Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6.With one seemingly innocuous scene,The Rings of Powermay have prepared the board for an original character’s death. Taking its cues fromThe Lord of the Ringsitself, Amazon’sThe Rings of Powerdoes not resort to frequently killing off characters, and this is partly why Valandil’s murder inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 5, was so shocking. With Adar’s army bearing down upon Eregion, however, further casualties fromThe Rings of Power’s castare highly likely before the season is over.
One of those casualties could be Arondir, according to a fleeting clue fromThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 6. Played by Ismael Cruz Córdova, Arondir is a Silvan elf created entirely for Amazon’s TV show. After playing a significant role inThe Rings of Powerseason 1’s ending, the heartbroken hero has found his status somewhat diminished in season 2 thus far. The good news is that Arondir appears set for a meatier part inThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s finale. The bad news is that his death may come about as a direct result of that bigger story.
The Rings Of Power Season 2 Sets Up Arondir’s Potential Death
Are Arondir’s Brooding Days Nearly Done?
A brief scene inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 6, shows Arondir casually murdering a trio of orcs as he strolls through the forest. Picking over their corpses for items, he conveniently happens across a piece of cloth bearing the image of Eregion. It now seems thatArondir will connect the dots, figure out Adar plans to assault Celebrimbor’s settlement, and make his way thereto lend assistance. With Elrond, Galadriel, Adar, Sauron, and Celebrimbor all centering upon Eregion forThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s final battle, it seems only natural that Arondir will be tossed into the fray, especially when such a prestigious Elven stronghold is on the line.
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The problem for Arondir is that the Siege of Eregion, as it occurs in Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringstimeline, does not leave many survivors. The battle concludes with Eregion permanently destroyed and Sauron’s forces victorious, which naturally means that many of the Elves fighting to defend the kingdom end up overwhelmed by their orcish foes, including Celebrimbor himself. Arondir’s springy combat style will no doubt prove a huge boost to Eregion’s defenses, but with the result already set in stone, his chances of survival are not high.
Arondir’s Death Would Push Theo Further Toward Becoming A Nazgûl
Arondir Dying Would Bring A Major Rings Of Power Theory Closer To Reality
Another convincing argument that Arondir will die can be found within his widerThe Rings of Powerarc alongside Bronwyn and Theo. InThe Rings of Powerseason 1, Arondir’s story revolved almost entirely around his romance with Bronwyn, but since actorNazanin Boniadi does not return forThe Rings of Powerseason 2, Arondir has felt a little directionless. Aside from some sweet moments with Isildur and Theo, as well as a quick brush with the Ents,Arondir’s impact uponThe Rings of Powerseason 2 has, sadly, been limited, and that puts him at even greater risk of dying during the Siege of Eregion.
Arondir would surely recognize that the Nine Rings are plagued with Sauron’s influence, and he would strongly advise Theo against wearing one.
More importantly, Arondir dying would stoke the fires of a long-gestating story. Since first appearing inThe Rings of Power, theories have suggested thatTheo could become a Nazgûl, and that idea now looks more probable after, earlier in season 2, Arondir confirmed the youngster as the “Lord of Pelargir” following the death of Bronwyn. Losing both his mother and his surrogate father might give Theo the push he needs to accept the promise of power from Annatar. Beset by grief, brimming with the foolishness of youth, and desperate to protect the Southlands' survivors,Sauron would view Theo as an obvious candidate for one of the Nine.
If Arondir does not die inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, that story becomes much harder. The elf would surely recognize, or maybe even hear via Galadriel, that the Nine Rings are plagued with Sauron’s influence, and he would strongly advise Theo against wearing one. Having developed a newfound respect for each other inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, Theo would probably heed that warning.
Why Arondir’s Future In The Rings Of Power May Be Brighter Than It Seems
Arondir May Have A Hand In Setting Up The Lord Of The Rings
There is a far rosier path Arondir could take afterThe Rings of Power’s Siege of Eregion. One of the battle’s foremost survivors is Elrond, who leads an evacuation of Celebrimbor’s doomed province when defeat is certain.Elrond takes his small band of refugees to an unoccupied space of mountainous land, and it is here that he establishes Rivendell, one of the Elves' most notable locations throughout the Third Age.
If Arondir manages to squeeze through the Siege of Eregion without any fatal wounds, he may be tempted to join Elrond’s exposition and play his part in the foundation of Rivendell, carving out a legacy that will last untilThe Lord of the Rings. Not only would this give Arondir a sharper focus in future seasons ofThe Rings of Power, he would be taken far away from Theo. Arondir would be unable to protect the youngster from Sauron’s advances, and Theo could still become the Ringwraith he is seemingly destined to be.
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“Where the Stars are Strange”
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“The Eagle & the Sceptre”
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“Halls of Stone”
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“Where is He?”
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October 3
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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.
