Summary

Rings of Power and Game of Thrones blend epic battles and political intrigue but differ in tone and moral focus.
Actor Robert Aramayo played a crucial role as a younger Ned Stark, connecting the two fantasy series.
Fans were surprised to learn of Aramayo's dual roles, sparking discussions on his portrayal and acting skills.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Game of Thrones are both fantastic epic fantasy series' that heavily rely on the artistry of storytelling. While both feature massive battles, magical elements, and sprawling landscapes that make for a visually stunning fantasy world, George R. R. Martin's medieval universe was more geared towards the gritty and violent and Tolkien-inspired Rings of Power honed more into the iconic author's good versus evil mentality.

While there are plenty of similarities, which include a complex cast of characters, intricate political intrigue, and major power struggles between different factions, it seems as though many of its characters loved nothing more than jumping between its two worlds. Several actors appeared in both the Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings franchises, including Sean Bean who famously played Boromir in Lord of the Rings and Ned Stark, Joseph Mawle who played Benjen Stark and the original character, Adar, as well as Ciarán Hinds who played Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, and also the mysterious Dark Wizard in Rings of Power. However, some fans are only now piecing together that one more Rings of Power actor had an important role during a flashback in HBO's 2012 fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.

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By Chris Harkin

Rings of Power Actor Also Played a Younger Ned Stark in Game of Thrones

TROPS2_Episode7 — Elrond (Robert Aramayo) is surrounded by a group of Orcs in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 7

Rings of Power's Robert Aramayo, who plays Elrond, has had a fairly long and successful career, appearing in movies such as Nocturnal Animals, The King's Man, and Antebellum. However, for those who might have missed him in Game of Thrones, Aramayo can be seen in flashback scenes during seasons 6 and 7 as a younger version of Ned Stark. Even though Aramayo's role was short, his part in its story was very important, as his memorable scene revealed Jon Snow's parentage for the first time.

Although it wasn't a 'blink and you miss it' moment from Aramayo, many Game of Thrones fans seemingly didn't catch that it was him and only put two and two together when they watched Amazon's Ring of Power. On Reddit, one fan posted that they had no clue Robert Aramayo played both Elrond and a young Ned Stalk, setting off a wave of comments. While some remembered him in both, others stated that they didn't overly enjoy his role as the Half-elven in Rings of Power or Ned in Game of Thrones, saying "He was a terrible choice for both characters" and that he "looks just awful as both" characters. "This showcases how awful Rings of Power is", said one commenter. "I thought he was an awful choice for Elrond, but it was probably just because of the show that he seemed so bad. I never realized he also played young Ned. He was brilliant in Game of Thrones."

Thankfully, or maybe not for some, Robert Aramayo will be jumping back into his role as Elrond in Rings of Power season 3. This time around, it seems as though fans will witness Sauron's growing power as he actively seeks to forge the One Ring, as well as the likelihood of the impending The Battles Of Eriador. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premiere date for Season 3 has yet to be announced. However, preproduction has started, and filming will begin in the spring.

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Release Date: September 1, 2022
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner: John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip
Directors: J.A. Bayona, Sanaa Hamri
Writers: Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams
Franchise(s): The Lord of the Rings