The following contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1, Episode 7, "The Eye," now streaming on Prime Video.
The Rings of Power Season 1 has had its ups and downs. The visual effects have been great, but there were some costuming quibbles. Likewise, there was a lot of Dwarf drama leading into the Prime Video series, but the interactions between Elrond, Durin IV and Disa have become one of the best parts. There have been great performances, but also several plot holes.
That inconsistency and an already polarized Lord of the Rings fan base has left Season 1's success hanging in the balance. Season 1, Episode 6, "Udûn" delivered some much-needed action sequences, but Season 1, Episode 7 "The Eye" took a step back by spending too long basking in the creation of Mordor. The finale will make or break the series depending on how much it accomplishes. With that in mind, here are the biggest questions that still need answers.
Can Rings of Power's Finale Live Up to Its Potential?
Some viewers will never be happy with The Rings of Power, but the series has the potential to win a lot of people over in the finale. The creation of Mordor has opened the door for Sauron's return, and the conclusion of the Southlands conflict will lead to even bigger obstacles to overcome. On the flip side, the Sauron reveal could be good or bad depending on which character is the Dark Lord. The series has struggled to show large-scale conflicts, so expanding its scale may or may not work out -- but if it does and Sauron is revealed well, the finale can leave viewers excited for Season 2.
What's Up With Meteor Man?
The identity of Meteor Man has been a question throughout the entire season. Officially known as "The Stranger," Meteor Man crashed to Middle-earth in a meteor, where Nori Brandyfoot found him. He was illiterate and confused, but with some kind of power. Some Rings of Power viewers thought that the power was inherently evil, leading to the early belief that he was Sauron. Other fans adamantly believe that he's either Gandalf or Radagast. No concrete proof has been shown either way, so the finale has to give fans some answers.
Could Halbrand Be Sauron?
If the Meteor Man mystery wasn't enough, still more viewers believe that Halbrand is the Dark Lord. Since he's an original character created specifically for The Rings of Power, that's entirely possible. Qualities like his being a good swordsmith have created suspicion. For that matter, it would be right up Sauron's alley to be playing Galadriel the whole time. However, just like Meteor Man, there hasn't been any real evidence saying that Halbrand is more than King of the Southlands. If he ends up being Sauron, the finale will completely change the direction of the series.
Will Adar Get What's Coming to Him?
Adar has been one of The Rings of Power's best characters. Even though fans have debated how much he aligns with LOTR canon, the concept of a fallen elf is excellent. His being a dark mirror for Galadriel has been a major part of her development. The most important aspect of Adar's character is that he claimed to have killed Sauron. If that's true, then the Dark Lord would certainly be out for vengeance. The question is whether Adar will make it into Season 2 or grovel at Sauron's feet in the finale. Whether or not he survives would possibly rob the show of its best antagonist.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams Fridays on Prime Video.
The Season 1 finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams Friday, Oct. 14, on Prime Video.