Rings of Power Season 3: Unveiling Numenor’s Origins and Rectifying a Cinematic Mystery

To truly comprehend Numenor’s end, we must first understand its beginning.

The Rings of Power has, to date, provided a relatively brief overview of Elros Tar-Minyatur, Numenor’s first king. However, as the island’s destruction looms, a comprehensive exploration of his story becomes paramount. Elros, the twin brother of Elrond Peredhil, shared his sibling’s Elven heritage. Yet, before the Valar, the demigod-like powers of Arda, raised the magnificent island of Numenor from the Sundering Seas as a gift to Men, Elros made a monumental choice: he elected to embrace a mortal life. This profound decision echoes Arwen Undómiel’s choice in The Lord of the Rings, though it’s crucial to understand that such a choice is not afforded to just any Elf.

Elros’s unique ability to choose mortality stemmed from his extraordinary lineage. Both he and Elrond were considered Half-Elven (Peredhil) due to their mixed heritage: their paternal grandfather, Tuor, and maternal great-grandfather, Beren Erchamion, were Men. During the devastating War of Wrath against Morgoth, Elrond and Elros’s parents, Eärendil the Mariner and Elwing, played pivotal roles in uniting Elves and Men. Their courageous and perilous journey to Valinor, undertaken with immense personal sacrifice, ultimately secured the aid of the Valar in Middle-earth’s desperate struggle. As a profound reward for their unparalleled efforts, the Valar granted Eärendil and Elwing, and all their descendants, the extraordinary ability to choose their destiny: either immortality with the Elves or mortality as Men.

Mortality, often referred to as the “Gift of Men” in Tolkien’s writings, signifies the unique destiny of mortal souls to pass beyond the confines of the world into an unknown realm after death. This realm is widely believed to be a paradise with Eru Ilúvatar, the Creator.

Thus, empowered by their parents’ heroic deeds, Elrond and Elros were free to chart their own courses. Elrond, as foreseen, chose to remain an immortal Elf, destined to witness ages pass. Elros, however, embraced mortality. As an additional reward, Elros was bestowed with the kingship of the newly formed, beautiful island kingdom of Numenor, strategically located in the Great Sea between Middle-earth and Valinor. Tragically, his descendants, blinded by pride and misled by Sauron, would ultimately attempt to wage war on the Valar, resulting in the cataclysmic Downfall. The Rings of Power is poised to depict the latter, devastating chapters of this saga. However, for the full weight and tragic irony of Numenor’s fate to resonate, the foundational stories of Elros and the Half-Elven are indispensable, perhaps best conveyed through poignant flashback sequences.

Rectifying Peter Jackson’s Arwen Anomaly

Elros and Elrond’s Story Provides the Key to Arwen’s Lord of the Rings Decision.

The concept of an Elf choosing mortality is not foreign to on-screen adaptations of The Lord of the Rings. However, Peter Jackson’s film trilogy introduced a rather confusing element regarding Arwen’s decision. In the films, Elrond’s stern warnings to Arwen about her desire to marry a mortal Aragorn implied a dire, eternal separation upon his death. Yet, this warning seemingly dissolved as Arwen simply chose mortality without significant on-screen explanation, allowing her and Aragorn to live a supposedly “happily ever after” until their respective deaths. This left many viewers perplexed about the mechanics and implications of her choice.

Crucially, in J.R.R. Tolkien’s original Lord of the Rings books, Elrond was acutely aware of Arwen’s potential for mortality. This was not a novel concept to him; it was the very choice his own twin brother, Elros, had made centuries prior, granted by the same divine gift of the Valar.

The Rings of Power now possesses an unparalleled opportunity to seamlessly weave this crucial piece of lore back into the cinematic narrative and clarify Jackson’s perplexing alteration. Season 3 could feature compelling flashbacks to Elros’s momentous decision. With Robert Aramayo already portraying Elrond, he could effectively depict Elros, a subtle yet powerful connection for viewers. Such a scene could explore the profound emotional and existential impact of Elros’s choice on his immortal twin, offering a powerful foreshadowing of Arwen’s later sacrifice. More importantly, it would unequivocally clarify why Aragorn’s beloved wife possessed the unique ability to choose mortality in the first place, providing a richer, more faithful understanding of a key aspect of Middle-earth’s interwoven destiny.