One actor will be missing from The Rings of Power season 2, which makes another character’s story much more important in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series. The Rings of Power season 2 premieres with three episodes on August 29, bringing viewers back to the Second Age of Middle-earth. The next outing will reveal how Galadriel and the Elves fare after Halbrand’s betrayal at the end of Tbe Rings of Power season 1. It will also show the villain’s next move in his quest to conquer Middle-earth, and it will continue the narratives of the other players introduced in season 1.

Unfortunately, one seemingly important character will be absent from The Rings of Power season 2. The Hollywood Reporter revealed back in May that Nazanin Boniadi, who plays Bronwyn in the Amazon series, will not show up in the new episodes. With Boniadi taking a break from acting, it’s unclear what Bronwyn’s future in The Rings of Power holds, if the series addresses her fate at all. With Bronwyn gone, another character should be more important to the second season’s story — though the trailers raise questions about whether this is truly the case.

Bronwyn’s Absence Should Make Theo More Important In The Rings Of Power Season 2

Theo Can Step Up & Take Her Place Leading The Southlands

Boniadi’s absence from The Rings of Power season 2 raises questions about Bronwyn’s relationship with Arondir, as well as her place as a leader of the Southlands. While the Amazon show can probably come up with an excuse to veer away from the former storyline, it may struggle to replace her when it comes to the latter. The Rings of Power season 1 seemed to be establishing Bronwyn as a potential leader of the Southlands, a role that will be more important than ever now that her people’s home has been reduced to ashes.

Theo may need to step up as the leader of the Southlands in his mother’s absence, making his arc in The Rings of Power season 2 that much more interesting.

The Southlands storyline will also lead into the founding of Gondor, which makes it an important one to follow up on. With Bronwyn unable to lead her people to that point, her son’s role might become more important. Theo will be a bit older in the upcoming season, and he’s seen firsthand the damage that Sauron can do. Theo may need to step up as the leader of the Southlands in his mother’s absence, making his arc in The Rings of Power season 2 that much more interesting. Such a development could also confirm a popular Theo fan theory.

The Rings Of Power Must Still Answer A Key Theo Fan Theory

Viewers Believe Theo Will Become A Nazgul

The Rings of Power still needs to address the popular theory that Theo will become a Nazgul, and giving him a bigger role in season 2 could build up to this twist. Theo spends the early episodes of The Rings of Power season 1 fixated on Sauron’s sword, which he finds hidden in a barn in the Southlands. Theo’s attraction to the object suggests there’s a darkness in him, and there are other clues that hint his character will take a turn sometime in the Amazon series.

If Theo becomes the king of the Southlands, he could be one of the nine men to receive the Rings of Power. We know that most of the Nazgul seen in The Lord of the Rings are kings who were corrupted by the rings’ power. This is how they come to be in Sauron’s service, and Amazon’s series can show this transformation firsthand. With Bronwyn gone, Theo is in the perfect position to step into a leadership role and receive a ring. There are also signs that he’d be easily corrupted, which The Rings of Power season 2 can address.

It’s Not Looking Great For Theo In The Rings Of Power Season 2

He Hardly Appears In The Trailers For The New Episodes

Bronwyn’s absence should theoretically give Theo a bigger role in The Rings of Power season 2, but things don’t look promising for Tyroe Muhafidin’s character on that front. The current trailers for the upcoming season show Theo briefly, but they don’t put much emphasis on his character. Compared to the Elves, Dwarves, and Sauron, Theo hardly appears in the initial footage. This doesn’t bode well for his season 2 story or its importance to the show’s main conflict.

Of course, The Rings of Power season 2 trailers may be keeping certain elements of the new episodes under wraps, which would explain Theo’s limited screen time. Nori Brandyfoot also hardly appears in the footage, so the Lord of the Rings show may just be hyping up the biggest developments, like Sauron and Galadriel’s inevitable showdown. Hopefully, Theo’s character will be more important to season 2’s story than the trailers suggest. The Rings of Power character has a lot of potential after season 1, and it’d be a shame to waste it.