J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings barely scratches the surface of his fictional mythology. Self-interested tyrants have been scarring Middle-earth for thousands of years, long before even the Elves came into the picture. The First Age sees the rise and fall of Morgoth, an overpowered Dark Lord who leaves the world in ruins.
Amazon's Rings of Power covers several critical events of the Second Age, during which Sauron inherits his former master's evil legacy. This exceptionally crafted TV program supplements Tolkien's narrative vision with several well-placed lore modifications. Although the show takes a somewhat cavalier attitude towards poetic license, the overall storyline is nevertheless improved by these changes.
10 Hobbits Aren't Technically Supposed To Exist Yet
Also referred to as Halflings, Hobbits are among the most resilient races of Middle-earth. Gandalf describes them as "amazing creatures," stating that their kind would always be full of surprises. Tolkien never clarified the origins of this race, except that they probably arose in the Anduin River valley basin.
The first Hobbits were observed around a millennium into the Third Age, making them relatively new to Middle-earth. In Rings of Power, however, there is a minor tribe known as the Harfoots, who predate their novel counterparts by over two thousand years.
9 A Hitherto Unknown Human-Elf Romance
There have been three official human-Elf romantic pairings in recorded history. The first couple was Beren and Lúthien, famous for stealing a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown and living to tell the tale. The second romance was forged between Tuor and Idril, who would eventually give birth to Eärendil the Mariner.
And then there is Aragorn and Arwen, the most significant relationship mentioned in the Lord of the Rings. Rings of Power adds a fourth couple to the overarching lore — the Elf Arondir and the human Bronwyn. Although Arondir and Bronwyn's budding romance is yet to bear fruit, it seems extremely likely at this point.
8 Galadriel Doesn't Even Try Returning To Valinor
Although Galadriel leaves Valinor along with the Ñoldor, her ambition outweighs any feelings of kinship she may have had for her cousin Fëanor. She played a negligible role during the First Age, as she never truly believed that Morgoth could be overthrown by the Elves.
Galadriel is offered the opportunity to return home after the Dark Lord's defeat, but she turns the Valar down and chooses to remain behind in Middle-earth. Rings of Power takes a completely different approach to Galadriel's experiences, as seen when Gil-galad "rewards" her with a trip back to Valinor. In the books, Galadriel doesn't even set foot on a ship until the end of the Third Age.
7 The War Of The Jewels Is Barely Mentioned
Fëanor captured the sacred light of the Two Trees within his Silmarils, three jewels that were said to be beyond any that have been created before or since. Unfortunately, Morgoth murdered his father Finwë and stole the Silmarils, prompting Fëanor to swear an eternal oath of vengeance against the Dark Lord.
Middle-earth spent the next several hundred years drowning in its own blood, a series of wars that essentially destroyed the land and its people. The so-called War of the Jewels is perhaps the most violent conflict ever fought on Middle-earth, but Rings of Power glosses over the details. Furthermore, the show alludes to apocryphal anecdotes about the Silmarils.
6 The Southlands Are Described In Great Detail
Several major events in Rings of Power occur in the Southlands, an area of Middle-earth originally populated by the human servants of Sauron. Halbrand is ostensibly the heir to this previously uncharted territory, now overrun by a legion of Orcs led by the mysterious Adar.
No such place is mentioned in Tolkien's narrative, but Mordor and the Southlands clearly share similar geographical features. Galadriel identifies the connection between the Southlands and Sauron, suggesting that the Dark Lord's future realm is going to be constructed in this region.
5 Elrond's Adorable Friendship With Durin
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Championed by Elrond, Gil-galad, Elendil, and Isildur, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men defeats Sauron and ushers in a new age of peace for Middle-earth. King Durin IV leads his Dwarven army to victory in numerous campaigns, particularly the Battle of Dagorlad.
Apart from this, there doesn't appear to be any tangible link between Elrond and Durin, let alone the heartwarming friendship depicted in Rings of Power. In fact, Legolas and Gimli are the only Elf-Dwarf pair of BFFs in Tolkien's version of Middle-earth. That said, fans are quite happy with Elrond and Durin's adorable dynamic, even if it isn't officially recognized.
4 Dwarves Locate Ore Veins Using Song
Tolkien's writing doesn't delve into the nitty-gritty details associated with Dwarven mining operations, other than this race often drilled too deep for their own good. As far as canon goes, Dwarves use pickaxes, shovels, and other mining implements to extract their precious metals and gemstones from the earth.
Rings of Power introduces a unique procedure called "resonating," which supposedly detects the presence of specific ore veins. Dwarves literally "sing to the stone," triangulating the exact location of mineral lodes by listening to the mountain's sonic response.
3 Galadriel Has No Relationship With Númenor
Númenor was possibly the greatest human civilization in Middle-earth, at least before the entire island was engulfed by the Sundering Sea. The Númenorean people were manipulated by Sauron, who tricked King Ar-Pharazôn into declaring war against the Valar themselves.
In Rings of Power, Galadriel is picked up from the middle of the ocean and taken to Númenor, where she attempts to convert the Queen Regent to her cause. As of Episode 5, Míriel embarks on a journey to save Middle-earth along with Galadriel and Elendil. None of this happens in Tolkien's Akallabêth — in fact, Galadriel has no relationship with Númenor, whatsoever.
2 The Stranger May Or May Not Be One Of The Istari
The Stranger is one of the most hotly debated Rings of Power characters. Some fans believe him to be a member of the Istari, the group of five Wizards sent to Middle-earth by the Valar. Although currently unproven, this hypothesis isn't entirely without merit.
The Stranger demonstrates overwhelming magical powers, summoning a gust of wind with his voice, puppeteering fireflies, and creating small-scale earthquakes. Even if the Stranger is a Wizard, there aren't enough clues to pinpoint his identity. Furthermore, Tolkien's Istari reached Middle-earth via ship, and not by hitching a ride inside a flaming meteor.
1 Several New Characters & Storylines Are Introduced
Rings of Power dabbles in a wide range of character arcs and plotlines, many of which have no place in Tolkien's narrative. Characters like Kemen, Arondir, Adar, Disa, Magrot, Theo, and the entire Harfoot clan have been created specifically for the series.
Including novel characters might just be the best way to keep book fans invested in a story they already know. That said, the central lore remains more-or-less unchanged — Rings of Power still revolves around Sauron's malicious quest for Middle-earth domination.