The Rings of Power: Will Halbrand become one of the Nazgul and Witch-king of Angmar?

• Halbrand from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is of royal blood.
• His family ruled in the Southlands.
• But could he become one of the Nazgul in “The Lord of the Rings”? Maybe even the Witch-king of Angmar?

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In “The Rings of Power” there are now many theories as to the true identity of the Amazon Original character Halbrand. Could he later become one of the nine black riders?

A few details and hints could already tell us Halbrand’s true identity. Or rather his later new identity as a servant of Sauron. Is the future witch-king of Angmar hiding behind the refugee from the southern lands?

Halbrand’s past

Even after 4 episodes, we know little about Galadriel’s fateful acquaintances. Halbrand hails from the Southlands and is reviled as “lower man” by the Númenóreans. The people of the Southlands are in fact only distantly related to those of the Isles and, unlike Elendil’s ancestors, did not aid the Elves but served Morgoth in the wars of Beleriand.

After Galadriel recognizes Halbrand’s noble origins as the royal heir of the Southlands, his story thickens. He was fleeing the conquest of the okrs in his homeland, but also his own fate. But this seems to catch up with him should he sail east again with Galadriel and Míriel. The question is, will Halbrand fight alongside the Elves and Men against evil? Or how his ancestors made a pact with the Dark Lord for power and strength?

Sauron’s mightiest servant: The Witch-king

We know even less about that of the Witch-king of Angmar than about Halbrand. He was, according to legend, a great king of men who was corrupted by Sauron and bound to his will by the gift of a ring. As Gandalf says in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, he is “chief of the nine” and Sauron’s mightiest servant. As a general, he commands the hosts of Mordor and hunts down the bearer of the One Ring.

Even before the return of Sauron in the Third Age, it was the Witch-king who destroyed the mighty northern human empire of Arnor. From his own kingdom of Angmar he waged war against the men of Arnor and the elves of Lindon. Only through the combined efforts of humans, elves and dwarves could he be stopped, but not destroyed. He later returned to Mordor, conquered the Gondorian city of Minas Ithil (later Minas Morgul), and captured a palantír.

Halbrand’s future

We already saw that there was something dark, short-tempered and violent in Halbrand when he defended against the bar thugs. He is not a typical prince charming, but so far a very mysterious character with an uncertain future. Could he design these himself? Or is his destiny already set, that one day he will become Sauron’s mightiest servant and enemy of all the free peoples of Middle-earth?

Before that, of course, he would have to meet Sauron, who in turn first has to forge the 9 human rings with the help of Celebrimbor. A good starting point for future episodes and seasons.

Halbrand’s character and royal bloodline would make him the perfect candidate for Sauron’s plans and position as one of the Nazgul. It would also be quite conceivable that Sauron shows Halbrand first as an ally. Using the ring, he promises to bring his people back to greatness and prosperity, but gradually corrupts and enslaves him until Halbrand is recognized only as the Witch-king.

Introducing and teasing this iconic and powerful foe from Tolkien’s world right now through Halbrand, an entirely new character, would be an interesting and bold idea from Amazon for The Rings of Power series.