The Rings of Power introduces a number of new characters that audiences won't be familiar with, it also brings back well-known characters like Galadriel (Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo), albeit much younger versions of them.
After initial episodes took their time introducing audiences to the various characters, locations, and plot threads that would be explored throughout the show, episode 6 has been the most action-packed episode yet. In addition to Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) defending a village of Southlanders from a small army of Orcs, Galadriel finally lands on Middle-earth after a brief visit to Numenor. Just as all hope seems lost for Arondir and the villagers, Galadriel and the Numenorian army rides to the rescue, allowing Galadriel to come face to face with Adar (Joseph Mawle) for the first time. Just before a massive volcanic eruption brings The Rings of Power episode 6 to a close, Galadriel and Adar share an intense exchange in which Adar brings up Galadriel's inner darkness.
In a new interview with Total Film, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Morfydd Clark breaks down Galadriel's pointed exchange with Adar in episode 6. The actor explains that part of what drew her to the character was the idea that there's an element of Galadriel that can be "twisted towards evil." In that scene with Adar, she says, it becomes clear that he sees this darkness in her more clearly than anyone else. Check out Clark's full comment below:
"When I was cast as Galadriel, I was so excited about exploring this element of her – that she's not a saint, and she's from a family that has caused a huge amount of damage, and she realizes that she can only fully be in control of the side of her that could be twisted towards evil, as seen in the Third Age with Frodo. To show that side of her and for Adar to really... She's the closest to speechless she could ever be because he really truly sees her. It was really exciting to have what we were exploring with Galadriel, that she was not perfect, and she had this darkness inside of her and we have that come to a peak, which is what that scene felt like.
"I'm also just obsessed with knowing more about the orcs. I'm part of that part of the fandom. When I knew we were exploring them more deeply, I thought that was going to be fascinating because also the Elves are controlling, and at times, they don't see everyone as valuable as each other. I thought that was really cool. I like that she's not perfect – even though she's pretty close."
How LOTR's Galadriel Is Similar To The Rings of Power's
Although Galadriel in The Rings of Power is clearly quite different from the version played by Cate Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings, the two characters do share some elements in common. Clark's version of Galadriel is much younger, a little less wise, and perhaps more prone to violence, but the character's inner darkness does carry over to Blanchett's Galadriel. This is best exemplified in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring when Galadriel shows Frodo just how evil she could become if allowed to take the One Ring and keep it as her own.
The scene between Galadriel and Adar in episode 6 is the first time another character in the show has so clearly seen the darkness dwelling within the Elven warrior. Adar is an elf who was corrupted by evil in The Rings of Power, which seems to allow him to see just how easily Galadriel could be swayed in a similar manner if she gives in to some of her inner feelings. It remains to be seen what's next for Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but it seems like, in addition to trying to defeat Sauron, the character will be battling dark forces within herself as well.
Source: Total Film