Full spoilers follow. The rings of power Season 2 episode 7.
It took six episodes to get there, but The rings of power Season 2 has finally arrived at its most anticipated battle: The Siege of Eregion. The only problem is that, despite the series creators calling it “the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted,” no one talks about the brutal and harrowing fight for the elven city.
“What? Why?” I hear you ask. Because everyone is talking about a controversial scene in Season 2, Episode 7, titled ‘Doomed to Die,’ involving Elrond and Galadriel. And when I say this scene in the final chapter of Amazon’s prequel series is controversial, I mean it.
Before we begin, one last word of warning: Major spoilers follow for The rings of powerThe newest episode of 's, so bookmark this page to watch later if you haven't seen it yet.
What happens between Elrond and Galadriel in The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7?
I'll get straight to the point: they kiss. Yes, two of them. The Lord of the RingsThe most iconic elves kiss in a gesture that, when I first watched the episode 7 weeks ago, I immediately knew how divisive it would be. Now, before you get all worked up, grab your pitchfork and join the crowd chanting for The rings of powerThe Walking Dead creators, let me give you some context as to why the couple is kissing.
As you may know, Galadriel was captured by Adar in Episode 4, and while it's clear that he wishes to “ally” with the elves in one last attempt to destroy Sauron for good, he's also evidently using her as leverage as part of his master plan.
So when Elrond, Gil-galad, and an elven cavalry force arrive from Lindon to aid Eregion and stop Adar’s forces from sacking the besieged city, Adar uses his wild card. As the elven forces charge full speed toward their enemy, Adar brings out Galadriel (in the same cage she’s been imprisoned in for much of the second half of the season) to hold off Elrond and his mounted troops. Long story short: Adar’s plan works when Elrond’s forces stop charging (so as not to trample Galadriel to death when her cage inevitably breaks).
A brief jump forward and a tense conversation between Adar and Elrond ends with the latter refusing to work with the former to lay siege to Eregion together and stop Sauron. The result? Adar has no interest in Galadriel, so he plans to kill her.
This is where one of the most divisive moments of season two occurs. Elrond asks Adar if he can say goodbye to Galadriel, and after being granted permission to do so, Elrond turns to the chained elven commander and the two proceed to kiss.
Of course, it's all a ruse on Elrond's part. Before he leans in for the controversial kiss, he pulls a brooch with a symbol from his cloak. As the two kiss, Elrond mischievously hands the brooch to Galadriel, which she can use to escape captivity later in the episode.
Why was Elrond and Galadriel's kiss so controversial?
So, the kiss: It served as a farewell, but it wasn't romantic. It was a chaste kiss, and functioned primarily as a distraction for Elrond to hand over the pin. It's not what some hatemongers will try to make you believe. #TROPspoilers #TheRingsOfPower pic.twitter.com/7mS1FgmLSoSeptember 26, 2024
To answer that question, we need to delve into the history of Middle-earth. In J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works, Galadriel is married, during the Second Age, to an elf named Celeborn. At some point in this era, they have a daughter named Celebrian, who eventually marries (yes, you guessed it) Elrond.
So while the events depicted in the Prime Video TV adaptation aren't canon, the mere fact that Elrond ends up kissing his future mother-in-law is… well, an awkward and strange moment, to say the least. That's despite the fact that Elrond makes this move to help Galadriel break free from her shackles in “Doomed to Die” as well.
How have viewers of The Rings of Power reacted to Elron and Galadriel's kiss?
As expected, The rings of powerElrond's audience has had a lot to say about this sequence of events. Indeed, viewers have reacted with anger, disbelief, and even cynicism to Elrond and Galadriel's kiss.
On Reddit, user Vandermeres_Cat led the charge on the last of those three fronts, writing: “I think it was just obvious controversy bait, and why do it? Now they'll have arguments about that nonsense and not the overall great episode they made.”
Other redditors were also unimpressed, especially those who know that Galadriel and Elrond become each other's in-laws later in the Second Age. LindenBlade opined, “Um, Elrond… what are you doing with that kiss? That's your future mother-in-law, bro…”, while Home-Furnishing said, “AAAAAAAHHH! Why did Elrond kiss Galadriel? I'm going to be sick.”
I didn't have that on my bingo card… neither did she… #TROPspoilers pic.twitter.com/csZKZzonoASeptember 26, 2024
Other Reddit users clearly understood Elrond's reasoning, even if they weren't happy with the execution of his plan to rescue Galadriel. Purple_empire wrote, “I immediately knew what he was doing (oldest trick in the book!) BUT I thought he would give her Nenya instead. Seems like the smarter option rather than leaving her on his person before going into battle.” Lordleycester agreed, saying, “I know it was to mask the fact that he gave her the Elven Swiss Army Knife, but still… I don't really know what to say,” before The_Last_Mallorn chimed in with, “I've never seen such a chaste, unromantic kiss. It was purely tactical. You all need to calm down.”
Redditors Curundil and Mali-6 simply asked why Elrond didn't kiss Galadriel on the forehead, while PhoenixCore96 also told people to relax, adding: “THE KISS WAS NO BIG DEAL, PEOPLE! He even apologized beforehand!”
#TROPspoilers sorry but if any of you read anything but desperation into that kiss you got, it won't be weird to see Elrond and Celebrían because Elrond and Galadriel clearly didn't enjoy that damn kiss. Media literacy really is dead😭 pic.twitter.com/CuhxHhml43September 26, 2024
There are plenty of other reactions on Reddit, X/Twitter, and other social media platforms and forums, but I'll be here all day if I look up every single one and include them in this article. Rest assured, though, it has proven to be a great topic of conversation among The Lord of the Rings' community, and I'm sure a lot more people will have something to say about the latest episode of one of the best Prime Video shows once it airs on one of the best streaming services in the world.
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