Halbrand tempting Galadriel was a smart move for Sauron’s plans to dominate, and given Galadriel’s desire to rule, his temptations won’t stop.
Besides Gandalf and the other Maiar, Galadriel was one of the oldest beings in The Lord of the Rings. She was born in the heavenly realm of Valinor, thousands of years before the sun rose. As such, she had seen the passing of countless years and the trials of many wars. Her wisdom was abounding, and her power was also of untold potential. With the power of her Elven Ring, she kept Sauron’s darkness out of Lothlórien for years. After the Dark Lord’s defeat, she ripped down the tower of Dol Goldur with her raw strength.
However, even with all of her wisdom and power, Galadriel wasn’t perfect. Frodo offered her the One Ring, and she nearly took it. Though she refused, a part of her wanted to become an evil queen and rule over everyone and everything. It was a desire that went back to her earliest days on Middle-earth. That’s one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s main storylines, and it’s something that will undoubtedly continue in Season 2.
How Halbrand Tempted Galadriel in Season 1
From the very beginning, there was something between Galadriel and Halbrand. Galadriel jumped off of a ship bound for Valinor, and Halbrand’s raft was coincidentally there to rescue her. From there, they spent the rest of Season 1 together, and they butted heads for a while. But at some point, the tension between them took on an odd, romantic vibe. It was an unexpected development, especially since Celeborn was missing from the series. However, things started to make more sense when Halbrand revealed himself as Sauron.
Halbrand was trying to make a connection with Galadriel so that he (as Sauron) could offer her a place at his side. Even though it was kind-of weird for audiences, it was actually a brilliant move by Sauron. If Sauron could get Galadriel to join him, he wouldn’t have to defeat the one Elf who’s still actively hunting him. Thus, at the very end of Season 1, he offered to make her his queen. The offer was simple: he would make her “fair as the sea and the Sun, stronger than the foundations of the Earth.”
Galadriel Has Always Been Tempted by Power
Tempting though it was, Galadriel was able to reject Sauron’s offer for power, but it won’t be a one-time thing. In the midst of Sauron’s temptations, Galadriel remembered a memory of her brother, Finrod. He told her that it wasn’t always easy to find the light until one had touched darkness. That was immensely foreboding because Galadriel didn’t actually touch darkness in Season 1. In order for Finrod’s words to ring true, Galadriel needs to touch some form of darkness at some point in Season 2. It will be the best way to make her character less heroic and more identifiable. Additionally, showing that Galadriel has touched darkness will give her The Lord of the Rings appearance even more gravitas.
It’s not a wild idea to suggest that Galadriel had a brush with darkness. The Lord of the Rings lore is clear that she always had a fixation on power. When the Doom of Mandos was lifted, she stayed in Middle-earth because she wanted to rule. Of course, that wasn’t necessarily bad because she was uniquely qualified to be in charge. However, it’s easy to see how Sauron’s temptations could play off of Galadriel’s desires, as he offers her even more dark power. Given that Galadriel was still tempted by power in The Fellowship of the Ring, it’s clear that she won’t be able to totally overcome her desires in The Rings of Power. Thus, fans should expect Sauron will continue to tempt her in Season 2.
