Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) was captured earlier in the season by Adar (Sam Hazeldine) and his orcs. He uses her as a bargaining chip with the elves before the most recent episode’s big battle. When Elrond (Robert Aramayo) refuses to negotiate with the enemy, he requests that he be allowed to bid his friend farewell.

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.

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),