The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerhas circled the topic of Theo’s paternity for quite a while now, leaving viewers with a few guesses as to who his father might be. Tyroe Muhafidin’s troubled Southlander is the son of Bronwyn, who passed away betweenThe Rings of Powerseason 1and season 2. This tragic character is left with no parental figure since his father has been absent the whole time. However, a few fan theories posit Theo in some intriguing roles. If these fan theories are true, Theo’s paternity could be a big surprise.
Theo and his mother, Bronwyn, were the main figures inThe Rings of Power’sSouthlands arc, which was really put in place to set up the backstory between Halbrand and Adar. Bronwyn actress Nazanin Boniadi exited the show after season 1 to pursue other projects, but it wasn’t a major catastrophe, since her storyline had already come full circle. The Southlands had already become the site ofMordor and Mount Doom. With the Southlands gone, Theo’s father may be forced to reveal himself, in one way or another.
7A Black Númenórean
A Númenórean Colonizer
Theo’s dad could be a Númenórean colonizer. The idea behind this theory is that Theo will end up becomingThe Lord of the Rings’Mouth of Sauron. Theo’s inner darkness leads many to speculate that he will end up on Sauron’s side. Theo discovered the Orc Sigil Hilt inThe Rings of Power’sseason 1 and was immediately drawn to it. Thisinner darkness could be a foreshadowing of Theo’s turn to evil, especially considering Theo’s own words on the subject. If Theo does become the Mouth of Sauron, this implies that his father may be a Black Númenórean.
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The Mouth of Sauron was said to be a Black Númenórean.The Lord of the Ringssuggested this as a rumor, but couldn’t confirm outright. So, if Theo becomes the Mouth of Sauron, it stands to reason that his father is a Black Númenórean, since Bronwyn is clearly not. The Númenóreans had been colonizing the coasts of Middle-earth for a long time already, by the time the events ofThe Rings of Powerbegan. Therefore,Theo’s father could have easily been a settlerwho romanced Bronwyn and then went back to the island, got caught up somewhere, or was killed.
6A Man Of The Mountains
A Future Oathbreaker
Theo could beLotR’sKing of the DeadinThe Rings of Power, in which casehis father may be one of the Men of the Mountains. The King of the Dead was a leader of the Men of the Mountains before he became the Oathbreaker of the Peter Jackson movies and rode to the Battle of the Pelennor by Aragorn’s side. It started making more sense for Theo to become the King of the Dead inThe Rings of Powerseason 2 as he became better friends with Isildur. This friendship could be setting up Theo’s betrayal of Isildur, making his father a possible Man of the Mountains.
Theo’s friendship with Isildur could become incredibly sad if he ends up swearing allegiance to him and then betraying him at the last minute. Becoming the leader of the Oathbreakers may suggest that Theo leads or helps lead the Southlanders to the White Mountains, which is where the Men of the Mountains were from. However,Theo’s King of the Dead theory also makes sense if his mysterious father actually came from the mountainous area north of the Southlands. In discovering his paternity, Theo could follow his father to the mountains and start embodying his destiny as the future King of the Dead.
5An Unnamed Southlander
An Unknown Human Character
Theo’s father could just be an unnamed Southlander who got called away on business and never came back, making Theo’s paternity a mystery without an earth-shattering conclusion. At a panel at San Diego Comic-Con,Rings of Powershowrunners J.D. Payne andPatrick McKay mentioned that Theo’s father would be revealed. This certainly made it sound as if Theo’s father wasn’t simply one of the many Southlanders that Bronwyn could have met during her time in Tirharad. However, Theo’s father may have been one of the locals of Tirharad, the original setting devised byThe Rings of Power.
Theo having a secretLord of the Ringsidentity would make sense, but if he is simply Theo, then his father is probably not one of too much consequence either.
Theo’s identity has been discussed a lot inThe Rings of Powerfandom, with fans speculating thatthe show may take the same approach with Theo as it did with Halbrandand the Stranger. Sauron’s identity was explored in season 1, with Halbrand turning out to beThe Lord of the Rings’eponymous villain. Meanwhile, the Stranger was explored in season 2 and turned out to be Gandalf.Theo having a secretLord of the Ringsidentitywould make sense, but if he is simply Theo, then his father is probably not one of too much consequence either.
4Anárion
Isildur’s Brother
Anárion is due to appear inThe Rings of Powerseason 3, one way or another, and one shock twist would be Theo being his son. Anárion is Isildur’s older brother who lives in the west of Númenor, but many Númenóreans traveled to Middle-earth, and Anárion could have been one of the many who had. If Anárion went to Middle-earth, met Bronwyn, and got her pregnant,Theo could be key to Gondor’s future. This could be the show’s way of inserting an original character into Gondor’s origin story, allowing them some leeway with the narrative.
Anárion had four children canonically and there’s no reason why he couldn’t have had some of them already inRings of Power.
Elendil, Isildur, and Anárion are, of course, the future founders of the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. Númenóreans age far slower than normal humans inLotR, living into their hundreds. Isildur could be older than he looks inThe Rings of Power, so it is hard to estimate his brother’s age, although it is known that Anárion was born after Isildur. Anárion had four children canonically and there’s no reason why he couldn’t have had some of them already inRings of Power.If Anárion had a son in Middle-earth, that would also create dramaaround his eventual return.
3The True King Of The Southlands
The Rightful Owner Of Halbrand’s Pouch
There is a chance that Theo’s father is the real King of the Southlands, which Halbrand turned out not to be. Bronwyn has a certain level of leadership over the Southlanders. Despite making it seem as if she knew nothing of the real King of the Southlands, it is possible that she knew that he was Theo’s father.Theo’s father’s royal ancestry could have been a part of the reason he leftor was lost, setting up a future plot point. Even if Bronwyn was not aware of her lover’s lineage, this twist still works.
Both the Halbrand and Annatar Sauron characters are played by Charlie Vickers inThe Rings of Power.
The Rings of Powerset up its King of the Southlands arc to deceive the audience, and Galadriel, as toSauron’s real identity. So, it seems as if the show may be done with this storyline. That could make Theo’s father more likely to be one ofLord of the Rings’other characters. However, if Theo’s father was the King of the Southlands, that would make Theo his successor.If Theo finds out his destiny, he may find himself in more of a position to receive one of Sauron’s Rings of Power, which Sauron will be giving out to powerful Men in season 2. This could send Theo down the Ringwraith route.
2A Rohirrim Ancestor Called Théoden
A Precursor To The Éothéod
Theo could have a father called Théoden, resulting in his name being similar. There is even a chance that Theo’s full name is actually Théoden as well, and that this will be revealed in a future season of the show. This idea plays into the theory thatTheo could be a founder of Rohanor an important member of Rohan’s history. There is rich lore about the Rohirrim in the appendices ofThe Lord of the Rings, which details how the Rohirrim migrated to their current realm. Theo’s father reveal could play into this storyline.
Before time
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Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
4,902
War of Wrath ended
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InRings of Power, Rohan hasn’t played a part yet. Most of the tales featuring the Rohirrim take place in the Third Age, butRings of PoweradaptsLord of the Rings’Second Age. The show is exploring the origins of the Istari, whoLotRspecifies didn’t arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age. With this in mind, there is no reason why the show wouldn’t take on an origin story for Rohan.Theo’s father being an early ancestor of the Rohirrim also makes sense considering Theo’s friendship with Isildur- the two could form an early allyship between Rohan and Gondor.
1Arondir
Bronwyn’s Favorite Elf
Bronwyn’s romance with Arondir was a huge part of the joys ofRings of Powerseason 1, implying that Arondir may be Theo’s father. The Showrunners appeared to suggest that this was not the case at San Diego Comic-Con, but they have misdirected viewers and fans with their comments before.Arondir acts more like a father to Theo than anyone elseon the show. Having been close to his mother, Arondir clearly feels partly responsible for Theo following Bronwyn’s tragic death. Theo is pushing away Arondir’s care, which may set him on a slippery slope.
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Considering Theo’s attraction to darkness, he may need a father figure now more than ever.Arondir’s fatherhood wouldn’t have been a welcome sightin Tirharad, with the Elves a constant reminder of the town’s subjugation. The Elves kept watch over the town to keep them from allying with Morgoth again and causing more war. Therefore, Arondir and his peers were maligned. Even Theo disliked his presence. Only Bronwyn welcomed him. It’s understandable why Bronwyn would have lied about Arondir being Theo’s father, butThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powermay yet reveal all.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
