Then, Benjamin Walker, who was sitting next to Aramayo and plays High King Gil-galad, chimed in saying that it was Elrond’s “only viable play, really.” And they’re both right. The elf needed to seriously shock and distract Adar and the Orcs so he could get the pin to Galadriel, and it worked.

The kiss was a shock to fans, but was a necessary diversionary tactic, according to the actor who plays Elrond on the show.

It's taken six episodes to get there, but The Rings of Power season 2 has finally reached its highly-anticipated tentpole battle in The Siege of Eregion. The only problem is, despite its showrunners labeling it "the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted", nobody's talking about the brutal and harrowing fight for the elven city.