The Lord of the Rings – Rings of Power Season: 4 stupid missteps by actually good characters

The second season of Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” shows the devastating effects of Sauron’s return from the first season. While viewers hope that the characters will now do everything they can to prevent Sauron from coming back to power, they make one mistake after another.

We already know from JRR Tolkien’s books that Sauron will rise to power during the Second Age of Middle Earth, so it doesn’t make much sense to assume that the characters in the series can prevent this. However, in the second season we see that some of them make ill-considered decisions far too easily and play right into Sauron’s hands. The missteps of these characters make it difficult to root for them!

Galadriel hardly takes responsibility and plays directly into Sauron’s hands

Already in the first season of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Galadriel made devastating mistakes. Unfortunately, these mistakes get even worse in the second season. Even after betraying her so badly, Halbrand doesn’t even consider that Elrond is right about the Rings of Power being corrupted. She ignores his hints and pushes for the use of the rings far too quickly.

What’s particularly frustrating is that she doesn’t even show any real interest in finding Sauron. Although Galadriel knows how cunning and dangerous Sauron can be, she doesn’t consider that he might intercept her messages to Celebrimbor. She also takes little responsibility for her actions when she speaks to Gil-Galad and Elrond.

Her actions make it difficult to root for her, even though she is clearly one of the central characters. After Galadriel was responsible for Sauron’s victories in the first season, her missteps in the second season are only worse.

Durin’s wife Disa supports the downfall of the dwarves

We already know from the main films of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” that the dwarves are bringing about their own downfall through the rings. They allow themselves to be corrupted by the rings, dig too deep into the mines and thereby awaken the Balrog, which will plunge the dwarves of Khazad-dum into ruin.

Although it is easy to root for Disa because she is likeable and only has the good of her people and certainly no evil in mind, she makes disastrous mistakes in the second season. Despite Durin IV’s distrust of Annatar and the Rings, his wife initially seems inclined to listen to his concerns. She also urges her husband to speak to his father about the Rings of Power and is on board with the mining project herself.

Círdan is arrogant and corrupted by the power of the rings

Círdan was supposed to be one of the wisest and most honorable elves in Middle Earth. Unfortunately, we are convinced of the opposite when Elrond visits him. Círdan receives his Ring of Power by agreeing to destroy the Three for Elrond, but then unfortunately changes his mind at the last moment.

The audience is given the impression that Círdan is corrupted by the influence of the rings and is therefore unable to make the right decisions. Unfortunately, this also plays a direct role in Sauron’s plans. His decision also seems like a betrayal of Elrond, which makes his character seem less sympathetic.

Gil-Galad is still a terrible leader

Already in the first season of “The Rings of Power”, the High King Gil-galad went from being a great character to one who is easily outwitted. Tolkien’s books actually describe him as intelligent, strong and strategic. There, for example, he distrusts Annatar, while in the series he does not suspect Halbrand or anyone else of deceit.

Gil-Galad also rarely listens to Elrond’s concerns about the Rings of Power and decides all too quickly that they are the only way to save the elves and Middle Earth. He also lets Galadriel off the hook far too easily for her mistakes, but instead lets her continue to carry out important tasks. Overall, you can’t really trust his character in the second season. With his actions, he may have extended the time of his elves, but he accepted that the other inhabitants of Middle Earth will face a devastating fate.

Every Thursday until October 3, 2024, a new episode of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 2 awaits you on Amazon Prime Video.