Unveiling Elros in The Rings of Power Season 3: Elrond’s twin & First King of Númenor

The September winds have brought us one of the most highly anticipated reveals for Season 3 of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, centered directly on one of the show’s core protagonists: Elrond. Via a feature on Polygon, we now have our first official look at Elros Tar-Minyatur—first King of Númenor, twin brother to the Lord of Imladris, and a monumental figure in the history of Arda.

In a recent Zoom interview, the pop-culture outlet spoke with showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, as well as Robert Aramayo—who is set to pull double duty in Season 3 by playing both Elrond and Elros. Their chat offered plenty of intriguing takeaways that we’ll dive into shortly, but first, a fundamental question: who is Elros, and what is his backstory?

The Elven way and the choice of mortality: The fate of the Peredhil twins

Elrond and Elros are the sons of Eärendil—the legendary Half-elf whose voyage aboard the Vingilot proved to be the ultimate example of eucatastrophe during the War of Wrath, slaying the colossal dragon Ancalagon the Black and stripping Morgoth of one of his greatest weapons. Eärendil was also the one who managed to sail across the vast waters of Belegaer to reach the Valar in Aman, successfully persuading them to send an army to march against the Dark Lord. His fate was ultimately bound to the skies, with the light of the Silmaril set upon his brow remaining ever visible, even from the most distant corners of Middle-earth.

Raised by Maglor following the Third Kinslaying, Elrond and Elros were granted a choice by the Valar: eternal life—embracing the path of the Elves—or the Gift of Men. While Elrond chose the immortal life of the Firstborn, his twin embraced humanity and mortality, going on to become the first King of Númenor, the island home bestowed upon the Edain by the Valar in recognition of their valor against Morgoth. Taking the Quenya name Tar-Minyatur, he ascended the throne in S.A. 32 (the Second Age) and lived for roughly 500 years, ruling with wisdom and founding the magnificent city of Armenelos.

JD Payne and Patrick McKay talk about the choice of Elrond and Elros

“Elrond makes this decision that’s so different from Elros. He chose to be an elf, he chose immortality, and his brother chose mortality — and chose Númenor. Elrond has always carried sadness over losing the person who was closest to him of anyone.”

One of the most intriguing details from the interview centers on the placement of the Elros flashback, which unfolds right alongside an Elven diplomatic mission to Númenor. In a Middle-earth darkened by Sauron’s shadow, the Lord of Imladris reflects on the past he shared with his brother as he sets foot on the “Land of Gift”, wondering how much of Elros lingers in that land. According to the writers, one of the flashback’s most evocative moments finds the twins sitting on a quiet patch of grass in the woods talking about Númenor—back when the island was still just a distant dream.

From earth to air: Robert Aramayo on playing Elros and defining the contrast with Elrond

“Elros was very close to the people that he led, he’s the best person to do it [lead the Edain to Númenor]. Loss is such a part of his journey. Loss and Elrond, they just… seem to be a big part of what Tolkien wrote for him”.

In the interview, Aramayo associates two contrasting elements with his dual roles: Elros, having chosen the path of a mortal human, is bound to the earth—the ultimate figurative expression of mortality. Elrond, on the other hand, evokes air in Aramayo’s mind, a visual and spiritual theme present in his garments and echoing his mother Elwing, who took the form of a bird to safeguard the Silmaril during the attack on Arvernien by Maedhros and his brothers. Aramayo further notes that loss—and Elrond himself—are fundamental to how Tolkien defined Elros’s character.

It seems unresolved within him, that choice [Elros’ Choice]. You can take it further: there’s also a fear because we don’t know what happens to the Edain after death. 

From Elrond’s perspective, that choice remains something unresolved—and one that undoubtedly instills fear, especially considering the choice Arwen would make millennia later, as nothing is known of what becomes of the Edain and mortals after death. For the Elves, however, it is a different matter entirely: they are bound inextricably to the fate of Arda itself, and even when they perish, their spirits gather in the vast Halls of Mandos.

I’ve thought a lot about that too, especially because of Elrond, because I feel like death is closer to him. Loss is such a part of his life in one way or another through death. It’s weirdly his power, he’s all about preservation and protection”.

It is that very unpredictability that makes mortality feel “weirdly exciting and a gift”, as the actor says. Aramayo also contemplates the other side of the coin—the rising tide of fear consuming Númenor, a kingdom that has drifted far from the noble legacy forged under his brother’s leadership. Turning his attention to Elrond, Aramayo points out how death and loss have walked beside him for his entire, vast lifetime. For the British actor, the true strength of Elrond stem from his relentless will to preserve and protect: a virtue shaped and strengthened by every loss.

“I’m not sure he’s expecting to walk in there and be so revered. He expected them to have more memories of his brother around. He thought they’d be more connected to their past as a people. Númenor is his brother in the same way that Rivendell is Elrond. To see where it is right now is very, very challenging for him”

This section is particularly compelling. Aramayo speaks of an Elrond who, being identical to his twin, is unexpectedly revered upon arriving in Númenor. Yet, he also expected not only more memories of Elros, but for the land once ruled by his brother to hold a deeper connection to the ideals that originally made its people great. The actor notes the presence of images of Elros with their Elven ears removed—a striking symbol of Númenor’s growing rift from the Elves. For Aramayo, stepping back into the shoes of an ever-maturing Elrond will be a thrilling challenge, portraying a hero moving closer to establishing a prosperous and enduring realm of his own, much like Elros did.