Interview Unveils Secrets of The Rings of Power Season 2, Revealing Spoilers About Character Sauron
Shining a Light on Sauron's Second Age
With the second season of The Rings of Power taking center stage, the limelight has been undeniably focused on the character's evolution - specifically, Sauron. As an enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery, he's gone from slumming it as Halbrand in season one to revealing his true colors. But this metamorphosis unravels a different tale - one that sheds light on the dark forces of Middle-earth during the First Age.
The second season begins in an unexpected fashion, catapulting us into the climax of the First Age - Morgoth's defeat. Here, we witness Adar and Sauron (who hasn't shown up as Jack Lowden yet) attempting to rally the remnants of Morgoth's dark forces, each vying for power. Interestingly, this gives us a glimpse of Sauron's gruesome demise and transformation - a far cry from the amorphous, black, globby monster he once was.
During a press junket, showrunner Patrick McKay revealed that they wanted viewers to see things through Sauron's eyes, hoping the flashback would help us understand his motivations better. "Part of that was getting to glimpse a vile form we've never seen him in before," McKay said, referring to the disgusting transformation Sauron undergoes as he seeks new flesh to survive.
This episode was a fascinating opportunity for the actors, too - particularly Charlie Vickers, who didn't portray the monstrous creation, but getting to explore Halbrand's background in the First Age was a rewarding experience. "To be honest, it answered a lot of questions for me," Vickers admitted. "It was very rewarding to get that out of my system and then be like, 'Now we're doing it, now we're doing Annatar.'"
The transformation from black goop to Halbrand was only one part of Sauron's makeover. After successfully worming his way back into Celebrimbor's orbit, Sauron reveals his true identity to the Elven forge smith. Halbrand's charm gives way to distance and cold calculation, before he steps into Celebrimbor's forges and emerges anew as Annatar - the Lord of Gifts.
As for Charles Edwards, playing the increasingly doomed role of Celebrimbor, he found the scenes captivating - and the scale of production even more so. "They had this huge camera that ran along the ceiling of the entire set on a line," Edwards marveled. "It was amazing. All of that coming together, the level of craftsmanship was extraordinary."
As the denizens of Middle-earth brace themselves for the coming storm, The Rings of Power season two continues to entertain and leave us eager for more. Catch up on Prime Video now!
Intrigued by the implications of Sauron's transformation? Take a dive into Tolkien's lore to understand the Maia's shapeshifting capabilities and historical interactions with Middle-earth's inhabitants.
Sauron's Power to Shapeshift: As a Maia, Sauron possessed the power to shape-shift, which he used extensively throughout Middle-earth's history. Capable of assuming various forms to manipulate and deceive others, the famous example of this power lies in his transformation into Annatar - the Lord of Gifts.
Annatar's Role: In his guise as Annatar, Sauron befriended the Elves of Eregion, convincing them to start forging the Rings of Power. Leveraging his false persona, he masterfully manipulated Celebrimbor into crafting the Rings of Power, including the infamous Nine Rings of Men.
Leading to the Transformation: The transformation into Annatar occurred during the Second Age, but the events that led up to it set the stage for these developments. Key moments in this era include Sauron's return to Middle-earth, befriending the Elves of Eregion, forging the Rings of Power, and the creation of the One Ring in Mount Doom.
Though The Rings of Power season two doesn't explicitly show the transformation into Annatar (which occurred earlier according to Tolkien's timeline), it sets the foundation for these events by illustrating Sauron's rise to power and manipulation of the Elves. The transformation itself subtly underlines Sauron's deceptive prowess as a Maia.
- The transformation of Sauron into Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, in the Second Age, showcases his shape-shifting capabilities as a Maia.
- In his guise as Annatar, Sauron befriended the Elves of Eregion, using this relationship to manipulate them into forging the Rings of Power.
- The events that led up to Sauron's transformation into Annatar included his return to Middle-earth, his befriending of the Elves of Eregion, and the forging of the Rings of Power, including the infamous Nine Rings of Men.
- Although The Rings of Power season two doesn't depict Sauron's transformation into Annatar, it sets the stage for these events by illustrating Sauron's rise to power and his manipulative tactics, subtly underlining his deceptive prowess.
