'Rings of Power' Viewers Unhappy Over Series Reveal
Celeborn's Reaction
deleted scene from the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring (2001) #TheRingsOfPower pic.twitter.com/R0pm7Hpkzt
— jar jireh binks 🍩🥯 (@sulcusandjirehs) October 8, 2022
Fans joked about how Celeborn would react to this storyline when he returned to the world of the living. Judging by Tolkien's writing, Celebron should only be "dead" for a brief time while his spirit is cleansed in Valinor. At that point, he could choose to resume life on Middle-earth with a physical form identical to his previous body, and all of his memories intact.
prevnextMemes
— The non-RCF Corey Chapman (@CoreyChapman) October 8, 2022
— The non-RCF Corey Chapman (@CoreyChapman) October 8, 2022
The awkwardness of Celeborn's return became the fodder for an extensive new brand of memes.
prevnextAwe
I really wouldn't put it past the writers of this shitshow to do something like that. Galadriel is pretty much the villain of the show anyway at this point.
— Ping Pohng (@PingPohng) October 10, 2022
Fans were simply awestruck that the screenwriters would create romantic tension between Galadriel and Sauron. Even if they understood the parameters of Elven death in Tolkien's world, many felt that Celeborn's death was distractingly contrived to make room for this surprise romance.
prevnextFan Theories
What if Halbrand became Sauron because he sees Galadriel reunite with Celeborn who she thought was dead and that’s when his heart is broken and then turns to evil #TheRingsOfPower
— Linda in HR (@LindaInHR) October 8, 2022
But there’s writings from Tolkien that said during the second age there was a part he tried to redeem himself and start over for a little bit but then relapsed again
— Linda in HR (@LindaInHR) October 8, 2022
Many fans got right to work crafting theories about how this turn of events could be a dramatization of the broader arc described by Tolkien. Because his writings about the Second Age were so mythicized, many felt that this kind of humanization was an appropriate way to add suspense for the sake of television.
prevnextExplanations
He can be dead, there's nothing final about death for an elf. His spirit would just end up reconstituted in valinor and he could journey east to middle earth again when necessary 🤷♂️
— Ryan Cross (@Postfactual_Fun) October 9, 2022
Of course, fans went over every possible explanation for Celeborn's disappearance. Many felt like this was where it became important to understand the long lifespan of elves and how it might change their psychology.
prevnextHeart of the Issue
According to Tolkien, Sauron perceived Galadriel as his biggest enemy in the second age (as explained in UT). Not Gil-Galad, Celebrimbor, Glorfindel, Elrond, Celeborn or Cirdan, nobody in Númenor.
So the showrunners came up with a “how” and “why story” and tbh I love it.
— Eärendil (@whitecachalot) October 8, 2022
Defenders of the show pointed out that one of the key narratives it had to explore was the relationship between Galadriel and Sauron, and why their enmity had become so fearsome. To that end, this romance struck many as a great concept, even if the execution was inconsistent.
prevnextChemistry
i know halbrand probably has to either betray her or die so celeborn can come back into the picture but.... I CANT LOSE THEM pic.twitter.com/hyxulguDgP
— leah ♡ wtf. (@TELERlS) October 9, 2022
celeborn had better be hot
— wicked vik 🎃 @ lotr:rop spoilers 🕯 (@fightyoursorrow) October 7, 2022
Finally, many of the show's defenders also argued that the chemistry between Clark and Vickers was strong enough to justify their characters' unexpected romantic tryst. They hoped that, if Celeborn was brought into the show, the actor cast to play him could live up.
prev