RINGS OF POWER Episode 7 Kiss Might Be The Show's Most Divisive Moment Yet - SPOILERS

RINGS OF POWER Episode 7 Kiss Might Be The Show's Most Divisive Moment Yet - SPOILERS

The penultimate season 2 episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power features a kiss between two characters that has stirred up quite a bit of backlash online...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 27, 2024 10:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Lord of the Rings
Source: Via SFF Gazette

The penultimate season 2 episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming, and despite featuring a massive battle and a couple of deaths (though we'd say Arondir is still kicking), it was a kiss between two characters that emerged as the biggest talking point.

Spoilers from this point on.

Though they never had a relationship in J.R.R. Tolkien's source material, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) locked lips in "Doomed To Die." Were these Elven comrades simply unable to contain their feelings any longer, giving in to their passionate desire for one another?

Not exactly.

The kiss was actually a strategic play on Elrond's part, as he was able to slip the captured Galadriel a cloak pin that she would later use to free herself from Adar. While some fans enjoyed this moment and are even "shipping" the characters, a lot of others are up in arms about it.

We're not really sure why this has proven to be so controversial - especially since the kiss didn't signify any romantic feelings between the two - but Elrond does end up marrying Galadriel's daughter many years later, which has given some fans the "ick."

"He's definitely being bolder than she'd expect," Clark said on Prime Video's after show. "She is a little shocked."

What did you make of this moment? Be sure to let us know in the comments section.

Prime Video released a brief promo for next week's season 2 finale, and it sees the Dark Wizard (surely Saruman... right?) make his presence known to The Stranger. Will we finally get confirmation that this mysterious "Istar" is Gandalf, or will the show deliver an unexpected twist?

The teaser also sees Durin demand that his father take off his ring ("or I'll take off the whole hand!"), as the trapped Balrog is finally unleashed from deep within Moria. Finally, we catch a glimpse of a tense face-off between Galadriel, Sauron and Adar, as the latter reaches for Morgoth's crown.

"Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will."

"Building on Season 1’s epic scope and ambition, Season 2 of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity."

"Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots... as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all.. each other."

Returning cast members include Morfydd Clark, Benjamin Walker, Charles Edwards, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Nazanin Boniadi, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Tyroe Muhafidin, Maxim Baldry, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Leon Wadham, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.

Sam Hazeldine (Peaky Blinders) replaces Joseph Mawle as Adar, with Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones), Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful), and Tanya Moodie (The Man Who Fell to Earth) joining the ensemble in key roles.

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harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 9/27/2024, 10:33 AM
eeeew

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mountainman
mountainman - 9/27/2024, 10:34 AM
You would think with how many Tolkien fans have rejected the show and how the ratings seem to be going in the wrong direction, they’d want to make more crowd pleasing moments than divisive ones.
The1st
The1st - 9/27/2024, 11:18 AM
@mountainman - Hollywood directors/producers are in love with the subversion of expectations and there own vision. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. The characters are young though...so this doesn't really bother me as much.
BeyondtheFuture
BeyondtheFuture - 9/27/2024, 12:14 PM
@mountainman - love it or hate it this is one of the most watched shows right now. Season 3 is already confirmed.
Super12
Super12 - 9/27/2024, 10:39 AM
At this point they're just showing their complete disrespect for the source material. Forget artistic liberties, I'm done defending this show. They are hijacking one of the most beloved works of literature in centuries and forcing god awful unnecessary garbage into it. It's criminal.
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 9/27/2024, 2:39 PM
@Super12 - They aren't rewriting the books homie it's just fanfic like any other sequel/legacy show or movie. If you don't like it that's valid but they aren't ruining anything lol
Super12
Super12 - 9/27/2024, 4:38 PM
@UncleHarm1 - low IQ response that pretty much boils down to "well just stop caring about something." If someone you loved passed, and someone else wore their clothes stole their identity and impersonated them in public making an absolute @55 of themselves and insulting their memory, you'd probably be a little peeved wouldn't you?
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 9/27/2024, 9:37 PM
@Super12 - Comparing IP to a loved one is sad
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/27/2024, 10:42 AM
I mean , I kinda get why it’s controversial due to the relationship between Elrond & Galadriel in the source material since the former married the latter’s daughter…

However there is no indication that they will go that route in this version since she doesn’t have a daughter as of yet and her husband Celeborn has been missing/presumed dead for awhile.

There has been no indication of any romantic feelings between them atleast so far so it was mainly a strategic play or distraction to give her a means to escape Adar’s grasp but it might lead to something more or not.

Maybe perhaps he could have used a different method but it’s the one he chose so oh well.

It’s weird that people have an ick about this and not the source material lol.

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thewanderer
thewanderer - 9/27/2024, 12:29 PM
@TheVisionary25 - it’s honestly just people complaining for the sake of complaining.

They made it clear in the show that it was just a kiss used to be a distraction.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 9/27/2024, 10:45 AM
Tolkien wishes he could write half as bad as this shit
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 9/27/2024, 10:49 AM
They bang in the finale by the way.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 9/27/2024, 10:54 AM
@MarkCassidy - that means the s3x stuff
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HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 9/27/2024, 11:05 AM
@MarkCassidy - User Comment Image
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 9/27/2024, 11:17 AM
@MarkCassidy - User Comment Image
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/27/2024, 11:00 AM
Anyway ep 7 was the best episode of atleast the season so far imo , truly solid!!.

It focusing pretty much entirely on the Siege of Eregion was a good choice…

Poor Celebrimbor has been going through , Charles Edwards has killed it in the role by showing the despair he goes through due to Sauron’s gaslighting and manipulation.

It was also nice to see Elrond and Durin share the screen again briefly since their friendship was the best part of S1 imo but man , it was sad that the latter was unable to make it (for good reason) while the former kept being sure till the end that he would.

Also Arondir better not be dead!!.

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Vigor
Vigor - 9/27/2024, 11:20 AM
@TheVisionary25 - arondir better get up!

I was in awe this whole episode. That troll had cgi about as good as the hulk.
I just love this show and I'm happy I didn't read the literature because then maybe I'd be as miserable as the rest of those hate watching this
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/27/2024, 11:29 AM
@Vigor - it’s sad that people can’t apparently be open to new versions of stories

There are some who genuinely seem to not like the show and have issues which is fair but others just seem of bad faith imo

It definitely seems like a somewhat divisive adaptation between fans , some of which think it’s a better take on Tolkiens work then the Jackson films and others who think it’s a blemish.

I follow this YouTube channel Rings & Realms who do excellent (but long) breakdowns of each episode from a filmmaking and adaptation standpoint

They have some disagreements with the shows adaptational choices but others they they work well and seem to enjoy the show overall

If you get the time (maybe perhaps when your working or something) then I suggest giving them a shot.

?si=5MbpzDrNp5DpKkuF

I was very young with the Jackson films came out and haven’t really rewatch Ed them since but I this show has made me a fan.
Vigor
Vigor - 9/27/2024, 11:43 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I hate YouTube videos but i will give this one a good!
I personally think this show, at least season 2, is better in many ways than the trilogy.

It just moves me in more ways. I never cared about dwarves before until now 😭😭
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/27/2024, 11:45 AM
@Vigor - that’s great

Man , it’s unfortunate how Disa especially got so much hate before the show even came out by some but she’s one of the best characters in the show.

You can see why Durin loves her so much and why she loves him.
Yankdandy
Yankdandy - 9/27/2024, 1:55 PM
@Vigor - That is because you wokesters dont have any standards. Lets be honest here, you like what your woke overloards tells you to like. If amazon tells you, Vigor, you will like this show you will answer, yes sir, ofc sir, i will sir. Why do you think you are called sheeps? Thats why.

Let me ask you, have you read the books? Have you read any book?

This show is an epic failure and no matter how much you try to gaslight, nothing will chang that.
Vigor
Vigor - 9/27/2024, 2:12 PM
@Yankdandy - I don't speak in woke or look at the world in a critical lense of "oh no that actor is the wrong race/gender compared to how i see it in my head".

But i guess I am woke because I prefer to see diversity and find it actually strange if the only thing cast are straight white males. It's 2024. We should act like it

Also no I haven't read any of the Tolkien books. And I'm glad I haven't because it might taint my enjoyment of the show
I don't give a shit for Amazon lol. Besides that they get me my packages on time
McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/27/2024, 11:12 AM
Defend this ya shills. What's Elrond supposed to tell Arwen now?

"Me and your grandmother used to hook up ya know".....

"But dad, she's.......your mother in law..."

"Yes".


JD Payne and Patrick McKay are creatively bankrupt hacks.
HistoryofMatt
HistoryofMatt - 9/27/2024, 12:15 PM
F--k this show and everyone who works on it, for real.

It's not Tolkien. It's not his Middle Earth.

This is just awful Woke fan-fiction b.s.
BassMan
BassMan - 9/27/2024, 12:33 PM
It was obviously a distraction to slip her the pick. Cmon.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/27/2024, 1:10 PM
@BassMan - they coulda used any other distraction. They wrote this....
Godzilla2000Zer
Godzilla2000Zer - 9/27/2024, 12:52 PM
Heavy Metal TROLLING!!!!!
Fares
Fares - 9/27/2024, 12:59 PM
Didn't think it was that big of a deal. All that matters is what consequence it will have on their relationship. You don't do that unless there are some feelings, at least from one side, or at least some history between them. So I'll reserve my judgement. Aside from that, I don't care how it diverges from the lore. Even if her daughter ends up marrying Elrond down the line, I don't perceive it as being as weird as it would be in a human context given how different Elves are.
Vigor
Vigor - 9/27/2024, 2:20 PM
@Fares - not just how different but also how long lived they are !
Fares
Fares - 9/27/2024, 3:06 PM
@Vigor - And how hot everyone looks!
Vigor
Vigor - 9/27/2024, 3:56 PM
@Fares - hahaha
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 9/27/2024, 1:11 PM
I’ve just seen this as laughable fan fiction. Kind of like those mashup trailers for movies that don’t exist that little foreign kids make. At first it’s annoying, cuz of the tease of seeing something cool, but then you click away realizing it’s just some nonsense and move on with your life.
Fogs
Fogs - 9/27/2024, 3:06 PM
Hahaha what the [frick] is this crap.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/28/2024, 12:12 AM
It’s the kind of garbage I expect from this show.

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