‘Lord of the Rings’: Robert Aramayo Teases “Risks” Ahead for Besties Elrond and Durin in Khazad-dûm

The most fun part of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video so far has got to be the shockingly sweet bromance between unlikely friends Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur). Elrond is a half-elf, half-human who was orphaned when his heroic father literally saved the world. He works as a speechwriter of sorts to High King Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker) and loves politics. Durin IV is a royal dwarf who calls the lavish mining kingdom Khazad-dûm home. He is devoted to his darling wife Disa (Sophia Nomvete) and their two little dwarf sons. On paper, they should not be friends. In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, they are besties.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power co-showrunner Patrick McKay told Decider the idea to make Elrond and Durin buddies came from wanting to honor J.R.R. Tolkien’s themes.

“One of his great themes and messages he loved to explore were friendship and loyalty, and unlikely pairings and friendship between species that maybe on their surface might not get along as well,” McKay said. “We love the idea of a different kind of friendship between an elf and dwarf. One that is strained in a way that has, you know, a deep level of brotherhood underneath it.:

“We love the idea of the bonds of friendship being tested by the larger stakes of the two kingdoms that they represent. And I think you’ll see that more and more as their story unfolds.”

McKay’s co-showrunner JD Payne added, “I think Tolkien’s message is a good one for today in that it shows different peoples that have different values and different histories and different priorities can come together and can cooperate and do things will be for the benefit of all.”

Durin and Elrond’s friendship doesn’t seem so rosy when we first visit Khazad-dûm in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 2. Elrond doesn’t get a warm welcome and instead has to challenge his friend to a ritualistic battle of strength. After he loses – intentionally? — Elrond asks Durin to escort him outside. While on a lift (aka elevator) up to the surface, Elrond learns the reason Durin is mad is because it’s been twenty years since they last saw each other. For the immortal Elrond, that’s nothing. For Durin, it means his best friend has abandoned him during some of the most momentous years of his life.

Robert Aramayo revealed to Decider that they have a backstory to how Durin and Elrond met and “what they’ve been through before you meet them in the show,” but he added what makes their bond so compelling is due to challenges still to come.

“I think that they both put themselves on the line. You know, the whole family does, you know, the three of us together,” Aramayo said, lumping Disa in with the group. “I think we put ourselves out there with each other. We take risks and trust is built and relationships deepen within the show.”

“What everyone goes through in Khazad-dûm and some of the risk builds a certain trust and and love between Elrond and Durin.”

“There’s something to do as well that Elrond is half-elf, half-human,” Owain Arthur said. “I’ve always thought that Durin sees the human in him.”

“Because, you know, historically-speaking, dwarves and elves don’t necessarily get on very well. There’s always a little something in there, isn’t there? So it’s, it’s quite the fact that they are of a different race, I think, could possibly make their friendship stronger.”

Aramayo added that he was fascinated Elrond’s half-elf, half-human nature because of what it meant about the character.

“He is the youngest elf that we see [in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1],” Aramayo said. “I was really struck by the fact that Tolkien always says things like he chose to be counted amongst the elves, to belong to the Eldar. He uses words like that, which always struck me.”

“It’s like, yes, he is immortal. But there’s something a little bit different about Elrond, which is his relationship to mortality is probably his greatest strength.”

We’ll have to keep watching The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to find out where Elrond and Durin’s friendship goes next, but for now, they’ve definitely patched things up.