Theo is one of the main characters in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He is the son of Bronwyn, hailing from the village Tirharad. Theo is portrayed by Tyroe Muhafidin, first appearing in the episode "A Shadow of the Past".
Official Description[]
Bronwyn’s only son, who has grown up under the watchful eye of elves who cannot see past his people’s ancestral legacy of evil. As he struggles with the questions in his life and seeks to prove himself, he finds himself tempted by a dark discovery.
Biography[]
Theo is the son of Bronwyn, the healer in the village of Tirharad in the Southlands. He didn't know what happened to his father, and despised the Elves who watch over the village. He was well aware of the rumors that one of the Elves, Arondir, was friends with his mother.[1]
Desolation of the Southlands[]
One day, alongside Rowan, Theo found a broken sword hilt with a strange sigil on it under the floorboards of Waldreg's barn.[1]
Theo's house was attacked by Orcs and his mother valiantly killed the creature. She used the Orcs arrival as proof of a greater threat, and convinced her villagers to seek shelter with her and Theo at the Watchtower of Ostirith.[2]
They hid in the Watchtower for weeks as the Orcs claimed Tirharad. The villagers grew short on rations and patience as Bronwyn did her best to bring order. Theo wanted to prove himself by getting more rations from Waldreg's home, but Bronwyn refused to put her son in danger. The boy partnered with Rowan and snuck out of the encampment during the day. When Rowan sensed danger, he bolted with the wheelbarrow of now-secured rations, leaving Theo in Tirharad. He was attacked by Orcs and forced to use the hilt which revealed its location to the creatures who coveted it. He fought them off and hid inside a well into night fall. Now injured, Theo was rescued by Arondir who had escaped enslavement by the Orcs. The pair fled to the woods where Bronwyn had come to save her son. They made it across the meadow just as the sun peaked over the sky and sent the Orcs back into the shadows. When he returned to the tower, Theo was confronted by Waldreg about the hilts theft and told about the existence of Sauron.[3]
Arondir's freedom from the Orcs came with a message from their leader, Adar, whom agreed to spare the residents of Ostirith if they swore fealty to him. Bronwyn wanted to stay and fight with her people, though Waldreg refused to take the chance and sided with darkness as his ancestors had done before him. He wanted Theo to join them, but the boy refused. It wasn't long before the Orcs, now joined by villagers, began their march toward Ostirith.[4]
Arondir brought the watchtower down their enemy which allowed the Southlanders time to prepare Tirharad. His attempts to destroy the hilt failed, so he hid it from everyone including Bronwyn. Arondir and Bronwyn explained the plan to their people, which included waiting for each Orc to cross the bridge. Those who couldn't fight would seek shelter in the tavern. Theo wanted to join the fight with his mother, but Bronwyn wanted him inside to protect those who can not fight. He brought up his having bad dreams as a child and spoke of finding the light so the shadows would not find him.[5]
Theo guarded the tavern during the first wave of attackers. They realized the so-called Orcs were actually their former comrades who had been dressed up as Orcs to trick the Southlanders into killing their own people. The second wave came with force - both Bronwyn and Tredwill were struck with arrows. Tredwill succumbed to his wounds, which saddened Theo, but he had little time to mourn for his mothers wounds were serious. Theo and Arondir were forced to use the alfirin seeds and a hot iron to sear her wounds closed. She passed out as Arondir held her hand. The Orcs invaded the tavern but Arondir was forced to surrender when they held knives to Theo and Bronwyn. Adar requested the hilt and Arondir refused until they killed villagers. Theo ultimately gave up the hilt to save his mothers life. The Númenórean army arrived moments later which created a second battle in which the Southlands finally had a chance.[5]
After the battle, the Southlanders feasted with the Númenórean. Arondir found Theo off to himself and told the boy not to torment himself - many would have done the same in his position. Theo wasn't just guilt-ridden, but also felt loss over the power the hilt gave him. Arondir told the boy to free himself of it. He handed the hilt over to Theo with instructions to give it to the Númenor to toss into the sea on their voyage home. Once alone, the boy unwrapped the cloth to discover only an axe. The real hilt had been stolen by Waldreg and taken to Ostirith where he triggered the eruption of Orodruin.[5]
The eruption destroys the Southlands and leaves many dead or seriously injured. Theo screamed for his mother, but found Galadriel instead. She brought him under her protection as they left the destroyed village. She explained that the survivors would make their way to a Númenor encampment above a ridge. They got to know one another more and she protected him. She blamed herself for the events, but Theo took the guilt as he handed over the weapon the enemy used to destroy his home. She told him not to take the blame as he may find it difficult to put down again. Galadriel also taught him when to leave a fight, as the Southlands existed no longer. They reached the ridge in a day and parted as he searched the morgues for his mother. He found her and Arondir alive. Galadriel planned to depart with an injured Halbrand, so Theo returned her sword. She told him to keep it as he was a soldier now. Theo led them people in cheers for "strength to the Southlands" as the duo rode off.[6]
Appearances[]
- Season One
- "A Shadow of the Past" (First appearance)
- "Adrift"
- "The Great Wave"
- "Partings"
- "Udûn"
- "The Eye"
- Season Two