Elrond and Galadriel — two of the most well-known elves in LOTR, have returned on screen with Prime Video’s extravagant fantasy series ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’. With only three episodes released so far, the two characters have already shared some time on screen and also left many wondering about the dynamics of their relationship.
The reason why many fans frowned with suspicion at Elrond and Galadriel in the scenes they both appear together is the level of intimacy they have — something that was never really present in the LOTR movies.
Is there a new spin to their relationship in the show that wasn’t in the books? It’s highly unlikely, owing to a couple of obvious reasons and a weird one.
Intimacy for sure, but strictly platonic
What threw some viewers off is how the two elves greeted each other. Galadriel even brushes Elrond’s cheek and the two seem to be more than just friends for a while. Or at least two individuals who have a great potential to turn their friendship into a more romantic relationship.
However, this is a merely different level of platonic intimacy that’s common between elves and something unique to them. The LOTR movies have already depicted many behavioral peculiarities that the elves exhibit. It then naturally follows that the kind of intimacy Elrond and Galadriel have is really unremarkable for elves.
Speaking of unremarkable, it’s not that outrageous of a peculiarity when it comes to an expression of platonic intimacy — among elves or any other race on Arda.
Non-platonic relationship and the weirdness therein
The theories and speculations regarding a possible romantic development can be put to rest since it would be very weird to deviate this much and this way from the source material.
In Tolkien’s works, Elrond and Galadriel do have a relationship — one of a mother-in-law and a son-in-law. Elrond married Galadriel’s daughter with Celeborn —Celebrían. And although the Prime Video series has been making many changes to the lore of the books, making a change so drastic is very unlikely.
If anything, the relationship that Elrond and Galadriel currently have, might sour or has its ups and downs in the future, what with Gil-galad’s influence over Elrond and his different upbringing that might color his decisions and views differently than Galadriel — who has been through much horrors and experiences of the mortal world.