The Rings of Power: Udun – what are the orcs calling and what does the episode title mean?

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER

October 02, 2022 at 2:30 p.m

In episode 6 of “The Rings of Power” an important term is mentioned. Udun is even the title of the episode and indicates an enormous development for the southern lands and its inhabitants.

• Episode 6 of “The Rings of Power” heralds a tremendous change in the southern lands
• The Great Father Adar promised his children a new home
• Will Udun soon be the new realm of the orcs?

Middle-earth has seen many catastrophes and changes in its history. Now, in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a reshaping of the Southlands may be imminent. The orca’s call “Udun” and not coincidentally the title of the episode reveal what will become of Theo and Bronwyn’s homeland.

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Devastation of the Southlands

After the victory of the people of the Southlands and Númenoreans against the orcs of Adar, the threat appears to have been banished. But Waldreg, using the Bloodsword as a key, unlocks a secret passageway in the watchtower, unleashing a massive subterranean tidal wave that rolls across the land. Water erupts from the depths of the earth, causing the giant volcanic mountain Orodruin, later Mount Doom, to erupt.

Galadriel watches idly as the flames devastate everything and the people around her flee. The reign of the orcs prophesied by Adar begins, who use the ensuing chaos to free themselves from their chains. The Southlands will perish and Mordor will awaken. When they erupt, the orcs call out “Udun” in unison, in longing anticipation of their new home.

Udun – The Beginning of Mordor

But what is Udun? Except for the Call of the Orcs and the title of the episode, the term did not appear in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Udun is Sindarin and means “deep” in the Elvish language. This fits in two ways. Udun refers both to the depths beneath the Southlands and the Orodruin, and to Utumno, Morgoth’s first great fortress in the north of Middle-earth. In the tradition of the first Dark Lord, the barren, dark landscape now devastated by the volcanic eruption will be called Udun by the orcs.

This is the “Mordor-typical” landscape known from the “Lord of the Rings” films near Sauron’s fortress Barad-Dur. The circular valley in the northeast of Mordor, which follows directly after the Black Gate, is surrounded by two mountains. The Ephel Dúath to the west and the Ered Lithui Ash Mountains to the east. The Isenmünde, a staging area for Sauron’s troops, form the southern entrance.

However, it’s entirely possible that the series will exercise its creative license here and use Udun as a synonym for all of Mordor and its landscape. The specific geographical limitations from the books do not necessarily have to be adopted. The importance of Udun to the orcs and the implications for all of Middle-earth remain enormous.

A new home for the orcs

In Udun, the orcs will soon build their camps and the most important military installations. These barracks, arsenals, and penitentiaries will later form the core of Sauron’s war infrastructure. Several orc castles will rise on the mountains surrounding the valley, including the Durthang fortress built by the people of Gondor. These had held Udun and Mordor for a time after the victory of the Last Alliance.

For the Orcs, this change in the Southlands is a miracle promised to them by Adar and one they have longed for. Their synchronous “Udun” calls show how important it is to them and that they know exactly how valuable it is to them. They will find a new, permanent home here, breed and be able to arm themselves against humans.

In addition, the volcano’s ash will ensure that the sky over Udun will remain permanently dark, which is of course very convenient for the sun-sensitive orcs. Her grandfather Adar already spoke about this in episode 5, that “the sun will soon be gone”. People, on the other hand, will have to rearrange and organize themselves in order to contain this increased threat. If the rise of Mordor can be prevented at all.