The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is rapidly approaching the premiere of its second season on August 29, 2024. The Prime Video original series is based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, whose fantastical world of Middle-earth is well-known to audiences through Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises. Controversial yet absurdly popular, The Rings of Power tells the story of Sauron’s return to Middle-earth in the Second Age, leading up to the creation of the One Ring and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. After Season 1’s twist reveals that Galadriel’s companion Halbrand was Sauron all along, the upcoming season depicts the fallout of the Dark Lord’s return.

Season 2 of The Rings of Power will see the return of most cast members from its first season, including Ismael Cruz Córdova, who plays the Elf Arondir. Arondir is a noble and fierce Elf who plays a pivotal role in uncovering the scheme to turn the Southlands into what would later become known as Mordor. Despite his integral role in the series, audiences know very little about Arondir, which is refreshing for a franchise so rife with deep lore and character backgrounds. Arondir’s less drawn-out backstory could make him one of the most important characters in The Rings of Power.

Who Is Arondir In The Rings Of Power?

Arondir is a Silvan Elf from the woodlands who, upon his first appearance in The Rings of Power, has spent the last several decades watching over the human settlements of the Southlands. Arondir’s position is particularly strenuous given the history of the Men in the First Age, which saw many of the Southlanders side with Morgoth. While many Elves disregard the humans of the Southlands, Arondir does his best to empathize with them, even if he doesn’t trust them not to pledge themselves to evil at their next opportunity. He watches over these people for nearly eighty years, occasionally putting his skill with a sword or a bow and arrow to good use.

Throughout The Rings of Power‘s first season, Arondir falls in love with Bronwyn, a woman living in one of the Southland villages whose son Theo manages to get himself roped into trouble with a pack of Orcs led by the mysterious Adar. Arondir investigates the matter, eventually coming face-to-face with the leader of the Orcs, who is himself a corrupted Elf. Put to work in a labor camp by Adar and his forces, Arondir rallies the other Elves not to cut down a tree at the Orcs’ behest, upholding his honor as a woodland Elf and eventually freeing himself–though his allies don’t make it. Arondir eventually returns to the Southlands, where he refuses to abandon the humans despite death looming on the horizon. He is present when Mount Doom erupts, spewing its fiery ash and lava to transform the once-vibrant Southlands into the festering wasteland known as Mordor.

Why Original Characters Are So Important For The Rings Of Power

Characters Created For The Rings of Power

Arondir
Eleanor “Nori” Brandyfoot
Bronwyn

Theo
Eärien
Adar
Disa
Sadoc Burrows

 

While most of the characters in The Rings of Power are originally from The Silmarillion or other pieces of Tolkien lore, Arondir is special in that he was created for the series. He and several other characters, including Nori Brandyfoot, Bronwyn, Theo, Adar, Eärien, and more, are not found in any of Tolkien’s works but are completely original characters created specifically for The Rings of Power. As a result, fans know much less about characters like Arondir than they do some of the others, whose stories are told in the annals of Middle-earth history. Barring anything revealed about Arondir in the show itself, audiences know nothing about the woodland Elf, including how his story ends.

Unlike the important characters from Lord of the Rings lore like Galadriel and Elrond, Arondir has much more freedom as a character. While fans know exactly where certain characters will end up to set them up for their roles in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, original characters like Arondir will remain a mystery. This gives The Rings of Power much more freedom to explore who Arondir is without fear of overwriting existing lore or feeling trapped by very specific parameters. The Rings of Power will doubtlessly flourish when it comes to its original characters because they can be present for any event necessary, live, die, or fight without well-read Tolkien fans pointing out how this could never work in the franchise’s canon. As a result, Arondir is certain to become one of the most important characters in The Rings of Power as the series continues.

How Arondir Will Factor Into The Rings Of Power’s Story

The Lord of the Rings Franchise

Movie/Series Title
Year Released
Rotten Tomatoes Score
IMDb Rating
Stream On

Peter Jackson’s Franchise

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

2001
91%
8.9/10
Max

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2002
95%
8.8/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003
94%
9/10

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2012
64%
7.8/10

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2013
75%
7.8/10

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014
59%
7.4/10

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
2024
N/A
N/A
N/A

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
2026
N/A
N/A
N/A

Amazon’s Franchise

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
2022
83%
7/10
Prime Video

Arondir will play a pivotal role in fighting the Dark Lord Sauron, who returned at the end of Season 1 to wreak havoc in Middle-earth once more. Because of his connections to humans, Arondir will very likely be a part of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, which ensures Sauron’s defeat in an epic battle that also leads to Elendil’s death and Isildur’s infamous decision not to destroy the One Ring. This battle, which will likely be the final storyline in The Rings of Power, can finally play out in all its glory, with Arondir serving as an important factor in achieving victory against Sauron.

In the buildup to this moment, Arondir’s romance with Bronwyn will certainly take up a large chunk of his story. The woodland Elf was also at the forefront of investigating Adar, which will likely be critical in Season 2, as the Orc leader lashes out against both the Elves and the returned Dark Lord. Without a prewritten history to confine his character, Arondir won’t just be an important player in the upcoming season but is certain to return in The Rings of Power Season 3 and beyond.