Summary
- The opening scene of The Rings of Power references a significant battle from Tolkien's writing through Galadriel's toy boat being sunk by her peers.
- The toy boat symbolizes the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, the first time Elves killed other Elves, which is a crucial moment in Middle-earth's history.
- The opening scene hints at the tensions and rifts among the Elves, suggesting that the Kinslaying occurs, even if it cannot be explicitly mentioned in the series.
one The Rings of Power season 1 returns to frequently.
The focus on Galadriel's toy boat may seem like a device to get to the discussion between her and Finrod. However, it also foreshadows a major event from Tolkien's works. Tolkien writes about the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, or the First Kinslaying, in The Silmarillion. It's a devastating moment in the history of Middle-earth's Elves, and it should have been mentioned in The Rings of Power season 1. Unfortunately, as Amazon doesn't hold the rights to The Silmarillion, the Kinslaying is only subtly referenced in the opening scene.
Galadriel's Toy Boat In The Rings Of Power Symbolizes The Cut Kinslaying Scene
The Kinslaying at Alqualondë marks the first time in Middle-earth's history that Elves kill other Elves. The conflict pits the Noldorin and Telerin Elves against one another, with Noldor's leader, Fëanor, demanding ships from the Teleri. Morgoth kills Fëanor's father, the High King of Noldor, so Fëanor wishes to travel to Middle-earth and avenge him. When the Teleri refuse to lend their boats to his cause, Fëanor and his forces kill them and steal their ships.
It's easy to see how The Rings of Power's opening scene references this dark bit of Middle-earth's history, with young Elves sinking the ship of another Elf. The shape of Galadriel's boat even alludes to the swan-shaped ships used by the Teleri. The Kinslaying would have impacted Middle-earth's Elves years after the battle took place, so it should have appeared in Galadriel's summary of events leading to the Second Age. However, as Prime Video doesn't have the rights to the book the Kinslaying appears in, The Rings of Power nods to this important moment in Elven history without actually showing it.
How The Rings Of Power's Opening Sets Up The Kinslaying
The Rings of Power's opening scene references the Kinslaying visually, but it also sets up this monumental event by highlighting the tensions among the young Elves. While the Elves should boast a unified front, it's clear from the beginning of the Lord of the Rings series that this isn't the case. Galadriel's peers treat her poorly, suggesting rifts between the Elves already exist. So, even if The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power can't mention the Kinslaying at Alqualondë outright, it's safe to assume it happened. This clever bit of foreshadowing all but confirms it.