The upcoming season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video promises to shed new light on Sauron, the Dark Lord of Middle-earth, in ways fans have never seen before.
Unveiling Sauron’s True Nature
One of the big mysteries in the first season of The Rings of Power was whether Sauron was truly at work in Middle-earth, and if so, under which guise. The season finale answered that question, revealing that Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers) was indeed Sauron, the ideal candidate to be the servant of the dark lord Morgoth.
With this revelation out in the open, the showrunners have hinted that Season 2 will dive deep into Sauron’s psyche, exploring his motivations and worldview in a way that could transform our understanding of the character. This shift may not sit well with purists of Tolkien’s lore, but it’s an ambitious move to make Sauron more complex and relatable.
Getting Inside Sauron’s Head
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the cast of The Rings of Power shared some insights into what we can expect from Season 2. Charlie Vickers, in particular, was open about what’s in store for Halbrand/Sauron as the series progresses. Now that Halbrand’s true identity has been revealed, the focus will shift to exploring his innermost thoughts.
“From a storytelling perspective, instead of trying to guess who Sauron is, we’re now inside his mind,” Vickers explained. “In the past, the camera would pull away when he had intimate thoughts. Now, the camera follows him into those thoughts. The audience gets to know what’s going on in his head, which is really exciting.”
The Journey of the Villain
While the first season primarily focused on the heroes’ journey, Vickers hinted that Season 2 would pivot towards the villains. “Season 1 was about the heroes’ journey; Season 2 is the villains’ journey,” he said. Showrunner JD Payne has also mentioned that they intend to add more depth to Sauron, even if it means challenging the myth of the “Ultimate Evil.”
“In Sauron’s mind, he’s the hero of his own story. He believes he’s trying to heal and restore Middle-earth. He has a very clear vision of how things should be, but others keep getting in his way,” Payne explained. This approach could make Sauron one of the most complex and fascinating characters in the series, as it adds layers to his seemingly straightforward evil nature.
A Taste for Vengeance
Sauron’s journey in Season 2 will also be fueled by a thirst for revenge. At the end of Season 1, Adar (now played by Sam Hazeldine, taking over from Joseph Mawle) created Mordor by awakening Mount Doom, after having driven Sauron out of these lands. The new season will delve into the tension between these two characters, exploring the depths of Halbrand’s anger and sense of injustice over losing his territory.
Vickers pointed out that Sauron’s desire for revenge will be a significant theme. “There’s definitely a sense of anger and injustice in him,” he said, hinting at the internal battles Halbrand/Sauron will face as he plots his next moves.
Alongside these inner conflicts, Sauron will show a more devious side, using manipulation to achieve his goals. His relationship with the Elven smith Celebrimbor is set to be one of the most crucial story arcs in Season 2. Sauron, ever the master manipulator, will use his cunning to turn Celebrimbor into an unwitting agent of destruction, as JD Payne described.
“Other villains might try to find your weakness and exploit it. Sauron does something different—he finds your strength. The image of the eye is really fitting because Sauron sees you. He sees the best version of who you want to be, and he can twist those desires for good into something evil to suit his own ends,” Payne elaborated.
A Pivotal Season Ahead
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is shaping up to be a critical chapter in the development of Sauron as a character, as envisioned by the showrunners. However, there’s a risk in making Halbrand/Sauron too human. By giving him too much emotional depth, the show could stray from the portrayal of Sauron as the embodiment of absolute evil.
We’ll start getting answers when Season 2 of The Rings of Power premieres on August 29, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video. Whether Sauron’s new layers make him a more compelling villain or undermine his role as the ultimate antagonist remains to be seen.
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