The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powersaw an Elf character meet his end, but a wild twist could see him make a return one day. While Elves are immortal, their bodies can still be killed like that of mortal Men and Dwarves. The primary difference between mortals and immortals in Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsis the fate of the soul following death. In the case of Elves, their souls are typically given a chance to return to a new body if they earned it. In the case of thisRings of PowerElf, however, it’s difficult to tell whether this is an option that would be offered to him.
By theevents ofThe Lord of the Rings, Elves weren’t taking part in battles and, therefore, weren’t dying as often. However,Rings of Powerexplores a point inMiddle-earth’s historyin which Elves and Men fought side by side against the Dark Lord Sauron.Rings of Powerseason 2 has already dived into this, with the Battle of Eregion claiming the lives of countless Elves. As immortal beings,the souls of these Elves were sent to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor, where they would either stay or be placed in a new body. This means some of these characters could return toRings of Power.
Elf Immortality Means Adar Could Be Reincarnated In Rings Of Power
Death Isn’t The End For Elves
Among those who died in the Siege of Eregion and its aftermath is Adar, the “father” of the Orcs. Though technically an Uruk himself,Adar was unique among his children in that he was born an Elf. He would have been among the very first to live in Middle-earth, but he was captured and corrupted by the Dark Lord Morgoth to the point he became something new entirely.Rings of Powercame up with the term “Moriondor” to describe the type of being Adar was. However, the events of the season 2 finale proved that this character was still an Elf to his core.
SinceAdar has an Elf’s soul, he should technically be sent to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor with his kin. So, it’s within the realm of possibility that he would be reincarnated into a new body and either live out the Ages in Valinor or be sent back to Middle-earth. Adar is an original character toRings of Power, not an invention of Tolkien. Therefore, he is something of a wild card in which Prime Video can do anything they want.If the writers want to bring Adar back, they could—the big question here would revolve around whether this villain actually deserves an Elvish reincarnation.
Adar’s Soul Would Be Difficult For The Valar To Judge
Does Adar Still Count As An Elf?
Not every Elf is reincarnated in Tolkien canon. Many spend the Ages resting in the Halls of Mandos or else wandering through them in misery. The Elves must pass the Valar’s judgment to be placed in a new body. Individuals likeGlorfindel, Luthien, and Finrod had done such great and selfless deeds during their time that they were granted reincarnationby the Valar (and, by extension, the god Eru Ilúvatar) and were permitted to either return to Middle-earth or live in comfort in Valinor with their loved ones. If Adar’s soul were sent to the Halls of Mandos, he would be a tougher case to judge.
What Happens When Elves Die In The Lord Of The Rings
Lord of the Rings' Elves are among the immortal beings of Middle-earth, but Rings of Power proves that they can still die - so what happens to them?
Based on Adar’s account of what happened to him before there was even a sun in the sky, he went willingly with Morgoth because he was promised children. This would indicate that Adar does not deserve reincarnation since he, on some level, chose his fate. Still,the Elf had no idea the terrible evil he would be poisoned by. In a way, Adar was a victim. He did horrible things inRings of Powerand was responsible for the deaths at Eregion. However, in the end, placing Nenya on his finger temporarily purged him of darkness, and he returned the Ring of Power to Galadriel.
The fact that Adar’s final act in Middle-earth was to give Galadriel back the weapon that would be so important in the fight against Sauron could qualify him for a second chance in the eyes of the Valar.
The fact that Adar’s final act in Middle-earth was to give Galadriel back the weapon that would be so important in the fight against Sauroncouldqualify him for a second chance in the eyes of the Valar. What’s more, the things he did inRings of Powerwere done out of love for the “children” Morgoth had given him. So,it’s certainly possible that the Elf Nenya revealed in the season 2 finale will again appearin future episodes.
The Return Of Adar Would Be A Wild Twist (That Might Go Too Far)
Adar’s Story Might Be Better Off Left Where It Is
WhileRings of Powercould justify bringing Adar back, that doesn’t necessarily mean it should go through with it. The most notable case in which aLord of the Ringscharactermade a triumphant return from the dead was Gandalf inTwo Towers, and placing Adar in a similar situation might be a little much. Gandalf was a primordial being destined to save Middle-earth—Adar being placed on the same tier might cheapen the concept of death in Middle-earth.
Galadriel said that her husband Celeborn was killed in the First Age.Rings ofPowermay plan to bring him back to Middle-earth as another reincarnated Elf (though this never happened in Tolkien canon since Celeborn never died).
Instead, ifRings of Poweris going to reference an Elf’s ability to be reincarnated, it might be better to do so with a canon character that Tolkien himself already brought back to life. Galadriel’s entire arch revolves around her grief for her brother Finrod, who, in canon, has been living happily in Valinor since he was reincarnated by the Valar. Additionally, fans have been eager to see Glorfindel, who also died in the First Age but was sent back to Middle-earth in a new body. These might be more impactful and less bizarre options forRings of Powerto focus on going forward.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
