With the progression of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, the Game of Thrones in Númenor is heating up. Ar-Pharazôn has won public favor, and most citizens believe that he — not his cousin Tar-Míriel — should be on the throne. It’s gotten very political, with her coronation actually swinging in Pharazôn’s favor.

Sadly, Míriel has relinquished the crown after the war against Adar’s orcs. As he keeps plotting to ensure he stays in power, the show officially reveals its take on Game of Thrones’ Joffrey Baratheon. Sadly, this young tyrant claims a major casualty and hints at more death and destruction to come under Pharazôn’s banner.

Rings of Power Season 2 Gives Kemen a Dark Destiny

Pharazôn Is Turning Kemen Into a Murderous General

 

Pharazôn’s son, Kemen, has many parallels to Joffrey. For one, he hates Míriel and was working with his crush, Eärien (Elendil’s daughter and Isildur’s sister) to seize power for his father. They spread slander and propaganda, letting people know only Pharazôn can bring light to the realm. Now that Pharazôn is in power, he keeps manipulating his son. He tells him of a prophecy that he could become a great leader. The man even weaponizes stories Kemen’s dead mother supposedly said, knowing it’ll rile Kemen to be more aggressive.

Kemen wants to keep the throne for him, so he’ll do his father’s dirty work to gain approval and secrets about what his mother foresaw. It’s very similar to what Joffrey did when he saw the opportunity to be the king that Cersei and Tywin Lannister would want to manipulate. Kemen is keen on removing the religious group, the Faithful, as he knows these guards are loyal to the former queen regent. He has his eyes set on Elendil, whom he sees as a blasphemer.

Elendil is Míriel’s most trusted soldier and someone who could even rule, as his ancestors helped found the realm. He’s very much a Ned Stark, which is why Kemen wants him and all the Sea Guard removed from the equation. They’ll hinder his bloodline on the throne. As such, all of Elendil’s men are stripped of their ranks and weapons, and deemed rogues. Any rebuttal will be considered treason. Elendil will have no choice, however, even after Míriel told him that Elendil’s new dreams of peace meant fate wanted her cousin to rule.

Rings of Power Season 2 Has Kemen Murdering Valandil

Kemen Jails Elendil For Treason As Well

Valandil is Elendil’s most trusted soldier, and is also Isildur’s best friend. With Isildur thought dead, Valandil tries to protect Elendil and the holy men at an aquaduct shrine. Unfortunately, Kemen and his guards attack the Faithful violently, mirroring how Joffrey would help start the chain of events that killed Ned Stark and got Tyrion Lannister imprisoned. Kemen has an equally entitled attitude that comes to a head when Valandil fights back over the disrespect.

Right when Valandil has the upper-hand at the temple, Elendil yells for him to stop. He doesn’t want his other “son” sullying his name and murdering a villain. Not on holy grounds. It would mean jail, or worse, a death sentence, in any case. As Valandil walks away, insistent on not throwing away his future, a wounded Kemen strikes. He takes his sword back and impales Valandil from the back in Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5.

He then washes it in the holy water and orders his men to arrest Elendil. It looks like he’ll be on trial as Kemen says he was seditious and started the uprising, which is an outright lie. Valandil bleeds out and dies, which is going to sow more civil war. When Isildur comes back, there will be drama. He’ll want revenge, setting the stage for him to become a beacon of hope and the future King of Gondor. Míriel may well decide she needs to take action as well.

Coincidentally, Eärien loved Valandil, so this could show her that she picked the wrong side. In the interim, this tragedy also has fans eager to see how Kemen’s king will react and what else Kemen is capable of. Some theorists think he could end up taking a ring from Sauron and becoming the mysterious Witch-king of Angmar.

In the J. R. R. Tolkien books, Pharazôn was used as Sauron’s pawn, not just to bask in Morgoth’s power, but to attack Elves and Valinor. His son already has that particular bloodlust and Elven hatred. As a new character to the lore, he’d be ideal to shape as the Witch-king and leader of the fallen royals known as the Nazgûl. Ultimately, Kemen is making big decisions and looking like he’ll oversee a lot more collateral damage down the line as this blank-slated goon.

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