Summary
Fans were treated to many big reveals concerningThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 and beyond atSan Diego Comic-Con(SDCC) 2024.Screen Rantattended the show’s eagerly awaited panel in Hall H, with many questions left to be answered after the series' flagship season.Rings of Powerseason 2 will continue the story of a young Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elrond (Robert Aramayo), and the many other beings of Middle-earth,who are scrambling to prepare in various ways amid Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) rise to power.
ByRings of Powerseason 1’s ending, some of the titular Rings of Power have been forged, the Númenórean army suffered massive losses, Sauron is revealed to have been in Galadriel’s presence for some time, and other characters are headed off on individual adventures.The SDCC panel as well as thefullRings of Powerseason 2 trailertease more specific story elements and some iconic characters never before seen on screen.TheRings of Powercharacters' journeys are just beginning,with their actions bearing the weight of the effect they will have thousands of years later.
10Galadriel Receives Her Ring
Galadriel Wears Nenya & Is Tempted By Its Power In Rings Of Power Season 2
The three Rings of Power that go to the Elves have been forged, with the Elves desiring these powerful objects made from mithril to prevent their fading.The season 2 trailer unveiled at Comic-Con shows things picking up with Galadriel donning her ring Nenya,while the others go to Círdan (Ben Daniels) and Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker). While Elrond himself eventually inherits Gil-galad’s ring,Rings of Powershowcases his concerns about the sway the rings have over their wearers, saying (in the trailer):“In choosing to wear those rings, you have all become his [Sauron’s] collaborators].”
Manipulated by Sauron, the Elven smith Celebrimor (Charles Edwards) crafted the rings, with Galadriel suggesting there be three, so none would have too much power. Despite Elrond’s warnings, Galadriel seems confident in herself in the trailer, stating:“I know you believe this ring is deceiving me, but I believe it is guiding me.“Notably,Galadriel keeps Nenya, as she still wears it inLord of the Rings.This sets up season 2 to feature a nuanced story about power where things are as clear-cut as all the Rings of Power must and will be destroyed.
The Ring Galadriel Wears In The Rings Of Power Season 2 Explained
Galadriel finally receives her Ring in The Rings of Power season 2, and the SDCC trailer’s introduction of Nenya begins the elf’s extended story.
9Sauron Starts Building His Army
Sauron Has Nothing At The End Of Rings Of Power Season 1, But Will Soon Gain Followers
The showrunners said at the Comic-Con panel:“Season 2 really starts where Sauron has nothing. […] He has no rings, no army, no allies. And we’re gonna watch as he really sort of sets everyone against each other.“Sauron will be manipulating people back and forth this season, leading to the creation of more Rings of Power— perhaps most importantly, the nine that will be worn by the men who become the Nazgûl. The trailer also shows Sauron saying, most likely to Celebrimor:“You will give me the nine.”
As Elrond correctly ascertains, Sauron has everything to gain through the rings.
Finally, the trailer includes a scene wherePrince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) of the Dwarves pleads with his father King Durin III (Peter Mullan) to"take off the ring,“suggesting that the Dwarves will soon also acquire their Rings of Power. In other words, all the pieces are falling into place for Sauron’s next power play. As Elrond correctly ascertains, Sauron has everything to gain through the rings. The showrunners promised a"psychological drama"from Sauron’s machinations, which will, of course, lead to the creation of the One Ring, which will someday fall into the Hobbits' hands.
8The State Of Númenor
Queen Míriel Faces Rising Tensions In Numenor In Rings Of Power Season 2
Despite objections, Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), now the rightful Queen of Númenor, raises an army to go to Middle-earth. This ends in tragedy when Mount Doom is formed in a volcanic eruption, many are killed, and Míriel is blinded. Elendil (Lloyd Owen) discovers that his son Isildur (Maxim Baldry) is missing and presumes him dead.At Comic-Con, Addai-Robinson discussed things being more dire than ever in Númenorand Míriel’s new struggles:
“When this season starts, we have returned, us Númenóreans, from a losing battle, a very unpopular decision. So there’s tension in the air, and as Lloyd [Owen] said, Númenor is at a crossroads. So this is ultimately for Míriel about leading her people in what she believes is the right direction […].”
Anyone with knowledge of Tolkien’s lore knows that this is the beginning of the downfall of Númenor. Season 1 also shows Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) planning to usurp the throne now that Míriel’s father Tar-Palantir (Ken Blackburn) is dead. Meanwhile, Isildur’s sister Eärien (Ema Horvath) allies with Pharazôn;“She will follow anyone who promises to right an injustice,“said Horvath at Comic-Con, referring to Eärien believing that her brother is dead.Lines are being drawn and political turmoil rising in Númenor,none of which will end well.
7The Ents & Shelob Appear
SDCC Confirmed The Return Of Some Famous Middle-Earth Beings
The best moments from the new trailer signal the return of some of the most famous creatures fromLord of the Rings, including the reveal of at least one Ent and Shelob appearing in season 2.There is no way Isildur is deadwhen there is still a lot left for him to do to set up the events of the trilogy. Previously released stills confirm thatIsildur and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) are sharing a storyline this season,along withEstrid (Nia Towle), a newRings of Powercharacter.
They likely meet up as Arodnir leads a group away from the newly formed Mount Doom and finds an injured Isildur. The actors seemingly teased Isildur and Arondir encountering the most magical characters and terrifying monsters of Middle-earth together.The reappearance of the Ents is a major event that has the potential to connectRings of PowertoLord of the Ringsthrough themes of environmental preservation. Meanwhile, the scene(s) featuring Shelob has a lot to live up to in comparison to the action sequence inThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Disa Is The First To Realize Something Is Threatening The Kingdom
Sophia Nomvete had this to say when asked about what is living beneath the Dwarves' feet:“There’s something lurking in the bowels of Khazad-dûm. […] The Balrog is here.“Nomvete went on to assure the audience that they will get to see Princess Disa sing again, remarking on the incredible sounds the show creates.“She communicates with the mountains, with the grounds around her. She hears the rumbling. It’s arrived.“The introduction of the famed Dwarf kingdom which becomes the Mines of Moria as seen inLord of the Ringsnaturally invited questions about the monster that lives there.
People wondered about theBalrog being in the firstRings of Powertrailer, as it shows the destruction of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm but not the Balrog itself. The new trailer and Nomvete’s comments confirm this theory, constituting a major event in the Dwarves' history that will soon be taking place in the show. Nomvete’s response about the Balrog was met with much cheering and applause, indicating that Middle-earth fans are eager to see this monster and spectacle return.
5The Stranger Learns More About His Past (& Future)
The Stranger Sets Out With Nori To Discover The Truth
As fans may have expected,the new trailer shows more of Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and the Stranger (Daniel Weyman).They have traveled to the deserts of Rhûn to discover more about the latter’s past, who arrived in Middle-earth with no memory. This will lead them to Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear), a famousLord of the Ringscharacter cut from the movie adaptation. The new trailer stresses the Stranger’s confusion and desperation, asking:“Is it my task to face Sauron?”Tom says to him:“Every soul in Middle Earth is in peril. Will you abandon them to their doom?”
Gandalf was sent to Middle-earth to help the people fight Sauron and only leaves thousands of years later when this task is done.
Pretty much everyone now agrees that the Stranger is Gandalf,which aligns with the storyline this dialogue seems to imply. Gandalf was sent to Middle-earth to help the people fight Sauron and only leaves thousands of years later when this task is done.Rings of Powerhas set up a beautiful parallel where Gandalf always accomplishes his destiny with the help of the Hobbits, as Nori is helping him figure out what he is supposed to do in the coming season.
The Rings Of Power’s Stranger Identity Mystery Gets Intriguing Response From Season 2 Actor: “We Already Know Who He Is”
The Rings of Power star Daniel Weyman addresses the mysterious identity of The Stranger and whether that is even important for season 2.
4Theo’s Father Will Be Revealed
Theo’s Possible Connection To Sauron Will Be Addressed
At Comic-Con, the showrunners said:“Theo’s dad will be revealed somewhere down the line.“Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) is the son of Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), both residents of a village in the Southlands that is destroyed when Mount Doom erupts.As Bronwyn is clearly in love with Arondir, the most obvious conclusion is that he is Theo’s father,meaning that Theo is a Half-elf. Bronwyn is potentially exiting the show in season 2, leaving Arondir and Theo as two of the major characters in the storyline of the Southlanders fleeing their home.
However, there is no definitive proof that Arondir is Theo’s father.The other strange event that may hint at Theo’s parentage is his attraction to the sword hilt,imbued with the dark magic of Sauron and Morgoth. The show is possibly hinting at a villainous or at least corrupted character from Tolkien’s Legendarium is Theo’s father, playing into the theorized tragic fate for him of becoming one of the Nazgûl. This storyline is muddled, but the showrunners have at least assured the audience that they will provide them with an answer eventually.
3Poppy Has A Romantic Subplot
Nori’s Best Friend Has Her Own Heartfelt Storyline
Poppy (Megan Richards) becameRings of Power’s new Samwhen she volunteered to help Nori look for the Stranger, affirming her loyalty to her best friend. Poppy and Nori part ways at the end of season 1 when Nori leaves the Harfoot community with the Stranger. However, an interview withColliderhas all but confirmed thatPoppy will soon follow suit and catch up with Nori and the Stranger in Rhûn.Richards said that Poppy will be the group’s navigator in the desert lands in this interview, which she also said on the panel.
Richards revealed more about what is in store for Poppyduring the Comic-Con panel:
“[…] for Poppy, […] it very much is like a continuation of her journey from season 1 […] as they travel through the lands of Rhûn, they’re in completely uncharted territory, and she’s the one leading the way, but she has to make sure her closest people are kept safe the entire time, and that is a heavy weight to have on your shoulders.”
The showrunners then prompted:“And there’s a romance, isn’t there?“This potentially means that a new character will be introduced, or that Poppy’s relationship with an old character will shift. Either way,it will be compelling to see Poppy developed beyond just being the Sam-parallel characterwhen most people jump to make this comparison.
More Elvish Music Will Make Its Way Into Rings Of Power
The Comic-Con panel also confirmed that Gil-galad, the Elvish king to whom Galadriel and Elrond answer, will sing at least one Elvish song in season 2.This announcement was accompanied by Gil-galad’s actor Benjamin Walker singing a brief piecefor attendees. The music of all the different cultures of Middle-earth plays a large role in theLord of the Ringsbooks, where Tolkien took the time to write out a lot of original lyrics. For the sake of time, much of it is cut from the adaptations.
However,Rings of Powerhas accomplished some amazing scenes with music— namely, through Disa’s singing and its tangible effect.Rings of Powerseason 2 and future seasons will hopefully find time for more Elvish music. For instance, fans would love it if the song recounting the tale of Beren and Lúthien made it into the show when Elrond is their descendant. Aragorn sings part of this song in a scene from the extended edition ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
1Glorfindel Could Appear In Rings Of Power
A Lord Of The Rings Character May Finally Come To Life In Rings Of Power
Rings of Powerteased anotherLord of the Ringscharacter cutfrom the movies at Comic-Con, one who occupies an odd space in the fandom’s minds.The Elf Glorfindel was originally the one who spirited an injured Frodo to Rivendell to be healed,with the Nazgûl in pursuit. He was replaced by Arwen in the first movie to help streamline the narrative, although he possibly still appears as a side character.
Glorfindel was killed in battle with a Balrog in the First Age, but his spirit was sent back to Middle-earth by the Valar,giving him powers similar to Gandalf and Sauron. This power is why he is a character rife with potential, especially during the time frame depicted in the show as the conflict with Sauron begins to take shape and Gandalf has just arrived in Middle-earth. Yet Glorfindel appearing inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerin the sophomore season or a future season is just one of the things fans now know they can look forward to.
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.
