Disclaimer: This article contains a major spoiler from the Season 2 finale of Rings of Power. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
The Season 2 finale of Rings of Power has viewers and the Tolkien fandom still reeling in the aftermath of Elrond’s decisions. The penultimate scene unravels into an unpredictable ordeal resulting in Elrond saving Galadriel - breaking his promise made in episode 4 of the Season.
In an intense battle to recapture the 9 rings, Sauron pursues Galadriel in a fierce battle with swords clashing and blood spilled. Despite Galadriel’s skills as a warrior elf, her efforts to both escape and guard the rings proved futile.
Despite his feelings for Galadriel from Season 1, Sauron stabs her with the crown of Morgoth and gets away with the remaining rings. Before he departs for the next part of his journey, he watches Galadriel as she falls from the cliff with her Nenya ring still on her person - cue Elrond.
Elrond notices his beloved lying motionless on the forest floor, slowly dying, and also learns of her failure to secure the remaining rings. That’s when he reminisces over the aforementioned promise claiming he’d never wield her ring and defeating Sauron would be his priority, even if it meant letting her die.
Carefully considering the gravity of what he’s about to do, Elrond decides to save Galadriel instead of letting her die. Since he’s known for sticking to his word and being unbiased, the moment he saves her is incredibly huge - the actor playing Elrond believes the same!
What did Robert Aramayo say about his character's choice in the Season 2 finale of Rings of Power?
Elrond’s actor Robert Aramayo also weighed in on his character’s choice to save Galadriel in the Season 2 finale of Rings of Power. In a conversation with Carly Lane from Collider, Aramayo discussed saving the show’s protagonist - was doing the unthinkable.
Aramayo begins by acknowledging the gravity of his decision to wield the ring even momentarily, in the unknown about the consequence. Aramayo pondered over a plausible thought running through Elrond’s mind from Rings of Power. He stated,
“One of the narratives could be, ‘Okay, now I’m in the game, now I’m opening myself up for corruption.”
However, Aramayo believes his character at the point was helpless and backed into a corner with no choice, despite the complications. Aramayo continued to entail that despite the choice he made, Tolkien's books depict it as a fruitful and productive choice at the time.
Aramayo also suggests an important thought from his character’s perspective saying,
“More information needs to come my way about these rings, but something happened in the wearing of it, that saved one of the most important people in my life."
About wearing the rings, he concluded his thoughts by calling the circumstance “finite,” in a matter of what he felt about the overall ordeal.
The aftermath of Elrond's choice of saving Galadriel will be seen in future seasons of Rings of Power - should the series be renewed for Season 3.
You can now binge both seasons of Rings of Power exclusively on Prime Video.
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