A new character called Estrid could clarify a question that Tolkien himself never answered. We’ll explain what it’s all about
Season 2 of The Rings of Power starts on August 29, 2024. The Amazon series will continue many of the storylines from the first season, but will also launch some completely new story arcs. One of them revolves around Isildur anda question about Aragorn’s parentage that J. R. R. Tolkien himself never answered.
Yes, you read that right: The grand master of countless details, of all people, never answered in his Middle-earth legendarium,what Isildur’s wife’s name actually was, to whom we owe the long family tree all the way to Aragorn. The Rings of Power season 2 will probably close this gap
As always, spoiler warning applies from this point on!If you’d rather be surprised by what happens in season 2, don’t continue now and watch thebrand new trailer for Alien: Romulus(Warning: Not for the faint-hearted!)
A fling with Isildur?
Let’s get specific: IGN has released exclusive images of season 2, showing us three characters from the Amazon series. We already know two of them: Isildur, the son of the future High King Elendil, and the Elf Arondir, who played an important role in the – ultimately unsuccessful – defense of the Southlands in season 1.
You can see the pictures in question in this tweet:
Check out this exclusive look at Arondir, Isildur, and a new character Estrid portrayed by Nia Towle on @PrimeVideo‘s The Lord of the Rings: @TheRingsofPower Season 2, premiering August 29. IGNLive IGNSummerOfGaming
For more info: https://t.co/SvA28HYW2W pic.twitter.com/k3MLDakwMe
– IGN (@IGN) June 7, 2024
The third character, however, is brand new and highly interesting:It is Estrid (Nia Towle), a young woman who will set off with the two men in season 2. What exactly the trio experience and how they come together in the first place remains uncertain.
But one thing is almost certain: either Isildur likes to stroke his companion on the cheek, or he and Estrid are getting closer. We’re guessing the latter
Because in one of the pictures, we can see Isildur and Estrid interacting very affectionately with each other. Now let’s link the romance that is very certainly happening with the thought from the beginning of the article:What are the consequences of this flirtation?
The bloodline of kings
J. R. R. Tolkien is still notorious today for having worked out every last detail of his legendary Middle-earth saga world. It is therefore quite possible that he had a complete family tree from Elendil to Isildur to Aragorn. But the fact is:In Tolkien’s numerous publications, the exact name of Isildur’s wife has never been mentioned.
Onelook at the bloodline of the kings of menreveals that Isildur had four descendants, but with whom, Tolkien leaves that open. Isildur’s son Valandil is particularly important, as his line can be traced back thousands of years to Aragorn II, who eventually fathered a son (Eldarion) and several daughters with Arwen Undómiel himself.
Amazon would like to provide additional context to Aragorn’s family tree with The Rings of Power, even ifthis does not necessarily mean that Estrid is part of the official canon
After all, Tolkien’s son Christopher in particular was known throughout his life to regard only his father’s publications and notes as genuine canon, but not games or films based on them, such as Peter Jackson’s film trilogy. Whether this has changed with the death of Christopher Tolkien and the resulting change in ownership of the license is uncertain.
How do you like the idea of The Rings of Power trying to answer questions like the one above about Aragorn’s family tree? Do you welcome such details or are you one of those Tolkien fans for whom only the fantasy author’s written word counts and nothing else? Let us know your opinion on the subject in the comments!
