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In “Where Is He?”, the sixth episode of The Rings of Power season two, several characters move from looming danger toward choices that could draw them into conflict. James Whitbrook’s September 19, 2024 Gizmodo/io9 recap frames that escalation as the beginning of a “War of the Rings”—a critical description of the episode, not an official subtitle.
Why this episode feels like a turning point
The episode brings its major storylines closer to open confrontation. In Eregion, Sauron—working as Annatar—presses Celebrimbor to continue making the remaining rings even as Adar’s forces approach Ost-in-Edhil. Adar, meanwhile, seeks an alliance with Galadriel against Sauron. The result is a three-sided conflict specific to the show’s adaptation: Elves, Sauron and Adar are all active forces, rather than the episode simply replaying Tolkien’s history.
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Whitbrook’s framing also rests on a useful distinction: the danger is not only that armies are moving. Characters across the story are being pushed to decide whom they will stand with, and what they are willing to risk.
Eregion: Sauron’s influence meets an approaching threat
Sauron’s influence over Celebrimbor is urgent, but not effortless or complete. Celebrimbor is under strain, and Adar’s approaching army forces Sauron to respond to a threat beyond his control. That pressure gives the ring-making plot a military clock: Sauron wants the remaining rings made, while the siege draws nearer.
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Adar’s offer to Galadriel complicates any simple division between opposing sides. He is an adversary with his own designs, but he is also seeking cooperation against Sauron. The episode therefore sets up conflict without making its alliances straightforward.
Khazad-dûm: the cost of the rings becomes personal
In Khazad-dûm, the ring’s influence on King Durin sharpens the danger within the royal family. Prince Durin and Disa recognize that resisting the king they love may become necessary. Whitbrook singles out this relationship as a strength of the episode: the rings’ consequences register not just as a political or military threat, but as damage that can reach into a family.
Other characters make their own commitments
- Nori and Poppy: They agree to help the Stoors defend their home, giving the episode’s larger theme of resistance a more local expression.
- The Stranger: Tom Bombadil leaves him facing a choice between his destiny and his friends.
- Arondir: He heads toward Eregion, bringing another character into the orbit of the impending confrontation.
Númenor’s political conflict is less convincing to Whitbrook
The rivalry between Míriel and Pharazôn moves forward, but Whitbrook criticizes the abruptness of the political reversals. That is a judgment about how the episode dramatizes its Númenor plot, not a claim that the storyline lacks stakes. Set beside the more intimate Durin and Disa material, the difference is one of execution: Whitbrook finds the family conflict especially effective, while the political turns feel sudden.
How to read the “War of the Rings” framing
The phrase captures the episode’s convergence of military escalation and personal decisions. It does not mean every storyline has already become a battle, or that the show’s events are a direct statement of Tolkien’s historical account. Whitbrook is describing how this adaptation positions its characters: Adar’s forces approach Eregion, Sauron pushes his plan forward, and people in Khazad-dûm, Númenor and beyond face choices that could commit them to a wider struggle.
Where to watch or rewatch season two
For viewers who prefer physical media, Cheryl Eddy reported for Gizmodo/io9 on September 8, 2026, that season two standard four-disc editions on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD are set to start releasing November 3, 2026. Limited-edition 4K UHD SteelBooks are reported for December 1, 2026, with collectible art cards. These are reported release dates and formats, not independent confirmation of local stock or delivery availability. Read the season 2 physical-release report.
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