The Rings of Power season 2 finds the perfect Galadriel replacement in Celebrimbor, and Charles Edwards’ character restores the original point of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show. Galadriel is the focal point of many of The Rings of Power season 1’s storylines, and she unwittingly gets the closest to Sauron throughout its run. After The Rings of Power season 1’s ending, she is wiser to the Lord of the Rings villain’s corruption. Unfortunately, Celebrimbor replaces Galadriel as Sauron’s primary victim.

Posing as Annatar, Sauron manipulates Celebrimbor throughout season 2, pushing the Lord of Eregion to do his bidding. Sauron needs the smith to make the Rings of Power, and he ensures that Celebrimbor lets him close enough to corrupt them. The Elven smith is completely clueless about Annatar’s true identity, with The Rings of Power season 2 essentially repeating season 1’s Galadriel story. One might argue the second outing does a better job with Sauron’s devilry, as Galadriel’s replacement brings the story back to its central premise.

Celebrimbor’s Story In Season 2 Is The Rings Of Power’s Title Story

He’s The Smith Who Makes The Titular Rings

Galadriel’s relationship with Sauron — who she believes to be Halbrand at the time — is an important piece of The Rings of Power‘s story. The build-up to his eventual betrayal marks a compelling start to the Lord of the Rings series. However, Celebrimbor’s connection to Sauron brings the show back to its main premise. It’s fitting that The Rings of Power season 2 puts a much greater focus on Celebrimbor. After all, he’s the one who makes the Rings of Power. By concentrating on Sauron’s deception of the smith, the series centers its most important narrative.

Everything else that happens should spin out from their creation, setting the stage for the Third Age and The Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings show is covering the Second Age of Middle-earth as a whole, so it encompasses much more than the creation of the rings. But as the title suggests, the Rings of Power are the fundamental point of this series. Everything else that happens should spin out from their creation, setting the stage for the Third Age and The Lord of the Rings. Although the Three are made during season 1, the rings feel like a less prominent part of its narrative. Placing Sauron’s attention on Celebrimbor fixes this, returning the show to its title story.

Celebrimbor Is The Character Who Makes The Rings Of Power’s Biggest Story Work

Getting Him Right Is Crucial & Charles Edwards Is Nailing It

Image via Prime Video

Both Sauron and Celebrimbor are at the center of The Rings of Power‘s biggest story, but the latter is the character who truly makes it work. Sauron may be the one pushing for the rings to be made, but his plan wouldn’t succeed without Celebrimbor putting it into action. The smith’s talent and corruption are what facilitate Sauron’s rise to power, which is why the Lord of the Rings show is playing up Celebrimbor as an individual character and in relation to the Lord of the Rings villain.

Getting Celebrimbor right was crucial for The Rings of Power season 2, and the series is doing a great job of capturing the smith’s nuances.

Getting Celebrimbor right was crucial for The Rings of Power season 2, and the series is doing a great job of capturing the smith’s nuances. Edwards’ performance is partly responsible for the show’s success, as he masterfully depicts the internal struggle happening within his character. He also balances Celebrimbor’s positive and negative qualities well, highlighting how both the desire to help those in Middle-earth and the smith’s pride factor into the creation of the rings. With solid writing and Edwards’ acting, The Rings of Power nails its most important story.

Celebrimbor Is A Big Reason For The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Improvement

He Has One Of The Show’s Most Gripping Arcs

The Rings of Power season 2 is getting a much better reception than the first outing, and Celebrimbor is a huge reason for the series’ improvement. In general, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show feels more focused and gripping in its second outing. But the increased attention on Celebrimbor is a highlight, as Edwards’ character steals the show every time he appears in an episode. The deeper Celebrimbor falls into Sauron’s trickery, the more interesting he becomes. He feels both unpredictable and sympathetic, and Edwards conveys his turmoil well.

New episodes of The Rings of Power season 2 debut on Prime Video on Thursday at 3 a.m. ET.

Celebrimbor’s dynamic with Sauron is also one of the most riveting aspects of The Rings of Power season 2, and there’s no denying that Edwards and Charlie Vickers have fantastic chemistry. The two of them expertly capture the sense of foreboding that accompanies Sauron’s deception. Sauron’s relationship with Galadriel in season 1 is fascinating, but knowing who Sauron is makes his time with Celebrimbor even more mesmerizing. The Rings of Power depicts Celebrimbor’s downfall so believably that it’s almost difficult to look away.