Despite existing in a separate continuity, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been making subtle nods to the Peter Jackson movies. Isildur, for example, saw dead bodies in a river when he escaped Adar’s forces, which nodded to Frodo and the Dead Marshes from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Galadriel is part of a big homage to the Jackson era in Season 2. It comes with a reinterpretation of Boromir’s most heroic moment when he faced Sauron and Saruman’s soldiers. In the process, it sets up a very interesting alliance that will test Galadriel’s ethics and loyalty.

Rings of Power Season 2 Has Galadriel Making a Big Sacrifice

Galadriel Gets Captured By Adar’s Army to Save Elrond and Her Ring

Boromir’s big moment at the end of the first LOTR movie came when he broke free of the One Ring’s corruption. He tried to take it from Frodo, but soon realized he needed to defend the Hobbit outside of Parth Galen. As the Uruk-hai descended, Boromir fought them off alone as Frodo and Sam escaped to head to Mordor. Unfortunately, he was shot with arrows and died. In the end, this was a heroic scene that redeemed Sean Bean’s character.

Galadriel does her own take on this sacrifice when Rings of Power Season 2 reveals Adar’s orcs are around. Galadriel and Elrond’s unit were supposed to go to Eregion and alert Celebrimbor of Sauron’s deception. Instead, Elrond has to flee and go back home for reinforcements as Adar’s army march to the same destination. When some of the orcs find the Elves, Galadriel gives Elrond the ring and says she’ll stay behind to buy them time. As Elrond retreats, he is churlish since he believes Galadriel just wants her ring to be taken away from the scene.

He has seen her use it to heal, so he can tell she views it as a key instrument that must be protected, even if it costs her her life. That said, it’s very much in the vein of Boromir. Luckily, the orcs aren’t on the level of the Uruk-hai in this prequel series. Galadriel is also much better with her bow and arrow, chain and knife. She kills quite a few and insists they leave these Elven lands. But in the end, she’s overwhelmed. They don’t kill her, but she’s just been robbed of her freedom, as Adar arrives to make her his slave.

Rings of Power Season 2 Sets Up Adar and Galadriel’s Alliance

Adar and Galadriel May Realize They Are the Best Shot at Killing Sauron

Instead of being hostile, Adar is polite and generous to Galadriel, despite their tumultuous past from Rings of Power Season 1. He speaks in Quenyan tongue and lets her know, “A star shines on the hour of our meeting.” It teases that he sees her as a partner in the war to come. Of course, it’s worth remembering Adar has been created for this series. Thus, there is a lot of backstory to be explored, as well as how fluid his motivations might be.

The Rings of Power marketing has already shown Adar and Galadriel in discussions. She doesn’t seem to be distressed, and loyalists speculated they would work together to try to stop Sauron. Both have been deceived by him, and Adar wants him dead, so his orc army can live in peace. Galadriel wants him dead because she wants the rest of Middle-earth to be free. They have a common enemy and the same mission. This sets up the avenue for viewers to learn about why Adar turned from the Elven ways to follow Morgoth, how long he disliked Sauron, and if he could atone.

His army has orc women and children, so Galadriel might end up seeing they are outcasts who need compassion. That could bring her into conflict when the time comes to reacquaint herself with Elrond’s forces. Orcs and Elves aren’t meant to coexist, per the old ways. If Galadriel alone tries and fails to form a bridge, this could end up making Adar’s legion hate the Elves more and push them towards Sauron, even if Adar disapproves. As for Galadriel, she’s going to have to be wary of trusting Adar. No matter what, he spilled a lot of blood in the Southlands.

His orcs may have drawn sympathy from audiences, but their war-hungry ways have led to immense tragedy. Ultimately, fans can’t wait to hear Adar and Galadriel discuss philosophies regarding their species, why a temporary coalition makes sense, and why they are a fit for the war to come. Adar may even sow darkness in her, leading her to question if Elrond is selfless and if the Elves are the right army for this particular job. Galadriel’s morals will be tested, which will show Elrond if she is the character he thought she would be.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debuts new episodes Thursdays on Prime Video.