The Rings of Power could create an awkward romance with the introduction of a new character in season 2, creating a rift between Elrond and Galadriel.
While The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power season 1 has toyed with a few romances, a possible relationship between Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and a new character in season 2 could be awkward. The Lord of the Rings, as a franchise, is no stranger to romance and complex relationships. After all, there are plenty of romantic entanglements between Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Arwen (Liv Tyler), and Éowyn (Miranda Otto) alone, whether unrequited or of the star-crossed variety. But just because a romance can be present does not mean it will serve a particular story, especially one with such a dramatic main plot. Even so, a romance from J.R.R. Tolkien’s source material could find its way into Rings of Power season 2.
The Rings of Power by Amazon Prime is a prequel to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series and primarily sets up the later major conflicts between Sauron and the rest of the world. Rings of Power portrays an ensemble cast, two of which are Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), as she hunts for Sauron, and Elrond, and his role in forging the storied Rings of Power. Galadriel and Elrond are close friends, yet later in Tolkien’s narrative, Elrond is married to Celebrían, Galadriel’s daughter with Celeborn.
The Rings Of Power Could Struggle Showing Elrond & Celebrían As Lovers
This relationship between Celebrían and Elrond, despite coming from the source material, could give Rings of Power some trouble if it chooses to depict it. This would not be due to any chronological problems in the series because of the long lifespan of elves, but it could very well cause interpersonal issues between Elrond and Galadriel. This is especially true with Rings of Power season 1 establishing how close Galadriel and Elrond are, as well as how protective Galadriel can be with her family members.
Additionally, this element from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power could also sit poorly with audiences. After all, even if having relationships with a friend’s descendants is acceptable in a nearly immortal society, it’s not a practice most audiences are likely to be familiar with, and could be very uncomfortable to watch. This hurdle could also be exacerbated by the ageless appearance of elves overall, such that the uncanniness of Elrond helping Galadriel raise her daughter and then courting her when everyone involved still looks to be in their mid-20s or 30s could be very unsettling.
Elrond Needs A Love Interest In Rings Of Power (But Not Celebrían)
However, there is an option for side-stepping this problem, especially while The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power focuses on exploring the repercussions of the forging of the Rings of Power and Sauron’s true identity. If the series does still want to set up the later elven characters who appear in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, such as Arwen, they still can do so by providing relationships for Elrond, but without the discomfort of making Celebrían his lover. After all, Celebrían is not a major character in the canon, certainly not in comparison to Galadriel and Elrond, so changing her identity would make the entire affair less off-putting.
