As a seasoned gamer and avid fan of The Lord of the Rings universe, I must say that Episode 5 of Season 2 of Rings of Power was nothing short of exhilarating! The Númenor storyline has always been intriguing, but this episode took it to another level.
Without giving away key plot points from Episode 5 of Season 2 in The Rings of Power, here’s a reminder to only read on if you’ve already seen it. If you haven’t and wish to watch this fascinating prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tale, The Lord of the Rings, it’s available for streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription.
In most instances of “The Rings of Power”, Kemen has worked behind the scenes, following in his father Pharazôn’s footsteps. However, in Episode 5 of Season 2, he took his most significant action to date by attempting to govern the people of Númenor and expel them from their sacred site. This power grab resulted in him fatally stabbing Valandil, a significant character, in cold blood. Recently, Leon Wadham, who portrays Kemen, shared his experience filming this critical scene and how it elicited a variety of reactions from him at once.
Besides discussing interviews for the first three episodes of “Rings of Power,” I also spoke individually with the cast members from Númenor about Episode 5. Naturally, I inquired about Wadham’s thoughts on Kemen’s most significant scene to date and his emotions during filming it. In response, he disclosed a unique bond he shares with his co-star, Alex Tarrant who portrays Valandil, that deeply resonated with him emotionally.
In the same breath, I found myself acting alongside Alex Tarrant, who portrays Valandil, a fellow drama school alumnus of mine. We’ve been friends for over a decade now, crossing paths in various projects here and there without ever having shared scenes together. This season was a joy to work with him, but when I realized that our collaboration would end after I betrayed him, I felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was heartbroken because I admire his performance as the character; on the other, I was thrilled, as it promised an exciting exit for my character.
The two actors hail from New Zealand, where Season 1 was filmed, and both graduated from the Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. As Wadham stated, they’ve been friends for quite some time and have collaborated on various projects in the past. However, until now, they hadn’t appeared together in a single scene.
In this story, while Valandil protected Elendil and their allies, Kemen, from Wadham, sought to manipulate them. The situation escalated into a tense conflict, and ultimately, Valandil chose not to kill Kemen at Elendil’s request. However, in a betrayal, Kemen struck Valandil from behind, causing him grave harm.
The scene was packed with intense action, a rarity for the cast of ‘The Rings of Power’, which made it particularly thrilling for Wadham. This aspect of the production excited him, as he shared with me.
Alex and I grasped the outline of the story, [we] recognized the divide we were on, regarding the struggle for power between the kingsman and the faithful. It was an additional joy, amidst all the complexity, to collaborate with Alex. Such collaboration added a unique sense of fulfillment to tasks that can be unpleasant, complex, and potentially hazardous. There’s an excitement in executing them that makes these experiences even more vivid.
Wadham and I had a lengthy discussion about this particular scene. Besides expressing his own mix of excitement to work with a friend and sadness over not sharing the screen with him on this show later, he also considered the viewers’ reactions. He pointed out that fans are quite fond of Valandil, and he anticipates they will be “completely enraged” by his character’s fate.
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Eventually, the Kemen actor expressed that filming this particular scene was an unparalleled joy for him. This was due to the fact that it represented a gripping pivotal moment unlike any other he had encountered previously. To add to the delight, his main co-star was a longstanding friend, which not only intensified the experience but also added an emotional layer to it. In his own words, the excitement they shared during the shoot made the scene seem “more vibrant,” and this palpable energy seemed to leap off the screen.
Currently, attention is shifting towards understanding how this pivotal event influences Kemen and his standing in Númenor. This season has introduced several intriguing relationships and power struggles – such as the dynamics between Galadriel and Adar, Sauron and Celebrimbor, and now, we can include Kemen and the faithful, as we anticipate Elendil and Míriel’s responses to Valandil’s demise.
To find out what transpires post this critical juncture, consider tuning in to the latest episodes of “The Rings of Power” – a highly acclaimed series – available on Amazon every Thursday via their streaming service.
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2024-09-12 21:37