Rings of Power, the Lord of the Rings prequel series streaming on Amazon Prime, introduced many characters from Tolkien’s masterpiece novels to the screen for the first time. Many characters that have appeared, or were at least mentioned, in the Lord of the Rings feature films though also made a return in Rings of Power. Since the Elves are an immortal race, viewers were not surprised to see characters like Elrond again, as well as characters like Isildur and Sauron from Middle Earth’s history.
One of the notable Elves that has featured not only in The Lord of the Rings, but also in The Hobbit trilogy, and now in Rings of Power too, is Galadriel. Galadriel has had many titles throughout the ages of Middle Earth, and is by far one of the most powerful Elves in the lore. The Galadriel viewers meet in Rings of Power is different in many ways though from the Lady of the Woods of Lothlorien that the Hobbits encounter in the films.
6 Played By A Different Actress
In all six iterations of The Lord of the Rings on the big screen (which includes the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the three The Hobbit movies), Galadriel is portrayed by Australian actress Cate Blanchett. Some fans might be critical of Cate Blanchett not reprising her role as Galadriel; however, since the series takes place in the Second Age, a few throusand years before the events of the film trilogy, it makes sense that she is played by a younger actress, Morfydd Clark.
While having similar physical features as Cate Blanchett, Morfydd Clark embodies what Galadriel was like before she became the wise and graceful Lady of the Woods.
5 A Military Leader
Throughout most of the first season of Rings of Power, Galadriel is seen not in her Elven robes, but in her battle armor. While Galadriel acts as wise counselor to all races of Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings, she is introduced in Rings of Power as the leader of a small party of Elves who address her as Commander, treading through the snow in search for proof that Sauron survived.
Later in the series, it turns out that Galadriel is in fact Commander of the Northern Armies, one of the significant military forces in Middle Earth.
4 She Lacks Her Later Wisdom
In The Lord of the Rings, Galadriel is known for her wise council, as Gandalf and the party of Hobbits consult with her on the matter of Sauron and the resurfacing evil on more than one occasion. Although it is understandable that a few-thousand-year-younger Galadriel would lack the wisdom she gains later on, it is ironic that she is so unwise as to not recognize Sauron, even though he had been in front of her all along.
Despite the Elves warning Galadriel that she might draw out the evil by searching for it, she continues on her search and unknowingly brings Sauron to Middle Earth.
3 She’s A Warrior
Whenever Galadriel is glimpsed in The Lord of the Rings, she is gracefully roaming the halls of Rivendell or majestically perched on a balcony of the Elven city. Her first introduction to viewers in Rings of Power shows her fighting a troll, which escalates to her leading the army later on in the series, and teaching combat skills to the soldiers in Numenor, among other things.
In Rings of Power, Galadriel is portrayed as a skilled fighter. She’s not providing council on military matters from an ivory tower as she does in the films, but saving the day with her combat skills on more than one occasion.
2 Younger Galadriel Is More Rebellious
Although it is clear that Galadriel is a strong-willed character throughout the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, in Rings of Power, her resolve to seek out evil is so fierce that she often goes against the advice and will of the Elven King, the Elven council, and her friends. From episode 1, Galadriel’s rebellious side is shown.
She openly disobeys the King’s orders to return home after her long search for Sauron, to the point where her party leaves her to search alone. Only a little while later, Galadriel rebels against the wishes of the Elves again, by jumping off the boat to Valinor and swimming back to Middle Earth.
1 She Has A Vengeful Streak
It is clear that Galadriel strongly opposes the lurking evil in The Lord of the Rings, as she provides council to Gandalf and the Hobbits on how to defeat Sauron, but her search for Sauron in Rings of Power is relentless. It is revealed that Sauron had a direct part to play in the death of Galadriel’s brother, Finrod, as well as that of many Elves in their battle with Morgoth.
Galadriel is set for revenge on Sauron, much more so than in the film trilogy, to the point where she acts rebellious and unwise on many occasions in the series.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1 is available to stream on Prime Video.
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