As a dedicated admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” I can genuinely say that Amazon’s series, “The Rings of Power,” has been a dream come true for many of us. It’s been an absolute joy to see characters from the books that didn’t make it into Peter Jackson’s films, such as the enigmatic Tom Bombadil. In “The Fellowship of the Ring” book, Bombadil is instrumental in rescuing the hobbits from Old Man Willow and The Barrow-wights. His appearance in Season 2 of “The Rings of Power” has been a delightful surprise for long-time LOTR fans like me who missed him in the movies.
In the Amazon series “The Rings of Power” (ROP), beloved figures from “Lord of the Rings” such as Elrond and Galadriel are key players. However, there are other significant characters from the original trilogy that have yet to emerge in ROP. With Season 3 confirmed and an additional two seasons anticipated, here is a list of five “Lord of the Rings” characters who may not be part of ROP.
1) Goldberry
Goldberry, who is Tom Bombadil’s wife and also known as the River-daughter, plays a significant role in his story. In the books, she is often seen with Tom, warmly greeting guests, just as she did when she welcomed the hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring.
In the Return of the King (ROP), Goldberry’s voice guides Gandalf (The Stranger) to Bomdadil’s home where Tom serves as his mentor. Although Goldberry is primarily heard and not visually present, and Tom appears to have completed his role as a teacher for Gandalf, it seems improbable that she will manifest physically in the story.
2) Legolas
In the epic tale of Middle Earth, Legolas, a cherished character from The Fellowship of the Ring, hails from the fellowship. He is the offspring of Thranduil, the Elvenking who rules over Mirkwood, and was dispatched to represent the elves within this esteemed group. In contrast, The Rings of Power is set in Tolkien’s Second Age. Although Thranduil lived during the Second Age, the precise birthdate for Legolas isn’t mentioned in the narrative. However, scholars generally agree that Legolas was born either early or midway through the Third Age. Some believe his birth occurred at the beginning of the Third Age, while others suggest it took place around the year 1,000 of the Third Age after Thranduil assumed his kingship.
In other words, since Legolas was born during the Third Age, it’s impossible for him to be present in “The Rings of Power.” However, there has been speculation that his father Thranduil might appear. Notably, Legolas is best known for his role in “The Hobbit.
3) Saruman
The depiction of wizards in “The Rings of Power” has been a subject of debate since its start, given that it was only at the end of Season 2 that we learned The Stranger character is actually Gandalf. This suggests that the show’s creators may have deviated from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original timeline by introducing wizards earlier than in his writings. However, since Saruman is a well-known Istari (wizard), it’s plausible he could make an appearance in “The Rings of Power”. It’s unlikely though, as the series already has two wizards – The Stranger (Gandalf) and the Dark Wizard. The latter might be a non-canonical character, but since the show’s wizards are not strictly adhering to Tolkien’s timeline, he could potentially be one of the Blue Wizards mentioned by Tolkien as part of the five Istari after Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast the Brown.
Tolkien’s writings don’t provide many details about Alatar and Pallando, the Blue Wizards. However, he does mention that they vanished into the Eastern lands. The antagonist in the final part of the series dwells in Rhûn, a region at the easternmost tip of Middle-earth. Although the show doesn’t explicitly confirm that this villain is one of the Blue Wizards, it would be an interesting connection to make. However, we know for certain that the villain isn’t Saruman, as stated by the showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. This makes it unlikely for him to appear in the final part of the series, given that there are already two wizards present.
4) Glorfindel
In the style of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic world, Glorfindel – a character who, like Tom Bombadil, plays a crucial yet limited role in The Fellowship of the Ring – rescues the hobbits from the Nazgûl at the Ford of Bruien near Rivendell. Fans eagerly anticipate his appearance in the upcoming series, ROP, as this part was filled by Arwen in the films. However, Tolkien devoted more time to Glorfindel’s story in his other writings, making him a complex and intriguing character. Notably, Tolkien wrote two stories for Glorfindel: one portraying him as an elf lord of Gondolin who perished during the fall of the city that marked the end of the First Age, but not before slaying a Balrog, making him one of the rare beings to achieve such a feat. In the Second Age, Tolkien brought Glorfindel back to life, imbuing him with even greater power as an elf.
However, due to the intricacy of his tale and his formidable might, it might prove challenging for him to fit within the Realms of Power (ROP). The convoluted nature of his story may not align seamlessly with the ROP narrative. Furthermore, his power could potentially disrupt the balance by resolving issues too swiftly, which might diminish the suspense and drama inherent in the ROP stories.
5) Celeborn
In the upcoming series The Rings of Power (ROP), it would be fitting to include Celeborn, who was married to Galadriel, the main character. Although Galadriel mentions that she “lost” him in ROP, his death is not explicitly shown. Similar to how Tolkien revived Glorfindel in the stories, there’s a chance Celeborn could make an appearance in ROP as well. However, it’s possible that he won’t be included because Galadriel has been depicted as a solitary warrior throughout the past two seasons of the show. Introducing her husband might not align with this portrayal of her character thus far.
In the epic tale of “Lord of the Rings,” while Celeborn is equally powerful to Galadriel, the author, J.R.R. Tolkien, tends to give a more prominent role to Galadriel. However, leaving out Celeborn entirely might stir controversy among fans, considering he’s Galadriel’s husband, fits within the timeline, and there are no rights-related concerns. Yet, many fans suggest that Celeborn could potentially be included in future portrayals.
A possible way to rephrase it in natural and easy-to-read language: Fans might find reason to be optimistic about seeing certain characters in “The Rings of Power” because the show is open to creative deviations from Tolkien’s original timeline. For instance, since Gandalf and Legolas are popular favorites from “Lord of the Rings,” they could potentially make an appearance, perhaps as young elves.
In essence, the main obstacle for characters from “The Rings of Power” to make an appearance is a matter of rights. Amazon holds the rights to both “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, its appendices, and “The Hobbit,” which means characters such as Goldberry, Saruman, Glorfindel, and Celeborn could potentially be included in “The Rings of Power,” given they appear in “The Lord of the Rings.” However, whether these characters align with the vision of J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay is a separate question altogether.
Which LOTR characters would you like to see in The Rings of Power?
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2025-08-03 05:13