The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Leon Wadham explains why one character in the show should never be given a ring. Taking place during the Second Age of Middle-earth, Prime Video’s epic fantasy series adapts the works of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved Lord of the Rings source material, chronicling Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) rise to power. The Rings of Power season 2, which premiered on the streamer at the end of August, has thus far featured Sauron forging numerous rings with Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) in Eregion, as, elsewhere, Númenor experiences unrest.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant as new episodes continue to air, Wadham, who plays Númenórean nobleman Kemen, argues that it would be disastrous if his character was ever given a titular Ring of Power. The actor points out that, even without any rings corrupting the leaders of Númenor, the city is already being torn apart from within, something his character, in particular, is playing a major role in. Read his justification below:

“I feel like things are going so badly already, don’t give Kemen a ring. That will be a disaster. Celebrimbor says earlier this season when the idea of giving rings to men is even raised by Sauron that that would be a terrible idea. And I think watching what’s happening in Númenor this season, there’s no doubt as to what he means. If we’re already in this shape without them, where will we be when they arrive?”

What Kemen Getting A Ring Of Power Would Mean For Númenor

The Rings Of Power’s Great City Of Men Is Struggling

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 5.

Though Númenor was thriving in The Rings of Power season 1, season 2 has started to change this narrative, showing this great city of Men begin to fall, an important event in Tolkien’s source material. As has been seen in the episodes thus far, Queen Regent Míriel’s (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) power has been called into question, particularly after the reveal that she consults a palantír. With a large portion of the populace, encouraged by Kemen’s street-level actions, now moving to support Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle), the city is now seemingly divided into two camps.

Kemen has been presented thus far as an antagonist, and episode 5 cements that, if he had a ring, things in Númenor would get far worse. After interrupting a burial ritual, which Elendil (Lloyd Owen) is attending, a scuffle breaks out, and the encounter ends with Kemen cowardly stabbing Valandil (Alex Tarrant) in the back.

The fall of the Middle-earth city of Númenor is already on the horizon, and Kemen has proven himself a character not worthy of the power he does have. Giving him a ring would only exacerbate his negative qualities, ultimately accelerating the destruction of a once-powerful city, and with it, a major downturn for the race of Men.

In the season 2 episodes so far, Kemen has displayed very few positive qualities, meaning a ring in his hands could be particularly destructive to those around him.

Our Take On Kemen’s Role In The Rings Of Power Season 2

Kemen Could Be Key To One Character’s Development

Image via Prime Video

As has already been seen with the Dwarves’ Rings of Power, with the slow corruption of King Durin III (Peter Mullan), these rings take a being’s worst qualities and bring them to the surface. King Durin III may have been a stern and uncompromising Dwarf to begin with, but he could also be thoughtful and just. In the season 2 episodes so far, Kemen has displayed very few positive qualities, meaning a ring in his hands could be particularly destructive to those around him.

While it may be interesting to see new sides of Kemen fleshed out, he currently serves a clear function in the story as an antagonist, and he could end up being the catalyst for an interesting storyline involing Elendil, a far more important character in the grand scheme of things. Though Kemen has so far been a frustrating character to watch in The Rings of Power, the impending fall of Númenor means his villainous role in the story is likely not over yet.