The first season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showcased an extensive ensemble of characters, some derived from J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and others created exclusively for the series.
One of the original characters was Arondir, performed by Ismael Cruz Córdova. Arondir was an Elf sent to monitor the Southlands, a territory of Middle-earth that would ultimately transform into Mordor.
In the First Age, the inhabitants of the Southlands formed an alliance with Morgoth, prompting the Elves to deploy warriors to prevent their reversion to malevolent behavior. Arondir disclosed little of his history.
Throughout the inaugural season, the sole information he disclosed was his birthplace in Beleriand and his previous occupation as a “grower,” likely referring to a farmer or gardener.
Arondir made his initial appearance in the premiere of The Rings of Power, titled “A Shadow of the Past,” doing his biweekly inspection of the village known as Tirharad. He approached a tavern to inquire with the barkeep, Waldreg, whether any weird occurrences had transpired recently.
From his initial scene, it was evident that the Men of the Southlands harbored resentment towards the Elves that oversaw them. A patron of the tavern vehemently informed Arondir—whom he derisively referred to as “knife-ears”—that the alliance with Morgoth occurred over a millennium ago and that the Elves should relinquish their attachment to the past.
Waldreg exhibited a more amiable demeanor; nonetheless, he continued to withhold information from Arondir, evidently eager for the inspection to conclude expeditiously. Nevertheless, there existed one peasant with whom Arondir maintained a superior rapport.
With the onset of Season 2 of The Rings of Power, focus has shifted back to Arondir and the artistic challenges he embodies as Tolkien’s adapters endeavor to broaden his universe without compromising its essence.
The article has been extended to situate the figure within the broader framework of Tolkien’s oeuvre. The formatting has been revised to comply with CBR’s current standards.
Arondir Reflects the Era in Which He Resides
Arondir, a character uniquely created for The Rings of Power, is absent from Tolkien’s original texts, inciting discussion among fans on whether the inclusion of new characters enriches or undermines the adaptations of Middle-earth.
The series aims to examine the historical context preceding The Lord of the Rings, utilizing The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s annotations as sources. Nonetheless, these notes frequently lack a coherent narrative, necessitating substantial alterations throughout the series for effective storytelling.
The Rings of Power condenses events that originally spanned decades in Middle-earth’s extensive history into a coherent television timeline. It further elaborates on briefly referenced or unrecorded elements, including the establishment of Mordor, Sauron’s fortress.
Tolkien’s writings succinctly indicate that Mount Doom was forged by Morgoth in the First Age, and Sauron thereafter established his domain in Mordor during the Second Age. Sauron’s rise, imprisonment by Númenor, manipulation of its downfall, and ultimate return to Mordor are all streamlined in the show to fit its narrative structure.
Season 1 centers on Sauron’s duplicitous establishment of Mordor and his manipulation of the Elves to craft the Rings of Power. Arondir’s character embodies these transformations, illustrating Middle-earth’s Second Age from the perspective of a soldier assigned to the Southlands, an area fated to evolve into Mordor.
The human denizens of the Southlands, formerly allies of Morgoth, are surveilled by the Elves to avert a reversion to their previous allegiances. Arondir’s role underscores the tense relations between Elves and Men, serving as a testament to Sauron’s insidious strategies to manipulate these rifts.
The trilogy, through his perspective, offers insight into the political and social intricacies of the Second Age, while laying the groundwork for the events in The Lord of the Rings.
Arondir Involved in a Forbidden Romance
Despite their unspoken emotions, a palpable love tension existed between Arondir and Bronwyn, the healer of the local community. She presented him with seeds from the uncommon alfirin flower, which he claimed he had not encountered since childhood.
This flower was identical to that which flourished on the tombs of Rohan’s royalty in The Lord of the Rings, albeit the Rohirrim referred to it as simbelmynë. Subsequently in The Rings of Power, Arondir would sow these seeds as a component of a pre-battle ceremony.
Medhor, Arondir’s companion, cautioned him against developing romantic feelings for Bronwyn, as unions between Elves and Men invariably culminated in catastrophe. He referenced two partnerships from Tolkien’s oeuvre: Beren and Lúthien, and Tuor and Idril.
Regrettably for Arondir’s burgeoning passion, High King Gil-galad announced the conclusion of the war, stating that Elves were no longer required to oversee the Southlands.
Arondir made a final visit to Bronwyn to express his true feelings; however, before he could do so, a guy with an ailing cow arrived seeking her assistance. The bovine consumed toxic vegetation in proximity to Hordern, the village of Bronwyn’s birth. She and Arondir proceeded to the location to conduct an investigation, where they discovered only smoldering remnants.
As Bronwyn departed to alert Tirharad, Arondir investigated the subterranean passages beneath the settlement, where he was incapacitated and seized by Orcs. He awakened, shackled in chains, amidst numerous other Elves.
The Orcs were intolerant of sunshine, compelling their captives to excavate trenches for nocturnal passage. Arondir was had to fell an ancient tree obstructing their way, which profoundly distressed him, as Elves often regard nature with the highest reverence.
The Rings of Power introduced this concept in the inaugural episode, where Arondir expressed his discontent over Bronwyn’s practice of crushing flower petals to create her medication. Towards the conclusion of the episode, the Elves attempt to flee.
They almost triumphed, eliminating multiple Orcs and a voracious Warg, but Orc archers thwarted their escape effort.
Arondir Was a Good Combatant
The Orcs captured Arondir and delivered him to their leader, the corrupted Elf Adar – a character created for The Rings of Power. He liberated Arondir on the stipulation that he convey a message to the inhabitants of Tirharad: should they refuse to ally with him, he would annihilate them all.
During the journey, Arondir salvaged Bronwyn’s son Theo from a group of Orcs, creating a connection with the youngster. He conveyed Adar’s word to the inhabitants of Tirharad, who had sought safety in the once Elven watchtower of Ostirith following an Orc assault on Bronwyn’s residence.
Waldreg, a clandestine adherent of Sauron, asserted that they had no prospect of prevailing against Adar and implored the other villages to acquiesce to the proposal. Approximately fifty percent of the locals concurred with him and departed to affirm their allegiance to Adar. Arondir remained with the group to assist them in enduring the impending assault.
They sabotaged Ostirith to ensnare Adar’s men and subsequently reinforced the village. Their final and most formidable line of defense was the tavern, which housed all those unable to combat.
The people of Tirharad were predominantly untrained in warfare, and Adar’s troops significantly outnumbered them; so, they depended on subtlety and strategy to the greatest extent feasible. They erected barriers at the village entrance and ignited them with burning wagons once the Orcs had entered.
This caused negligible damage, although it sufficiently impeded their progress, allowing archers positioned on the roofs to commence targeting them. Arondir demonstrated the swiftness and precision for which Elves were renowned in The Lord of the Rings.
Upon the Orcs’ arrival to the tavern, as they attempted to breach the door with a battering ram, other villagers emerged from their concealment and launched an ambush on them. Arondir just escaped death at the hands of a formidable Orc brute, but Bronwyn intervened to save him. The peasants of Tirharad triumphed in the war despite overwhelming challenges.
Arondir observed that the majority of the deceased adversaries were not Orcs; they were the peasants who had allied with Adar. This was a profoundly distressing news, since it indicated that they had not only slain their erstwhile neighbors but also that Adar’s Orc army remained virtually unscathed.
Arondir Saved Bronwyn’s Life
They had little time to figure out this, since the second wave of Adar’s men subsequently arrived. Orc archers commenced eliminating the civilians and shot Bronwyn in the back. The survivors withdrew to the bar, where Arondir, assisted by her son, administered healing to Bronwyn; however, the Orcs quickly infiltrated the premises.
Adar menaced Bronwyn, prompting Theo to relinquish the desired magic Orc Sigil Hilt. Nonetheless, Adar commanded his Orcs to massacre the villagers. At the moment when hope seems extinguished, Galadriel and the Númenóreans made their entrance. They exterminated the Orcs and apprehended Adar for interrogation.
In the episode “Udûn,” when Theo inquires about Galadriel, Arondir responds, “Commander of the Northern Armies,” conveying his admiration for her.
Although victorious in battle, Adar fulfilled his objective by clandestinely providing the Orc Sigil Hilt to Waldreg, who then employed it to instigate the eruption of Mount Doom. Fire and ash descended upon the Southlands, converting it into Mordor.
This devastated Tirharad, resulting in casualties among both the inhabitants and Númenóreans. Arondir’s final appearance occurred in the season’s penultimate episode, “The Eye.” Notwithstanding their substantial losses, he found solace in the survival of Bronwyn and Theo through the struggle.
Despite Prime Video providing few information regarding the second season of The Rings of Power, Córdova is confirmed to reprise his role as Arondir. He will probably join Bronwyn when she guides the remnants of her people to Pelargir, a region that will ultimately become part of Gondor.
Although Arondir is not a character from The Lord of the Rings, his valor, empathy, and resourcefulness rendered him one of the most captivating figures in the inaugural season of The Rings of Power.
Experience the intricate narrative of Middle-earth through Arondir’s adventure in The Rings of Power. Explore his challenges, illicit love affair, and influence in forging the Second Age. Remain informed about Season 2 and all matters related to Tolkien—visit our website for the most recent insights and additional enthralling narratives!
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