‘The Rings of Power’ recently released its fifth episode. Things are currently quite tumultuous in Middle-Earth, mostly due to Sauron (or rather Annatar) working through the final stages of a plan that involves the Rings of Power.

On the other side of the continent, however, Númenor is facing its own set of troubles. We know that Pharazon managed to wrestle some of Miriel’s power to himself after he was seemingly chosen by the great Eagle. We also know that Pharazon has no love for the Valar or the Elves and the mere existence of the Faithful and Valar costumes in Numenor troubles him.

Eärien, Isildur’s sister and Elendil’s daughter hated the fact that Miriel went to Middle-earth and hated it even more when Isildur was presumed dead due to war they never had to take part in. This made her path to an alliance with Pharazon and Kemen, his son all the easier.

In episode 5, Elendil and Valandil are conducting a burial ceremony in a temple dedicated to the Valar when Kemen enters with his small army of guards and challenges them to stop everything since Pharazon made it somewhat illegal to worship the Valar. Conflict ensues when Kemen himself shatters a holy Valar statue. Valandil attacked Kemen, and they wrestled on the ground, it was Elendil who stopped Valandil from killing Kemen.

As soon as Valandil stayed his hands and turned his back on Kemen, Kemen quite literally stabbed him in the back. While the supposed death of Isildur was on Miriel’s hands, the death of Valandil is on Eärien’s, and who knows how she will react to the death of one of her dearest friends?

Númenoreans now have much more on their plate to deal with besides the omnipresent threat of the civil war, by desecrating the temple Númenoreans are one step closer to the Pharazon breaking the Ban of the Valar and destruction of Númenor.

What did you think about the latest episode of ‘Rings of Power’? Let us know in the comments below!