Please add entries in the following format:
- The meme. Explanation The explanation behind the meme.
- Further mutations and successor memes, if any.
- Don Lemon the Elf, a.k.a. Don LembasExplanation People have poked fun at the resemblance of Arondir to CNN news anchor Don Lemon, who ironically has claimed to not be much of a fantasy fan himself.
- "Eminem is Sauron"Explanation It was initially reported by fan social media accounts that the SDCC 2022 trailer shows off Sauron's "Annatar" guise, a fair-skined elf. Unlike prior depictions of Annatar like in Middle-earth: Shadow of War, The Rings of Power's version supposedly had short hair and an appearance that some critics unflatteringly compared to rapper Eminem. Later it was clarified that it wasn't Sauron but an original character, with "Partings" revealing the character to be a woman called the Dweller.
- "Everyone is Sauron."Explanation The fact essentially Everyone Is a Suspect when it comes to Sauron's real identity in the show has led to an outlandish level of speculation and thus the joke is that anyone, including you and me, can be Sauron.
- Elendilf.Explanation Elendil's distracting hotness became the subject of much thirsting and joking about said thirsting.
- "You have just earned yourself... a water ration!"Explanation An Orc telling the imprisoned elves they have earned a water ration just before killing one of them became a byword for Schmuck Bait
- "The Elves tuk ur jerbs!" Explanation The Numenoreans fearing Galadriel's arrival will cause more elves to come and take away their trade is often compared to the South Park episode where rednecks fear immigrants from the future taking their jobs.
- Karl Marx Pharazôn, for the uncanny resemblance between his thespian and the German theoretician.
- "Have you heard of him, lad... have you heard of SAURON?" / "You're— You're Sauron, are you not?"Explanation Waldreg (who says both lines) and his eagerness to find and serve Sauron has been taken by many to be a great allegory for how the fanbase is looking for Sauron everywhere in the show
- "Give me the meat and give it to me raw!" Explanation Durin's line with Elrond to give him the whole truth with no garnishes was quickly and unsurprisingly interpreted as a Double Entendre by the fanbase.
- QUIT TELLING EVERYONE I'M DEAD!Explanation The Brother Bear meme has been adopted as a result of Galadriel stating that her husband Celeborn died in the war; fans who have read the Lord of the Rings books or seen the films know that he's definitely still alive.
- "Have you seen this man?" Explanation : Clips and collages featuring Celeborn as the topic of a missing person newsreel, given the lack of any mention to Galadriel's husband prior to Episode 7
- "Tell me where is Celeborn? For I much desire to speak with him." Explanation : A play on Celeborn's line from The Fellowship of the Ring lampshading his absence from the series.
- "Stupid Sexy Sauron" Explanation (Season 1 spoilers) : Halbrand's reveal as Sauron and marriage proposal to Galadriel caused many to say they understand the appeal of saying yes.
- "Sauron did, in fact, walk into Mordor!" Explanation The meme is a reference to The Lord of the Rings's "One does not simply walks into Mordor" famous meme.
- "Maybe Sauron is the friend we made along the way". Explanation Another meme about how everyone could be Sauron.
- Elrond: My father turned into a star. — Durin IV: That's rough, buddy. Explanation The meme makes reference to The Star of Eärendil, a Silmaril carried into the sky by Eärendil the Mariner, Elrond's father.
