The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is officially back for season 3. After the first half of the season dropped on Prime Video on Wednesday, Nov. 11, fans are binge-watching the new season and growing curious about a few mysteries the show has introduced.
While much of the mystery has revolved around Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) and his parentage, there's also been a lot of intrigue around "the Man with the White Flame," as he has been referred to by Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) and other Númenóreans.
So, let's talk about who the Man with the White Flamer is and why it's important in The Rings of Power season 3 and beyond!
Elendil is the "Man" and Narsil is "the White Flame"
In The Rings of Power season 2 finale, Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) gifts Narsil, the famed sword, to Elendil (Lloyd Owen), the captain of Numenor's forces and a traitor to Pharazôn's rule, before he flees the city.
In The Rings of Power season 3, which takes place five years later, Elendil is the leader of those who oppose Pharazôn, along with his son, Isildur (Maxim Baldry), and his daughter, Eärien (Ema Horvath). Elendil basically represents an alternate path for many, and he symbolizes a hope that will, one day, save Numenor.
As legend grows about this mysterious figure, "The Man with the White Flame," it basically creates a narrative that Elendil will be the one to drive out evil by harnessing the power of Narsil, this sword that has done great things and will do more great things.
Well, I'm not going to go super spoilery about what happens to the people of Numenor, but Elendil does have a major part to play in the war against Sauron and much more. It's just hard to say, in terms of what The Rings of Power is trying to do, if Elendil actually has some special power or if he has been chosen for a larger purpose. We'll find out more as the season goes on, but right now, he's basically the people's champion with a cool sword. What he does next, well, that's where he becomes a legend in Middle-earth.
There are some who think the Man with the White Flame could be talking about Gandalf (Daniel Weyman), and that makes sense given what we know happens to Gandalf much later in this story, especially with the Secret Flame. That's a totally different thing, though, and something to discuss another time.
There's no doubt this story has set up that nickname for Elendil and Narsil.
What happens to Elendil, the Man with the White Flame?
If you have seen or read The Lord of the Rings, you have a good idea who Elendil and Isildur are and what they mean to that story. Before that, though, the father-son duo make quite the names for themselves in the coming war against Sauron.
As this epic saga plays out, Elendil continues his journey and actually founds the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, the kingdoms of men who will stand directly against the forces of Sauron and Mordor. Elendil forms the last alliance between men and the elves in one final stand against Sauron, and he brings the battle to Sauron in the Siege of Barad-dûr with Gil-galad and the elves, along with the forces of men.
What happens next? You've heard a bunch of times, but I'll give you a chance to turn back if you don't want the full spoilers.
Basically, Elendil falls fighting Sauron, and Narsil is smashed into shards. In the battle, Isildur defies the odds, and he takes up Narsil against Sauron and slices the One Ring from Sauron's hand, which then turns the war in favor of the men and elves.
Unfortunately, it leads to Isildur's Bane. He doesn't throw the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. He keeps it for himself, to try to harness the power of the One Ring, but it leads to his demise. Later, Gollum finds the Ring and loses it to Bilbo Baggins, who passes it along to Frodo Baggins, who must take the Ring all the way to the fires of Mount Doom, and all that jazz.
Narsil has a bigger part to play, too
Not only is Narsil the blade that cuts the Ring from Suaron's finger eventually, but it's also the blade that is reforged prior to the Council of Elrond and given to the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor, Elendil and Isildur's heir, Aragorn, son of Arathorn.
Aragorn wields the shards of Narsil in his new blade, Andúril, which is known as the Flame of the West, in his quest against the forces of Sauron and Saruman in the books before he takes his rightful place on the throne.
Remember, in Peter Jackson's movies, Aragorn sees the shards of Narsil in Rivendell in The Fellowship of the Ring, but he doesn't get Andúril until Elrond delivers it to his camp with forces of Rohan in The Return of the King.
So, that's basically what Elendil and Narsil mean to this story. There's still a lot that's going to happen with Elendil, Isildur, Pharazôn, and Númenór in this season of The Rings of Power, and it will likely shape Elendil's path moving forward.
We'll share more updates about The Rings of Power season 3.
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