Incredible Practical Effect Behind the Balrog in Rings of Power

At the conclusion of Season 1, Rings of Power teased an epic moment with the awakening of the Balrog, triggered by the extensive mining activities of the Dwarves in Khazad-dûm. King’s Durin’s foray into the depths unearthed unimaginable treasures, but this relentless pursuit came with dire consequences.

In the gripping opening scenes of Season 2, Episode 8, the Balrog makes its formidable entrance, wielding a terrifying, fiery whip. In a heroic effort, King Durin sacrifices himself to collapse the mine, aiming to entomb the beast. He courageously leaps at the creature, engaging in an intense battle with his axe against its sinister sword.

This sequence is a remarkable highlight, enhanced by some of the most engaging and visually stunning effects displayed throughout the series. Notably, it surpasses the visual achievements seen in The Lord of the Rings, as the whip was crafted to be a practical effect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ustbt22YEIY

King Durin AWAKENS the Balrog in the Caves! | LOTR Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8 #lotr #balrog (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ustbt22YEIY)

Clearly, the creative team drew inspiration from The Fellowship of the Ring. Director Charlotte Brändström shared insights on the extensive pre-production process, noting, “There was a lot of storyboarding, discussions, and teamwork involving [cinematographer Alex Disenhof], myself, and our VFX supervisor Jason Smith, who had to conceptualize entire shots that initially didn’t exist.”

“The whole process involved a considerable amount of guiding the actors and envisioning their reactions.”

Disenhof described the collaborative effort as akin to a “dance with the actors, determining where the Balrog would be within the frame. We constructed a 40ft tall tower of controllable lights to simulate the Balrog’s fire effect, allowing the actors to visualize its position based on the height of the lights.”

The Balrog's whip in Rings of Power — Source: Prime Video

When the Balrog ensnares Durin’s ankle with its whip—echoing Gandalf’s perilous moment at the edge in Khazad-dûm—viewers might assume this was achieved through CGI; however, it was executed practically.

“We created the whip and designed an LED light whip that could wrap around our hero’s ankle. The filming took place on a challenging set with a cliff drop-off, necessitating most scenes to be shot from a crane due to limited space—but it all came together beautifully.”

Brändström emphasized the significance of interactive lighting during VFX sequences, stating, “Without it, the shots fail to achieve the desired quality.”

“Alex excels at this: he envisions the environment, anticipating where the fire will be.”

For updates on the potential release date of Rings of Power Season 3, check out our exclusive interview with Gandalf, and explore how Sauron’s actor improvised the emotional high point in the Season 2 finale. Additionally, we offer insightful guides on Tom Bombadil, the Dark Wizard, and the Undying Lands.