Winners
1. Galadriel
Galadriel spends much of the episode trying and failing to convince anyone who will listen that the threat of Sauron is very much real. For her efforts seeking Sauron out, she and her company of warriors are honored by the High King in the highest way possible: passage to Valinor, the elvish home. After much hesitation, Elrond manages to convince her to put down her sword and return home (more on Elrond later). However, as she’s about to pass through, she has a last minute change of heart and jumps off the ship to remain in Middle Earth. Even though no one headed her warning all episode long, her decision to stay in Middle Earth gives her the opportunity to avenge her brother’s death that she so desires. It also guarantees her a massive I-told-you-so moment that should make her credibility undeniable.
2. Sauron (in whichever way his evil manifests itself)
Sauron’s evil making its return after years of dormancy is a clear win. That whatever evil that’s been lurking in the shadows all this time chose to return now is a signal that it’s ready take on the residents of Middle Earth in their current state of complacency. Add to that the fact that the most diligent warrior in the realm, Galadriel, is stranded in the middle of the Sundering Seas for the foreseeable future. This should whatever evil out there a head start to establish a base of operations and some sort of initial force of orcs.
3. Galadriel’s Company of Elves
Galadriel’s company of warriors successfully passed through to their homeland, Valinor, where they will live in peace while those in Middle Earth will have to contend with war and destruction. That’s a resounding win in my books…
Losers
1. High King Gil-galad
Gil-galad just gave a speech to his subjects proclaiming that their “days of peace begin” today. He also just sent his most valuable warrior away for eternity, or so he thinks. Imagine his speech the next day where he has to tell everyone that their days of peace were actually just one day. Yikes.
2. Elrond
Elrond finds himself in an interesting position having clearly gained the trust of the High King, which would normally be enough to make anyone a winner; however, in the process of gaining the High King’s trust, I imagine he’s just lost the trust of Galadriel. And seeing as how she will play a central role moving forward, I’m lumping Elrond in with the losers for now. If it’s any consolation, he’s much less of a loser than the other losers on this list…
3. Hordern
What you see in the image above is the town of Hordern. Enough said.
4. Middle Earth
Now that evil is resurfacing, I imagine more of Middle Earth will start looking more like Hordern. You get the idea.