Prime Video brings audiences back to Middle-earth in the all-new season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power during the most crucial period in the Second Age. Sauron (Charlie Vickers) is now putting his influence to work and all the free peoples of Middle-earth will have to come together to stop him. What exactly does Sauron want, and why is he so driven to control all who reside in Middle-earth?
To answer this question, we first have to go back to the very beginning of the creation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s massive universe. Tolkien was a master world-builder, the likes of which we might never see again. The author crafted his Legendarium with attention to every detail; every name, place, and race has a profoundly layered history.
The History Behind Sauron in ‘Rings of Power’
To understand Sauron’s motivations, particularly in this Age of Tolkien’s world, we must first understand what he is. In The Silmarillion, Tolkien introduces the one true God of his world named Eru Ilúvatar, who exists beyond the world. One of his first acts was creating angelic beings called the Ainur to aid him in making the world through a piece of great music known as the Music of the Ainur.
One of these angelic beings was called Morgoth, the strongest of the Ainur. Morgoth sought to rival Eru Ilúvatar and create things of his own making, causing discord in the Music with darkness. When the known world came into being, the Ainur came gladly to Middle-earth but Morgoth sought to bring ruin to all that came from Eru Ilúvatar and poison his creations to darkness.
‘The Rings of Power’ Showcases the Second Age
Morgoth’s most loyal servant and general in this pursuit was Sauron, who was part of the Maiar, lesser beings to the Valar but still significant in power. One of Sauron’s greatest strengths was the ability to assume many forms and still appear noble and beautiful. In The Silmarillion, Tolkien explains that Morgoth spread his evil through Middle-earth, corrupting Elves into Orcs and creating many other dark and nameless things until eventually being overthrown in what is known as The War of Wrath. This is the battle we see in the beginning prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in Season 1, Episode 1.
This war completely reshaped the world and began the Second Age of the world, which is where we find ourselves in Rings of Power. Tolkien discusses how Sauron, at the start of this Age, hadn’t fully turned to evil yet. After Morgoth’s defeat, Sauron put on his fair form and repented for his evil deeds. Sauron was ordered to go to the land of the Valar and stand judgment for his crimes, but Sauron was ashamed and feared what his sentence would be. Instead of standing trial, Sauron hid himself in Middle-earth and turned back to evil.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Letters Shed Light on Sauron’s Descent Into Evil
In a letter to publisher Milton Waldman, Tolkien goes more in-depth on the history of Middle-earth and its characters. In the letter, Tolkien explains Sauron’s motivations for his actions during this time and how they still have some semblance of good.
“He (Sauron) lingers in Middle-earth. Very slowly, beginning with fair motives: the reorganizing and rehabilitation of the ruin of Middle-earth, ‘neglected by the gods’, he becomes a reincarnation of Evil, and a thing lusting for Complete Power
—Tolkien letter 131
— and so consumed ever more fiercely with hate (especially of gods and Elves).”
The Fall of Númenor explains that Sauron loved order and coordination and hated all confusion and meaningless friction. After the War of Wrath, Sauron saw the desolation of the world and, in his heart, felt that the Valar had abandoned Middle-earth. Unlike Morgoth, Sauron didn’t object to the world existing as long as he could do with it what he wished and believed that all of his organization and planning was for the good of all people in Middle-earth. Feeling neglected by the Valar, Sauron’s strength grew, and he became the reincarnation of evil — a thing lusting for complete power and consumed with hate for the Valar and the Elves, who are the first children of Eru Ilúvatar.
‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Brings Sauron Back To Power
This brings us to the beginning of Rings of Power Season 2. We see this process of Sauron regaining his power for the first time after Adar (Sam Hazeldine) kills him in Episode 1. Sauron’s blood corrupts the life around it, allowing him to slowly regain his form as described in Tolkien’s writing. Later in the season, Sauron takes his fair form of Annatar and uses this to deceive the Elves, namely Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), as described in The Silmarillion.
The series also portrays Sauron’s savior complex and this need for order multiple times throughout the series, as Tolkien suggests in his letter. In Season 1, when Sauron first reveals himself to Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), he tells her how together they will save Middle-earth and bring order to its people, a sentiment he later echoes to Celebrimbor in Season 2, Episode 2 to convince him to make the nine Rings for Men.
‘Rings of Power’ Season 2 Ups the Ante From Season 1
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 sees Sauron executing his plan for order, raising the stakes from Season 1 and establishing one of the most crucial periods in Middle-earth’s history that will determine the future. Talking with Empire Magazine, showrunner Patrick McKay spoke about Season 2, saying:
“The plan with Season 2 would be to do something much bigger, on a much grander scale that would take place not just overnight, but over multiple days, weeks, months, and episodes.”
The showrunners clearly have a plan for where they want to take this series and are executing it faithfully. With one of the biggest budgets in television history, along with bigger set designs and an incredible cast of actors, Season 2 has been a significant improvement upon its previous season, paying off the showrunner’s promises by delivering a darker and more thrilling season as Sauron’s darkness spreads through Middle-earth.
The Rings of Power Season 2 premieres Thursdays on Prime Video. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.
