Most of “The Rings of Power” are not by Tolkien

JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the rings is one of the greatest fictional literary works of all time. It has been praised and revered for decades and the entire Tolkien legendarium has a huge following and scholars devoted to the works. Peter Jackson’s TheLord of the rings The films have been praised for their dedication to the source material, which has helped them gain international fame. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the latest adaptation of the beloved works and has taken a few more liberties with Tolkien’s stories. However, the best parts of the series may be the ones that Tolkien didn’t directly create.

The Rings of Power explores the history of Middle Earth in the Second Age, during the forging of the legendary Rings of Power and the One Ring. Prime Video decided to adapt this period, although it only owns the rights to the main Lord of the Rings books and The Hobbitincluding all appendices. The appendices cover this period, but the bulk of this story takes place within The Silmarillion. This led Prime Video to become more creative in its adaptation, including creating original characters. Characters such as Arondir, Adar and Nori Brandyfoot were created specifically for The Rings of Power and are some of the strongest aspects of the series.

The Rings of Power are full of Tolkien lore and new ideas

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Adapting major IPs and popular stories is always a daunting task. Fans have preconceived expectations about the story and characters that are hard to look past. The Rings of Power was limited by the materials Prime Video had access to, and still managed to create a beautiful series that looks and feels authentic to the world Tolkien created. The trees of Valinor, the discovery of mithril, and the stunning nation of Númenor all seemed to have sprung from the pages of various Tolkien stories. Moyfrydd Clark’s Galadriel brought to life new aspects of the elf than people were used to, and yet she still has the same majestic and graceful qualities that fans associate with Galadriel. The dwarves, the elves, and the Harfoots (early versions of the hobbits) all seem like Tolkien’s vision come to life, and these interpretations are just as good as Peter Jackson’s cult films.

But amidst all the rich traditions of Tolkien’s works, The Rings of Power also brought in many new ideas and fresh perspectives. While the idea of ​​Harfoots came from Tolkien, the specific characters, like Nori Brandyfoot, were created specifically for the show. Nori is the heart of the series and continues the long tradition of incredible hobbit characters who are lovable and brave. Arondir and Adar are both original creations that feel like they really belong in the world of The Lord of the Rings. Arondir is an elf who can easily stand alongside Legolas and Elrond, while Adar is a character who perfectly represents the darkness of Middle Earth. The Rings of Power had to make concessions and compress the timeline of the Rings’ history, but this does not detract from the authenticity of the world created by the series.

The new characters from “Rings of Power” still feel like part of Tolkien’s world

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The 10 best characters from “Rings of Power” (that didn’t appear in Lord of the Rings)

From Arondir to High King Gil-Galad, The Rings of Power introduces several new characters who did not appear in the original Lord of the Rings films.

• Arondir is a wood elf who is tasked with guarding the Southlands and keeping an eye on the people living there due to her connections to Morgoth and Sauron.
• Adar was the “father” of the Orcs and led the Orcs against the Southlands so that they could become their home.
• Nori Brandyfoot was a young Harfoot who befriended the Stranger, a figure likely to be Gandalf or another Maiar.

Trying to add original characters to something as monumental as The Lord of the Rings and the world of Middle Earth is a huge task, but one that The Rings of Power done almost perfectly. Arondir is the best example of this. Arondir, played by Ismael Cruz-Cordova, is an elf who protects the Southlands from the return of Sauron and the darkness of evil. However, he falls in love with a human woman and discovers Adar’s plan to turn the Southlands into an orc kingdom. Arondir’s relationship with Bronwyn is heavily inspired by Tolkien’s lore. Famous pairings between elves and humans include Aragorn and Arwen and the most famous Beren and Lúthien. Arondir’s characterization is very similar to a Tolkien character in this respect. What makes his character truly Tolkien-like is his deep reverence for nature. Elves love nature and Arondir embodies this better than any other Tolkien character in live-action films. He treasures the seeds Bronwyn gives him and cries when he is forced to cut down an ancient tree in Adar’s service. Small details like these help to underline his authenticity as a character.

Nori Brandyfoot has all the best qualities of the hobbits. She is playful, curious, brave, kind, and gentle. She is reminiscent of Frodo and especially Samwise Gamgee. She believes in helping strangers no matter how dangerous she is and knows that despite her small size, she can have a big impact on the world. She feels like she comes straight from the Shire and easily could have been her carrying the Ring to Mordor. Adar has no real comparison in the books, but his history as a character is steeped in lore. It turns out that Adar is a twisted elf who was kidnapped and tortured by Morgoth and in turn created the Orc. Many books make reference to the creation of the Orc and that the elves captured by Morgoth were twisted and tortured to make them into dark servants. Adar’s origins add credibility to his character and his place in the world.

Prime Video’s original characters have taken the story of The Rings of Power to a new level

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The story of Galadriel and her quest for vengeance is exciting and fascinating to watch. She fights for herself and for all elves, defending Middle Earth from the darkness that has plagued it since the dawn of time. Intertwined in all of this is Elrond’s mission for Gil-Galad, Durin’s search for Mithril, and Sauron and Celebrimbor’s early exploration of the Ring of Power. As wonderful as all of this is, the original characters and stories are the series’ true strength. Since Prime Video had limited source material, the original characters and lore helped flesh out the story and give it more depth. Seeing a new take on the creation of Mordor and the exploration of the Orcs adds new layers to the already complicated history of Middle Earth. Spotting Gandalf or another Maiar alongside Nori feels like audiences are getting a behind-the-scenes look at a beloved character in Middle Earth. The original stories give the adaptation a base and offer audiences something new.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is one of the most visually stunning series currently on television. The imagery and exciting story offer a captivating look into the Second Age of Middle Earth, but its strongest aspects do not come from the mind of JRR Tolkien. Although Tolkien and his works inspire all aspects of this series, characters like Arondir and Adar are some of the greatest parts of the series and offer a new experience for even the most diehard Tolkien fans.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

An epic drama set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it follows an ensemble of familiar and new characters as they grapple with the long-feared return of evil to Middle Earth.

Release date

1 September 2022

Pour

Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Lenny Henry, Benjamin Walker

Seasons

1

network

Amazon Prime Video

Streaming service(s)

Prime Video

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