Rings of Power: An Exploration of Mithril's Origin Story

gamerant.com:

So far, the Rings of Power series has done a great job of establishing origin stories for many of the fan favorite characters from the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. It showed Galadriel’s decision to abandon her chance to return to Valinor, in favor of leading the Numenorians to sail to Middle Earth to defend the people of the Southlands from Sauron’s swarming orcs. It showed Elrond’s involvement in the creation of the Rings of Power alongside Celebrimbor.

But, with the release of the 5th episode, it is clear that the Rings of Power doesn’t only intend to give origin stories to its characters, but to some events and the creations of the Second Age as well. In a visually dynamic and interesting scene, fans got their first glimpse of the creation of Mithril, and just why it is so important to the race of elves and dwarves alike.

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Mithril is an incredibly rare and precious ore, that makes incredibly strong armor as light as a feather. It is revolutionary for the dwarves, and ushers in a new era of power, wealth, and trade for their people. All other races in Middle Earth greatly desire the metal they have found. But as the Rings of Power details in its latest episode, it is the elves who currently need it the most. That's not because they desire vast riches, but because it may be the key to saving them from the darkness that is spreading through their forests and making them sick.

King Gil-galad describes the ore as “as pure and light as good, as strong and unyielding as evil,” and tells Elrond that this ore may be the only way of reversing the decay that has befallen their lands and their souls. To make Elrond understand, he asks the young elf