So far there has been no trace of Sauron in the Amazon series “The Rings of Power”. All clues led to a dead end. Here are 6 theories as to where the dreaded Dark Lord might be hiding.
- Sauron forged the One Ring known from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- He is the most feared general of the dark forces and terrifies Middle-earth.
- So far he has not appeared in the Amazon series “The Rings of Power”.
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Already in the prologue of “The Rings of Power” Sauron is presented as the great enemy of Middle-earth. Set thousands of years before the adventures of the Ring Companions, the series chronicles the rise of Sauron. Viewers witness Sauron’s growth into one of the most feared beings in Middle-earth and witness how he forged the Rings of Power and the One Ring.
Sauron is set to act as the main antagonist of the Amazon series over multiple seasons. But we haven’t seen him yet. Only a brief scene in the first 15 minutes of the first episode shows him taking over as Morgoth’s “successor”.
But where is Sauron, whom Galadriel is so desperately searching for, in the Second Age? There are a few places to hide and possible camouflage. Today Netzwelt introduces you to all theories about the whereabouts of the Dark Lord.
1. Has Sauron not arrived in Middle-earth yet?
Perhaps the search for Sauron so far has been in vain because he is not yet in Middle-earth. After the transformation of the world following the wars of the First Age, it took Tolkien centuries for Sauron to manifest himself and regain physical form.
So it is conceivable that he still has to gather more strength in order to manifest himself and intervene in the fate of humans and elves. Everything seen so far in the series is therefore to be interpreted as a mere sign and omen of his imminent arrival. This could perhaps await us in the season finale of “The Rings of Power”.
2. Is Sauron hiding in a safe place preparing his return?
At the beginning of the Second Age, Sauron intervened more covertly from the shadows in the affairs of the people of Middle-earth. Until the time comes to show his true colors, he might be hiding in a secluded place. This would also explain Galadriel’s hitherto unsuccessful hunt for him. The far east, or south of Harad, would be the ideal hiding places that evil has always used to lurk and wait.
Sauron’s later kingdom of Mordor could also be considered. At the time of the series, this is not yet a completely destroyed and spoiled landscape, but an inhabited area characterized by forests and mountains. A volcanic eruption in Mordor caused by Sauron or his servants may lead to the Dark Lord’s brilliant return.
3. Is Halbrand Sauron?
It was the rescue at the last second. Galadriel is picked up by castaways shortly before she drowns in the Sea of Divide. One of them is the human Halbrand, who seems very inscrutable and mysterious. At one point on the raft he tells her: “Looks can often be deceiving”. Is this a possible reference to his later revelation as Sauron?
Although he later rescues Galadriel from the sea monster, he leaves his other companions seemingly unrepentant. Either way, it would suit Sauron to assume a different form and confuse and deceive his enemies. Another theory, however, is that Halbrand later becomes a Nazgul and Witch-king of Angmar.
4. Who is Adar?
In the 3rd episode we see how the orcs who captured Arondir dig for something and follow a new leader named Arda. Another form of Sauron?
On the other hand, Adar’s reaction speaks when he is addressed by the Morgoth follower Waldreg with the name Sauron. The orc leader seems to see Sauron as a threat rather than an ally. Or he hopes to take over the position of the missing Sauron.
5. Is the stranger evil?
At the end of the first episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a mysterious stranger falls like a meteorite from the sky. Could this be Sauron? This is supported by the fact that he has magical abilities and seems to use the Elvish word “Mana Úre” for his spells. Translated, this means something like “holy fire”.
As we know from the first ep isode and from the “Lord of the Rings” films, fire cannot harm evil and the fire around the stranger was also cold. A sign of the Dark Forces of Meteor Man?
Another possibility is that the stranger is another Maiar, like Sauron was. Little is known of the godlike people, and few of the Maiar are named in Tolkien’s works.
6. Who are the White Hooded Ones?
The trailer already raised the suspicion that one of the figures wrapped in a white cloak could be Sauron. Androgynous, beautiful yet sinister in appearance, one of them could be Annatar the Gift Bringer. In this form, Sauron infiltrates the kingdom of Eregion and infiltrates the Elves. This enables him to forge the Rings of Power.
But already with her first appearance in the 5th episode of the series this theory seems to be disproved. The three strangers carry ritual objects and appear to be following in the footsteps of Meteor Man. In the credits, their roles are listed as the inhabitant, the nomad, and the ascetic, which is much more indicative of a cult. They could be followers of Sauron, interpreting the “Starfall” as a sign of Sauron’s return.
Which forms of Sauron do we know?
Sauron has always been known as a shapeshifter throughout the ages. So it cannot be ruled out that he will show himself in several forms in the course of the series, maybe even in the first season. The unknown from the meteorite crater or the human Halbrand would be conceivable figures.
Another form of Sauron known from Tolkien’s works is that of Annatar the Gift-Bringer. Through this trick and his “beautiful presence” he succeeds in seducing both the people of Númenor and the elves of Eregion and manipulating them for his purposes.
An interesting approach for the series, because you could never be sure whether a new character is really good or Sauron in a different appearance.
The Lord of the Rings: Evaluating the Rings of Power | |
Genre | Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
first airing |
02.09.2022 |
First broadcast in Germany |
02.09.2022 |
Homepage | amazon.com |
More sources | |
network | Amazon |
Production |
Amazon Studios, New Line Cinema, Harper Collins Publishers, Tolkien Enterprises |
squadrons |
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