Adrift (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power)

"**Adrift**"
"Adrift"
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode
	Cover art for the episode's soundtrack album
Episode no.	Season 1; Episode 2
Directed by	J. A. Bayona
Written by	Gennifer Hutchison
Cinematography by	Óscar Faura
Editing by	Bernat Vilaplana; Jaume Martí;
Original release date	September 1, 2022
Running time	67 minutes
Additional cast
	Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva; Maxine Cunliffe as Vilma; Berynn Schwerdt as Eamon; Virginie Laverdure as Abigail; Jane Montgomery Griffiths as Astrid; Geoff Morrell as Waldreg; Peter Tait as Tredwill; Peter Mullan as Durin III;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "A Shadow of the Past"	Next →; "Adar"
	The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1
	List of episodes

"Adrift" is the second episode of the first season of the American fantasy television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The series is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's history of Middle-earth, primarily material from the appendices of the novel The Lord of the Rings (1954–55). Set thousands of years before the novel in Middle-earth's Second Age, the episode introduces the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm. It was written by Gennifer Hutchison and directed by J. A. Bayona.

The series was ordered in November 2017. J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay were set to develop it in July 2018, and Bayona was hired to direct the first two episodes a year later. Filming for the first season began in New Zealand in February 2020, but was placed on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in September and wrapped for the first two episodes by the end of December. Dwarf culture was defined through design and music, and different techniques were used to show the size difference between Dwarves and Elves. The episode's ocean sequences were filmed in large water tanks. Olympic swimmer Trent Bray taught the actors to swim and free dive.

"Adrift" premiered on the streaming service Amazon Prime Video on September 1, 2022. Along with the first episode, it had the most viewers of any Prime Video premiere within 24 hours and received generally positive reviews. Particular praise went to the visuals and production value, but some critics were unsure if the storytelling and slow pacing justified this. The episode received two nominations at the 21st Visual Effects Society Awards for its depiction of Khazad-dûm and the ocean storm sequence.