The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerandPeter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsfilms both deal with the corruptive nature of power, particularly when it comes to the titular Rings of Power. You’ve probably heard the story: Three went to the Elves, seven went to the Dwarves, nine to men…and in secret, the Dark Lord Sauron forged one ring to rule them all.The Lord of the Ringsfocuses on Frodo Baggins' quest to destroy the One Ring, but long before that, one person was advocating its destruction:the future Lord of Rivendell, Elrond. Season 2 ofThe Rings of Poweropens with Elrond seeking to destroy the three Rings of Power thatCelebrimbor (Charles Edwards)forged at the end of Season 1.
Robert Aramayo, who plays Elrond in the Prime Video series, actually has a solid reason for destroying the rings:Sauron, disguised as Halbrandin Season 1, tried to convince Celebrimbor to forge an object of power. Though Galadriel instead convinced him to forge three rings for the Elves alone,Elrond believes that Sauron’s influence taints the rings. “He definitely is of the mindset that if Sauron has been anywhere near anything that we’ve created, then it’s tarnished and evil,“Aramayo toldCollider. “He doesn’t underestimate the manipulative ability, the power that Sauron has. He just does not underestimate it. So, that leads him to a series of choices that are uncomfortable for him to make.” There is a deeper motive to Elrond’s distrust of the rings, and it shapes his decisions in theLord of the Ringstrilogy.
Elrond’s Distrust of the Rings of Power Stems From Their Connection to His Loved Ones
InThe Rings of PowerSeason 2, the elves finally choose who dons the rings: Círdan (Ben Daniels), considered to be the wisest Earth in Middle-earth, the Elven king Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), and Galadriel. This is a huge blow for Elrond,as he deeply cares for all three of them;he considers Galadriel to be his best friend— a friendship that was already on the rocks due to Sauron’s deception — and he holds Círdan and Gil-galad in high regard. Seeing them take the rings is tantamount to them selling their souls to Sauron, but what’s even worse is thatElrond went to Círdan and asked him to destroy the rings. For Círdan to instead don one of the rings is a rather dark omen.
Who Are the Ring-Bearers in ‘The Rings of Power’?
The formation of the rings, their dispersion, and the war to destroy the One Ring are the central storyline of the Prime Video series.
Elrond’s worries were proven true once Sauron forged the One Ring; when the Elves refused to give up their rings, he declared war on them during thelast days of the Second Age.That war cost the life of Gil-galad, and Elrond would inherit his ring. But the end of the war would bring one massive betrayal, and shape Elrond into the stern Elf thatHugo Weavingbrought to life during theLord of the Ringstrilogy.
‘The Rings of Power’ Is Foreshadowing a Tragic ‘Fellowship of the Rings’ Moment
In the final battle of the War of the Elves and Sauron, the king of Gondor, Isildur (Harry Sinclair),strikes off Sauron’s hand, but leaves the One Ring intact. Elrond urges him to cast the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom, but Isildur refuses and is later slaughtered by Orcs, with the One Ring falling into the hands of Gollum and then later Bilbo Baggins duringThe Hobbit.This betrayal cuts Elrond to his core, as he confesses to Gandalf inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringthat Sauron’s growing influence has led him to consider leaving Middle-earth with the rest of the Elves. “It is because of Men the Ring survives,” he says, his voice laced with sorrow. “I was there, Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago, when Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of Men failed.”
Elrond eventually does come to the aid of men inLord of the Rings: The Return of the King, presenting Isildur’s heir Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) with the reforged sword Andúril, persuading him to take up his duties as king of Gondor. The character is also integral in creating the titular Fellowship that carries the ring to its eventual destruction.Isildur, played byMax BaldryinThe Rings of Power, has yet to ascend as King or even meet Elrond (though the series is slowly hinting at the fate that befallshis homeland of Númenór). By digging into Elrond’s distrust of the Elven Rings,The Rings of Powerforeshadows the pain that Elrond will go through with Isildurand highlights howSauron’s deceit affects everyone in Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.
New episodes ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerare available to stream Thursdays on Prime Video in the U.S.
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