The Rings of Power season 2 is approaching its final episodes, and I’m expecting several characters to die before this outing is through. The Rings of Power‘s cast of characters is made up of familiar faces from J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore, as well as a number of players original to the Amazon series. With several of them absent during Middle-earth’s Third Age, it’s inevitable the Lord of the Rings show will feature major deaths over its planned five-season run.

With The Rings of Power season 2’s ending covering the Siege of Eregion, some of those are likely to happen within the next couple of episodes. Based on Tolkien’s writings — and everything the Amazon series has been setting up — there are certain characters whose downfalls seem more probable than others. Figures like Galadriel and Elrond must survive the Lord of the Rings series, but several Tolkien’s characters won’t make it to the Third Age. And the ones original to Amazon’s show could perish whenever the writers choose.

Celebrimbor

Played By Charles Edwards

Celebrimbor plays an important role in The Rings of Power‘s first two seasons, as he’s the Elven smith responsible for crafting the Rings of Power. He is also the leader of Eregion, which makes him a prime candidate to die in The Rings of Power season 2’s finale. Tolkien’s writings state that Celebrimbor perishes after being captured by Sauron, something that occurs during the Siege of Eregion. It’s unclear if the Amazon show will adapt this precisely or not, but I think it might kill him during the battle to ramp up the drama.

Once Celebrimbor creates the Rings of Power for Men, Sauron will no longer have any use for him — and that doesn’t bode well for his future in the show.

Once Celebrimbor creates the Rings of Power for Men, Sauron will no longer have any use for him — and that doesn’t bode well for his future in the show. Additionally, the trailers for The Rings of Power season 2 show Celebrimbor’s devastation upon learning how he’s been manipulated. After The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6, he’s also blissfully unaware of the battle unraveling around him. I can’t help but think these are signs of his death in the next couple of episodes. Sadly, that means we’ll need to bid farewell to Charles Edwards, whose performance has been great.

Mirdania

Played By Amelia Kentworthy

Mirdania is a character original to The Rings of Power, though she’s based on Tolkien’s lore. As one of Celebrimbor’s assistants in Eregion, it seems plausible that she’ll die when the Elvish stronghold falls. After all, the characters residing there are unprepared for Adar’s forces, which leaves them at a major disadvantage. Of course, Mirdania’s concerns about Celebrimbor’s behavior could also get her killed. If she gets too suspicious of Annatar, he might just end her himself. Such a twist would certainly drive home how ruthless Sauron really is.

Alternatively, Sauron’s interest in Mirdania could be the thing that saves her life — though it’s difficult to say where her storyline would go from there. I suppose The Rings of Power could use her to show how Galadriel would have fared had she accepted Sauron’s offer at the end of The Rings of Power season 1. Her time with the Lord of the Rings villain would be destined to end in tragedy though, so Mirdania might be better off perishing at the end of season 2.

Adar

Played By Sam Hazeldine

Adar is one of The Rings of Power’s most intriguing villains, but I can’t see him making it past the halfway point of the series. In fact, I could easily imagine his death happening at the end of The Rings of Power season 2. The show has already laid the groundwork for this, as Galadriel notes that Sauron is hoping Adar will attack Eregion. This is because he needs an army, and he likely intends to take Adar’s. We know the Orcs will come to follow Sauron eventually, and the fall of Eregion is a prime opportunity to make it happen.

Adar could perish during the looming conflict, leaving the Orcs without anyone to follow. His death would make sense narratively as well, as The Rings of Power‘s focus on Sauron should be greater as the series continues. This means making him the central villain over the show’s minor antagonists. And with season 2 introducing a dark wizard in the east, I have to wonder how long the Amazon show can balance all these threats.

Arondir

Played By Ismael Cruz Cordova

Arondir hasn’t done much in The Rings of Power season 2, and his character arc currently feels like it’s reached a dead end. The Elf played a prominent role in the fight for the Southlands in season 1, and his romance with Bronywn was promising. However, Bronwyn’s season 2 death leaves him with little to do besides killing Orcs. And the preview for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 makes it look like he’ll aid Eregion when Adar’s army invades.

I’d love it if this led to a more interesting storyline for Ismael Cruz Cordova’s character, as he has a lot of potential. However, his involvement in the coming conflict could see him meeting an early end. Given how aimless his storyline has felt this season, it wouldn’t be a total surprise if the writers went this route. Additionally, his death could push Theo further towards his destiny, which is looking more and more like it will involve him becoming a Nazgûl.

Durin III

Played By Peter Mullan

King Durin III is more volatile after receiving a Ring of Power, and he could meet a tragic end before season 2 is finished. The show’s Khazad-dûm storyline is getting darker during the second outing, and its sense of foreboding could very well be building to Durin III’s demise. Durin III is becoming greedy and ignoring the warnings of his son, and this could directly contribute to his death during the last two episodes of season 2.

Sauron’s Balrog tease means he could use the creature against the Dwarves, and King Durin III might be on the receiving end of the monster’s wrath. Even if he isn’t directly attacked by the Balrog, Durin III could find himself betrayed by his own people. Although his son is reluctant to remove him from the throne, the other Dwarves may not have such reservations. However Durin III goes, it’s likely to happen sooner rather than later, if only to push Durin IV’s story forward.

Narvi

Played By Kevin Eldon

Another prominent Dwarf who might die during The Rings of Power season 2 is Narvi, even though he was just introduced. Narvi’s primary accomplishment in Tolkien’s lore is the creation of the Doors of Durin, and we see the creation of these during the second outing. It’s unclear what else the Amazon series will do with Narvi, but I can see him being written off during the last two episodes. He may be among the characters to aid Eregion, and he could perish attempting to help the Elves.

Killing Narvi would be a great way to raise the stakes of the Khazad-dûm storyline — especially if Durin III learns of his death and chooses to plow ahead with his mining project anyway.

Alternatively, Narvi could die from digging too deeply in Khazad-dûm’s mines. Durin IV warns the Dwarf to disobey his father, but Narvi refuses to listen to the prince and his wife. If he continues digging, he could learn firsthand that their fears are warranted. Killing Narvi would be a great way to raise the stakes of the Khazad-dûm storyline — especially if Durin III learns of his death and chooses to plow ahead with his mining project anyway. I’m not sure Narvi’s death would be powerful with the little characterization he’s had thus far, but it could drive the story forward.

Poppy

Played By Megan Richards

The Stranger is having worrisome dreams about the Harfoots in The Rings of Power season 2, and I fear that Poppy could be in danger in the last two episodes. The Stranger tells Tom Bombadil that both Nori and Poppy will be dead if he doesn’t return to them. There’s no telling if this premonition is correct, but Tom certainly is confident in the accuracy of such visions. Of course, it’s probably too soon to kill Nori off in The Rings of Power. Poppy, on the other hand, could be killed to push Nori’s narrative forward.

I hope the series doesn’t go this route, as the dynamic between the two Harfoots is one of its best. And if Poppy’s arc truly mirrors Samwise Gamgee’s, she’ll follow Nori until the very end. But with the Harfoots and Stoors pushing back against Rhûn’s dark wizard, I get the feeling someone will be killed. Perhaps the villain will go after the Stoors, but the Stranger’s dreams make me think Poppy’s life could also be on the line.

Gundabel

Played By Tanya Moodie

With Rhûn’s dark wizard threatening the Stoors, I have to assume Gundabel could become a casualty of The Rings of Power season 2’s final episodes. Tanya Moodie’s character is the leader of her people, and she seems willing to defy the wizard and his cult to protect the Harfoots. As the person in charge of the Stoors, she may be the one to deliver that message as well — which could see her becoming a tragic example of what happens to the wizard’s enemies.

The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6 sets the stage for Gundabel’s death, too, with her telling Nori she’ll be buried next to her husband one day. This scene makes me think that she could join him much sooner than anticipated. Gundabel’s attachment to her home makes it less likely she’ll leave it, even though the Harfoots and Stoors seem destined to found the Shire. I’m thinking The Rings of Power season 2 will leave Gundabel in Rhûn, marking a tragic end to her story.