BORED OF THE RINGS
Rings of Power stands in stark contrast on how intelligent Peter Jackson’s adaptation actually was
IN FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, Boromir has about a total of 30 minutes screen time where Peter Jackson establishes that the character is a dutiful servant of Gondor, who has grown weary of bearing the thankless task of keeping others’ lands safe, with honourable desires to use the One Ring for the good of his people. He is doubtful of prophesied saviour figures like Aragorn, cynical and even defeatist but he shows his leadership and character when he’s seen teaching Merry and Pippin swordplay.
We know this because he’s horrified he hurts Pippin and he’s joyous when the hobbits gang up on him and tackle him. This tells us that he can set his personal feelings aside and raise the spirits of those under his command, making them all stronger as a unit. Contrast this with Rings of Power’s Galadriel, a superior swordsman tasked with mentoring Numenorean recruits, and her behaviour is best described as “toxic”.
As Boromir continues to fall under the influence of the Ring, we see him continue to bear the cross of temptation against the goblins of Moria and is there for his charges at every turn. Fleeing the Balrog, he grabs Merry and Pippin and leaps to safety ‒ think about how Legolas jumps alone.
After Gandalf falls, Boromir is compassionate ‒ “give them a moment for pity’s sake!” he pleads. He is not the same dismissive character at the Council of Elrond, this goes beyond duty now but kinship. While Aragorn is more pragmatic, Boromir doesn’t argue against the reasoning, showing once more that he always attempts to balance his compassion with his tactics.
When he does finally fall into temptation, he realises just as quickly and does all he can to save Merry and Pippin, apologising and engaging the orc horde in single combat so that they might escape. By the time Aragorn finds him, his first words are to alert the future king of Gondor that the Uruk have his charges. His dying words are a confession that he tried to take the Ring; broken and guilt ridden, Boromir is still trying to be honourable. His last breath is acceptance that Aragorn is his king returned, and displays his leadership once more in giving his king the last burst of wisdom enabling him a stronger king moving forward.
An entire journey within a journey, Boromir’s character arc shows his growth as a person and who he truly is at his core, away from the circumstances of what life has made him. Galadriel, as written by Amazon, unfortunately shows no such growth. She begins in Rings of Power as callous and revengedriven and now, having discovered Sauron (like we the viewers did from episode two), she literally tells no one yet continues to behave haughty and spiteful. She’s an emblem of toxic femininity and a literal mirror to how far IQs have fallen that we are forced to enjoy mediocre fair and cheap dopamine hits of special effects and mindless action.