The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerboasts an unusual friendship inThe Lord of the Rings. Amazon Prime Video’s 2022 TV series coversThe Lord of the Rings’Second Age, differentiating it from Peter Jackson’s Third Age movies. Set millennia before the events of 2001’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay’s show depicts characters and events outlined inLotR’sappendices but described fully inThe Silmarillionand the rest of the legendarium. This includes Second Age versions of beloved characters Elrond and Galadriel.
Most of Tolkien’s body of work exists outside traditional concepts of canon, published posthumously in various states of completion by his son to explain and justify his conflicted editorial choices forThe Silmarillion. Tolkien had intended his work as a fictionalized set of myths, often conflicting and mysterious, so his son’s choice to publish his incomplete drafts was a natural extension of it. As such, textual justification can be found for the vast majority ofthe Middle-earth worldpresented byRings of Power, including Elrond befriending a barely existent Tolkien character called Durin IV.
Elves & Dwarves Were Uniquely Allied In Second Age Eregion
Elrond and Durin’s friendship is one of the best parts ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, beginning to flesh out the alliance between Khazad-dûm and Eregion. These two historical regions of Middle-earth were led, respectively, by the Dwarves and Elves, who were not normally the best of friends. However,The Silmarilliondetailed how “a friendship arose between Dwarves and Elves,” ferrying business and conversation back and forth along the road from Ost-in-Edhil, the capital of Eregion, to the West Gate of Khazad-dûm. Elrond and Durin breathe life into this business relationship inRings of Power.
Charles Edwards plays Celebrimbor and Kevin Eldon plays Narvi inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
This trading relationship was uncommon in the history of Middle-earth. Such a strong connection between Dwarves and Elves wasn’t forged until long after Eregion’s ruin, when Legolas and Gimli made friends.Khazad-dûm and Eregion were uniquely positioned to form a transactional bond, with both realms representing the height of technological advancement at the time.Unfinished Talesexpanded on this, listing Celebrimbor, “chief artificer of Eregion,” as a good friend of the Dwarf Narvi.Lord of the Rings’Celebrimborand Elrond both befriended the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm inRings of Power, Elrond working under Celebrimbor.
Elrond & Durin IV’s Friendship In The Rings Of Power Gives A More Detailed Reason For The Alliance
Elrond And Celebrimbor Were Both Elvish Heroes
ByThe Rings of Powerseason 1 ending, Elrond and Durin’s friendship had been thoroughly established with viewers, sketching vital detail into Eregion’s canonical relationship with Khazad-dûm.Tolkien never mentioned anything about Elrond making friends with any of the Durins, but it is perfectly feasible. Both characters would have been around at this time, living in the locationsRings of Powerplaces them in. The show riffs off Celebrimbor’s friendship with Narvi, building this out into Celebrimbor and Elrond’s friendship with Narvi and Durin, nurturing their political relationship with Khazad-dûm.
After Celebrimbor, The Rings Of Power Must Do 1 Thing Different With Sauron’s Next Victim
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power should take care not to repeat some of the mistakes it made with Sauron and Celebrimbor’s arc.
The Rings of Powerseason 2added substantial original material for Narvi, which was a harmless Tolkien treat alongside Celebrimbor’s impressively faithful arc with Sauron. All this Second Age content required the addition of original dialogue and the invention of character appearances due to the broadly sculpted source material, in short supply of the finer details.Durin was a blank-slate characterwith barely a line to his name inThe Lord of the Rings, making him the perfect foil for Elrond and a device to grow Khazad-dûm’s renowned allyship with Eregion.
The Rings Of Power Is At Its Best When Embellishing Canon, Not Changing It
Elrond & Durin’s Friendship Embellishes Canon Perfectly
The Rings of Poweris at its best when it is embellishing canon, which is exemplified well by its portrayal of Elrond and Durin.Robert Aramayo is perfect as Elrond inRings of Powerwhen bearing in mind the character development that must take place for him. He seemed a little young and ineffective at first, but this will allow for maximum effect as he turns into the tormented and broken character repeatedly unfavored by fortune in lore.The chirpy season 1 Aramayo charmed viewerswith his classically Tolkienian oddball friendship with Durin, but this demeanor won’t last.
The hilarity between Durin and Elrond embellishes canon appropriately while bringing light to an otherwise dark story.
Durin and Elrond are perfect foils for each other, with Elrond’s manners, grace, and elegance offsetting Durin’s brute strength and brusque attitude.The Rings of Poweris replicating the dynamic of Legolas and Gimli, which was one of the best parts ofPeter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmovies, according to critics and audience members alike. The hilarity between Durin and Elrond embellishes canon appropriately while bringing light to an otherwise dark story, just like the banter between Legolas and Gimli did. Peter Jackson’s Elf-Dwarf friendship was lifted directly fromLotR, butRings of Powermakes fitting and educated guesses.
Before time
33,537
10,061
Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
4,902
War of Wrath ended
3,441
3,021
Fo.A 1 - unknown
Unknown
Rings of Powerseason 3is poised to set Elrond further on his path to difficulty, but Elrond fans can rest safe knowing he will survive to become one of the most renowned heroes of the Third Age. Meanwhile,Elrond’s friendship with Durin may provide a light in the darkness coming, even though it will be significantly blighted by Sauron’s War Against the Elves. Durin and Elrond have a lot of catching up to do asThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powercontinues to navigate how Durin fits into the path laid out for Elrond by Tolkien.
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.
