Many respected critics and viewers alike have been raving about Amazon Prime Video's new series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for various reasons. From its production values to its casting and performances, the show appears thus far to be a worthy successor of the Lord of the Rings name. But there are a few aspects that have drawn some questionable reactions, including Morfydd Clark's portrayal of Galadriel.
Galadriel was played in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy by Cate Blanchett. While Blanchett's version of the ancient Elven figure was one of serenity and quiet power, Clark has gone to different areas with this younger version of the character, who she herself describes as "a living myth; a living legend." Some fans may be surprised at the more intense take on Galadriel in The Rings of Power, but in a recent interview with Variety, Clark had some words to say in defense of her performance.
"I would say that her serenity is hard earned," Clark said when asked what she'd say to skeptical fans. "I don't think you get to that level of wisdom without going through things. She actually speaks about [how] with wisdom, there is a loss of innocence, which was a really good thing for me to find in the lore. Because, like, how young are you when you're still thousands of years old? So it was thinking of what innocence she lost during this time." Galadriel has had a pretty action-packed first couple of episodes so far, so it's understandable that some longtime fans might have been caught off-guard.
Clark, herself a huge Lord of the Rings fan, also explained how the elves seen in the original books and movies had changed quite a bit compared to their past versions. "The elves by the Third Age have evolved to a certain degree," she said, referring to the setting of the trilogy compared to that of the series. "The elves in the First Age are really messy and screw each other over a lot, and fight and mock each other also. They are the history of Middle Earth, and so they are forever changing. It was really interesting for all of us playing canon characters to be exploring how these characters become what we know them to be."
Aside from some racist backlash over the idea of Black people existing in a fantasy world of dragons and elves, The Rings of Power has earned largely favorable reviews. But the hesitant reactions to elements like Galadriel's portrayal and some arguably slow pacing have proved that it may not yet be the smash hit it aspires to be. After only 2 episodes, it seems as though many have already decided what they think.
But there's clearly plenty more to be told in this expansive new look at Middle Earth, from the nomadic Harfoots and their mysterious visitor to the breathtaking dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm. Galadriel's story has only just begun, and it will be exciting to see where Clark takes her from here.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power drops new episodes every Friday on Prime Video.
Source: Variety