The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is introducing a new character with potentially significant ties to J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore. Other new characters have already been confirmed to be in season 2 of the Prime Video series, including Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil, a fan-favorite in Tolkien’s writing. Isildur (Maxim Baldry), Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova), and the majority of season 1 characters are returning, with Isildur healing from the injuries he sustained in season 1 and Arondir and the surviving Southlanders traveling farther away from the newly created Mount Doom.

New season 2 images and details revealed by IGN show Isildur and Arondir, joined by the new character, Estrid (Nia Towle), whom Isildur will trust immediately. These details tease the possibility that Estrid could become Isildur’s wife, who was never named in Tolkien’s lore. Check out the images below:

Check out this exclusive look at Arondir, Isildur, and a new character Estrid portrayed by Nia Towle on @PrimeVideo’s The Lord of the Rings: @TheRingsofPower Season 2, premiering August 29. #IGNLive #IGNSummerOfGaming For more info: https://t.co/SvA28HYW2W pic.twitter.com/k3MLDakwMe — IGN (@IGN) June 7, 2024

While there is trust and a seemingly romantic spark between Isildur and Estrid, she will have a much different relationship with Arondir, who suspects she is hiding something and is more reluctant to trust her as she joins them in their travels.

Estrid Could Have Major Implications For Wider Tolkien Lore

Isildur’s Númenórean bloodline is a critical part of Tolkien’s lore, with the many generations that followed leading to his descendant and heir Aragorn, who is integral to defeating Sauron, destroying the One Ring, and reclaiming the throne of Gondor in The Lord of the Rings. Much is known about Isildur and his other descendants, but the same cannot be said for his wife. That could change with Estrid being a new and important character in The Rings of Power season 2.

Instead of just being a footnote in the history of Isildur, Aragorn, and others in their bloodline, Estrid can become a fully fleshed out character in her own right. The details revealed so far about Isildur immediately trusting her and Arondir being mistrustful already makes her a compelling addition. It will be intriguing to see her relationships with these characters evolving, enabling her to be far more nuanced than just being Isildur’s wife.

If Estrid does turn out to be Isildur’s previously unnamed wife, the importance of her role may go beyond Rings of Power. As a member of one of the most important families and bloodlines in this universe, and as the franchise continues to expand with other projects, Estrid has the potential to be meaningfully incorporated or at least mentioned in other stories. At the very least, Estrid seems poised to play an important role in Isildur and Arondir’s storylines in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, and possibly in future seasons as well.