There was a time, in the first season of The Rings of Power, when the Elf warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) could have been a useful tool for Sauron (Charlie Vickers). The Dark Lord was working tirelessly toward his goal of “healing” Middle-earth, even while disguised as the charming human Halbrand. By the time he revealed his true form to Galadriel at the end of Season 1, it seemed as though she was almost tempted to rule the realm by his side. Fortunately, Galadriel is not fated to become the Dark Lady of Sauron’s dreams. Quite the opposite, actually: she might just be his most formidable adversary moving forward.
Throughout Season 2 of The Rings of Power, Galadriel has been on a path to redemption after being totally duped by Sauron. He unlocked the door to her mind in Season 1, and many of her allies believed that their mental connection hadn’t yet been severed. She doesn’t get the chance to prove them wrong until the Season 2 finale, which brings these star-crossed frenemies face-to-face for the first time in months. Episode 8, “Shadow and Flame,” reestablishes Sauron’s mental connection with Galadriel, and suggests that it might be stronger than ever. But it also reveals just how strong Galadriel is in turn, bridging the gap between the series and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
