What Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Needs to Fix for Season 2

Not all of this belongs in The Rings of Power, but some of the storylines the show is following do feature some of these themes, along with some dark and dirty politicking to come. If season 2 can embrace those aspects of Tolkien’s story and weave them into the wider world of Middle-earth, it would allow the show to go to corners of this universe we haven’t seen before on screen. It’s worth bearing in mind, after all, that Fire and Blood/House of the Dragon is inspired by The Silmarillion…

Bring the Funny!

Embracing the darker aspects of the story does not mean making the entire thing grim and miserable. In Peter Jackson’s Tolkien adaptations, warmth and humor were a big parts of how the characters related to each other, and that very much matches with Tolkien’s own sensibilities in the books. It makes these characters more relatable, as well as making the films more enjoyable to watch.

One of the most enjoyable and compelling relationships on The Rings of Power season 1 was that between Elrond and Durin. Part of that was because of the tension between them as a result of the differences between Elves and Dwarves, but an equally important part was the frequent use of witty and humorous moments between them. Watching it, you look forward to their scenes together, you root for their friendship, and become invested in their conflicts. Not all relationships were as well developed in season 1, and they could learn a thing or two about Elrond and Durin for the second season.

Galadriel

Galadriel especially would really benefit from having a bit more humor and wit introduced into her story. The depiction of Galadriel on the show has received some of the most vigorous criticism. Some fans did not enjoy Morfydd Clark’s performance, a point on which we will respectfully disagree. Some complained about the character’s depiction as a warrior, but that has its basis in Tolkien’s own work. Other complaints focused around her motivation, particularly her drive for vengeance. Some of this relates to her position as the lead character of the series, so all the issues with the mystery around Sauron, and with the pacing, affect Galadriel most of all, and some of it relates to her singular focus on vengeance depriving her of any other character traits.

But we wonder if one of the key things fans are missing from Jackson’s much more well-received screen depiction of Galadriel is the warmth that Cate Blanchett’s Galadriel had. This has nothing to do with Clark, who is working with the scripts and direction she is given. It is in the writing, primarily. Galadriel needs more humanizing (Elvenizing?) moments, in which she shares a joke with an old friend, or responds to something with a bit of wit, or even just sits down for a chat with someone that is not specifically about her primary goals.

There is nothing wrong with the show’s idea that this Galadriel is harder-edged, more impulsive, a younger woman still becoming the person she will eventually be in The Lord of the Rings and who has not yet gained the wisdom of her older self. But this should still be the Galadriel who could give Gimli a beaming smile and three locks of hair, and perhaps even, in this youthful incarnation, be a bit looser and more prone to the odd bit of banter than she would be later on. A more fleshed-out Galadriel who isn’t just hellbent on getting revenge would be a big improvement for season 2.