Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings Gil-Galad to the fore, but how does this mighty elf's power compare to the likes of Galadriel and Elrond? The Lord of the Rings trilogy isn't lacking for elves, but by far the wisest, most powerful, most formidable are the two White Council representatives Galadriel and Elrond, originally portrayed by Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, respectively. This pointy-eared pair are both noble leaders in Middle-earth, both wield Rings of Power, and both deter Sauron's evil from their provinces.
Though neither is someone you'd wish to annoy, Galadriel is generally considered more powerful than Elrond in Lord of the Rings. Not only is she older than her Rivendell counterpart, but Galadriel witnessed the light from Valinor's Two Trees, giving her a mystic quality. Though Elrond is certainly no slouch, the Lady of Lothlórien is simply a cut above, hailing from the high elves of yore.
Galadriel and Elrond both enjoy main roles in Amazon's Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, with Morfydd Clark as the former and Robert Aramayo the latter. They're joined by a third powerful elf from J.R.R. Tolkien's labyrinthine mythology - Benjamin Walker's Gil-Galad. When The Rings of Power begins, neither Galadriel nor Elrond occupies the same lofty status as their future selves from Lord of the Rings. In Amazon's Second Age setting, Gil-Galad is the elf in charge, the High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. How does Gil-Galad's strength in The Rings of Power compare to Galadriel and Elrond in Lord of the Rings?
Is Gil-Galad More Powerful Than Galadriel & Elrond?
Since Elrond is weaker than Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings, measuring Gil-Galad against the Lord of Rivendell is a logical starting point, and J.R.R. Tolkien is unusually clear on this matter. In Tolkien's Lord of the Rings appendices - the treasure trove of facts, maps and histories concerning Middle-earth - the greatest elves are listed (not in order) as Galadriel, Gil-Galad and Círdan, putting Elrond below all three. Tolkien notes that Gil-Galad passed his Ring of Power down to Elrond, making him something of a successor, but by Lord of the Rings' Third Age, Elrond's military might and political influence paled in comparison, the "High King of the Noldor" title dying with Gil-Galad. Gil-Galad was probably a better fighter than Elrond too. One of the High King's greatest feats was leading his people during the Last Alliance of Elves & Men, then battling Sauron two-on-one with Elendil. Elrond was present during that battle as a high-ranking commander, but the contextual evidence denotes Gil-Galad as the superior warrior.
Tolkien is less clear regarding the power difference between Galadriel and Gil-Galad. In terms of influence and followers, the High King of the Noldor has Galadriel beaten, since her rule ends at the borders of Lothlórien. In terms of who'd win in a hypothetical one-on-one, however, more evidence points towards Galadriel. Despite their live-action depiction in The Rings of Power, Galadriel is actually older than Gil-Galad. More importantly, she bore witness to the light from the Two Trees of Valinor, which had a transformative effect upon the elves of old. Galadriel learned under two Valar (Yavanna and Aulë) then later a Maia (Melian), and was described by Tolkien as "the greatest of the Noldor, except Fëanor maybe, though she was wiser than he and her wisdom increased with the long years." Although this statement concerns a pre-Second Age landscape, comparing Galadriel to Fëanor - widely considered the greatest of the elves - speaks volumes.
Based on Galadriel's age, exposure to the trees, her deeper connection to the Ainur and Tolkien's descriptions, she most likely possessed greater power than Gil-Galad in terms of magical, otherworldly, fearsome presence. Leading an army or engaging in a physical fight, Gil-Galad may fare better.
How Old Is Gil-Galad In The Rings Of Power?
Gil-Galad's age is something of a tricky topic, since Tolkien wrote varying origins for his elven High King. He's either born shortly before or during the First Age. Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes place around the mid-Second Age, although Amazon's TV series condenses a 3000-year timeline into a significantly shorter gap. All things considered, Gil-Galad should be around 2000 years old during The Rings of Power.
Is Gil-Galad In Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Movies?
Though Benjamin Walker's Gil-Galad will feel like a new face in The Rings of Power, the character did make a brief appearance in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring, played by Mark Ferguson. He's shown accepting an elven Ring of Power alongside Galadriel and Círdan during the One Ring history lesson sequence, then fighting at the War of the Last Alliance. Gil-Galad's big screen cameo is incredibly easy to miss, but The Rings of Power will shine a spotlight on this pivotal character from Middle-earth's history.