The Rings Of Power Season 3 Is The Last Chance To Fix A Long Overdue Galadriel Problem

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 will be the show’s last chance to fix a frustrating problem with Galadriel’s character. The Prime Video series is our first TV adaptation of Tolkien’s Second Age, so it makes some sense that this series feels significantly different from past Lord of the Rings movies. This version of Galadriel is intended to be thousands of years younger than she was in Peter Jackson’s films, and although she’s powerful, it’s in a rather distinct way. Galadriel’s strength and abilities aren’t the Rings of Power’s problem, however.

Galadriel has already been through a lot in the first two seasons of Rings of Power. After her brother, Finrod, died during Middle-earth’s battle with Morgoth, she became determined to get vengeance against the evil soldier who killed him—Sauron. Of course, Galadriel unwittingly befriended Sauron instead. The villain had disguised himself as a man called Halbrand, and the truth about his identity was devastating to the elf. Then, in Rings of Power season 2, Galadriel continued to be fooled by further enemies. After Adar betrayed her, Galadriel’s gullibility got sort of old.

Galadriel Can’t Be As Gullible In Rings Of Power Season 3 As Past Seasons

Galadriel Getting Tricked Yet Again Would Take Things Too Far

I can understand why Rings of Power seasons 1 and 2 would make Galadriel a bit more gullible than she had been in The Lord of the Rings. It’s essential that this character have a more defined arc in the Prime Video series, and that would have been challenging to achieve without some significant flaws. Galadriel already had a reason to want to take Sauron down, but the fact that he had successfully fooled her provided further motivation. However, season 2 revealed that Galadriel is a slow learner.

In Rings of Power season 2, Galadriel struck a deal with Adar. Unsurprisingly, this turned out to be a trap, and Galadriel was left with egg on her face. I would have assumed that acquiring Nenya would make this elf a bit wiser, but she continued to be blinded by her desperation to stop Sauron. Thankfully, things (more or less) turned out in Galadriel’s favor, and she proved that she had learned some things after all. When she and Sauron had their showdown, Galadriel successfully resisted temptation and didn’t fall for any of the villain’s traps.

Now that Galadriel has officially resisted Sauron, it’s time for Rings of Power to give up the gullible aspect of her character. Her previous stories are passable, but if Galadriel once again is fooled by a villain and left to look foolish, this whole arc will have worn itself thin. After all, the Galadriel we know from The Lord of the Rings is immensely wise and regal—a far cry from what we have seen in Rings of Power. It’s time for the Prime Video series to begin to bridge that gap.

Season 3 Galadriel Must Be A Little More Like The Lord Of The Rings Character

Rings Of Power Must Bridge The Gap Between The Two Versions Of Galadriel’s Character

While I don’t expect Galadriel to suddenly be the mature and wise elf of the Third Age in Rings of Power season 3, it’s crucial that we begin to see signs of her future self. By the start of this next series, Galadriel will have had Nenya for long enough for its magic to really settle in. What’s more, her experiences with Sauron, in addition to the lessons she has learned by resisting him, should aid in making Galadriel far wiser than she was at the start of Rings of Power.

It’s important that Galadriel still has room to grow and develop in future seasons of Rings of Power. However, it’s just as critical that it be undeniable in season 3 how far she has already come. The remaining seasons of Rings of Power can bridge the gap between the powerful but reckless elf we met in season 1 and the ethereal and wise being we know from The Lord of the Rings. If this doesn’t start in season 3, Prime Video might as well not even bother.