Does the balrog die in The Rings of Power season 2 finale?

The second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now over. The season 2 finale contained a bunch of climaxes, starting with a major twist down in the depths of Khazad-dûm, the dwarven city built into the side of a mountain. King Durin III, driven to greed by his ring of power, delved deep into the mountain, unveiling rich veins of mithril. However, he also came face to face with a balrog, an ancient monster active during the First Age of Middle-earth, many centuries ago. The balrogs served Morgoth, the original dark lord, but the few that survived went into hiding when he was defeated. This particular one has been hiding under the mountain.

Seeing where his green led him, King Durin III removed his ring and turned to face the balrog. The last we see of Durin III is him leaping into battle while his son Durin IV watches. A bunch of rocks clog the hole in the tunnel that Durin III had made, sequestering the balrog in this interior chamber. Next season, it looks like Durin IV will be king.

But does that mean the balrog is gone? Very much no. The Rings of Power is set thousands of years before the original Lord of the Rings story, which famously has a scene where the wizard Gandalf faces down this same balrog while leading the Fellowship through the Mines of Moria, formerly known as Khazad-dûm.

So clearly, Durin IV does not kill the balrog. In fact, this balrog, known as Durin's Bane, is eventually what drives the dwarves out of Khazad-dûm, hence why the place is abandoned by the time Gandalf and company reach it.

We expect The Rings of Power to tell that sad story in future seasons, maybe even in season 3, which probably won't premiere until 2026. Whenever it happens, the balrog will be back.

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