When it comes to the perilous journeys of the main characters in The Rings of Power, intelligence is one of the greatest assets to surviving in Middle-earth. Quick-thinking, strategic planning, and rational decision-making are important to have and they come easier to some characters than others.
Certain characters prefer to take action before thinking, leading to a lot of trouble. Others might make mistakes only to gradually learn from them. And others seem like the smartest person in every room. It is interesting to see how intelligence separates the main characters of The Rings of Power.
Galadriel
Despite the massive ensemble of the show, it is easy to say that Galadriel is the main character. But while she is a brave and skilled warrior, she is also frustrating as perhaps the most reckless and foolish character in the series.
Galadriel might be motivated by a noble desire to defeat the sources of evil and her feeling that Sauron is still alive turns out to be correct, but her methods cause more problems than solutions. She charges into every situation without a second thought, often making things worse or getting in her own way.
Gil-galad
The elf king Gil-galad might be in a powerful position, but it seems clear he is not the right person to lead. He is one character on Rings of Power who is easy to hate as he makes one wrong and arrogant decision after another.
He is someone who clearly sees the dangers creeping around him but seems more interested in telling his subordinates "no" and throwing around his authority than actually offering any solutions.
Isildur
Like Galadriel, Isildur is a hero whose bravery outweighs his intelligence. He wants to go off on a grand adventure into Middle-earth, but seems like a little child fantasizing about some adventure rather than a warrior who is ready to face one.
He is a daydreamer and an impulsive person whose plans for getting what he wants often mean trouble for those around him. For those familiar with him future in the mythology, it is not surprising that he doesn't seem like someone who thinks of the bigger picture.
The Stranger
Though there were many theories as to which character The Stranger was, the mystery throughout the season didn't help him seem like an overly intelligent character. The necessity of The Stranger's storyline was that he didn't know who he was. As a result he just seemed lost.
With his memory slowly returning in the season 1 finale, it seems as though he will be much more intelligent going forward. However, he mostly had to rely on others to tell him what to do thus far.
Durin
It seems a trait for the dwarves in the Lord of the Rings universe is that they are very stubborn creatures. Prince Durin maintains this trend as he initially has a hard time accepting Elrond back into his life, feeling like a petulant child.
While Durin doesn't always have great foresight, he does have a cleverness to him that is clear. And as the stakes of the situation become known to him, he is willing to take more risks, some of which could lead to disaster.
Nori
Nori may be one of the smallest characters on the show but she is also perhaps the easiest to like. She is a kind and caring person who seems a bit of an outcast among her people for her willingness to go off the beaten path and take chances.
While that can seem reckless at times, Nori has a sense of caution to her. She is not always sure of her decisions, but she also sees potential greatness in things that others are not able to see.
Halbrand
Halbrand initially seemed like he was being developed into a swashbuckling hero character, but fans spotted clues that was Sauron in disguise all along. His whole plan to return to Middle-earth and deceive Galadriel into trusting him worked quite well.
He positioned himself in a perfect way, surrounding himself with his enemies and yet gaining power. But while it was successful, it also seems like a lot of it was luck and he perhaps only appears to be a cunning villain.
Miriel
While so many characters on the show are ready to jump into battle at any moment, Miriel is a refreshingly rational ruler. When Galadriel comes to her and demands they join forces to go to war, Miriel is understandably and wisely skeptical.
She values facts and the council of those around her while also thinking about her people. While some of her decisions led to tragedy, she approached the situation as a wise and fair ruler which seems to be lacking in this show.
Arondir
Though he is one of the first characters to encounter the deadly orcs in the show, Arondir survives thanks to his skills as a warrior. But something the show makes clear is that Arondir is not just a skilled fighter, but a keen strategist, seeing opportunities to defeat his enemies even when the odds are against him.
He is also intelligent enough to push back against the prejudices and way of thinking of his people. It is this intelligence that will make him a likely character to survive until the end of the show.
Elrond
Fans who remember Elrond from the other Lord of the Rings stories will likely not be surprised by his intelligence shown in this story. However, he is made an even more heroic and likable character simply because he approaches each challenge in such an intelligent way.
From reaffirming his friendship with Durin to seeking out a solution to save the elves to dealing with the less intelligent people around him, Elrond is the wise man of action that is often needed with all these other impulsive characters.
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Source:gamerant.com