Halbrand’s character towards the subject of various theories to explain his role in The Rings of Power. A new lead emerges, with episode 6 of the series on The Lord of the Rings.
Udun is the sixth episode of the series The Rings of Power and it just premiered on Prime Video on September 30. We are now approaching the end of the first season for the series on The Lord of the Rings. There are two episodes left and many mysteries still unsolved. Starting with Halbrand, a character whose trajectory is intriguing.
Since its appearance in the television series, from episode 2, this human has been the subject of various theories. He has been said to be Sauron in disguise or else the future Witch-king of Angmar, an ancient lord who received one of the nine rings of power intended for men. This Witch-king is the leader of the Nazgûl, the most zealous servants of Sauron.
Episode 6, however, opens up another possibility. Warning, the sequel will spoiler.
The theory that connects Halbrand with The king’s return
Halbrand arrives in Middle-earth with a small Númenórean force to aid the peoples of the south. Three ships dock and the troops, which include Galadriel, Elendil, Isildur, and Queen Regent Tar-Míriel, charge towards a village. The soldiers defeat the orcs who were going to massacre everyone and, delighted, the survivors recognize in Halbrand their new sovereign.
Because Halbrand is obviously of noble ancestry. Until now he had been fleeing his office and his past—for still vague reasons. And the people of the south were waiting for a king. Under the leadership of Tar-Míriel, who had recognized a special status in Halbrand, the person concerned accepts this new charge. He will be king of the Southern Lands.
However, a beam of signals suggests that Halbrand could be the king of the future “army of the dead”, these ghosts that we discover in the novel The king’s return by JRR Tolkien and adapted to the cinema by Peter Jackson. These ghosts are recruited by Aragorn to participate in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, when Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, was under siege.
Before becoming a ghostly army, these men were allies of Isildur. In anticipation of the battle of Dagorlad, the scene of the last alliance of Elves and Men to defeat Sauron, Isildur had gone to seek help from these men, who lived in the mountains. But they refused. Then Isildur curses them, for not having kept their oath.
The Path of the Dead that Aragorn takes to seek the support of these specters is in the White Mountains (“Ered Nimrais”). But these are relatively close to Mordor. They form a perpendicular line which is west of Mordor. In the image above, the chain is visible to the left of the river (there is the mention Ered Nimrais above it).
Besides their proximity to Mordor, these mountains are also not far from where the action takes place. This is precisely where the Southlands are, where Halbrand is supposed to rule. However, it is also here that Mordor as we know it will emerge. Moreover, at the end of episode 6 takes place the eruption of Orodruin, a volcano that we will end up calling… Mountain of Destiny.
We know that some southerners are already under an evil influence and that their ancestors fought for Sauron – the series highlights the disastrous choice of some villagers, who preferred to join the orcs. We also know the character of Halbrand: he is not the type to take responsibility. And even to flee them, since we discover him on a raft, adrift.
One could imagine that his morale will falter again, when the ultimate war (or so it was believed at the time) against Sauron comes. It would not be surprising if he and his people were those famous mountain people who should have assumed their allegiance to Isildur. After all, the whole area is mountainous, although the villagers tend to reside in the valleys.
A bold and researched theory
This is a very theoretical hypothesis, because JRR Tolkien did not detail this history between the mountain people and Isildur, except for a few broad outlines. This empty space in the story could thus be filled in an original and clever way by the series. It’s all the more tempting since netizens have noted similarities between Halbrand’s armor and that of the King of the Dead.
There could be many ways to connect an event foreseen by JRR Tolkien and a proposition of the series. Halbrand finds himself in the most dangerous place in Middle-earth. As ruler of the Southern Lands, perhaps he will grow weary of sending his people to their deaths, fighting the forces of evil. Perhaps he will refuse the last call.
Halbrand’s personality, his status as king, the fact that he crossed paths with Isildur (they took the ship together), the development of the story, the location of events in relation to Mordor, the pieces of armor that look alike, human fallibility… it all goes in the same direction. In addition, it reconnects with Tolkien’s work.
These clues have aroused enthusiasm among several Internet users. They are several to find this possibility pleasant, in any case more worked than that wanting to make Halbrand a Sauron in disguise. The elements supporting a link with the army of the dead are in any case convincing. It would be a much better surprise and less lazy writing.
It remains to be seen if this theory is correct or if the series chooses to make Halbrand a Nazgûl – this track remains serious, with clues as admissible. Unless we are on the wrong track? In any case, the epilogue of these two theories will not be known for a long time: these events take place far in time. See you at the end of rings of power.
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