoming his fears and illusions of grandeur, thereby redeeming his character. The Rings of Power built Celebrimbor into a complex individual who, amid his many flaws, came to see clearly and act honorably, showing his fate to be less tragic than Mirdania’s.