Many “Lord of the Rings” readers and fans have pointed to spiritual allegories that drew from writer J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholic faith. As the new season of “The Rings of Power” debuts on Prime Video, some cast members have contemplated whether their characters’ journeys carry those undertones.

The Stranger and Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot, an unlikely duo portrayed by Daniel Weyman and Markellah Cavanaugh, have intrigued viewers since their paths crossed in season one. Their captivating journey continues in season two.

Weyman said the interesting challenge of acting in such a grand narrative is maintaining focus on his individual character arc.

“I sort of feel like the interesting thing about acting, for me, is that we are given one tiny strand of an enormous story, and we’re custodians of that strand only. We can’t influence each other’s work,” Weyman explained. “And the joy of that is that you get this whole team bringing together all these strands, and then it makes sort of an overarching final piece.”

Rather than trying to grasp the full spiritual significance of Tolkien’s opus, Weyman said he aims to approach his role with honesty and commitment.

“If I do that honestly and with commitment and energy. And, you know, I pour myself into it, that will then be the final sort of piece, the final artwork, and then it’s up to the audience to draw their conclusions from it,” he said.

Kavenagh agreed that the true meaning of the story often reveals itself to viewers over time.

“It’s interesting talking looking back,” Kavenagh said. “And then (Tolkien) said that he found that there was a (spiritual) undercurrent in that sense, is that I would say that perhaps that rings true for audiences, too. And as we evolve and grow and look back at stories and the seasons that we’ve done, we might look at things from a more objective point of view. But when you’re making it, it’s kind of just focusing on the truth of the story and letting that kind of lead you.”

For Kavenagh, embodying the open-minded and compassionate Nori has been a profound experience.

“I love Nori,” she said. “I love playing her, and I love exploring just everything about her as a being, and also the way she views the world. I think that she’s a super open minded, curious, non-judgmental individual, and I really think I admire how she’s she really stands up for others, and she really wants to be there for others.”

As the story grows darker in season two, both actors emphasized the importance of maintaining a sense of adventure and levity on set. Kavenagh noted that tragedy and joy often go hand-in-hand, while Weyman described how the writers incorporated humorous exchanges between the characters to ease the tension.

“They’ve written sort of little, sort of barbs that are based in friendship. There’s things that you can say to proper friends that you know won’t be taken wrong badly, but also just help to ease some of the stress,” Weyman said.

He recalled improvising some of those lighthearted moments with Kavenagh, which helped them cope with the challenging on-set conditions.

“I remember when we filmed it, there’s a bit more that we sort of improvised that hasn’t maybe made the final cut, but that was sort of indicative of the way that the art and the life sort of mirrored that Markella and I and The Stranger and Nori were on the same wavelengths.”

Kavenagh agreed that maintaining a joyful atmosphere on set was crucial, especially as the characters face increasingly dark challenges.

“I just think that the focus was on telling a really truthful story, and sometimes in really dark moments in the story that we might have had or experienced normally. Then on set, we have a lot of fun, like we try and keep the atmosphere really light and really joyful,” she said.

Beyond the camaraderie on set, both actors have found deep meaning in exploring the spiritual and existential themes that have long permeated Tolkien’s work.

For Kavenagh’s Nori, the Harfoots’ innate awareness of the fragility of life has shaped her worldview in complex ways.

“The Harfoots have constantly had to be aware of their mortality and how close they are to death at any corner,” she said. “So they’ve really been raised with this idea of playing it safe. And I think Nori has always tested that, and when she meets The Stranger and seeing how close he, actively, and in her eyes, intentionally, gets to that and to exposing himself to such danger is both intriguing and terrifying.”

As the actors continue to bring these characters to life, they remain aware of the deeper spiritual resonance that has long defined Tolkien’s legendarium. Whether through moments of vulnerability, compassion or self-discovery, Weyman and Kavenagh are committed to honoring the profound themes that have captivated audiences for generations.

Season two of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is now playing on Prime Video.