The different races of the realm prepare for war.

I bemoaned the lack of momentum in last week’s episode of the TV Lord of the Rings adaptation and I’m delighted to say that things have finally started to pick up, leaving us with four more episodes for the inevitable final battle.

The Harfoots are still on their migration and are grateful when the stranger from the sky comes to their aid by battling some wargs and showing off some frostbite superpowers – he’s going to be revealed as Gandalf, isn’t he? We also get to meet a group of scary trackers who are on his trail, begging the question as to whether he is good or bad.

The Southland humans have convened at the Elven tower, which we can all presume is going to be their Helms Deep. And if the prospect of Adar and his army of Orcs wasn’t enough of a concern, half of the humans splinter away and pledge their allegiance to him. Add to that Theo revealing to his mother Bronwyn that he is in possession of the magical sword hilt, which I serving as a beacon to the forces of darkness.

The least interesting element is in Numenor, where Galadriel continues to lock antlers with everyone from Halbrand (who is slowly revealing aspects of his past) and the armed forces. Morfydd Clark is a great actor, as demonstrated in Saint Maud, but her Galadriel is sulky and petulant and hard to take to. Oh, and Elrond discovers a secret about the forge being fashioned by Celebrimbor, but will he betray his loyalty of the dwarves?

Verdict: Warriors prepare to march to war and the stakes are the highest we’ve seen them, but there’s still something missing in this show. 7/10

Nick Joy