The Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No Sense

The Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No Sense

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  • How Does Celeborn’s Story Compare Between the Series and the Books?
  • Will Celeborn Ever Appear in The Rings of Power?

As a long-time Tolkien fan and scholar, I find myself intrigued by the creative liberties taken by the writers of The Rings of Power. While it is always exciting to see new interpretations of beloved characters, altering the course of events that have such a profound impact on the lore can be somewhat disconcerting.


When dedicated followers of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” found out that Amazon Prime Video was planning to develop a prequel series called “The Rings of Power“, set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, many were thrilled, even though some harbored concerns about the forthcoming adaptation. Although this does not necessarily hinder the possibility of renewing “The Rings of Power“, ardent fans of Tolkien’s works are still perplexed by certain key events from the books.

In simpler terms, “The Rings of Power,” a series that takes place thousands of years before the events in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and centers around the creation of the rings, has been adapted from Tolkien’s additional writings. However, during Season 1, only three Elven rings have been introduced so far. Although praised for its stunning visual narrative, “The Rings of Power” has left some “Lord of the Rings” lore fans disappointed because they’ve noticed several alterations to the original story.

To address your query directly, let me rephrase it like this:

Is Celeborn Dead in The Rings of Power?

The Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No SenseThe Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No SenseThe Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No Sense

In the world of The Rings of Power, there’s much debate among fans about what happened to Celeborn, the noble elf lord of Lothlorien, who some believe may have perished. So far in the series, Celeborn has not made an appearance, except for a mention by Galadriel (played by Morfydd Clark) during the seventh episode of season one, “The Eye,” when the eruption of Orodruin (now known as Mount Doom) forces the remaining survivors to seek refuge.

During the episode, Galadriel traverses the distorted landscape alongside Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), who initiates a chat, enquiring if she has ever lost someone to Morgoth and Sauron (Charlie Vickers). As she recounts the apparent demise of her brother, Finrod (Will Fletcher), she hints at Celeborn’s disappearance as well, implying that darkness claimed him. However, Galadriel hasn’t laid eyes on Celeborn since he departed for war, and she may believe him dead after so many years. Yet, in such fantastical narratives, if no corpse is found, it’s best to assume the character is still alive, especially when considering the themes of immortality often present in these genre productions.

Discussing eternal life, J.R.R. Tolkien clearly mentioned in his works that Elves are indeed immortal, as depicted more vividly in The Silmarillion, a collection of myths and tales partially penned and revised by his son, Christopher Tolkien. As per The Silmarillion, the spirit of an Elf, referred to as fëa, departs from its body and moves towards the “Halls of Mandos.” Here, it can choose to be reborn with a new, identical physical form. This rebirth occurs based on their desire to return to their bodily existence.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I’d like to share some insights about Celeborn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth lore. Despite the possibility of Celeborn meeting his physical end in his struggle against Sauron during the Second Age, it seems unlikely that he would perish permanently under such circumstances. This is because the epic tale of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, unfolding during the Third Age, clearly depicts Galadriel and Celeborn having a post-war encounter.

How Does Celeborn’s Story Compare Between the Series and the Books?

The Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No Sense

It’s no real shock that “The Rings of Power” hasn’t stuck entirely to the novels, considering that much about the Second Age remains undetailed. As a result, the series often relies on references from Appendix B, “Tale of Years,” and other appendices of “The Lord of the Rings.” However, Galadriel’s statement about losing Celeborn is a twist you wouldn’t find in the original books.

In simpler terms, Celeborn, who was a prince from the Sindarin lineage of Doriath during the First Age, wed Galadriel. Though their roles were minor in this era, they later had a daughter named Celebrian during the Second Age. This daughter hasn’t been seen yet in “The Rings of Power.” The family eventually moved to Eregion, governed by Celebrimbor, who was the grandson of Fëanor and Galadriel’s distant cousin. They stayed there for a period but ultimately separated when Galadriel decided to move to Khazad-dum, home of the Wood-elves, while Celeborn remained in Eregion due to his animosity towards them.

In Tolkien’s work, it is possible that Celeborn was present in the same timeframe as Sauron manipulating Celebrimbor to create the Rings of Power. However, Amazon’s The Rings of Power series rearranges the sequence of ring creation, with the Elven rings being made last instead of first. It is important to note that this series may further modify significant events from the original books, such as Celeborn’s presence during this time period.

After the War between Elves and Sauron ends, Galadriel rejoins her partner for another journey to find a tranquil home as a family. This marks the end of Celeborn’s story in the Second Age, but the creators of The Rings of Power appear to have a different perspective. By suggesting Celeborn’s possible demise, they are altering the entire mythology of Tolkien’s works and contradicting the character portrayed in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Will Celeborn Ever Appear in The Rings of Power?

The Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No SenseThe Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No SenseThe Rings of Power Has Yet to Feature Celeborn, and It Makes No Sense

As of now, since Celeborn hasn’t made an appearance in “The Rings of Power” storyline, it’s premature to predict his part in future happenings, provided he comes back into the plot. Although Galadriel laments that she lost her husband in war and never found his body, this doesn’t confirm his death. If Celeborn is still alive, there’s a possibility we might encounter him in upcoming episodes or seasons, with the writers potentially creating a dramatic climax by revealing his survival.

On the other hand, fan theories suggest that Celeborn may have been held captive by Sauron and would either reunite with Galadriel in the future or become a wanderer similar to The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), with no memory of his past whatsoever. In any case, given the current course of The Rings of Power, it is too early to know what Celeborn’s fate will look like, and with five seasons planned, there is plenty of time to bring him back. The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.

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2024-09-22 19:01