Although it's been a controversial decision, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power hasn't stopped filming Season 2 amid the ongoing writers' strike. Along with production, marketing has also been moving full-steam ahead. Actors, producers and even the series' composer have all been doing interviews promoting the upcoming season. Of particular note was an interview with Morfydd Clark, where she hinted that Glorfindel might be one of the new characters coming in Season 2.
While new characters are important, they shouldn't be the only highlight. In Season 2, The Rings of Power needs to focus on developing its already-expansive cast so that characters will start to resemble their Lord of the Rings counterparts. Galadriel is one example, and she should have a more well-rounded character going forward. On a similar note, Gil-galad and Elrond's characters also need to be much more warlike in season 2. Here's how that would improve the series.
Gil-galad and Elrond's Passivity Made Galadriel Look Brash
The Rings of Power's first season had some high points, and there were a fair number of justifiable issues. However, Galadriel's' character shouldn't have been such a hang-up. Some fans didn't like her brash and warlike nature, saying that it was a far cry from the regal and queenly character that Tolkien described in The Lord of the Rings. While there was a little bit of justification behind that sentiment, a lot of fans didn't realize that almost all of Tolkien's Elves were all warlike, and their immortal nature made them emotionally distant and inherently brash.
Rings of Power viewers almost need to look at things from a completely opposite perspective. Rather than asking why Galadriel was so warlike, they should be asking why the rest of the Elves were so passive. Granted, they were trying to live in peace after the War of Wrath, but Galadriel wasn't a novice. She insisted that there was still evil in Middle-earth, so they should have been willing to follow her. But that's not what happened. High King Gil-galad tried to ship Galadriel off to Valinor, and Elrond sided with the king. It was almost like they were chastising her for following her instincts.
Gil-Galad and Elrond Need to Take Up Arms in Season 2
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In order for Galadriel's character to not look out of place, she doesn't need to change. Gil-galad and Elrond need to get on her level. They need to take up arms and fight against Sauron and his minions, and that's not a stretch; that was their characterization in The Lord of the Rings, anyway. Gil-galad was a great warrior who fought in many battles. He wielded a spear called Aeglos, and he was the owner of Vilya (the Ring of Air) and Narya (Ring of Fire) before his death. Most notably, Gil-galad joined forces with Elendil and defeated Sauron during the Last Alliance.
Like Gil-galad, Elrond was a warrior in his younger days. Even though he was a Peredhil, he was highly regarded, and eventually, Gil-galad entrusted him with Vilya. One of his most notable actions was rescuing the survivors of Eregion after Sauron assailed the city. As they fled, Elrond founded Rivendell, which survived a lengthy siege and endured through the Third Age.
Thus, it's clear that Gil-galad and Elrond were warriors and seeing them so nonchalant in Season 1 felt a bit off. In Season 2, that needs to change. In order for their characters to develop toward their Lord of the Rings versions, they need to actively take up arms and show Galadriel that they are willing to stand with her against Saroun. That will go a long way for the series because it will make Gil-galad and Elrond's characters more brash, which will be closer to Tolkien's warlike interpretation, and it will prove that Galadriel was right all along.
The Rings of Power Season 2 doesn't have a release date. Season 1 is streaming now on Prime Video.