The Rings of Power star Ismael Cruz Córdova is “pretty sure” there will be a season 3

The Rings of Power star Ismael Cruz Córdova is "pretty sure" there will be a season 3

As a seasoned gamer and Tolkien enthusiast, I must admit that the latest episode of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” left me both exhilarated and heartbroken. The battle scene between Arondir and the orcs under Adar’s command was nothing short of spectacular – a testament to the incredible visual effects, practical sets, and the actors’ dedication to their roles.

In the recently released episode titled “Doomed to Die” from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the focus shifts to a massive battle sequence. This time, an orc army led by the corrupted elf Adar invades the elven city of Eregion, marking a significant event in J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore of Middle-earth’s mythological history. Several characters are part of this narrative, one of them being Arondir, who has unfinished business with Adar following their encounters with his forces in the Southlands during season 1.

For some time, Arondir appears to be indomitable; he even joins forces with Elrond to vanquish a troll. During filming, Ismael Cruz Córdova, who has portrayed Arondir since season 1, shared his experience: “There was a large structure equipped with mats, nets, and chains. I leapt onto it, and we brought the troll down. They had two large feet and a lower part, so we engaged with that as well. We had seen sketches, so we knew what it looked like, and the battle itself was incredibly realistic, filled with numerous orcs. You truly felt as though the troll was present.

Without a doubt, the creation of this epic fantasy battle required extensive CGI, yet there was also a significant amount of hands-on work put into it. According to Cordova, the filming experience was incredibly authentic, and he even performed many of his own stunts. “The atmosphere is palpable; I feel so engrossed,” the actor expressed. “There were flames, the towering Eregion wall was constructed, it was unbelievably muddy. The landing zones are unlike anything else. When you land there, the mud pulls you under. People are running around you. This makes learning choreography confusing. Everyone must be exact. There are swords everywhere. It can be intimidating, but I find it thrilling. I adore such experiences. To have Elrond and Gil-galad nearby, those major elven figures, I felt like part of the team.

All the wire work and everything you see on the show, it’s me. I only have a tiny bit of a stunt that I have a double for, because it was supposed to be one take and we had to split it — but the rest is me. I learned all of that in the first season, and got trained on wires. They’re quite complex. In Eregion, I’m actually up there on that tall wall, and I jump. They’re stuntman stunts! I had to train quite a bit in strength, martial arts and choreography. I was trying to also change a little bit of the texture of the movement to signify a little bit more of his anger and grief.

All this culminated in Arondir facing off with Adar, who swiftly overpowered the younger elf. Following the defeat of that troll, I had thought Arondir might have a chance against Adar. However, as per Cordova, his enthusiasm led to his downfall.

During fights, Cordova noted, he tends to grow increasingly reckless – a mistake he admitted to making. This emotional instability is what allowed Adar to overcome him. If Arondir hadn’t let his guard down, they could have fought equally. The challenge was finding the flaw. Though Arondir has shown remarkable skills, such as helping kill a troll, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to match Adar in a fair fight, except for this moment of weakness. His stance changes subtly, and in that brief moment, Adar recognizes it perfectly. Adar had been gradually wearing Cordova down, and they needed to identify that critical instant.

The Rings of Power star Ismael Cruz Córdova is "pretty sure" there will be a season 3

Will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power get a third season?

Only one episode remains in this season 2 of The Rings of Power, and if there are more to come, we may not see them for quite some time. Although Amazon is anticipated to renew the series, given their substantial investment and reported five-season plan, no definitive announcement has been made yet.

It appears Cordova hasn’t received the script yet, but he seems to have similar feelings as us about potentially moving forward with a third installment. However, he’s not certain since he hasn’t had access to the script so far. But if given the chance, he would be thrilled to read it.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel anxious about Arondir’s fate in next week’s season finale. Yet, should he make it through, there are still several stories and moments on this show that I, as Charles Córdova, yearn to be a part of.

I would love to sing in the show. There’s so much written about elven singing, and we see it with Gil-galad. I think it’s always super great for Arondir to do a lot of these things, because it shows you this difference and the contrast between types of elves. He’s not a royal, rich or a city guy. He’s a rugged, rough, warrior poet, covering for every mistake that comes from the capital, essentially. He’s the one that’s like, “OK, I’ll save you now, and I’ll save you and I’ll save you.”

It remains to be seen if his wish will come true (about renewing The Rings of Power). If Amazon decides to continue with a third season, it probably won’t air until 2026. For now, we can eagerly anticipate the season 2 finale, which is set for release on October 3rd.

2024-09-26 19:42

Game of Thrones alum Kristian Nairn reflects on friendship with Isaac Hempstead-Wright