In an epic fantasy show like The Rings of Power, the idea of character death is one that comes with the territory. Every week fans watched with bated breath to see if their favorite Middle-earth dwellers would survive to fight, frolic, and feast another week. But not everyone can make it through to the end of a show or even a season. Here’s everyone major who died in the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Every Major Character Who Dies in Season One of The Rings of Power
Jump to: Sadoc Burrows // The Cult of Sauron // Finrod // King Tar-Palantir // Ontamo // The Rings of Power’s Characters Who Seem Dead
Sadoc Burrows
Sadly, the leader of the Harfoots, Sadoc Burrow, did not survive the first season of The Rings of Power. Sadoc Burrows was a wise leader, who staunchly believed in the rules of the Harfoots’ lives, but was always willing to bend a little for the good of his people. He did not cast out Nori Brandyfoot and her family after she brought a Stranger into their midst and was ultimately curious and kind to who we now know is a wizard. Sadoc Burrows also had a great knowledge of the stars and signs of nature, and his intellect will surely be missed.
We were just starting to uncover Sadoc’s true nature as he went off the path with Nori, her mother, and Poppy. But alas, death is something we’d better start getting used to on this The Lord of the Rings show. Sadoc Burrows died in a confrontation between the cultists of Sauron and the Harfoots, as they attempted to save the wizard, the Stranger. The rest survived, but Sadoc passed in the woods. He will no doubt be remembered by the Harfoots, who regularly honor their fallen.
The White-Cloaked Cult of Sauron
The white-cloaked cult of Sauron did not find their promised leader in the Greenwood. Instead, they discovered an Istar, or wizard. Sauron’s cult really wanted to believe they had found their leader, and even seemingly pushed him to unlock his memories and powers. But when the mysterious characters turned on the Harfoots, who arrived to save the Stranger, they ended up on the wrong end of the wizard’s abilities.
It seems like The Rings of Power‘s mysterious cultists have been completely vanquished. But their death was a fascinating one, and it seemed to involve a lot of magic. As they were annihilated, their forms echoed that of the Army of the Dead from The Lord of the Rings movies. It will be interesting to see if the white-cloaked cult returns in some way in season two of The Rings of Power.
Galadriel’s Brother Finrod
Galadriel’s brother Finrod was the first major character to die on The Rings of Power. Finrod was a wise elf who offered a child Galadriel some sound, albeit intense, advice. But everything about their lives changed when Finrod was called to fight in the War of Wrath against Morgoth. Though Finrod survived Morgoth, he was determined to hunt the evil lord’s successor, Sauron, to ensure evil was fully gone from Middle-earth. But, according to Galadriel, Sauron found him first and slaughtered him.
In The Rings of Power‘s finale, Sauron takes the shape of the dead Finrod in Galadriel’s mind. He tries to convince Galadriel that her brother is alive, and for a minute, Galadriel is taken in. But ultimately, she knows the truth, Finrod died at the hands of Sauron, and no trick will bring him back. Finrod’s death has fueled Galadriel’s hunt for Sauron thus far on The Rings of Power, and no doubt it will continue to do so into season two.
King Tar-Palantir
It has been a rough first season of The Rings of Power for Númenor’s Queen Regent Míriel. Her overture into Middle-earth to unite the Southlands and stop the orcs resulted in the rise of Mount Doom and the death of many of her people. Upon her return, another heartbreak greeted her, the death of her father, King Tar-Palantir.
King Tar-Palantir’s The Rings of Power death did not altogether shock us. Of all the characters in The Rings of Power, Númenor’s one-time king seemed like he was the most on death’s door. Tar-Palantir’s last scene was not with his daughter Míriel, as he believed, but with Isildur’s sister, Eärien. The king bids her to look into the prophetic palantír, or seeing stone. But warns her not to look too long, as he did. Clearly, looking into the Palantir weakened the king, landing him in a bedridden fugue before his death on The Rings of Power. But we’re curious about what he saw, what else he revealed to Eärien, and what Eärien sees when presumably she looks into the palantír as the king dies.
Isildur’s Friend, Ontamo
Poor Ontamo, his death was definitely one of the saddest on The Rings of Power season one. Ontamo did not really have the same taste or love for battle and adventure as his two best friends, Isildur and Valandil. He seemed like he would prefer a quiet life, but followed his friends to Middle-earth. Ontamo died after the explosion of Mount Doom.
The Rings of Power Characters Who Seem Dead But Aren’t Dead
Isildur
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power really wants us to think Isildur died. We haven’t seen him since a burning house seemed to implode on him after Mount Doom’s eruption. Isildur’s father, Elendil, and his best friend, Valandil, believe Isildur’s death has taken place. But the one character who we should truly look to is Isildur’s noble steed, his horse Berek. Berek clearly knows something is up, which is why he wouldn’t let Elendil take him back to Númenor.
Of course, from the perspective of The Lord of the Rings lore, we know Isildur still has several big roles to play. Among other things, Isildur becomes a king of Gondor, cuts off Sauron’s hand at a key moment in the battle that ends the Second Age… And also spectacularly fails to destroy the One Ring and its evil, and by extension, Sauron, when given the chance. It’s too soon for The Rings of Power‘s Isildur to really be dead.
Celeborn
Galadriel’s husband, Celeborn is missing on The Rings of Power. He vanished after he went to fight in the war against Morgoth. Galadriel does not say he is dead, but she clearly mourns his loss. Although it might be that The Rings of Power could change Tolkien’s lore and kill Celeborn, it seems most likely that he’s still alive, perhaps in captivity or in a place that is hard to reach. In The Lord of the Rings‘ texts, Celeborn is by Galadriel’s side throughout most of her battles against Sauron. We will have to see if this figure emerges from the ether in The Rings of Power season two.
The Future Darkness of Middle-earth
All in all, we didn’t experience too many character deaths in the first season of The Rings of Power, but the evil that spreads across Middle-earth has only begun its work. Certain characters have fates set in stone, while others have less certain outcomes. With Sauron on the loose and Mount Doom bubbling in the background, more war and more evil lies on the horizon.
But as Celebrimbor says, true creation requires sacrifice… And that’s true about successful stories as well.
