Celebrimbor and His Umbrella Are the Best Part of ‘Rings of Power’
The Rings of Power chugs into its second season with an expanded role for Charles Edwards’ Celebrimbor (pronounced with a hard C). Though still a supporting role in the Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Sauron (mostly Charlie Vickers) love train, the quaffed Elven smith responsible for the titular rings of power steals the show as he becomes the sassiest elf this side of The Sundering Seas—and I cannot get enough.
As the elves come to terms with the deceit of Halbrand (a.k.a. Sauron), Celebrimbor is left to stew in Eregion, unaware that the sexy smith who helped him forge the three rings of power is, in fact, The Dark Lord. Stew he does, sashaying through his forge in glittering robes with a series of indignant looks at his underlings and foppish quips.
Elves in adaptations of The Lord of the Rings are an odd bunch. For the most part, thanks to Peter Jackson, treated as superheroes with Orlando Bloom’s Legolas in particular cast as a shield-surfing, Mûmakil-murdering super-elf despite being essentially useless in Tolkien’s novel. It’s something The Rings of Power maintained in Season 1, particularly in Galadriel’s fight choreography. In its sophomore season, Edwards gives a far more appropriate performance.