The Nazgûl, also called Ringwraiths, is one of the most frightening creations of J.R.R. Tolkien. They wear dark robes and carry Morgul blades, which can turn others into Ringwraiths.
A powerful scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring shows one of the Nazgûl hunting Frodo (played by Elijah Wood) and his friends, Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan), and Pippin (Billy Boyd), while they hide under a log.
This moment marks the first real demonstration of Sauron’s evil and sets the stakes for the rest of the story. These Nazgûl were created when nine kings of men were given rings, which corrupted them. Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) explains in the prologue of The Fellowship of the Ring that men desire power above all, and this made them easy to corrupt.
By the end of the recent episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, titled “Halls of Stone,” we see that the nine rings for men are being made. Sauron (Charlie Vickers), disguised as Annatar, manipulates Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) into speeding up their creation.
Sauron will soon choose men to hold positions of power, and we already know what will happen to these men: they will become Nazgûl. One character who could be on this path is Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), a Southlander. Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) named him the Lord of Pelargir, a Númenorian settlement that will later become part of Gondor.
Theo Could Be Trapped by Sauron Due to His Suffering
If Theo takes on the role Arondir hinted at, as Lord of Pelargir, he may be driven by his responsibilities to seek power. This could lead him straight into Sauron’s trap. Theo wants to fix the wrongs that have affected his life, like his mother Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) dying and Adar (Sam Hazeldine) creating Mordor.
Adar told Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) that they share common enemies, and this idea could make Theo and Sauron work together. Annatar might trick Theo and still follow Sauron even after discovering who he truly is. This relationship could create an interesting tension between Theo, Sauron, and Celebrimbor.
Theo’s desire to do good may cause Sauron to support him, while Celebrimbor might see the potential for Theo to be corrupted, which was Celebrimbor’s original argument against making rings for men.
Theo’s Background Makes Him Perfect for Sauron’s Plans
Theo not only seems to fit the kind of person Sauron would manipulate, but his connections make him valuable. His past and current ties to the Southlanders and Wildmen could make Sauron see him as a useful tool to control more people.
If Sauron’s goal is to bring all the races of Middle-earth under his rule, Theo’s background could make him a key part of that plan. Sauron might view Theo as a way to reach and control more men through his influence.
Theo’s Fall Could Show a New Side of the Nazgûl
If Theo turns to the dark side and becomes a Nazgûl, it would add a new dimension to these creatures. The Lord of the Rings has not focused much on the tragic aspect of the Nazgûl, but there is deep sorrow in their existence.
They are evil, but they also live a tortured life, like addicts drawn to the power of the Ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) explains in The Fellowship of the Ring that the Nazgûl are always aware of the Ring’s presence and feel its power.
If Theo becomes a Nazgûl, it would show the sad decline of a man who wasn’t evil from the start, but who fell into despair and was destroyed by Sauron’s influence.
Several factors could lead Theo to becoming a Nazgûl. His own desire for power could push him towards Sauron, while his political connections and past might also pull him into Sauron’s plans.
These factors combined could make Theo’s downfall inevitable, showing the tragic corruption of men and giving a sorrowful edge to the terrifying existence of the Nazgûl. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream on Prime Video.
