Warning! Spoilers for Rings of Power season 2, episode 6 ahead!
Celebrimbor forgot his assistant’s name inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2, and previous episodes subtly revealed why this is such a big deal. The Lord of Eregion has been steadily declining since Sauron became a constant presence at his forge—and it’s no wonder why. Though he was proud to make the Seven Dwarven Rings, Celebrimbor has since become hesitant to proceed with the Nine for Men. This has made Sauron turn up the pressure, and the consequence has been the deterioration of the elf’s mental state inRings of Powerseason 2, episode 6.
Eregion’s best Elf smiths have been assistingCelebrimbor inthe Rings of Powerseason 2, and, up to episode 6, he has had a great working relationship with the group. They respected him, and he respected them, and their work on the Seven went relatively smoothly. However, as Sauron pushes Celebrimbor to make the Nine, tension develops within the forge.Mirdania has been especially suspicious inRings of Powerseason 2, but things came to a head when Celebrimbor drew a blank on her name.
The Rings Of Power Already Told You Why Celebrimbor Forgetting Mirdania’s Name Is A Big Deal
Celebrimbor’s Decline Is Basically Unheard Of
Celebrimbor has been under a lot of stress, so it should be entirely understandable that he might momentarily forget a colleague’s name. However, when he asked her for a reminder, Mirdania and the other assistants were wholly shocked.Celebrimbor and Annatar played it off as a simple lapse in memory, but it was clear that the smiths didn’t consider this an adequate excuse. An earlier moment inThe Rings of Powerreveals why.
In a previousRigns of Powerseason 2 episode,Arondir said Elves' memories never dim. Tolkien’s canon backs this up since it is stated multiple times throughoutThe Lord of the Ringsthat this Middle-earth race’s memory is flawless. Therefore, while it would be typical for a human to forget a name while under stress or due to age, it would be essentially unheard of for an elf like Celebrimbor. It’s for precisely this reason that Mirdania and the other smiths were so shocked and suspicious.
What’s Really Happening To Celebrimbor In The Rings Of Power
Sauron’s Evil Is Chipping Away At Celebrimbor
Sauran began manipulating Celebrimborthe moment he arrived in Eregion. He made the elf believe that he had been hand-selected by the god-like Valar and that he, Annatar, was their emissary to see him through to greatness. Of course, none of this is true, but Celebrimbor so wanted to believe it that he ignored all the warning signs. As more red flags appeared, the Lord of Eregion attempted to take some steps back, but Sauron pushed with more manipulation and gaslighting.Magic aside, all of this would undoubtedly take a tollon even an elf’s mental state.
What’s happening to the elf is similar to what happens to those who come in contact with the One Ring inThe Lord of the Rings.
Of course, Sauron isn’t just a master manipulator. He is a fallen Maia of remarkable power and has been pouring his evil desires into Celebrimbor’s craft. What’s happening to the elf is similar to what happens to those who come in contact with the One Ring inThe Lord of the Rings. After all, the Ring is, in a sense, a more concentrated form of Sauron’s own evil, soit makes sense that Celebrimbor’s extended contact with the Dark Lord himself would result in similar consequences. His mind has been tainted with the torment of evil inThe Rings of Power—forgetting a name is only the beginning.
The Rings of Power episodes release every Thursday on Prime Video.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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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.
