The Rings of Power benefits from its standout cast, and Elrond actor Robert Aramayo proved he was perfect for the Lord of the Rings show six years earlier. Elrond is one of the best characters from The Lord of the Rings, so getting his Rings of Power counterpart right was crucial. Fortunately, the show succeeded with its take on the Elf, reinventing him as a younger and less weary character. Of course, the Amazon series will show how he becomes the person we meet in The Lord of the Rings, and Aramayo’s casting makes even more sense for this journey.

Although Aramayo has appeared in several other movies and television projects, Elrond is probably his biggest role to date. However, he does have another huge fantasy series under his belt, even if he plays a smaller role in it. And his brief Game of Thrones appearances served Aramayo well, establishing his ability to play Elrond long before he joined The Rings of Power‘s cast. His acting in the hit HBO series proved he was capable of nailing a larger fantasy role, even one that came with huge expectations.

Robert Aramayo’s Game Of Thrones Role Prepared Him Well For The Rings Of Power

His Stint As Young Ned Stark Showed He Could Handle A Big Fantasy Adaptation

Six years prior to The Rings of Power season 1’s premiere in 2022, Aramayo debuted as young Eddard Stark in Game of Thrones season 6’s “Oathbreaker.” Aramayo appeared in four Game of Thrones episodes overall, and despite having limited screen time, he did a great job with Ned’s character. Following Sean Bean’s portrayal of adult Ned was no easy feat, but Aramayo managed to convey Ned’s resolute morals and sense of duty in a short number of scenes.

The fact that Aramayo was able to follow Bean’s performance and make young Ned Stark his own proved he could do the same for Elrond, despite the popularity of Hugo Weaving’s take on the character.

The fact that Aramayo was able to follow Bean’s performance and make young Ned Stark his own proved he could do the same for Elrond, despite the popularity of Hugo Weaving’s take on the character in the Lord of the Rings movies. His ability to live up to fans’ expectations of a beloved book character also showcased his potential. The Rings of Power was smart to cast Aramayo on the heels of his Game of Thrones success, and the HBO series gave him experience playing an honorable character surrounded by corruption as well.

The Actor’s Ned Stark Performance Proved He Could Tackle Rings Of Power’s Elrond

His Rings Of Power Character Is In A Similar Position

In The Rings of Power season 2, Elrond proves he’s one of the smartest and most honorable characters as he attempts to make the other Elves see reason. He pushes against the use of the Rings of Power, while Galadriel, Gil-galad, and Círdan are all drawn to them. And while Elrond eventually comes around to the Three, his story in season 2 puts him in a similar position to Ned in Game of Thrones. Like Ned, he’s one of the few people desperately trying to do the right thing, even as those around him are driven by other pursuits.

Of course, Elrond’s allies in The Rings of Power are still generally decent characters, while Ned is surrounded by self-interested enemies in Game of Thrones. Even so, getting the chance to play a character defined by moral integrity set him up for his tenure as Elrond exceedingly well. It’s no wonder he seems so natural in the role.