The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has finally made its long-awaited debut on Amazon Prime Video. The streaming service dropped the first two episodes of the new series, based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, much to the delight of fans. Whilst some of the characters involved in the show were familiar to those experienced with the world of Middle-earth and beyond, there were also some that have been created just for The Rings of Power. One of those is Halbrand, played by Charlie Vickers, but just who is he, and what part will he play in the world’s most expensive TV show ever?
Who is Halbrand in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?
Audiences first meet Halbrand somewhere in the Sundering Seas. After Galadriel jumped from the ship that was destined to take her to Valinor for a promised life of eternal bliss, she was eventually discovered by Halbrand and his stranded companions, who were fighting for survival aboard a small raft. They spoke of the dangers of the sea, specifically a sea serpent called The Worm. It didn’t take long for that creature to discover them, but Halbrand would help Galadriel survive the attack.
Halbrand told Galadriel that he comes from people who do not have a king or even a home. He claims that orcs drove him away, suggesting that the evil Galadriel is hellbent on wiping out is steadily gaining power. A clue to Halbrand’s identity may be swinging in the wind, around his neck. Eagle-eyed viewers caught a glimpse of his necklace, which had a metal tag inscribed with a symbol. There was also a pouch with what appeared to be a bottle of liquid inside it. For now, that symbol’s meaning and the pouch’s contents remain a mystery.
As episode 2 reached its conclusion, both Halbrand and Galadriel were down, but not out, before being discovered by a mighty ship. Exactly where they will be taken remains to be seen, but for now, it appears that the two are out of danger. They could potentially be headed to Númenor, a powerful kingdom of men. Of course, with the ever-present looming threat of evil around many corners, it may not take long at all for them to be engaged in yet another death-defying battle.
Is Halbrand Sauron or another evil entity?
Now that Halbrand has been introduced, fans are wondering if he could be more devious than he makes out. Some even believe that he could be the Maker of the One Ring himself, Sauron. Sauron is infamously a shapeshifter, who takes on other identities to infiltrate enemy lines. Able to manipulate the minds of good people in a number of different forms, he is an extremely dangerous presence. This would be a good reason for him to keep Galadriel alive, despite knowing she was an Elf.
Other theories suggest that Halbrand could be Southland royalty, who betrayed his people and then went on the run. If this is the case, it could be possible that he ends up working for Sauron at some point down the line, perhaps even becoming a Nazgûl. Whoever Halbrand may be, it’s clear that he is going to be an important figure in The Rings of Power moving forward.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.
