[Note: Full spoilers for The Rings of Power: S1, E4 The Great Wave.]

After countless hours of setup, The Rings of Power is starting to deliver. For better and worse, The Rings of Power Season 1, Episode 4 The Great Wave answers questions, creates intrigue, and allows characters a little breathing room. Alas, it is a shame that with 4 of the 8 hours for The Rings of Power’s first season watched, the series finally feels like it is getting started.

In Númenor, Queen Regent Míriel envisions a great wave overtaking the island kingdom. Galadriel is summoned by the Queen Regent to discuss her fate. During this meeting, Galadriel attempts to convince Míriel that Halbrand is a lost heir of the Southlands that requires intervention from Númenor. When this motion is rejected, Galadriel requests an audience with King Tar-Palantir, only to be imprisoned for the suggestion. 

Later, Galadriel escapes from confinement to seek out the King. She is confronted by Míriel in the King’s bedchambers where it is revealed that Númenor fears for their destruction if they stray from the path laid out to them by the Valar. This explains the Queen Regent’s behavior and reason to finally send Galadriel back to Middle Earth. However, as Galadriel is put on this boat back to Middle Earth, petals begin to shed from the White Tree, signifying the tears of the Valar.

As wonderful as it is to get explanations in the Númenor plotline, these sorts of conflicts with their resolutions feel as if they should have fit into a single episode rather than being stretched across two. The large cast of characters are going to cause plotlines to move at a relatively slow pace but The Rings of Power is beginning to feel like an 8 hour movie. Númenor’s pace is the perfect example of this. As a result of the time that needs to be spent with other characters in their plots, episode conflicts are left without their resolutions. The series would greatly benefit from the binge fashion of television rather than the week-to-week schedule. While a sense of individuality tends to be lost in the binge model of television, the faults of individual episodes fall to the wayside as the bigger picture of the season is easier to envision.

Considering that we are halfway through this season, I noticed that I feel no closer to these characters from when the show started. I’ve made it clear in previous reviews that I have a fondness for how Arondir’s story is unfolding, but that is due to my interest in the conflict in the Southlands. There are so many characters to cover each episode that dialogue is minimalist and primarily plot focused. It was a pleasant surprise to allow Durin and Elrond indulge in each other’s company, even if it was brief. 

In the return to the Southlands Arondir is confronted by Adar, who appears to be a corrupted Elf. Adar allows Arondir to leave on the condition he delivers a message to the people of the Southlands. Swear fealty or be destroyed. 

Against Bronwyn’s wishes, Theo journeys out with another villager to retrieve food for the Southlanders. Theo is separated from his compatriot and pursued by Orcs for the entirety of the night. The sword that Theo carries is revealed to be the purpose behind the Adar’s quest. In a beautiful sequence, Theo escapes from the Orcs with Arondir who is reunited with Bronwyn as they return to Ostirith.

While there are quite a lot of red herrings for “Where/Who is Sauron”, Adar is immediately the most compelling. Not because I believe that Adar is Sauron, it’s because he story could serve a greater purpose into how we, the audience, understands Morgoth and Sauron. The fall of Elves to darkness such as these two is uncommon, especially when you consider that Elves were created by gods to live in the Undying Lands. This premise that something so holy falling to darkness is intriguing. Adar may fill the void and answer this question for the viewer as we learn more about him and what else he appears to know.

Elrond investigates what Prince Durin is up to on the suspicion of Celebrimbor. It’s learned that the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm have discovered a new ore known as “mithril”. Elrond admits he knew nothing of the discovery and promises Durin that he will keep it secret.

Now I’m getting suspicious of Celebrimbor. Shoot, I’m suspicious of Gil-galad. This is beginning to feel like a setup. Was Elrond sent to Celebrimbor specifically because of his relationship with the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm? Did Gil-galad intend on Elrond going there to eventually uncover their secrets? King Durin seems to believe this might be the case.

This is exactly what a lot of mysteries in The Rings of Power were missing up until The Great Wave. Suspicions were built throughout the episode surrounding the Elves, only to reveal that King Durin has the same suspicions, and is sending his son, Prince Durin, to Lindon to seek answers. 

The Great Wave is an episode that will make or break the attention of the viewer. If they haven’t dropped the show by now, this episode feels like the deciding factor. Weaknesses are beginning to reveal themselves and the individual episodes tend to be unsatisfying due to the pacing of the story. Perhaps it is the editing or maybe it is the amount of disconnected character stories. Whatever it is, it often feels odd that certain scenes are left out of episodes that are resolved in the first scene of the next. For example, in Episode 3 Adar we never even meet Adar. He’s only a brief blur seen by Arondir at the very end of the episode. 
The Rings of Power has a lot of moving pieces. I’m starting to suspect the series delivery mechanism is bringing it down. Sure, the minimalist dialogue and lack of character can’t be directly helped, but the unnecessary cliff hanging and over indulgence of certain shots feel like they are at odds with each other. If these ever happen to be smoothed out, The Rings of Power could be punching above its current weight class.