Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power episodes 1 & 2Here's your complete guide to the locations The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power visits during its opening two episodes - within Middle-earth and beyond. Between Bilbo Baggins' journey to Erebor and the Fellowship's adventures in The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson covers a sizable chunk of Middle-earth, his six movies checking off major locations of the Third Age such as Rivendell, Gondor, Edoras, and Mount Doom.
None of those iconic tourist spots appear in The Rings of Power episodes 1 & 2. Set during the Second Age over 3000 years earlier, the landscape of Arda is vastly different to the one Jackson so stunningly brought to life. Nevertheless, Amazon's mega-budget TV venture loses precisely none of The Lord of the Rings' globetrotting spirit. The Rings of Power's first two episodes zip kinetically around Middle-earth, sail out to sea, and even visit a never-before-seen island of mythic renown.
Bouncing between elves, dwarves, Harfoots and men at breakneck speed, The Rings of Power can be a dizzying watch - like a Michael Palin documentary, but with orcs. Now Amazon's TV series has introduced its main provinces and settings, here's a whistle-stop A-Z tour of the Second Age points of interest thus far.
Valinor
The Rings of Power begins where the story of Arda itself started - the blessed realm, a.k.a. the Undying Lands, a.k.a. Valinor. Set during the Years of the Trees when Galadriel was a youngster floating paper boats down streams, Valinor is reserved for the angelic Ainur - primordial spirits from the beginning of creation - and the Elves, who were invited to join them after awakening in Middle-earth. Located to the far west, Valinor is renowned for instilling a divine peace and light within those who live upon its shining shores. Even without the trees Telperion and Laurelin, Valinor retains its heavenly quality. When The Rings of Power's main timeline begins, boats are ferrying worthy elves across the ocean to their legendary ancestral home, though seemingly at the appointment of High King Gil-Galad only.
Forodwaith
Galadriel's hunt for Sauron takes her company into the cold, far north of Forodwaith, which hides a sinister stronghold once occupied by Sauron during his days serving Morgoth. Whereas evil would later settle in the south, Morgoth set up shop in the Iron Mountains toward the north. And further north of that imposing range lies Forodwaith. Largely deserted due to its chilly climate, J.R.R. Tolkien mentioned Forodwaith being inhabited by a small population of men who played no part in The Lord of the Rings, and had minimal contact with those beyond their snows. Forodwaith's awful cold came about because of its geographical proximity to where Morgoth's power was strongest.
Rhovanion
Rhovanion is a large region of Middle-earth sitting east of the Misty Mountains, home to famous sites such as Mirkwood and Erebor, both of which feature heavily in The Hobbit. The Rings of Power's Rhovanion scenes introduce the Harfoots - an early Hobbit breed that existed long before the race migrated west and founded the Shire. Sadoc Burrows' Harfoot clan is situated to Rhovanion's south, underneath Mirkwood and near the swampland that'll eventually become known as the Dead Marshes (once people have actually died there, that is). The Harfoots' pop-up village is conspicuously close to where Sauron establishes Mordor midway through the Second Age. A bad omen indeed...
Lindon
By The Lord of the Rings' era, Rivendell, Lothlórien, Mirkwood and the Grey Havens are the Elves' main habitations. During The Rings of Power, however, Lindon is effectively the race's capital, home to High King Gil-Galad and situated near the Grey Havens, where ships set sail for Valinor. The Rings of Power proudly showcases Lindon's glorious forests and coastal beauty, as well as its thriving civilization complete with fireworks Gandalf would be proud of. Though Lindon is still standing into Tolkien's Third Age and beyond, it's vastly diminished compared with the kingdom Gil-Galad oversees. Though largely populated by Ñoldor, Lindon harbors a diverse array of elves during the Second Age, though some non-Ñoldor would relocate further east sooner or later.
The Southlands
The Southlands is an original location created for The Rings of Power, and key towns include Tirharad (where Bronwyn lives with her son, Theo), and the nearby Hordern, which Arondir and Bronwyn discover has been decimated by a creepy subterranean menace. Centuries prior, the Southlanders sided with Morgoth - hence why they aren't currently living it up on Númenor. Because of that evil past, the region is diligently watched by a rather unwelcome encampment of elves. Predictably, the elf-guards have developed a prejudiced attitude toward the descendants of Morgoth's minions. Just as predictably, the villagers have developed a sour attitude toward their immortal babysitters. Based on the small glimpse of map provided in The Rings of Power episode 1, the Southlands appears to be located in (or very near) the region that'll soon be known as Mordor.
The Sundering Seas
West of Middle-earth lies an expansive body of water known as the Sundering Seas, separating the land from Valinor. Precious little is written about this watery expanse, but the existence of sea serpents is briefly mentioned in passing, setting up the wyrm that attacks Galadriel and Halbrand's raft in The Rings of Power episode 2. One landmark of note upon Arda's Sundering Seas is the Second Age star-shaped island of Númenor, which sits to the south and was gifted by the Valar to houses of men who helped defeat Morgoth.
Eregion
Head east from Lindon and the next Second Age elven stronghold you'll encounter is Eregion, sitting in the shadow of the Misty Mountains. Established early in Tolkien's Second Age (but still centuries after Lindon) Eregion was intially ruled by Galadriel and her husband, before leadership passed to Celebrimbor. The Rings of Power has skipped straight to Celebrimbor, with Galadriel treading a drastically different path. Eregion comes burdened with a checkered future in Middle-earth lore, remembered as the site where the Rings of Power were forged, and for its destruction at the hands of Sauron. On the bright side, Eregion was one of few elven settlements that enjoyed friendly relations with the Dwarves.
Khazad-dûm
Khazad-dûm is hardly new to live-action The Lord of the Rings, playing an unforgettable role in The Fellowship of the Ring and Gandalf's temporary death. The Khazad-dûm seen in The Rings of Power episode 2 is so vastly different, however, it may as well be an entirely new location. The Mines of Moria are just entering their heyday under Durin III's rule - a bustling society that blends architecture, agriculture and ambition, showing dwarven society like live-action Lord of the Rings never previously has. Durin IV's wife, Disa, vaguely alludes to the balrog beneath their feet, but many centuries will pass before the creature turns Khazad-dûm into a ruin and earns his "Durin's Bane" moniker.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues Thursday/Friday on Amazon Prime.