Since the Prime Video series The Rings of Power was first announced, fans have been abuzz with discussion about what kinds of changes the series would make from author J.R.R. Tolkien's original works. This is typical for book-to-screen adaptations, but given The Lord of the Rings' status as the grandfather of the fantasy genre, fans are typically all the more dedicated to the canon events that take place within his various tales about Middle-earth.
Several fans were disappointed by some of these choices. However, changes made from the Lord of the Rings books in Peter Jackson's trilogy prove that even rather substantial differences from the books can be an improvement. In the end, the same will likely be said for The Rings of Power since fans on Reddit are already sharing which changes in the series' characters and overall story improved the tales of Middle-earth's Second Age.
The Condensing Of The Timeline
According to The Silmarillion and other various writings from Tolkien, the Second Age of Middle-earth spanned 3,441 years. This meant that while Elves were taking part in the events leading up to the creation of the Rings of Power, several hundred Men and Dwarves lived their lives and died.
Therefore, if show creators wanted to include several key characters of various races, some changes to the storyline would have to be made. Redditor RedDordit found this a necessary adjustment, stating that "there's no way you can do a watchable TV show where every episode you have decade-long leaps," especially if audiences wanted to see quality development from both mortal and immortal characters.
Galadriel's Power And Abilities-(2).jpg)
In The Silmarillion, Galadriel is described as one of the most important figures of any Age and one of the most powerful and respected. In the Second Age, after Morgoth's defeat, she stayed in Middle-earth and immediately began to rule, even before eventually settling in Lothlorien.
While Galadriel in The Rings of Power is undoubtedly a powerful elf, the series dramatically changes the kind of power she possesses. Redditor Invictrix shared that they enjoyed how the series wrote her as more physically powerful than she had been in canon while adding the fact that she was "being diminished at every turn" to demonstrate her emotional strength. She is more a warrior than a queen in The Rings of Power, ultimately making her more sympathetic to audiences.
Galadriel's Attitude
In The Silmarillion and The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Galadriel is identified as Sauron's chief adversary. Her gifts of perception allowed her to quickly recognize the location of his growing power, ultimately leading to resistance against him.
While this has made Galadriel a favorite character in the Lord of the Rings franchise, it doesn't provide her with many interesting personality traits. Redditor DarrenGrey pointed out that her character in Rings of Power has an angrier, more determined personality that, while different from the books, "reasonably aligns" with her character in a beneficial way.
Galadriel's Motivation
After the events of the First Age, many of Galadriel's kin returned to Valinor. However, she decided to stay out of an eagerness to rule in Middle-earth. She had long dreamed of coming to the continent and seeing its unique beauty, so she had no wish to go back (yet).
In The Rings of Power, Galadriel stubbornly refuses to return to Valinor because she made a vow to avenge her brother, who Sauron had killed. Redditor Pacee21 found this an exciting change, stating that they "kinda dug" Galadriel's more aggressive personality. Ultimately, her status as a warrior of vengeance made her story compelling and much more relatable.
Leaving Out The Kinslaying
In episode 1 of Rings of Power, Galadriel explains how her people left Valinor for Middle-earth to defeat the Dark Lord Morgoth, who had caused devastating damage to their home. While some of this was true to canon, a major factor and motivation were left out.
In The Silmarillion, it is described that a group of Elves called the Ñoldor attacked their kin to steal their ships and travel to Middle-earth (in pursuit of the Silmarils). This resulted in the first instance of Elves killing Elves, and the Ñoldor (including Galadriel) were banned from returning to Valinor. Redditor Rohirrider noticed that the series "quickly glossed over" these details but that it ultimately benefits the plot and paints the Elves in a better light.
Durin IV And Elrond's Friendship
In The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, audiences grew used to seeing Elves and Dwarves at odds with one another. However, Tolkien described a period in the Second Age when these races got along splendidly.
However, Elrond and Durin IV were never described as being friends, let alone ones with the long history that is apparent in The Rings of Power. Redditor Frankocean2 posted that they were "excited to see these two together." The relationship brings to mind Gimli and Legolas from The Lord of the Rings, making fans feel right at home in the new series.
The Harfoots
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien gives a brief background of the Hobbits, saying that their ancestors would have been "wild" burrowers that were kept out of sight. However, his works outlining the Second Age of Middle-earth never describe their presence.
Rings of Power saw fit to include the ancestors of the Hobbits, the Harfoots, as a significant point of the series plot: the mysterious introduction of "the Stranger." Redditor Chafsteev said, "I did not think I was going to enjoy the Harfoots as much as I did." Charming, funny, and downright adorable, the Harfoots add hopeful energy to the series, which would be ultimately lacking without them.
Durin IV And Disa
The reveal of the Kingdom of Khazad-dum was one of the most impactful moments of the Rings of Power premiere. This was because the only other time the kingdom had been featured on screen, it had been in its post-doom state in The Fellowship of the Ring.
Of course, Khazad-dum had been described as part of Tolkien's canon. But, little attention was put on the individual rulers, let alone their wives. For this reason, the detailed inclusion of Durin III, Durin IV, and Princess Disa was a great choice, leading Redditors like Chefsteev to find the scenes featuring the Dwarves and their Kingdom "absolutely incredible."
The Inclusion Of Arondir
The topic of original characters in an adaptation of Lord of the Rings will make many fans cringe. It was, therefore, no surprise that many audiences were concerned to learn of the character Arondir, who many believed would be a gimmicky imitation of Legolas.
However, Redditors like TheTinyGM were pleasantly surprised once they had gotten to know the Elven soldier in the premiere. "I didn't expect to love him so much," they said, going on to say that he processes a certain "gravitas" that makes him a perfect change from canon. He is strong, determined, and proud and opens the series up to several possibilities with his relationship with Bronwyn and her son, Theo.
A New Elven And Human Pairing
The pairings of Elves and Men in Tolkien's works often held great significance. By the Second Age, two such relationships had been known, and both ended in great tragedy. However, Aragorn and Arwen broke the cycle in the Third Age with their successful romance.
While nothing was ever said about a pairing of an elf man and a human woman in the Second Age, Rings of Power decided to include one with Arondir and Brownyn. Redditor Md_Dreamer53214 found this an intriguing addition since "these romances never end well" until the Third Age, promising some future tragedy worthy of Tolkien.