The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premieres this week on Prime Video, and if there's one major takeaway to hold in mind as we head into the fantasy show's third season, it's that much has changed since season 2. The Fall of Eregion served as the end of a major chapter in the series; since then, five years have passed, and Sauron's war with the Elves has engulfed much of Middle-earth.
However, there are still regions that remain untouched by the Dark Lord — though not unburdened by their own issues. Chief among them is Númenor, the mighty island nation of Men blessed with long life. The second season featured a succession crisis there, between the Faithful followers of Tar-Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) and the pragmatic disciples of her power-hungry cousin, Ar-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle).
The schism in Númenor continues. But for both Míriel and Addai-Robinson, life has marched on, opening windows into new parts of their shared experience as character and actor.
"In addition to the changing of circumstances, I think there's like, a deepening of character. And I think even as actors, we've now had several years really to do such a deep dive and be so thorough, but also just as people living our lives, you know... many years have passed," Addai-Robinson told Winter Is Coming during a recent press junket, where she appeared alongside her Rings of Power co-stars Daniel Weyman (Gandalf) and Robert Aramayo. "So I think sometimes as we live in parallel to these characters and they kind of sit with us. I know for myself, sometimes it's like I'm bringing some of, you know, whatever I'm navigating mentally in the world and life...and I can't help but bring it to Míriel."
Míriel and Pharazôn are polar opposites in The Rings of Power season 3
There will certainly be no shortage of complications for Míriel to navigate in season 3. The season begins with Pharazôn at the height of his reign, while Míriel's Faithful are in hiding. Brute strength alone won't be enough to see a way through for her people. Fortunately, that's never really been Míriel's style, anyway.
"I've always viewed her as a character that's quite internal. There's a lot on her mind all the time. She's trying to be very thoughtful. She's trying to make decisions that have implications beyond just her own personal situation," Addai-Robinson said.
In some ways, this makes Míriel the exact opposite of Pharazôn. Where he wants to be recognized for his ambition and glory, she wants to de-center herself. It makes for a compelling angle to the Númenórean conflict that will serve as one of the primary plotlines of The Rings of Power season 3.
Addai-Robinson hints that "what we don't see in that five-year time jump" is important for Míriel. Without delving into spoilers, it suffices to say that the deposed Queen of Númenor starts off in a very different place than we last saw her, just as the actors who play these characters were when they filmed the show's upcoming third season compared to their prior work. Addai-Robinson promises "a deepening of these characters that we've already kind of put so much into over...6, 7 years of our real lives."
We'll see how that translates for Tar-Míriel and the rest of Númenor when The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premieres November 11 on Prime Video.
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