Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power episode 5Why is Tar-Palantir so certain Middle-earth will bring doom and destruction for his daughter in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Númenor's political fragility has split its people - some want friendship with the Elves and to honor the will of the Valar, quite a few would prefer a Númenor-first policy. The island's semi-retired ruler, Tar-Palantir, falls into the former camp, and it's his teachings that ultimately convince Queen Regent Míriel to join Galadriel on an Orc-killing expedition in Middle-earth. Bringing her father this good news, however, Tar-Palantir warns, "Don't go to Middle-earth. All that awaits you there... darkness."
Palantir is renowned for his far-seeing mind, so his words of caution may simply foreshadow Míriel's death in battle. She is, after all, heading to the Southlands - an area very soon destined to become Mordor. That realm's fate has already been decided, and Míriel might be heading straight into a battle she simply cannot win. However, Tar-Palantir's omen concerns Númenor as a whole, rather than just his daughter, as when Míriel first approaches, Palantir is muttering "the kingdom is in danger." This would suggest Míriel has misinterpreted the palantír stone's vision. She believed Nimloth's falling white petals were a sign that she should help Galadriel. In truth, it might've just been a windy day, and remaining on Númenor was the best course of action.
Míriel Going To Middle-earth Creates A Big Opportunity For Pharazôn
Queen Regent Míriel's Middle-earth vacation is a huge risk - not just to her soldiers, but to her reign on Númenor. The island's atmosphere is already toxic with debate over whether to befriend the Elves or shun them. Míriel has typically been able to quell pockets of discontent, but her being in Middle-earth leaves an unattended power vacuum back home. The likes of Pharazôn can use this time to whip up further unrest among the people who believe their Queen's escapade east is a huge mistake, and solidify the power-grab he's very obviously plotting.
Tar-Palantir's dark prediction might also refer to how victory and defeat in Middle-earth both suit Pharazôn's purposes equally. If Númenor is victorious then, as the Chancellor explains to his son, the island can demand tribute from all grateful lower-Men they saved. This feeds into J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology, where Númenor ruthlessly oppressed the Men of Middle-earth. If Míriel loses her war in the Southlands, then all of those warnings about the Elves being bad news are proven true, and Míriel's authority is damaged beyond all repair.
Has Tar-Palantir Foreseen Sauron's The Rings Of Power Arrival?
Another reason Tar-Palantir might sound all doom-and-gloom in The Rings of Power episode 5 is Sauron. In Tolkien's original Númenóreans ultimately capture Sauron in Middle-earth and take him back to their island. Sauron then rises to become a figure of great influence and leads Númenor on such a dark, twisted path, the Valar see no other option but to have the entire kingdom destroyed. Tar-Palantir is known as a far-sighted king, and in The Rings of Power also possesses a prophetic palantír stone. While helping Galadriel and making friends with Elves is what Tar-Palantir wanted, perhaps the King has foreseen an enemy arriving in Númenor from Middle-earth, so implores his daughter to avoid going there.
It's a little early in Arda's timeline for Sauron to be corrupting Númenor. The Dark Lord still needs to return, forge the Rings of Power, and dominate Middle-earth (assuming Amazon's The Rings of Power broadly follows its source material). But maybe Míriel's trip is the first domino that ends in Númenórean Armageddon. Perhaps setting foot in Middle-earth binds Númenor to a fate it cannot escape - a fate that involves prejudice, Sauron, and lots and lots of seawater.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues Thursday/Friday on Prime Video.