The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerstar Leon Wadham explains why one character in the show should never be given a ring. Taking place during the Second Age of Middle-earth, Prime Video’s epic fantasy series adapts the works of J.R.R. Tolkien’s belovedLord of the Ringssource material, chronicling Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) rise to power.The Rings of Powerseason 2, which premiered on the streamer at the end of August, has thus far featured Sauron forging numerous rings with Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) in Eregion, as, elsewhere, Númenor experiences unrest.
In a recent interview withScreen Rantas new episodes continue to air, Wadham, who plays Númenórean nobleman Kemen, argues that it would be disastrous if his character was ever given a titular Ring of Power. The actor points out that,even without any rings corrupting the leaders of Númenor, the city is already being torn apart from within, something his character, in particular, is playing a major role in. Read his justification below:
“I feel like things are going so badly already, don’t give Kemen a ring. That will be a disaster. Celebrimbor says earlier this season when the idea of giving rings to men is even raised by Sauron that that would be a terrible idea. And I think watching what’s happening in Númenor this season, there’s no doubt as to what he means. If we’re already in this shape without them, where will we be when they arrive?”
What Kemen Getting A Ring Of Power Would Mean For Númenor
The Rings Of Power’s Great City Of Men Is Struggling
Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 5.
Though Númenor was thriving inThe Rings of Powerseason 1, season 2 has started to change this narrative, showing this great city of Men begin to fall, an important event in Tolkien’s source material. As has been seen in the episodes thus far, Queen Regent Míriel’s (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) power has been called into question, particularly after the reveal that she consults a palantír. With a large portion of the populace, encouraged by Kemen’s street-level actions, now moving to support Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle), the city is now seemingly divided into two camps.
Kemen has been presented thus far as an antagonist, and episode 5 cements that, if he had a ring, things in Númenor would get far worse. After interrupting a burial ritual, which Elendil (Lloyd Owen) is attending, a scuffle breaks out, andthe encounter ends with Kemen cowardly stabbing Valandil (Alex Tarrant) in the back.
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The fall of theMiddle-earth city of Númenoris already on the horizon, and Kemen has proven himself a character not worthy of the power he does have.Giving him a ring would only exacerbate his negative qualities, ultimately accelerating the destruction of a once-powerful city, and with it, a major downturn for the race of Men.
In the season 2 episodes so far, Kemen has displayed very few positive qualities, meaning a ring in his hands could be particularly destructive to those around him.
Our Take On Kemen’s Role In The Rings Of Power Season 2
Kemen Could Be Key To One Character’s Development
As has already been seen with theDwarves' Rings of Power, with the slow corruption of King Durin III (Peter Mullan), these rings take a being’s worst qualities and bring them to the surface. King Durin III may have been a stern and uncompromising Dwarf to begin with, but he could also be thoughtful and just. In the season 2 episodes so far, Kemen has displayed very few positive qualities, meaning a ring in his hands could be particularly destructive to those around him.
While it may be interesting to see new sides of Kemen fleshed out,he currently serves a clear function in the story as an antagonist, and he could end up being the catalyst for an interesting storyline involing Elendil, a far more important characterin the grand scheme of things. Though Kemen has so far been a frustrating character to watch inThe Rings of Power, the impending fall of Númenor means his villainous role in the story is likely not over yet.
New episodes ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 release on Thursdays on Prime Video.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
