The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 has pulled out all the stops with shocking reveals that have left the audience speechless. This is expertly showcased in the doomed kingdom of Númenor with Pharazôn and his son Kemen. In Episode 5, the former begins to institute questionable laws, with Kemen spearheading many of the more shocking changes — such as stripping those loyal to the previous queen of their status and desecrating religious sites while in use. These moments lay the groundwork for the inevitable end and flooding of Númenor.

In an interview with CBR, Leon Wadham talks about the character growth that Kemen has experienced. The actor explores the events surrounding the murder of Valandil in Season 2, Episode 5, and explains how that further informs the true motivation of his character. He also digs into whether or not he feels Kemen is deserving of redemption.

CBR: It’s no secret that New Zealand is basically the second home of The Lord of the Rings, so being a native of New Zealand, how did you feel when you got a role in this series? How is it playing a character exclusive to The Rings of Power?

Leon Wadham: It didn’t cross my mind that I’d even end up in a Tolkien story, despite having been exposed to it my whole life. I grew up in Wellington, where they were making the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was in primary school. And then when I was at the National Drama School in Wellington, they were making the Hobbit trilogy. Tolkien’s been in my life for as long as I can really remember, and he’s been inescapable, but I didn’t really see where I fit into that world. And then when this character came along, I thought, “There I am!”

I think playing Kemen and playing a Númenorean kind of threaded the needle and allowed me to enter this world in a way that I had not imagined previously. When I saw these stories previously, I thought, “Well, I don’t see myself with the Elves or with the Hobbits and I don’t see myself on a horse charging into battle. To end up in this island paradise. I go oh, okay, there is political intrigue, and maybe that’s where I fit.

I’m so glad that I’m playing somebody who’s new, because I don’t think I would have been ready for the pressure of picking up the mantle of an established character. I feel like I can kind of create a combination of the known and the new — being able to combine what we know of Númenor, the history of the people in those lands, and bring that to this new figure that’s connected to established characters in the lore. That, to me, was exciting and left room for invention in a way that was necessary to bring me into it with confidence.

In Season 2, Episode 5, Kemen murders Valandil — and becomes one of the few characters to make a dark choice without any influence from the One Ring or the recast Sauron . What influences outside of Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings did you bring to the character to make this plot twist believable?

I was pulling from everywhere, but I really felt like this turn was in the writing. My sense of Kemen in Season 1 was that he knew how good he had it. He was aware he was living a charmed life, and he really felt that if he did what he was told — if he played by the numbers and paid his dues — he would reap the rewards. Then he makes this big swing during Season 1, and there are no consequences. I think that [was] the beginning of a very dangerous lesson for this man, who suddenly realized that he has a lot of power and a lot of protection.

When Míriel goes to the Southlands… Kemen has had a taste of his father being in charge. He’s seen what real power feels like, and he’s confident that the side he’s on is the one that should have it. All of that, I think, helped get him to this point [of killing Valandil].

That said, I don’t think he goes into that final scene in this episode looking to make that darker choice. I think he’s trying to make a strong impression, a show of strength, and things just get out of hand quickly. I don’t even think that ceremonial sword is meant to come out of its sheath! The question moving on from here is will he be penalized for this, or will he be rewarded?

Do you think that there’s a possibility that there could be redemption for the character before the end of Season 2? If so, do you feel that he deserves it?

I think there’s a possibility. I think that’s what’s exciting about that character. When I saw him early in Season 1, I thought well, I believe he could change allegiances. Talking to the showrunners really early on, they were talking about those characters in The Sound of Music [Liesl and Role]. You see them sing “16 Going on 17,” and you say, “Oh, I love these two.” And then you see he’s a Nazi.

I felt like that meeting and that dance was part of this journey — but the journey’s not over. I think there’s still time for Eärien and Kemen to see they’re on a dark path. But if he is rewarded for his darkness, why would he change?

Do you feel that Kemen is playing along with his father’s wishes in Episode 5? Or do you think he’s being manipulated by his father and doesn’t realize it?

I think that exchange is par for the course of this relationship. I think Kemen is used to being tested. He’s used to a game within a game, and having to try and work out what his father is aiming for or getting at or trying to assess in him, day by day. I think he is so used to it that he doesn’t see it as something to push against.

When I saw that first scene, my sense of it was that Kemen was thinking, “This isn’t the Pharazôn I know. He is trying to read something from me here.” He passes that first test and that opens up that second section, where he brings up his mother. I think that’s a carrot Pharazôn has used before. I think [Kemen]’s often told that if you do enough, things will be open to you that I have kept in the shadows until now. I’m not sure when he’s going to realize that enough may never come.

When Pharazon gives Kemen a political position, Kemen almost immediately starts to flex on all of the people who had put him down for his status. Does Kemen understand the full gravity of his father seizing control and what it could mean for Númenor ?

I think he thinks his dad will save Númenor. I think he genuinely believes they’re on the right side of history at this point in time. Who’s to say they’re not? I mean, they are the progressives in this equation. I don’t think it has crossed his mind that they could be the villains in this situation. I think when he took power, he believed he was saving Numenor.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 streams Thursdays on Prime Video.