Why Did Theo Disobey 👁️Sauron on Marnûkh, Yet 💀Kill Arondir?

[pdr.voyager]

Am I the only one who noticed a possible plot inconsistency in Season 3, Episode 4 of The Rings of Power?


There’s a scene that left me wondering.


Sauron gives a clear order: Galadriel and Marnûkh must be captured alive, while everyone else is to be killed.


However, Marnûkh is killed by Theo despite Sauron’s explicit instructions.


This raises a question: if Sauron specifically wanted Marnûkh alive, why wasn’t his order followed?


What’s even more interesting is that Theo later obeys Sauron’s command to kill Arondir.


So why does Theo follow one order but disregard another?


Is this intentional, showing that Theo still retains some free will, or is it simply a writing inconsistency?


I’d be interested to hear how others interpret this scene. Am I missing something?

 

[Berzelmayr]

I'm not sure that Marmûkh is really dead and not just badly hurt.

 

[Vardarianna]

I think it is intentional. Theo is struggling internally with his newly acquired ring. An orc he'd gladly kill, having been dealing with them for years. But now, Sauron is filling his mind with 'stories' of his father and mother and bending him. When Sauron walks out and Theo is talking with Arondir, he speaks a command "Kill him.", and he does as if he wasn't in control of himself. I didn't see it as an inconsistency.