The Rings of Powerintroduces many characters fromThe Lord of the Ringsthroughout its first two seasons, andthis has led viewers to speculate about who else could potentially appear in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Third Age story. WhileThe Rings of Powercharacterslike Galadriel and Elrond are obviously relevant during the War of the Ring, some of the show’s seemingly original characters have also turned out to be major players from the Third Age.This includesthe Stranger, who is actually Gandalf, and Halbrand, who is revealed to be Sauron at theend ofThe Rings of Powerseason 1.

Theo is another character at the center of many theories sinceThe Rings of Powerbegan, as he starts the series with a suspicious interest in the hilt he finds in Tirharad — an object that’s connected to Sauron. This has led many to suspect that Theo could become a darker figure fromLord of the Rings,like the Witch-king of Angmar or even a Nazgûl. His friendship with Isildur inThe Rings of Powerseason 2 also suggests he could become the King of the Dead. There are many options, but all of them would continue a frustrating series trend.

Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo in The Lord of the Rings - Rings of Power season 2

The Rings Of Power’s Biggest Theo Theories Would Continue A Frustrating Series Trend

He’d Be Another Mystery Character Meant To Surprise Audiences

As evidenced by its Gandalf and Sauron reveals,The Rings of Powerhas a tendency to introduce characters who are more than they seem, then drag out the mystery surrounding their identities. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing — done well, it can spark conversations and speculation about the show. However, after doing this with Sauron and Gandalf, theLord of the Ringsseries risks feeling repetitive if it continues to take this approach. It shouldn’t rely on twists like these to keep the narrative engaging.

The Amazon series can benefit from original characters, too, and Theo’s story doesn’t need to tie intoThe Lord of the Ringsdirectly to be effective.

The Witch King Next to the Stranger in Lord of the Rings Rings of Power

Theconfirmation that Rhûn’s Dark Wizard won’t be Sarumanoffers hope thatThe Rings of Powerisn’t over-relying on this trope. However, it would probably be a good idea to leave the show’s original characters alone as well. While the notion of getting deeper backstories for the Witch King and King of the Dead is exciting,they don’t need to be set up the same way the series' Sauron and Gandalf reveals are. The Amazon show can benefit from original characters, too, and Theo’s story doesn’t need to tie intoThe Lord of the Ringsdirectly to be effective.

Theo Doesn’t Need To Be A Lord Of The Rings Character For His Story To Work

The Southlands Story Adds Much-Needed Context To LOTR

Making Theo a character fromLord of the Ringsisn’t the only way to make his narrative meaningfulto the Third Age story.The Lord of the Ringsdoesn’t spend much time exploring the Men of Middle-earth who follow Sauron, nor does it offer much insight into the creation of Mordor.The Rings of Power’s Southlands story adds necessary context, fleshing out minor details that make this version of Middle-earth feel fully realized.

4 LOTR Characters Who Should Show up in Rings of Power Season 3

Rings of Power has introduced plenty of Lord of the Rings characters already, but season 3 can expand the lore even more.

Additionally,characters like Theo can show the impact of Sauron’s first rise to power on ordinary people.The Lord of the Ringsonly follows Tolkien’s heroes, so there isn’t much time to dwell on the effects the War of the Ring has on the rest of Middle-earth. It’s obviously devastating, though, and Sauron’s first reign would also hurt plenty of innocent people. Through Theo,The Rings of Powercan offer that perspective, highlighting how harmful Sauron really is.

Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power Season 2 Poster Showing Charlie Vickers as Sauron

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Cast

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.