The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerbroke canon and hearts when Elrond kissed Galadriel, leaving the showrunners to explain in an interview, but I’m not convinced by the explanation. I was incredibly confused byRings of Power’sElrond-Galadriel kiss, but I didn’t hate it. I thought it was fair enough - Elrond had to think of a distraction somehow. But I was intrigued by the controversial choice. As such, I was paying attention when the showrunners and Morfydd Clarkexplained the Galadriel and Elrond kiss in season 2in an interview with Screen Rant.
Galadriel actress Morfydd Clark explained that she “wanted the Elves kissing on the mouth all the time from the very beginning,” as she saw them as “a little bit bohemian.” Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay agreed that “They’re a little more European.” I follow this logic, to a certain extent.Elves inLord of the Ringswere less swayed by the desires of the body than Men, but perhaps this is why they would be so physically approachable. However, I’m not sure if I buy McKay’s claim that “the kiss is not romantic in nature.”
The Rings Of Power Portrayed The Elrond-Galadriel Kiss As Meaningful
It seems to me likeGaladriel and Elrond’s kiss was romantic inRings of Power,but the show’s cast and crew would have us believe otherwise. I do understand everything they’re saying.Romance is not the only type of love, or necessarily the most important, as Clark stated in the Screen Rant interview. And, as a European, I can confirm that people do sometimes kiss on the mouth platonically. However, the kiss seems to have been framed in a romantic light by episode 7, which was directed by Charlotte Brändström.
The Rings Of Power’s Galadriel Romance Is Nothing Compared To This Controversial The Lord Of The Rings Kiss
One little-known Lord of the Rings kiss makes The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s controversial Galadriel romance look sensible.
Bear McCreary’s soundtrack builds to a tense swell and trembles in a cathartic outpouring when Elrond’s lips finally touch Galadriel’s, suggesting the culmination of months of buildup, if not years. Elrond and Galadriel had always been shown as good friends inRings of Power, but they could have easily been perceived as something more. Elrond looked utterly devastated in season 1 when Galadriel wondered out loud who she was without her sword, and he reminded her that she was his friend.Brändström knows the kiss looks romantic, even if Payne and McKay don’t volunteer that information.
The Rings Of Power Did This Before With The Stranger’s Identity Reveal
Rings Of Power’s Crew Choose Their Words Carefully In Interviews
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Poweris hilariously good at throwing controversial material out there and quieting any potential outcry about it in press, which I saw it do around scenes teasing the Stranger’s identity.The Rings of Powerseason 1’s endingstrongly suggested that the Stranger was Gandalf when he advised Nori to follow her nose, referring to a classic Gandalf quote. The Stranger also slammed a staff into the ground, recalling Gandalf’s famous “You shall not pass” moment from the movies. Butshowrunners danced around the issue of the Stranger being Gandalfwhen asked.
Gandalf’s appearance inRings of Powerdivided fans as Wizards like Gandalf didn’t arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age inThe Lord of the Ringsnovel.
This was fair enough, as it would have been bad practice to issue such big spoilers ahead of a major reveal ofRings of Powerseason 2. However, I know thatsome fans would have preferred more honesty. It seems to be for that reason that showrunners provided clarity on the Dark Wizard’s identity in aRedditQ&A, squashing the theory that he was Saruman and suggesting that he was a Blue Wizard. As the show misdirected viewers on the Stranger’s identity, perhaps it is also hedging its bets around the kiss and intends to maintain its Galadriel-Elrond romance overtones.
One Way Or Another, The Rings Of Power Season 3 Must Address Galadriel & Elrond’s Kiss
Rings Of Power Season 3 Shouldn’t Ignore The Moment Shared By Elrond & Galadriel
WhereverThe Rings of Powerseason 3takes Elrond and Galadriel, I believe it should acknowledge the kiss that they shared in season 2. The kiss was a fair culmination of a deep and meaningful friendship, and it verged on romantic, as presented by Brändström’s directorial choices.Elrond and Galadriel likely won’t end up together, as anyone who has readThe Lord of the Ringsknows. In fact, canonically, Elrond should end up with Celebrían, Galadriel’s daughter. This is, of course, the reason why I, and many others, were shocked by the kiss.
Galadriel and Elrond’s friendship obviously overcame its issues and reached new heights after this kiss, and that is what should be cemented in season 3.
However,for season 3 to continue the relationship between the two without addressing how close they got in season 2 would be a mistake. I don’t think this requires pushing the two together any closer or giving them weirdly honest dialogue about their feelings. But I think that Elrond could continue to show that he understands that he was wrong not to trust Galadriel, as he did near the end of season 2. Galadriel and Elrond’s friendship obviously overcame its issues and reached new heights after their kiss, and that is what should be cemented in season 3.
It would make sense to me if Elrond and Galadriel mentioned episode 7’s shock moment without discussing the kiss itself.Elrond and Galadriel should process their feelings about the kiss, referring to “that time” Elrond thought Galadriel was going to die. This would be a subtle reference to episode 7’s romance undertones, concluding on the subject. The show could then move on from it and focus on introducing Celebrían and Celeborn - Galadriel’s husband.The Lord of the Rings: the Rings of Powermay not want clarity on the Elrond-Galadriel kiss, but season 3 would benefit from giving it closure.
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.
