The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power broke canon and hearts when Elrond kissed Galadriel, leaving the showrunners to explain in an interview, but I’m not convinced by the explanation. I was incredibly confused by Rings of Power’s Elrond-Galadriel kiss, but I didn’t hate it. I thought it was fair enough – Elrond had to think of a distraction somehow. But I was intrigued by the controversial choice. As such, I was paying attention when the showrunners and Morfydd Clark explained the Galadriel and Elrond kiss in season 2 in an interview with Screen Rant.

Galadriel actress Morfydd Clark explained that she “wanted the Elves kissing on the mouth all the time from the very beginning,” as she saw them as “a little bit bohemian.” Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay agreed that “They’re a little more European.” I follow this logic, to a certain extent. Elves in Lord of the Rings were less swayed by the desires of the body than Men, but perhaps this is why they would be so physically approachable. However, I’m not sure if I buy McKay’s claim that “the kiss is not romantic in nature.”

Galadriel & Elrond’s Kiss In The Rings Of Power Had Obvious Romantic Overtones

The Rings Of Power Portrayed The Elrond-Galadriel Kiss As Meaningful

It seems to me like Galadriel and Elrond’s kiss was romantic in Rings of Power, but the show’s cast and crew would have us believe otherwise. I do understand everything they’re saying. Romance is not the only type of love, or necessarily the most important, as Clark stated in the Screen Rant interview. And, as a European, I can confirm that people do sometimes kiss on the mouth platonically. However, the kiss seems to have been framed in a romantic light by episode 7, which was directed by Charlotte Brändström.

Bear McCreary’s soundtrack builds to a tense swell and trembles in a cathartic outpouring when Elrond’s lips finally touch Galadriel’s, suggesting the culmination of months of buildup, if not years. Elrond and Galadriel had always been shown as good friends in Rings of Power, but they could have easily been perceived as something more. Elrond looked utterly devastated in season 1 when Galadriel wondered out loud who she was without her sword, and he reminded her that she was his friend. Brändström knows the kiss looks romantic, even if Payne and McKay don’t volunteer that information.

The Rings Of Power Did This Before With The Stranger’s Identity Reveal

Rings Of Power’s Crew Choose Their Words Carefully In Interviews

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is hilariously good at throwing controversial material out there and quieting any potential outcry about it in press, which I saw it do around scenes teasing the Stranger’s identity. The Rings of Power season 1’s ending strongly suggested that the Stranger was Gandalf when he advised Nori to follow her nose, referring to a classic Gandalf quote. The Stranger also slammed a staff into the ground, recalling Gandalf’s famous “You shall not pass” moment from the movies. But showrunners danced around the issue of the Stranger being Gandalf when asked.

Gandalf’s appearance in Rings of Power divided fans as Wizards like Gandalf didn’t arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age in The Lord of the Rings novel.

This was fair enough, as it would have been bad practice to issue such big spoilers ahead of a major reveal of Rings of Power season 2. However, I know that some fans would have preferred more honesty. It seems to be for that reason that showrunners provided clarity on the Dark Wizard’s identity in a Reddit Q&A, squashing the theory that he was Saruman and suggesting that he was a Blue Wizard. As the show misdirected viewers on the Stranger’s identity, perhaps it is also hedging its bets around the kiss and intends to maintain its Galadriel-Elrond romance overtones.

One Way Or Another, The Rings Of Power Season 3 Must Address Galadriel & Elrond’s Kiss

Rings Of Power Season 3 Shouldn’t Ignore The Moment Shared By Elrond & Galadriel

Wherever The Rings of Power season 3 takes Elrond and Galadriel, I believe it should acknowledge the kiss that they shared in season 2. The kiss was a fair culmination of a deep and meaningful friendship, and it verged on romantic, as presented by Brändström’s directorial choices. Elrond and Galadriel likely won’t end up together, as anyone who has read The Lord of the Rings knows. In fact, canonically, Elrond should end up with Celebrían, Galadriel’s daughter. This is, of course, the reason why I, and many others, were shocked by the kiss.

Galadriel and Elrond’s friendship obviously overcame its issues and reached new heights after this kiss, and that is what should be cemented in season 3.

However, for season 3 to continue the relationship between the two without addressing how close they got in season 2 would be a mistake. I don’t think this requires pushing the two together any closer or giving them weirdly honest dialogue about their feelings. But I think that Elrond could continue to show that he understands that he was wrong not to trust Galadriel, as he did near the end of season 2. Galadriel and Elrond’s friendship obviously overcame its issues and reached new heights after their kiss, and that is what should be cemented in season 3.

It would make sense to me if Elrond and Galadriel mentioned episode 7’s shock moment without discussing the kiss itself. Elrond and Galadriel should process their feelings about the kiss, referring to “that time” Elrond thought Galadriel was going to die. This would be a subtle reference to episode 7’s romance undertones, concluding on the subject. The show could then move on from it and focus on introducing Celebrían and Celeborn – Galadriel’s husband. The Lord of the Rings: the Rings of Power may not want clarity on the Elrond-Galadriel kiss, but season 3 would benefit from giving it closure.