The last two episodes we know will be about the Dagor Bragollach, so the frame story for those should be the point where all of Gandalf's efforts in Harad fall apart.
I was wondering if, because the Dagor Bragollach is such amajor event and fills episodes 12 and 13 (assuming that continues to be the plan) if we want to try to mostly wrap up the frame by episode 11. I'm not sure what we could show as a climax to the frame that could go in those two episodes without seeming insignificant by comparison. (Unless we want to have some kind off military confrontation as the climax of our frame, but I don't think I'm in favor of that). We could add a little extra frame into episode 11--not showing the final resolution and defeat/enslavement of Gandalf's tribe, but showing things headed in a bad direction. This could be a nice ominous lead-in to the Dagor Bragollach. Then we could have a brief closing scene in episode 13. Just a thought.
For Gandalf's trip to Gondor, I thought I remembered from the episode that we were thinking of having him go to Gondor and then return to Harad. If we did that, it would put the Gondor visit closer to the middle of the season. Perhaps, in connection with this, we could have a connection with the Amlach story. The tribal leaders fo the Haradrim could be summoned to a council where they will discuss uniting (i.e.,. submitting to Sauron's rule). Before this council, there seems to be support for resisting this and going on as before, but things turn at the council. I don't think we would need to show such a council on screen (it would be repetitive of the main plot, and Gandalf wouldn't be invited/welcome anyway) but it could happen while Gandalf is in Minas Tirith. When he comes back he finds that the council has gone badly for him (probably through something he will recognize as trickery of Sauron). He spends a couple of episodes trying to undoe damage, but ultimately fails. I think it could be a nice counterpoint to the Amlach plot, showing what could have happened there too.