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

Yes, Elrond kissed Galadriel in the most recent episode of Rings of Power. Yes, it was shocking and caused quite a spectrum of hot takes from viewers. And, yes, we’re going to talk about it, because I had the chance to chat with Elrond actor Robert Aramayo about this pivotal moment and why his elf decided to kiss his friend as he worked to help her escape the Orcs.

The Rings of Power revolved around the Siege of Eregion, a major moment from J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology of Middle-earth. On one side, an army of orcs threatens the elven city. The elf Elrond (Robert Aramayo) tries to negotiate with their leader Adar (Sam Hazeldine),

Speaking to me during season 2's 'Path to the Finale' press junket on September 25, Aramayo admitted that the sequence was meant to be intentionally provocative. However, The Rings of Power actor, who plays Elrond in the hit Amazon prequel show, suggested that his character had plenty of reasons for acting the way that he did.