The release of the highly anticipated The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power trailer left fans excited and audiences in awe. The most expensive show to be streamed on TV seems to be full of references to Tolkien's universe. Vanity Fair released a set of photos of characters from the upcoming series, making fans skeptical and wary of the show that's based on such a beloved franchise. The theatrical trailer, which dropped soon after, quieted the rising concerns about the visual appearance of the series.
Though The Rings Of Power will be different t0 Peter Jackson's love letter to Middle-Earth, fans will be delighted to see new and familiar characters take on Lord Sauron's rise to power. From characters and creatures to landscapes, the Amazon Prime trailer showcased an abundance of hints at the events that took place far before Bilbo and Frodo Baggins ever graced fans' screens.
10 She's Not A Hobbit
It should be known that The Rings Of Power is a prequel series, taking place many years before the "modern" Hobbits that audiences would recognize. A lot of the older characters in The Lord Of The Rings even make comments about never having seen a Hobbit, and the reason for that is that the Hobbit is a descendant of the Harfoot.
Though the young woman named Nori in Rings Of Power significantly resembles a Hobbit, she is a Harfoot. Viewers are sure to see the small Harfoot taking center stage in the show, taking the audience on another journey through Middle-Earth.
9 The Kingdom Of Numenor Before Its Fall
Tolkien lore states that Numenor was a kingdom built for men by celestial beings called Valar. The city was created on an island surrounded by water. Though it's stunning in the trailer, audiences will likely witness its unfortunate demise at the hands of Sauron.
Sauron influences the King of Numenor to attack the Undying Lands for immortality, causing the Valar to destroy Numenor. The kingdom falls into the water, much like Atlantis, and most of its people perish. The King of Numenor doesn't appear in the teaser, but perhaps fans will get to see a glimpse of the character as the release date gets closer.
8 Gil-Galad Is The High King Of The Elves
One of many elves seen in the trailer, Gil-galad is an established character. He can be seen looking up at what's probably a shooting star, which can be ominous for fans who understand the history involving the Elven King.
Though Gil-galad can be briefly seen in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy during the battle with Sauron (which causes him to lose his life), he's mentioned more significantly when Sam recites a poem about him. The poem includes the falling star, and whether this scene in the trailer alludes to his coming demise or not, he's undoubtedly going to be an essential character.
7 Elves Have A Thing For Forbidden Romances
A new character created for Rings Of Power named Arondir is said to be involved in a romantic relationship with a human named Bronwyn. Lord Of The Rings adaptations are no stranger to including "forbidden romances" that aren't so much forbidden as they are taboo and unconventional, like Arwen and Aragorn or Tauriel and Kili.
What's unique about Arondir, and what most fans have complaints about, is his lack of long hair that most Tolkien elves are known for. As seen in the trailer, he's not only on the run, but there's a moment where his leg is chained up, hinting that he's been arrested. Perhaps his long locks of hair were a price for his romantic endeavor.
6 An Elvish Council Or An Elvish Ceremony
Towards the middle of the trailer, one of the most breathtaking settings can be seen as a brightly-lit and golden-hued location on a cliffside. Everything about the scene speaks Elvish, from the gorgeous trees to the lavishly robed figures gathered together on a cemented circular platform.
It's unclear what's happening in the short clip, but there's a small group of individuals - probably elves -conversing or performing some kind of ritual with a large crowd observing them. This could be a meeting much like the council of Elrond.
5 Galadriel Had A Brother
The Lady of Lothlorien, Galadriel, had four older brothers. In the trailer, the elf who bears golden armor without a helmet is probably her brother Finrod. It's known that Galadriel is set out on revenge during Rings Of Power, and her motive for revenge is undeniably losing Finrod.
Finrod has been known to be a great ally to human men and lost his life in a battle involving Sauron. The scene in Rings Of Power's trailer is probably one of the darker moments leading up to his defeat.
4 A Much Younger Elrond
Fans of Peter Jackson's adaptations will be excited to see at least two familiar faces confirmed to be in Rings Of Power, one of whom is Elrond (the other, Galadriel). Though he won't be portrayed by Hugo Weaving, which may disappoint some, Robert Aramayo will be leading the role as a younger version of the Elven Lord.
The trailer shows him bowing over his sword before someone, possibly a Dwarf in Khazad Dum. Fans can expect to see Elrond acting as an emissary to the dwarves, helming a brand new Rivendell, and later joining Gil-galad in the war against Sauron.
3 Galadriel Will Play A Larger Part
Like the recasting of Elrond, Galadriel won't be portrayed by Cate Blanchett. Instead, Morfydd Clark will portray the younger version of the Elven Lady. However, most audiences understand that elves age incredibly slowly; it only makes sense to have younger actors portraying familiar characters for a series that takes place an entire age before Frodo's adventure.
This time around, Galadriel has a significantly more impactful role. She'll be actively fighting against creatures, trekking across dangerous lands, and later battling against Sauron's army to avenge her brother, Finrod.
2 The Skimpily Dressed Man In The Fire
A very swift scene in the trailer shows a man, who's wearing very few clothes, climbing out of the remains of a meteor. This meteor is probably the same shooting star that Gil-galad notices earlier in the teaser.
It's unclear who this mysterious man could be, his only descriptors being his apparent beard, greyish hair, and his size compared to the tiny being (which may be a Harfoot) helping him out of the wreckage. There's plenty of speculation that, based on Tolkien's description of how Wizards or Istari came to be, this may be a wizard. Others, however, have suggested the man might be Sauron himself.
1 The Hands Are More Significant Than They Appear
The lasting image of two hands - one smaller and the other much bigger - encourages fans to question who they belong to. The larger hand is covered in dirt and robed in a neutral-colored piece of clothing, while the smaller one (which is a little dirty as well) is gripping onto two of the fingers of the larger hand.
Something feels vital about these two hands, despite the imagery being simple. There's a possibility that the larger hand may belong to a wizard (some would hope for Gandalf) and the smaller hand belongs to a Harfoot. It's possible that this hand could belong to even the earliest Hobbit should this scene occur at the end of Rings Of Power, which would be the end of the second age.