The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’sseason 2 finale gets a new clip teasing an intense showdown between Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) and his father, and the arrival of the Balrog. Created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Ringsseries returned in August, with the titular rings beginning to take hold over Middle-earth. The Dwarf storyline inThe Rings of Powerseason 2features King Durin III (Peter Mullan) falling further into darkness due to his own ring, mining deeper in Khazad-dûm despite warnings that it could awaken the Balrog.
Prime Video now releases a new clip fromThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 8, the finale, revealing that a confrontation between father and son is coming in the Mines of Moria.The clip sees King Durin turn violent against his own kind, with Prince Durin subsequently arming himself with an ax to challenge him.
Though the clip ends before father and son come to blows, it’s clear that the Ring’s hold over King Durin is strong. The clip also features someominous shots teasing the awakening of the Balrog. Check out the clip below:
How The Dwarf King Is Dooming His People
The Ring may have given King Durin supernatural abilities when it comes to knowing where to mine for valuable resources like Mithril, but it’s also made him greedy and selfish.The Dwarves in Moria have survived this long because they respect the mountain that serves as their home, and there’s been an equilibrium that has existed for centuries. King Durin, under the Ring’s influence, is compelled to upset this balance and increase his riches, but it also means the downfall of his home.
Lord of the Rings: The Balrog’s Origin Explained (& Why It’s In Moria)
The Balrog is famous for battling Gandalf in the Mines of Moria. But this iconic Lord of the Rings monster has a far deeper, more ancient origin.
As is revealed in Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,Khazad-dûm falls because, as Saruman (Christopher Lee) says, “the dwarves delved too greedily and too deep,” ultimately awakening the Balrog. The Balrog’s arrival in the show has been teased since season 1, and the latest clip suggests the monstrous beast will finally be unveiling itself in the season 2 finale. It seems unlikely that all ofKhazad-dûm will fallin episode 8, but the downfall of this once-great Dwarf kingdom is now certainly on the horizon.
Prior to the events ofThe Lord of the Rings, the Dwarves also lost control of the kingdom of Erebor due to Smaug, a dragon. They eventually recover this kingdom, however, as is depicted in Jackson’sThe Hobbittrilogy.
Our Take On The Balrog’s Arrival In The Rings Of Power
Will The Finale Feature A Major Character Death?
ThoughThe Rings of Powerseason 3has not yet been confirmed, it’s possible that a third outing for the show would follow the Dwarves as they attempt to protect their home from the Balrog. Considering how epic Gandalf’s (Ian McKellen) showdown with the beast was inFellowship of the Ring, this could mean that some action-packed episodes are on the way for the show.
What makes the Balrog’s impending introduction inThe Rings of Powerso compelling is that it’s tied to a very tragic story of a father and a son.The human struggle to connect between Prince Durin and his father is a key pillar of the entire Dwarf storyline, and the clip above would suggest that it’s all about to come to a head. While Prince Durin seems safe for the time being, it’s possible that the finale will see King Durin meet his end.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 finale releases on Prime Video on Thursday, June 09, 2025.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
