In Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7, a surprising moment occurs when Elrond kisses Galadriel. This scene is likely to spark debate, even among casual Lord of the Rings fans who may recognize the underlying tensions—resulting in one of the actors feeling “shocked.”
In this latest installment of Rings of Power, Adar brings Elrond to his camp to negotiate a deal: if Elrond hands over an Elven ring, Adar will use it to defeat Sauron and then retreat to Mordor with the Orcs, all in exchange for Galadriel’s life.
Elrond refuses the deal, prompting Adar to threaten him with the message that he will deliver Galadriel’s head on a pike to the battlefield. Elrond then requests a chance to say goodbye, and after Galadriel encourages him to win, he kisses her. To add to the moment, while the Orcs are captivated by their kiss, Elrond discreetly unlocks her handcuffs.
This moment is undeniably romantic, enhanced by a swooning score that elevates the emotion. However, it brings up significant concerns for Lord of the Rings enthusiasts.
Notably, Elrond eventually marries Celebrían—who is Galadriel’s daughter (though technically she should be present at this juncture of the story, but that’s another discussion).
“I was shocked, yeah, when I first read it. I did not see that coming at all,” one actor commented.
“But at the same time, I think it’s a clever move from Elrond because it’s the last thing you would anticipate him to do in that situation, you know? He believes it’s the final moment he’ll see Galadriel. His feelings for her are deep. It’s an emotional scene, and it is complex. But yes, I was not expecting it.”
It’s important to note that Rings of Power does not directly adapt The Silmarillion. Amazon holds the rights to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, and related appendices, which allows for creative liberties with the storyline and a condensed timeline, making it difficult to pinpoint when Rings of Power is set. Certain characters, including Galadriel’s husband, Celeborn, have also been omitted for now.
Contextually, Celeborn plays a significant role. As far as Galadriel knows, Celeborn isn’t necessarily dead, and they haven’t had a child together… yet.
In the context of the show, the kiss is acceptable. Benjamin Walker, who portrays Gil-galad, addressed fans’ concerns, stating, “but I mean, nobody freaks out when Pacino kisses Fredo in The Godfather.”
“There’s a passion to it… get over it. It’s alright. I understand the concerns, but just move on from it.”
- Episode 7
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