Amazon's Rings Of Power Episode 1 Introduces One Of The Most Powerful Characters In Middle-Earth

Contains spoilers for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Episodes 1 and 2

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" isn't interested in recreating the events depicted in the famous film franchise that's based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. While it takes place in the same universe as "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," the series ventures deeper into the history of Middle-earth and explores the Second Age. The story takes place thousands of years before the events of the movies, covering a timeline that's rife with untapped potential. As such, the show's creators had to use their imaginations and fill in some gaps from the Tolkien lore, and this meant taking some creative liberties.

"The Rings of Power" will upset some Tolkien purists, but it's going to please fans who want to bask in the world he created, albeit with fresh ideas brought to the table. Furthermore, the Amazon series introduces viewers to some of the most historic characters in Middle-earth, some of whom haven't appeared onscreen before. And one of those characters just so happens to be one of the most powerful denizens to ever grace the fantastical realm.

The first episode of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" introduces viewers to Finrod Felagund (Will Fletcher), the older brother of Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and one of the most powerful characters in Tolkien lore. He first appears during the opening scenes to talk to his younger sister about ships and share some elven wisdom before leading the armies of Valinor against the forces of Morgoth. Afterward, he's dragged away by his soldiers after laying waste to an orc.

In the original Tolkien fiction, Finrod played a pivotal role during the First Age and gave his life to save Beren from torture at the hands of Sauron, who was still serving under Morgoth. However, during his life, he was regarded as a noble Elf of great prowess, and he proved himself more than capable of sparring with Sauron through sheer will. That chapter of his story ended in tragedy, but it wasn't an unhappy ending, as Finrod was reembodied after death.

Per IMDb, Fletcher is set to portray Finrod in several episodes of "The Rings of Power," and it will be interesting to see how he's utilized. The character is featured heavily in Tolkien's "The Silmarillion," but the Amazon series can't depict the events of that story due to copyright reasons (via Vanity Fair).