The Rings of Powerseason 2 officially makes Elrond Middle-earth’s smartest character, andthe Amazon series only has to continuehisLord of the Ringsstoryto do so. Robert Aramayo’s Elrond is one of the most interestingLord of the Ringscharacters to appear in Amazon’sRings of Power, and he’s certainly the easiest to root for. Galadriel plays into Sauron’s schemes and can be too brash, while Isildur is impulsive. Even Gandalf feels like a totally different character, but Elrond is a breath of fresh air — even if he’s also a far cry from hisLOTRcounterpart.
Elrond’s differences inThe Rings of Powerhave a good explanation, however, as the creators are showing how he becomes the wise and stoic Lord of Rivendell we meet inLOTR.The Rings of Powerseason 2’s endingis already setting the stage for Rivendell’s creation, and it also highlights Elrond’s wisdom. In fact,the entire sophomore season of Amazon’sLord of the Ringsshow proves that Elrond is wise beyond his years. Even as his elders ignore the risks that come withthe Rings of Power, Elrond raises the alarm about them.
Elrond’s Determination To Destroy The Rings Of Power Makes Him Middle-earth’s Smartest Character
The best thing Elrond has done inThe Rings of Poweris reject the titular rings, an act that makes him smarter and more disciplined than anyone else on the show. Galadriel and Celebrimbor are both deceived by Sauron, and Galadriel becomes influenced by her own Ring of Power, even knowing where Nenya comes from. While theThree Eleven Ringsaren’t corrupted by Sauronlike the Dwarves' rings are, Galadriel doesn’t even take time to consider the consequences of using them. Even Gil-galad barely concerns himself about the risks, and Círdan is drawn to them as well.
Elrond is vocal about destroying the Rings of Power, insisting the Elves get rid of them rather than use them to prolong their time in Middle-earth.
By contrast, Elrond is vocal about destroying the Rings of Power, insisting the Elves get rid of them rather than use them to prolong their time in Middle-earth. Even as Galadriel and Gil-galad come to the conclusion that they need their power,Elrond devises a plan to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, seeking help fromCírdan the Shipwrightdoesn’t result in the outcome he wants, but it’s a noble effort — one that makes up forElrond’s biggestLord of the Ringsmistake.
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Of all the characters we’ve met inThe Rings of Power, Elrond is probably the smartest, and his sentiments about the rings prove as much. Durin IV also questions the rings, though he doesn’t work as hard to destroy them.The Rings of Powerseason 2 also hintsthat he could have a change of heart, eventually wearing one of the Rings of Power that corrupted his father.We know from the source material that Elrond will eventually inherit Gil-galad’s Vilya, but his skepticism about the Three also seems to be a spin on Tolkien’s writings.
Elrond’s Stance On The Rings Comes From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings
He Wants Isildur To Destroy The One Ring In The Source Material
Elrond’s stance on the Rings of Power may seem surprising as the other characters cave to their influence, but his reaction comes fromJ.R.R. Tolkien’s books. While the source material doesn’t depict Elrond fighting with Galadriel over the Three,it does see him telling Isildur to destroy the One Ring. This happens in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmovies as well, albeit in a far more dramatic fashion. The scene where Elrond begs Isildur to “cast it into the fire” at Mount Doom is representative of the advice he gave Aragorn’s ancestor in the Second Age.
The fact that he’s the only one of the Elves who speaks up about this and resists the rings' draw says a lot about his character.
And it appearsThe Rings of Poweris also putting its own spin on this moment by having Elrond exhibit skepticism towards the Rings of Power. He already seems to be changing his mind, as he saves Galadriel with one of them at the end of season 2. But he’s the most hesitant to use the objects, and he’s right to be. While the Three don’t turn out to be corrupted by Sauron, they easily could have been. The fact that he’s the only one of the Elves who speaks up about this and resists their draw says a lot about his character.
Even Two Of The Wisest Elders Don’t Give The Three Enough Thought
Further highlighting that Elrond is the smartest character in Amazon’sLOTRshow is the fact thatneither Gil-galad nor Círdan have reservations about the Rings of Power, even though they’re supposed to be the wisest of the Elves. It’s somewhat surprising that Elrond is able to resist temptation and question the objects more than these elders. However, withThe Rings of Powerdownplaying Gil-galad’s strengths, viewers shouldn’t be surprised that he makes poor decisions surrounding the items and gives little thought to it.
The Rings of Powerchanges how Círdan receives Narya, as Tolkien states that he gets his ring from Celebrimbor.
Gil-galad would have to accept a Ring of Power eventually, but he could have heeded Elrond’s concerns before coming to a decision. Círdan at least does this, though even being one of the oldest Elves doesn’t stop him from taking Narya. Círdan’s character is also vocal about the potential risks of the Rings of Power in Tolkien’s legendarium, butonly Elrond is so outspoken in the show.This suggests Aramayo’s version of the character is even wiser than the esteemed Elvish leaders, making his character even more special inThe Rings of Power.
Elrond Being Special Makes Sense - Just Look At His Parents
Eärendil and Elwing Were Legendary Figures
While some may take issue withThe Rings of Powerbuilding Elrond up as this incredibly wise and special character, it does fit with who he becomes later on. It also makes sense when you consider who his parents are. Eärendil and Elwing both have prominent roles in the history of Middle-earth, becoming known for great feats that set Elrond up for greatness himself.Elrond’s father became a legendary figurefor sailing to Valinor and requesting help in the fight against Morgoth; defeating Ancalagon the Black, Morgoth’s dragon; and carrying the Evening Star.
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These are great feats for a character who’s only half-Elven, and they set the bar high for Elrond — even if he didn’t get to spend much time with his father.Elwing’s mythology in Tolkien’s legendarium is nothing to scoff at, either, as Elrond’s mother threw herself into the sea to keep her Silmaril from the sons of Fëanor, then was transformed into a bird by one of the Vala to join Eärendil on his journey to Valinor. Both figures are powerful additions to Tolkien’s legendarium, and it’s no surprise their son would be destined for great things inThe Rings of Power.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
