The Crucial Scene That Nearly Didn't Make It to The Rings of Power Premiere

The Importance of Galadriel's Boat Scene

The Rings of Power's premiere concludes with a scene of Galadriel and her fellow Elves on a boat to Valinor, where they're expected to find peace and be rewarded for their efforts against Morgoth. Although going to Valinor is meant to be an honor, Galadriel feels that Sauron is still out there. She's clearly conflicted about the journey, and High King Gil-galad only seems to send her away so that she'll stop searching for Sauron. As the ship approaches Valinor, Galadriel struggles to relinquish her dagger. As she recalls poignant advice from her brother, she decides to jump ship.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Galadriel and Boat

According to The Rings of Power director J.A. Bayona, this scene was almost cut from the season 1 premiere for budgetary reasons — a surprising development considering its importance to Galadriel's characterization and the plot overall. It's fortunate that Amazon made the choice to keep it in, and not just because it's a powerful moment. This scene also makes Galadriel a stronger character, and it sets her story in motion, building to The Rings of Power's later reveals.

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel looking at the light of Valinor in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Character Development of Galadriel

While The Rings of Power episode 1's ending scene isn't the most important moment of the first season, it does a great job of cementing Galadriel's character. It reaffirms that she's not the type of person to shirk her duty, and it highlights her refusal to abandon Middle-earth in favor of finding peace in Valinor. Not many people would be willing to sacrifice eternal peace based on their instincts, but that's the type of heroine Galadriel is. Jumping off the ship is a defining moment for her character, presenting her best qualities to viewers and making her an easy character to root for.

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

While several other scenes throughout The Rings of Power also demonstrate Galadriel's commitment to her cause, this is undoubtedly the most powerful. The flashback to her brother underscores where she gets her intuition and unwavering sense of good from. Meanwhile, her risky choice sets The Rings of Power's plot in motion, ensuring the series unravels the way it's supposed to. Without this moment, the Lord of the Rings series would be very different, as would Galadriel's first meeting with Sauron.

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The Impact of the Crucial Scene on the Storyline

The Rings of Power premiere's ending also contributes to Galadriel's story arc, leading to one of the most critical points of the whole series. If Galadriel never boarded the ship to Valinor, she wouldn't be stranded at sea — and she wouldn't have met Halbrand. It's thanks to this moment that she unknowingly crosses paths with Sauron, prompting everything that follows. While one could argue that finding Sauron leads to his rise to power, it's likely he would have attempted to conquer Middle-earth regardless of whether he met Galadriel. However, their meeting confirms her hunch that he's still alive and gives Middle-earth the chance to prepare.

Charlie Vickers as Halbrand in The Rings of Power on a raft

For better or worse, their encounter also leads to everything that happens in The Rings of Power and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. From a storytelling perspective, it's necessary for Galadriel to jump ship and find Halbrand while stranded at sea. The Rings of Power would unfold very differently if she didn't do this during the premiere, as would the history of Middle-earth.

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power