J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest fictional literary works of all time. It has received praise and adoration for decades and the entire Tolkien Legendarium has a huge following and scholars dedicated to the works. Peter Jackson’s TheLord of the Rings films are praised for their dedication to the source material, which has helped with their international renown. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the latest adaptation of the beloved works and it took a few more liberties with the stories of Tolkien. Yet, the best parts of the series may be the ones that Tolkien didn’t directly create at all.

The Rings of Power explores the history of Middle-Earth in the Second Age, during the forging of the legendary Rings of Power and the One Ring. Prime Video chose to adapt this period, despite only having the rights to the main LOTR books and The Hobbit, including all the appendices. The appendices do cover this period, but the bulk of this story takes place within The Silmarillion. This led Prime Video to get more creative with its adaptation, including creating original characters. Characters like Arondir, Adar, and Nori Brandyfoot were created specifically for The Rings of Power and are some of the strongest aspects of the series.

The Rings of Power Is Full of Tolkien Lore and New Ideas

The Rings of Power Episodes
IMDb Rating

Season 1, Episode 1 “A Shadow of the Past”
7.3

Season 1, Episode 2 “Adrift”

7.4

Season 1, Episode 3 “Adar”
7.3

Season 1, Episode 4 “The Great Wave”
7.1

Season 1, Episode 5 “Partings”
6.8

Season 1, Episode 6 “Udûn”
8.2

Season 1, Episode 7 “The Eye”
6.6

Season 1, Episode 8 “Alloyed”
7.8

Adaptations of massive IPs and beloved stories are always a daunting task. Fans have preconceived expectations about the story and the characters that can be hard for people to look past. The Rings of Power was limited by what materials Prime Video had access to and it still managed to create a beautiful series that looks and feels authentically like the world that Tolkien created. Seeing the Trees of Valinor, the discovery of Mithril, and the stunning nation of Númenor all seemed like they lept off the pages of various Tolkien stories. Moyfrydd Clark’s Galadriel brought to life new aspects of the Elf than people were used to, yet she still has the same regal and graceful qualities that fans think of when thinking of Galadriel. The Dwarves, the Elves, and the Harfoots (early iterations of Hobbits) all feel like Tolkien’s vision came to life and these interpretations are just as good as Peter Jackson’s iconic films.

Yet, among all the rich lore from Tolkien’s works, The Rings of Power also brought in lots of new ideas and fresh perspectives. While the idea of Harfoots comes from Tolkien, the specific characters, like Nori Brandyfoot, were created specifically for the show. Nori is the heart of the series and continues the long tradition of incredible Hobbit characters that are endearing and brave. Arondir and Adar are both original creations who feel like they truly belong in the world of The Lord of the Rings. Arondir is an Elf that can stand alongside Legolas and Elrond with ease, while Adar represents a character that shows the darkness of Middle-earth perfectly. The Rings of Power had to make concessions and condense the timeline of the story of the Rings, yet this doesn’t negate the authenticity of the world the series has created.

The New Rings of Power Characters Still Feel Apart of Tolkien’s World

Arondir is a Silvan Elf who was assigned to guard the Southlands and keep an eye on the people living there because of their ties to Morgoth and Sauron.
Adar was the “father” of Orcs and led Orcs against the Southlands so that it could be their homeland.
Nori Brandyfoot was a young Harfoot who befriended The Stranger, a character who is likely to be Gandalf or another one of the Maiar.

Trying to add original characters to something as monumental as The Lord of the Rings and the world of Middle-earth is a huge task, but one that The Rings of Power did with near perfection. Arondir is the foremost example of this. Played by Ismael Cruz-Cordova, Arondir is an Elf that is guarding the Southlands against the return of Sauron and the darkness of evil. In that time though, he falls in love with a human woman and uncovers the plot of Adar to transform the Southlands into an Orc kingdom. Arondir’s relationship with Bronwyn is heavily inspired by Tolkien’s lore. Famous pairings between Elf and Humans include Aragorn and Arwen and most famously Beren and Luthien. Arondir’s characterization in this sense is very much like a Tolkien character. What solidifies his character as feeling truly Tolkien-esque is his deep reverence for nature. Elves love nature and Arondir exemplifies that better than any other live-action Tolkien character. He values the seeds that Bronwyn gives him and he weeps when he is forced to cut down an ancient tree in service of Adar. Small details like this help to add to his authenticity as a character.

Nori Brandyfoot has all the best qualities of Hobbits. She is playful, curious, brave, kind, and gentle. She is reminiscent of Frodo and especially of Samwise Gamgee. She believes in helping strangers no matter the danger and knows that she can have a huge impact on the world despite being small. She feels like she stepped right out of the Shire and it could have easily been her carrying the Ring to Mordor. Adar has no true comparison in the books, but his history as a character is steeped in lore. Adar is revealed to be a twisted Elf who was taken by Morgoth and tortured and in turn, created the Orc. Many books reference the creation of the Orc and how its believed that the Elves that were captured by Morgoth were twisted and tortured into the dark servants. Adar’s origin adds credibility to his character and his place in the world.

Prime Video’s Original Characters Have Elevated The Rings of Power’s Story

Lord of the Rings Live-Action Movies
IMDb Rating

LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring
8.9

LOTR: The Two Towers
8.8

LOTR: The Return of the King
9.0

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
7.8

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
7.8

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies
7.4

The story of Galadriel and her quest for vengeance is exhilarating and fascinating to see. She is battling for herself and for all the Elves, defending Middle-earth against the darkness that has haunted it since the beginning of time. Wrapped in all of that is Elrond’s mission for Gil-Galad, Durin delving for Mithril, and Sauron and Celebrimbor’s early exploration of the Ring of Power. As wonderful as all that is, the original characters and stories are the real strength of the series. Since Prime Video had limited source material to work with, the original characters and lore helped to flesh out the story and add greater depth. Seeing a new version of the creation of Mordor and the exploration of the Orcs adds new layers to the already intricate history of Middle-earth. Getting to discover Gandalf, or another Maiar, alongside Nori makes it feel like the audience is getting a peak behind the curtain of a beloved figure in Middle-earth. The original stories are what help to anchor the adaptation and provide something fresh to the audience.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is one of the most visually stunning shows on TV currently. The visuals and the intense story create a compelling look into the Second Age of Middle-earth, yet the strongest aspects never came from the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien. While Tolkien and his works inspire all aspects of this show, characters like Arondir and Adar are some of the greatest parts of the show and provide a new experience for even the most dedicated Tolkien enthusiasts.