When season 3 of The Ring of Power starts, expect more than just rounded shapes to appear – a new character will complicate Galadriel’s already messy romantic life, turning it into a four-way situation. While J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is famous for its epic battles and adventure, romance wasn’t a major focus. Aside from Aragorn and Arwen’s relationship, the looming danger of Sauron leaves little room for love stories, and the closest thing to a love triangle in the original books involves Éowyn’s ambition to become queen.
Don’t get me wrong, Middle-earth is full of incredible love stories! Tolkien built this whole world with some seriously devoted couples woven into its history. You’ve got Beren and Lúthien – their love is legendary, they literally overcame death to be together. And then there’s Eärendil and Elwing, who are basically the parents of Elrond and totally meant for each other. Plus, I always loved the story of Melian and Thingol; it was a powerful connection between a Maia and an elf.
The Rings of Power leans into the more hopeful and romantic side of Tolkien’s world, emphasizing love stories within Middle-earth. Over its first two seasons, the show has featured compelling relationships like Arondir and Bronwyn bridging the gap between elves and humans, Durin IV and Disa demonstrating a loving marriage, and Elendil trying to maintain professionalism while clearly attracted to Míriel.
The Rings Of Power’s Love Triangle Arrived In Season 2
As a huge fan of Tolkien, I have to say the romance between Galadriel and Sauron in The Rings of Power has been the most talked-about – and honestly, most divisive – storyline so far. It’s fascinating because she clearly developed feelings for him before she even knew he was actually Sauron! And even after learning the truth, she struggled to let go of those feelings. It’s pretty clear Sauron was mostly just manipulating her, playing to her ambitions and trying to get her on his side to rule Middle-earth together – a classic ego boost for him, really.
Galadriel already faced huge challenges in Middle-earth, and season 2 of The Rings of Power added another surprising twist: a tender kiss from Elrond while they were both held captive by Adar.
Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel, and the creators of The Rings of Power have stated that the kiss between her character and Elrond wasn’t romantic. However, the scene itself could easily be interpreted as having deeper meaning. The way it was filmed – including the camera angles and music – along with earlier clues suggesting Elrond had hidden feelings, strongly implies he desires more than just friendship with Galadriel. It would take a lot of effort to view that kiss as simply platonic.
Elrond’s opposition to Galadriel wielding a Ring of Power creates a tricky situation. While his caution is ultimately proven correct by events in The Lord of the Rings, his objections also seem rooted in personal feelings, almost as if he resents the connection Galadriel and Sauron share through the Rings. This tension is how the romantic rivalry in The Rings of Power began to develop.
Jamie Campbell Bower Plays Celeborn In The Rings Of Power Season 3
If you’re falling for someone complicated – like, say, a powerful villain – and unexpectedly kissed by your close friend, finding out your supposedly deceased husband is actually alive is definitely not helpful.
In The Rings of Power season 3, Galadriel’s husband returns from the dead.
Viewers of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films will recognize Celeborn as the fair-haired elf who often stands beside Galadriel in Lothlórien, though he doesn’t have many lines. He isn’t a major character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books either, so it was surprising when the first season of The Rings of Power revealed that Celeborn had been missing and was believed to be dead since the ancient War of Wrath.
Given his role in The Lord of the Rings, it wasn’t surprising to see Celeborn appear in the Prime Video series. And he’s chosen a particularly difficult time to do so.
What Celeborn’s Return Means For Galadriel’s Stories With Sauron & Elrond
In season two of The Rings of Power, Galadriel is grappling with guilt over her relationship with Sauron – both for failing to recognize his danger and for developing feelings for him. This guilt could intensify when she discovers her husband, Celeborn, has been alive this whole time. The big questions are: will she be honest about what happened with “Halbrand” (Sauron in disguise)? Will Celeborn’s return end any remaining feelings Galadriel has for the Dark Lord? And will Sauron specifically target Celeborn, not just as a powerful elf, but because of his connection to Galadriel?
Celeborn also has some explaining to do. A significant amount of time—over a thousand years in Tolkien’s original stories—passed between the defeat of Morgoth and the creation of the One Ring. Even though the timeline in The Rings of Power isn’t quite that long, many years have still gone by since Celeborn vanished. He’ll need a convincing reason for not returning home, and if he deliberately stayed away from Galadriel, it could create even more distance between them.
Based on what the actors and creators of The Rings of Power have said, it doesn’t seem likely that Galadriel and Elrond will become romantically involved. However, fans are very curious to see how Elrond will react when Celeborn returns from being presumed dead. Will he be happy to reunite with an old friend, or heartbroken knowing it likely ends any possibility of a relationship with Galadriel?
It’s hard to say if the relationships involve a complex four-way connection or two separate romantic pairings, but unless some unexpected feelings develop, we’ll assume it’s the former.
Celeborn’s Return Is Good News For Canon Loyalists
Throughout its first two seasons, The Rings of Power has taken some liberties with established Tolkien lore, which hasn’t pleased everyone. While the return of Celeborn doesn’t guarantee that season 3 will be a completely faithful adaptation, it does suggest the show is moving in that direction.
The Prime Video series shines when it builds upon existing Tolkien lore instead of changing it. The developing relationship between Galadriel and Celeborn is a great example of the kind of story Amazon’s series should focus on – their marriage is mentioned in Tolkien’s writings, but isn’t fully detailed. Season 3 of The Rings of Power can expand on their love story while still staying true to what fans already know.
2026-07-25 22:58