Season 2 of The Rings of Power Revealed as a Subtle Gondor Origin Story

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Rings of Power season 2, episodes 1-4.

The Rings of Power season 2 sets up numerous events from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age, and it also appears to be telling a low-key Gondor origin story. Gondor is an iconic location from The Lord of the Rings, and it’s even said to be the most powerful realm of Men in Middle-earth. Aragorn becomes the King of Gondor in The Return of the King, and it’s also the home of Boromir and Faramir. Needless to say, Gondor plays an important role in the Third Age of Middle-earth. It’s also involved in the Second Age’s fight against Sauron.

Gondor doesn’t exist yet in The Rings of Power, but season 2 moves the series one step closer to the kingdom’s founding. The storylines centered on Númenor and the Southlands are steadily building towards this end. The introduction of a new location brings the characters even closer to the creation of Gondor, especially with Isildur arriving there in the first few episodes of The Rings of Power season 2.

Pelargir In The Rings Of Power Represents The Beginning Of Gondor

It Becomes Gondor’s Port City

Corsair of Umber ships sailing up a river as Pelargir and other towns burn in the Extended Edition of The Return of the King.

At the end of The Rings of Power season 1, the Southlanders flee to Pelargir after their home is destroyed. Season 2 picks up with most of them still there, and Theo has even become lord of this port. Pelargir is an important location in Middle-earth, as it becomes one of Gondor’s illustrious cities later in the Second Age. By placing a focus on it during its early seasons, The Rings of Power is clearly planning to show us how Pelargir and other nearby areas become the great realm we see in The Lord of the Rings.

The Southlanders may even become the people of Gondor, which could give their story a somewhat happy ending. However, Tolkien’s writings state that the Exiles of Númenor are the ones who found and settle in the realm, so the Southlanders won’t be the only ones living there. Isildur and his brother are the two Númenoreans that play the biggest role in this, which explains Isildur’s season 2 storyline. With the Fall of Númenor looming, it’s only a matter of time before some of its people set out for Middle-earth. The Rings of Power is already planting the seeds for it.

Isildur Being Stuck In Middle-earth Could Accelerate Gondor’s Rise In The Rings Of Power

He’s Learning About The Area & Making The Right Connections

The Rings of Power is condensing Tolkien’s Second Age, and Isildur’s arrival at Pelargir could accelerate Gondor’s creation in the Amazon series. Isildur founds the kingdom with his brother, Anárion, who has been mentioned in the show but never actually appeared. Unless it changes Tolkien’s canon significantly, it will need to introduce him before truly beginning the founding of Gondor. Númenor will also need to get bad enough that some of its people leave, though that seems to be happening already in season 2.

With Isildur already knowing about Pelargir and forging bonds with the people who live there, it should be relatively easy for him to plea for a safe haven for his people.

With Isildur already knowing about Pelargir and forging bonds with the people who live there, it should be relatively easy for him to plea for a safe haven for his people. Given his friendship with Theo, who is now the lord of Pelargir, Isildur has the right connections to bring Númenor’s exiles to this area of Middle-earth. And the fact that they helped the Southlanders last season only helps their case. It’s hard to say when this will happen, but things do seem to be moving quickly with Ar-Pharazôn and Queen Regent Míriel.

The Creation Of Gondor Will Be Bronwyn’s Legacy After Her Rings Of Power Death

It Gives Her Short-Lived Character Arc Further Meaning

Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn looking confused at something in The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power.

The founding of Gondor will be a great way to honor Bronwyn’s legacy in The Rings of Power, especially after season 2 revealed her death. Bronwyn’s fate is due to the actor not returning to the series, but the Lord of the Rings show is clearly using it to further Theo and Arondir’s storylines. Given her pivotal role in getting the Southlanders to Pelargir at the end of The Rings of Power season 1, it’ll be thanks to Bronwyn that her people build a grander home for themselves. Despite her short-lived character arc, Gondor’s creation gives further meaning to her story.

Hopefully, the other Southlanders recognize this and find a way to honor her actions in the future. Although season 2 gives Bronwyn a funeral scene, it focuses more on her personal relationships than her accomplishments when it comes to the Southlands. It’d be nice to see her presence remain throughout The Rings of Power, with the people she saved acknowledging everything she did for them. She’s a big part of Gondor’s origin story in the show, and she deserves recognition for that.