Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 6.Halbrand is heir to the Southlands and urges him to return to his homeland and lead his people. After a heated argument between the pair, Halbrand relents, ing Galadriel and Númenor's army on a mission to defeat Orcs in the Southlands.
The Rings of Power episode 6 sees Galadriel and Halbrand grow closer as the duo fight alongside one another in a village occupied by other major characters, namely elven archer Arondir. Galadriel soon gives chase to the Orc's leader, the corrupted elf Adar, and finally captures him after Halbrand knocks the Moriondor off his horse. After his capture, Adar tries to provoke Halbrand and Galadriel into killing him on two separate occasions, while also dubiously claiming to have killed Sauron. Each time either Galadriel or Halbrand try to kill Adar, the other one holds them back. This culminated in a conversation where Halbrand confirms he feels freedom when with Galadriel, prompting Galadriel to it the same.
In an interview with TV Line, Rings of Power actress Morfydd Clark addressed the importance of Galadriel and Halbrand's relationship. She specifically discussed how Galadriel meeting Halbrand had changed her, including how interesting it was to explore different elements of Galadriel's character because of their meeting. Check out what Clark had to say below:
"With Galadriel, the problem is she feels more than just vibes. She feels massive, monumental galaxy shifts whenever she feels anything. Somehow, what she sees as a hopeless mortal that she found stranded at sea has forever changed her. It was really fun exploring how vulnerable this mythical being Galadriel could be. We spoke a lot about how we’d stage it, and both of us felt that looking at each other would even be just too intense. It’s, like, too much — whatever they’re feeling is too much."
Are Galadriel & Halbrand More Than Just Friends?
Clark's comments about how Galadriel's character has altered after meeting Halbrand speak to the possibility that their relationship develops beyond friendship. While it appears Halbrand mistrusted Galadriel prior to their journey to the Southlands, their conversation after capturing Adar shows the pair have grown closer than either one of them expected. Even as episode 6 confirms Halbrand will take leadership over the Southlands, it's still likely that his fondness for Galadriel will influence how he governs within his new role as king. Likewise, Galadriel's time with Halbrand may prove a strong influence to how she goes about her quest for revenge against Sauron.
Galadriel and Halbrand's relationship as highlighted by Clark also seems like it may be tested soon. Episode 6 ends with a volcanic eruption in the Southlands, signaling the possibility that the Southlands are Mordor and the volcano is Mount Doom. If this is true, then it means Halbrand's role as king may not last very long upon Sauron's inevitable return. There's also a chance Halbrand's blood relation to humans who swore allegiance to Morgoth could lead to his corruption, tragically pitting the pair against one another. Clark's interview coupled with episode 6's explosive ending could spell either strife or satisfaction for Galadriel and Halbrand as The Rings of Power continues, their feelings for one another hinging on what major events they become involved with next.
Source: TVLine