Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power episode 4High King Gil-Galad brought Sauron to his knees, Isildur swooped in with his dad's broken sword and cut the One Ring from its owner's black hand. Isildur was implored to cast the One Ring into Mount Doom and destroy it, thus ending Sauron's hold over Middle-earth forever. When the moment finally came, Isildur had other ideas.
Needless to say, that decision turned out badly for everyone. Isildur realized his mistake shortly after, then died while trying to move the One Ring to a safer home. The trinket's survival allowed Sauron to revive himself yet again, launching one final campaign for domination over Middle-earth. Amazon's The Rings of Power finds Isildur far earlier in his life, going through his "getting kicked out of the Sea Cadets" phase. This version of Isildur (played by Maxim Baldry) possesses many of the same qualities as his older self in The Lord of the Rings - courage, a strong sense of justice, nice hair, etc. However, The Rings of Power also shows flashes of the Isildur who will one day condemn Middle-earth to another bloody war against Sauron.
Isildur begins The Rings of Power training with the Númenor Sea Cadets, and is almost ready to the Trials. As the day nears, the youngster's mind turns toward a dream of exploring Númenor's mysterious west. Isildur hears adventure calling, and faces a head-or-heart dilemma over whether to continue his career path, or follow what he believes to be some great destiny. Ultimately, Isildur takes the coward's way out, getting himself fired from the cadets rather than simply quitting. This has the unintended consequence of getting his two closest friends booted out also. It's a scenario almost exactly like Isildur refusing to destroy the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings. He surely knows tossing the Ring is the smart move, but his heart wins over his head once again. Isildur takes the ring as a "weregild" for his family's deaths. Perhaps he thought it was destiny, perhaps he believed Elrond was wrong just like Elendil, or perhaps in his arrogance Isildur believed he could wield the Ring. Either way, the unintended consequences on this occasion were more than just two disgruntled friends.
The Rings Of Power Proves Isildur's Decision Was Inevitable
Isildur's characterization in The Rings of Power is that of a well-meaning but misguided dreamer whose head is so deep in the clouds, he can't see the consequences of his actions until it's too late. The Rings of Power virtually its as much in episode 4, when Valandil shouts, "What does it matter? The real problem is him [Isildur] and that isn't going anywhere." Though perhaps the words of an angry youth who just lost his job because his best friend heard a magic voice, Valandil is more correct than he knows. Isildur's rebellious streak will cause many problems further down the line.
The Rings of Power's depiction of Isildur certainly isn't heroic in the typical sense. Valandil not only accuses his friend of failing to earn a place among the Sea Cadets, but also chides Isildur for constantly whining about his late mother. It's clear that the young Númenórean is undergoing an identity crisis, constantly trying to prove himself and escape his father's considerable shadow. One might argue that Isildur was still seeking validation after liberating Sauron of his finger, and that by keeping golden Ring for himself, Isildur fantasized that he could forge some great legacy on his own .
Sauron's One Ring has a corrupting influence - especially upon Men - that makes it very hard to hand over willingly, so Isildur isn't entirely to blame. Nevertheless, the strength of the Ring-bearer's will is an important factor too, and The Rings of Power shows precisely why Isildur was always the wrong man for the job.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues Thursday/Friday on Prime Video.