The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 1×04 “The Great Wave” solidified some core things for me. One, Arondir is the best character on this show and I can’t wait to see more. Don’t believe me? Just scroll down to part one of this review. Two, that Disa and Elrond are the duo that I need to see more of. And three, that Galadriel is a hot mess when it comes to dealing with others and I can’t wait to see her grow on this Prime Video show. So, without further ado, let’s dive into “The Great Wave.”
Arondir Being the Best Character
The Rings of Power 1×04 has permanently cemented Arondir as my favorite character. According to haters, he doesn’t have much going on. He’s just an elf who was caught by orcs and made his way back to find his lady love Bronwyn with a message from Adar. But what I don’t understand is how people can look at him and not see the pain he’s suffered, the way he’s being pulled by two worlds, and how far he’s willing to go for those he loves. And that makes him one of the most interesting characters on this show.
Arondir’s meeting with Adar was a shock to the elf. He’s lived a life where there’s been a clear divide between elves and everyone else. And here is this elf who has turned his back on his own people and sided with orcs who want to pillage, destroy, and bring back a great evil at the cost of everyone else. This revelation is going to shape Arondir and show him that different beings can come together and triumph. And while Adar thought he started Arondir on a path to break him, he’s actually helping Arondir to being one step closer to destroying him.
This elf has a battle unlike any that he’s ever faced before coming his way thanks to Adar and his orcs. And when push comes to shove, someone like him won’t just jump into battle. He’ll watch, plan, and put the pieces together to live another day. He did that while trapped by the orcs and when he faced Adar. And he’ll do it again when the next episode arrives on Prime Video. Good thing he has Bronwyn at his side. She’s a baddie too and they can conquer anything as long as they do it together.
Putting Elrond in His Place, Disa Edition
Like Galadriel, which we’ll talk about in the next section, Elrond thinks of himself in a higher position than others. He doesn’t do it maliciously or anything. Neither does Galadriel. He’s just been surrounded by those that have made him feel like it’s ok for him to go barging into other people’s lives and demand answers while thinking he’s absolutely right for not trusting his friends and digging into their business for reasons. That’s where Disa comes in.
Disa, the Queen of my heart, isn’t taking any of Elrond’s…well, anything. She meets him step for step and shows him that this is her house and she will not be trifled by him or anyone else while she resides in these halls. And I honestly think it’s going to be good for Elrond and take him down a couple of notches to see how elves are not the center of attention in Middle Earth. There are others and they are worth his patience and trust.
So yes, while I enjoy the scenes between Elrond and Durin, it’s Disa and Elrond that really tell a story of two different people from completely different societies and cultures that work well together. Oh, and let’s not forget how she basically looked at him when Durin was rightfully freaking out as if to say, “Well, he’s your friend. Do something.” And I’m itching at the possibility of Elrond giving the Mithril to Gil-galad (because the basic king will probably force him by saying it’s for the greater good of elf kind) and causing Disa to go, “Really, Elrond? Give me strength. Ok, I’m going to fix this.”
Galadriel Has No Tact & I Love It
The exact reasons why misogynists hate Galadriel in The Rings of Power is why I love her. Some claim that she’s too strong and perfect, pushing her into Mary Sue territory without considering that plenty of male superheroes are Gary Stu’s and they don’t blink. And I fight back on that garbage take from misogynists by loving the hell out of Galadriel’s strength, power, and ability to command those around her into battle or whatever grand mess she’s going to take part of.
Then there are other misogynists who hide their misogyny by saying, “Well, this isn’t the Galadriel we know and love. Our Galadriel would know how to speak to the Queen Regent and get shit done.” And to that I say, trust the process. No one starts a journey (because this is one) knowing absolutely everything. And yes, Galadriel might’ve known how to push and pull various pieces in the movie adaptations or the books, but she had to start from somewhere. That somewhere is here.
In The Rings of Power 1×04 “The Great Wave” we saw Galadriel grow as an elf and tactician because of her interactions with Queen Regent Míriel. Before this episode, Galadriel was putting her foot in her mouth left and right when it came to the Queen Regent. And admittedly she did in this episode too. But when she took a second and listened to others, she discovered an empathy and understanding of the Queen Regent that allowed them to connect and get what she was looking for in the first place, support against the darkness.
Now I just fear that Galadriel and Queen Regent Míriel won’t make it out of the dock of Númenor without one of them biting the dust thanks to that small snippet in The Rings of Power‘s trailer where a ship blew up. Here’s hoping it’s just a sly plot by both of these badasses to weed out those who would betray them to keep this community out of the battle they think will never reach their shores. Spoiler alert: it will.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premieres new episodes each Friday on Prime Video.
