Theories often circulate aroundThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and one puts one of the series' best friendships at risk. The show has been gradually revealing that some of its original characters are actuallycharacters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. This is possible as many Tolkien characters are unnamed, going by title only, allowing the show to introduce named characters who don’t yet possess the title that they will come to embody inLord of the Rings. Examples of famous Tolkien characters with a title and no name include the Witch-king of Angmar or the King of the Dead.
The show could have already introduced Tolkien’s character, the King of the Dead, as an original character. Most might remember the King of the Dead as the green ghost in Peter Jackson’s thirdLotRmovie,The Return of the King. As a rather decayed, corpse-like ghost in the Third Age, the King of the Dead was notably more alive inMiddle-earth’s Second Age, whichRings of Powerfocuses on. But if the King of the Dead is theRings of Powercharacter that he seems to be, that would have tragic consequences for his new friend.
Isildur & Theo’s Friendship May Experience Difficulty
One of the best theories aboutThe Rings of Powerseason 2is thatTheo will become the King of the Dead, and will therefore first ally with and then betray Isildur. There is evidence both for and against Theo being the King of the Dead, and his friendship with Isildur is among the evidence for this theory. The King of the Dead and his people were originally known as the Men of the Mountains, and they swore allegiance to Isildur after he founded Gondor. Theo’s blossoming respect for Isildur suggests that he is heading in this direction.
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The King of the Dead’s people were from the White Mountains. Theo is currently in Pelargir, not the White Mountains, somewhat discrediting the popular Theo Theory. However,the Men of the Mountainsworshipped Sauron during his Second Age rise andTheo is defacto leader of the dark-leaning Southlanderssince his mother’s passing. The Southlanders could pass for being these Sauron-worshipping folk, in the show’s logic. That would leave Theo only to lead his people to the White Mountains and then swear allegiance to Isildur to become the King of the Dead. As per the lore, he would then betray Isildur.
Rings Of Power Could Be Linking Theo & Isildur Only To Tear Them Apart
If Theo does turn out to be the King of the Dead, then his friendship with Isildur overRings of Powerseason 2 will have made his eventual fate much sadder.It was a delight to watch Theo and Isildur bondthroughout season 2, and they have the potential to heal each other’s deep-rooted trauma. Theo’s father was absent, he lost his mother, and he rejects his father figure, Arondir. Meanwhile,Isildur lost his motherand has a fractured relationship with his father. Both characters need guidance and a male anchor in their lives, potentially precipitating a doomed friendship.
The Lord of the Ringswas originally published in three parts between 1954 and 1955.
If the theory pans out, the show is setting up a tragic personal conflict at the heart of the King of the Dead’s betrayal. It would not be the first time that the show has used this tactic to drive drama deeper into the heart of Tolkien’s established lore. The show teased aGaladriel-Sauron romanceto dramatize the conflict between the two that occurs canonically well into the Third Age.The Oathbreaker’s betrayal in the books and movies was epicbut not emotional or personal, so the show would be upping the stakes on it by making Theo King of the Dead.
This Theo Theory Makes Aragorn’s Lord Of The Rings Story More Satisfying If True
Theo being the King of the Dead would enrich further reading and viewing of the movies by deepening the emotional relevance ofthe King of the Dead’s redemption. In Tolkien’s lore, the Men of the Mountains turned from Sauron to swear allegiance to Isildur. However, when Isildur called on them to help him fight Sauron at the end of the Second Age, they did not come.Isildur cursed the Men of the Mountainsto unrest until they fulfilled their oath, and they dwindled to wraiths haunting the mountains.
Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn may return in the upcoming 2026 Warner Bros. movieThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
InThe Return of the King, Aragorn, being aware of this history, called on the King of the Dead and his army to finally fulfill their ancient oath. He needed help in the Battle of Pelennor. AlthoughRings of Power’soriginal materialdoesn’t change Tolkien’s canon in any way,it is satisfying to think of Theo finally getting the chance to redeem himself. If Theo becomes King of the Dead, he will have waited for years for the chance for him and his people to break free from their curse.
Theo, as the King of the Dead, fighting for Aragorn in the Third Age, falls tragically short of following through on his oath to Isildur in the Second Age…
Although Theo’s friend, Isildur, would long have passed,Theo could at least offer his services to Isildur’s descendant, Aragorn. Theo, as the King of the Dead, fighting for Aragorn in the Third Age, falls tragically short of following through on his oath to Isildur in the Second Age, which would have confirmed their friendship. But, it would be Theo’s last glimmer of hope in a cursed and miserable existence. And, it would be Theo’s eventual, hard-won redemption, and the completion of his Isildur friendship arc inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
