Kemen from ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ is the most punchable villain in Middle-earth

Center-earth could also be crawling with orcs, Balrogs, and Darkish Wizards, however the worst villain in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy is none aside from Kemen (Leon Wadham).

Kemen was a considerably minor presence all through The Rings of Energy Season 1, albeit an unmistakably slimy one. As a rising politician, he labored along with his father Ar-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) behind the scenes to show the individuals of Númenor towards Queen Tar-Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). He even tried his hand at some sneaky arson with the intention to cease the Númenorean forces going to Center-earth.

However now that Pharazôn is king, Kemen is ready to function within the open, with all of the authority of Númenor behind him. That sort of unchecked energy results in some significantly nasty, entitled conduct. In simply the fifth episode of Season 2, Kemen goes on fairly the evil tear, cementing himself as one of many greatest threats to Center-earth — and essentially the most punchable character within the sequence.

Kemen’s reign of terror begins with a activity from his father: Strip the members of the Sea Guard of their ranks. That features Captain Elendil (Lloyd Owen), whose loyalty to Míriel and faithfulness to the Valar represent as treason in Kemen’s eyes.

As Elendil arms in his sword, his former sailors salute him in an “O Captain! My Captain!” second straight out of Useless Poets Society. After all, Kemen interrupts the proceedings with the snotty remark, “He is no one’s captain now.” Shut up, man! Is not it sufficient you’ve got turned Elendil’s daughter Eärien (Ema Horvath) towards him? Go away the bratty remarks at residence!

Leon Wadham and Trystan Gravelle in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy.”
Credit score: Ross Ferguson / Prime Video

Kemen solely will get worse because the episode goes on, waltzing into the oldest shrine to the Valar in Númenor and breaking apart a memorial service for the troopers who died in Center-earth. Hey, wasn’t one of many greatest causes individuals hated Míriel as a result of she let troopers go to Center-earth within the first place? The hypocrisy is off the charts! The least you may do is let individuals grieve these losses in peace earlier than you begin condemning their shrines.

However Kemen is not into doing the least evil. He is right here to do absolutely the most, whether or not that is pettily smashing a Valar relic, poking at Elendil’s strained relationship with Eärien, or smirking like there isn’t any tomorrow. Critical props to Wadham for promoting Kemen’s infuriating self-satisfaction so laborious. He in some way manages to make a seemingly innocuous assertion like “It is in the way in which of the brand new aqueduct” essentially the most enraging line in all the present.

Fortunately, Elendil should have heard my pleas for somebody to haul again and punch Kemen within the face, as a result of the legend smacks the residing daylights out of him. Keep in mind when Tyrion slapped Joffrey in Recreation of Thrones? Yeah, I felt the very same ranges of hype right here.

The following brawl would not finish nicely for Elendil’s males, however I might be mendacity if I mentioned it did not rock to see Kemen get completely bodied by former Sea Guard member Valandil (Alex Tarrant), although he is finally too honorable to complete Kemen off. However you recognize who would not have any drawback being dishonorable? That is proper, Kemen. Númenor’s greatest twerp stabs Valandil within the again, and similar to that, I would like him to get decked within the face once more. Too unhealthy Elendil’s being thrown in jail; in any other case I know he’d comply with by.

Kemen’s rage-inducing conduct all through this episode will not be solely proof of him being an all-around unhealthy man — it is also proof of the corruption of Númenor, and the Males who reside there. No surprise this episode additionally focuses on Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) efforts to persuade Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) to make Rings of Energy for Males. He is aware of that individuals like Kemen exist, and that they’d do something for energy.

Actually, if Kemen ever involves Center-earth, he is a primary candidate for one of many 9 rings for Males. Lord of the Rings followers understand how that might prove: with final corruption, and transformation right into a Ringwraith. In response to Pharazôn, Kemen’s late mom did prophesy that he would come to an “ailing finish,” and I might say changing into a Nazgûl falls below that umbrella. (Getting punched once more would additionally qualify, and it might be greater than welcome!)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with a brand new episode each Thursday.