The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowersSauron star Charlie Vickers discusses the next stage in the Dark Lord’s plan to conquer Middle-Earth following the events of season 2 and going into season 3. While the Dark Lord was seemingly vanquished at the start of Prime Video’s ambitious adaptation of J R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy world to television, Sauron was under the guise of the Southlander Haalbrand. InThe Rings of Powerseason 2, Sauron instead took on the guise of the Elf Annatar, setting his sights on manipulating Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) into forging the titular artifacts.
Vickers opened up toDeciderabout what the next phase of his plan will be in season 3. When suggesting other locations ripe for the Dark Lord to travel to and cause the most chaos,Vickers admits that he doesn’t know where the story is going to take him, but he hopes that his shapeshifting powers will be used sparingly to maintain the spectacle.
I don’t know when, I’m in the dark about what’s coming next, but I think it’s a really cool power that he has to change forms and it’s a fine line. You don’t just want to be changing forms for the sake of it, so it becomes gimmicky. But I think the way to avoid that is to lean into it, but it all needs to be grounded. In the same way that Annatar was all about Celebrimbor, I feel like Sauron’s next form,if there is another form, will be like something that he leans into his strength and power as Sauron now.
The actor then states he feels that whatever form Sauron would take would not only rely on his current status, but also the task at hand. Using the example of infiltrating Numenor, Vickers hypothesizes he would need to make himself as non-threatening as possible to deceive Ar-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle).
Like we’re almost at the height of his power in the Second Age, you know? And then he needs to go on a journey when he goes to Númenor. I don’t know what kind of Sauron gets captured by Pharazôn, but if I’m Pharazôn, I’m not going to be wanting to take this huge evil sorcerer into my prison. So maybe he needs to present as a weakling. I don’t know.
What Vicker’s Explanation Tells Us About Sauron’s Plan
Sauron’s Methods Have Been Clear Since Season 1
Many of Vicker’s points can already be seen in action withinThe Rings of Power’s first two seasons. With his Halbrand persona,Sauron played the role of a long-lost kingdestined to take his promised throne once more, playing on what audiences would expect thanks to tales previously told inThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings, not only lulling Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) into trusting him, but the viewer too.
Sauron’s Identity Fully Explained: All Your Questions Answered
Sauron’s identity has been a running theme throughout Amazon’s The Rings of Power. Here are all your questions answered after the season 1 finale.
While his identity was well-known to viewers once season 2 aired, the season still followed in Vicker’s explanation, showing why this mindset has helped Sauron, and how other methods such as solely relying on power have failed him. His demise by Adar’s (Sam Hazeldine) hand was prompted by an abuse of power over the Orcs, but his Annatar disguise allowed him to manipulate Celebrimbor into serving him for some time, even though the illusion would eventually be shattered.
Our Thoughts on Sauron’s Future
Though Vicker’s explanation did include nods to where Tolkien’s Sauron will end up, it is clear that the actor has not heard any firm plans forThe Rings of Powerseason 3. Nevertheless, the actor’s dive into the character does show a clear understanding of how he operates, hinting that there have been discussions of where his story will take him.
7 Times Sauron Was Defeated In The Lord Of The Rings Explained
Sauron is one of the greatest enemies in The Lord of the Rings, who has suffered many setbacks and defeats across the Ages of Middle-earth.
What remains to be seen, however, is whether Sauron growing closer to his goal will change his mindset asThe Rings of Powerprogresses. Absolute power has lulled the Dark Lord into believing himself invulnerable and unstoppable before, so it is possible he could fall into the same trap twice, as Celembrimbor himself predicted.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
