I know I'll be watching Amazon Prime Video's The Rings of Power season 2 ended during Sauron's war against the Elves, with Sauron having just sacked Eregion. This event was a mere footnote to fantasy pioneer J.R.R. Tolkien's 1954 The Lord of the Rings novel, listed in the appendices. However, The Rings of Power season 3 will dive deeper into this war.

The Rings of Power season 3 "takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron," which was described in slightly more detail in The Silmarillion, but much more fleshed out in Unfinished Tales (via The Hollywood Reporter). The time jump between seasons 2 and 3 will last "several years." I don't know what the show plans to skip, but I'm guessing the six years during which Sauron gradually overran Eriador. Judging on how seasons 1 and 2 both started with a flashback, I think season 3 will also start with a flashback, and I think I know which one.

Elrond Would Make Sense As The Subject Of The Rings Of Power Season 3's Flashback

Each Season Has Opened With A Major Character Flashback

I believe The Rings of Power season 3 will open with Elrond flashing back to his childhood the way Galadriel flashed back to her childhood in the opening of season 1. This is amazing for many reasons. First off, Elrond is one of the best characters in The Lord of the Rings, and The Rings of Power has an unprecedented opportunity to tell his story the way the movies couldn't. Peter Jackson's incredible movies covered the Third Age. The Rings of Power can show Elrond's Second Age development, so I welcome a season 3 Elrond focus.

Tolkienian Age

Event Marking The Start

Years

Total Length In Solar Years

Before time

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

Days before Days

Ainur entered Eä

1 - 3,500 Valian Years

33,537

Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.)

Yavanna created the Two Trees

Y.T. 1 - 1050

10,061

First Age (F.A.)

Elves awoke in Cuiviénen

Y.T. 1050 - Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 - 590

4,902

Second Age (S.A.)

War of Wrath ended

S.A. 1 - 3441

3,441

Third Age (T.A.)

Last Alliance defeated Sauron

T.A. 1 - 3021

3,021

Fourth Age (Fo.A)

Elven-rings left Middle-earth

Fo.A 1 - unknown

Unknown

Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne actually commented on opening seasons of their show with flashbacks in a Rings of Power's Sauron and Galadriel already had their time in the flashback limelight. Now, it's Elrond's turn.

What Elrond's The Rings Of Power Season 3 Flashback Could Be About

An Elrond Flashback Could Show Fan-Favorite First Age Elves

Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) looking at a radiant Eregion in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7

Opening The Rings of Power season 3 with an Elrond flashback could show some of the most tragic and beautiful parts of The Silmarillion, which is what the series should be doing. It technically only has full rights to LotR and The Hobbit, but in setting out to tell the story of Lord of the Rings' Second Age, we all know it is committed to televising The Silmarillion. Honestly, it has sured expectations in that department. The Tolkien Estate isn't known for its leniency, but the show won one-off rights to parts of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales as required.

Season openers combine the plot devices of immortality and flashbacks to show fan-favorite lore.

That's why more flashbacks can only be good news, allowing lifelong LotR fans the chance to see high-budget adaptations of some of the books that changed their lives for the first time. In the Q&A, Payne confirmed what was obvious on screen. Season openers combine the plot devices of immortality and flashbacks to show fan-favorite lore. To this end, the show is going through its biggest Tolkien characters, making Elrond next in line. An Elrond flashback could show fan-favorite First Age Elves Maedhros and Maglor kidnapping Elrond in the Third Kinslaying.

A Flashback To Elrond's Childhood Would Be A Perfect Foil For His Present-Day Self In Rivendell

Season 3 Will Show Elrond's Rise To Power

Elrond (Robert Aramayo) goes to Durin to ask for his help in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7

The Rings of Power explores Sauron's identity and rise to power, but season 3 will likely parallel this with Elrond's own successful arc, making a glimpse of his miserable childhood the perfect way to start the season. Character development is key to modern storytelling, so the more contrast the show can highlight between Elrond's past and present, the better. Indeed, the showrunners confirmed to Rings and Realms that "We're going to take him on a journey, we're going to break him because that's the story of Elrond." Starting the show as a diplomat, Elrond ended season 2 as a warrior.

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"It Adds More Weight": The Rings Of Power's Galadriel & Sauron Stars Are Right About Their Season 2 Reunion

Morfydd Clark and Charlie Vickers were excellent as Galadriel and Sauron in The Rings of Power, and they made an apt statement on their S2 fight.

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Season 3 will likely end with him as a leader. The time jump between seasons 2 and 3 should cover Sauron's rise, but also its resistance, and can open with the one bright light in this darkness. During this time, Elrond established Rivendell, which is where season 2 left him. Finally, he may be starting to look like the Lord of Rivendell of the movies. Opening season 3 with a flashback to Elrond's difficult past could immediately cut to his rather more impressive present-day in Rivendell, creating a moving, powerful display of how far Elrond has come already.

Power is loneliness for Elrond, ever stripping him of his family, so his rise to power in season 3 will break him and isolate him.

The showrunners' breaking of Elrond will likely include his defense of Rivendell from ongoing attacks by Sauron during his war and possibly the gain and loss of his wife. But, importantly, the showrunners note that tragedy is Elrond's whole story. Power is loneliness for Elrond, ever stripping him of his family, so his rise to power in season 3 will break him and isolate him even while it saves Middle-earth and inspires viewers. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power should use its season 3 opening flashback to set the scene of this story before diving into it.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Reddit, Rings and Realms

Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power Season 2 Poster Showing Charlie Vickers as Sauron

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Release Date
September 1, 2022
Network
Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner
John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.

Directors
J.A. Bayona, Sanaa Hamri
Writers
Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams
Franchise(s)
The Lord of the Rings
Main Genre
Fantasy
Seasons
2
Story By
Patrick McKay, John D. Payne
Streaming Service(s)
Amazon Prime Video