Warning: Spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 6
In spite of Galadriel’s convictions, the possibility exists that Halbrand isn’t the king he says he is in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 6. Galadriel has been convinced since the show’s third episode that the human she met on the Sundering Seas is the rightful heir to the throne of the Southlands. She believes wholeheartedly that helping Halbrand rise to power is the key to defeating Sauron.
Even though Halbrand originally made no claims about his right to the throne, Galadriel seems doubtless in her assertion that he’s the Southlands’ true king. Certain evidence uncovered in episode 3 linked him to the title and has since made him an instrumental part of her plans. Halbrand was reluctant at first, but he’s apparently acquired a new interest in achieving Galadriel’s goal. His acceptance of Galadriel’s beliefs was on display in The Rings of Power episode 6 when he confirmed to Bronwyn that he truly is the king of the Southlands. That being said, concerns about Galadriel possibly being wrong about Halbrand linger.
Why Halbrand's Story Is Important To The Rings Of Power
In a sense, Halbrand’s story feels like The Rings of Power’s very own Aragorn arc. Both are humans who are supposedly destined to become great heroes and revive their respective kingdoms. Overcoming the villains in The Lord of the Rings depended on Aragorn reuniting Gondor and Rohan, and the same at least appears to be the case with Halbrand and the Southlands in The Rings of Power. So far, it looks like the central threat in the series is Sauron, whom Galadriel is desperately searching for. Since Halbrand taking his place as the king of the Southlands has to happen before Galadriel can get the army she needs to take on the Dark Lord, his storyline is currently the backbone of season 1.
Concerns About Halbrand Actually Being The King Of The Southlands
Aside from the scene where he betrayed Galadriel to Pharazôn in episode 4, Halbrand hasn’t actually done much to justify fans’ suspicions of him. Even so, there’s still plenty of reasons to believe that he might be a liar. First of all, Halbrand is an entirely new addition to the Lord of the Rings mythos. Because of that, everything about him is shrouded in mystery. Unlike the situations with existing Middle-earth characters like Galadriel, Elrond, Prince Durin, and Isildur, Halbrand is a character whose future isn’t already outlined. That aspect of Halbrand’s character makes him the perfect candidate for a surprise villain twist. Theoretically, The Rings of Power can make him an imposter without breaking Lord of the Rings canon.
Not only that, but it’s worth noting that The Rings of Power has yet to prove that Halbrand is the true king of the Southlands. The necklace and what Halbrand said about his past were enough for Galadriel, but the prospect of him lying about where he came from shouldn’t be ruled out. Halbrand could tricking Galadriel into helping him seize power. With Galadriel and Númenor acting as unwitting pawns, Halbrand could be using a convoluted scheme to manipulate them into giving him a kingdom.
Theories On Who Halbrand Really Is
If Halbrand turns out to be an established LOTR character, two Tolkien figures stand out in regards to who he really is. One option is the Witch-King of Angmar. In the books, Sauron’s chief henchman started out as a human king corrupted by one of the Rings of Power. The leading theory, though, is that Halbrand is none other than Sauron himself. It’s been speculated since episode 3’s twist that Galadriel’s true enemy is actually hiding in plain sight as her new companion, seeking to use her quest to defeat him for his own benefit.
But as the story has progressed, the show has offered emotional moments where Halbrand genuinely came across as a tortured soul troubled by the destiny Galadriel keeps forcing on him. But despite this, the Sauron theories have persisted, as it’s been suggested that Sauron had taken a step back from being a villain at this point in the Lord of the Rings timeline. It could be that Sauron was trying to walk away from his dark past, but has ultimately decided to embrace the future Galadriel has offered him. If that’s really what’s happening, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power could be building up to one of the most shocking betrayals in the history of Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power releases new episodes on Thursdays/Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.