Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powermay be brewing another Sauron-Galadriel rematch.Rings of Powerexplored Sauron’s identityin season 1, even though we didn’t know it for sure until the last episode. Halbrand, an original character, was Sauron and had been schmoozing Galadriel on the sly the whole time, which she was none too pleased to discover. Their next meeting after this discovery was a bitter clash, and now, another one seems likely to happen.
Sauron actor Charlie Vickers said of Galadriel toColliderthat “it keeps him going in a way, her existence.” His comments hung around Sauron’s feelings watching Galadriel plunge off the cliff, having refused to give him Nenya, one ofLord of the Rings’Elven-rings of Power. Sauron made his feelings reasonably clear when the next person to talk to him took a blade to the heart, despite only having blathered on about useful and relevant things. Vickers' comments highlight a developing dynamic strung between hate and some other conflicting sentiments, along with where this dynamic may go.
Charlie Vickers Just Put A Fascinating Spin On Galadriel & Sauron’s Season 2 Ending
Vickers Confirmed That Sauron Is Obsessed With Galadriel
Vickers said thatLord of the Rings’Sauroncould have killed Galadriel but chose not to, as her worthiness as an adversary sustains him. One may have thought that Sauron’s hatred of “wasteful friction” may have prevented such a dangerous attitude, leading him instead to mercilessly eradicate foes as needed (Morgoth’s Ring). But in fact,Sauron liked to play around occasionally, although it took the form of twisted torture in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, throwing Orcs to Shelob. Vickers' words also suggest his awareness of a Sauron-related quote fromUnfinished Tales:
He perceived at once that Galadriel would be his chief adversary and obstacle, and he endeavored therefore to placate her, bearing her scorn with outward patience and courtesy.
Vickers is riffing off a fine tradition of villains who rely on their enemy for kicks somehow, bizarrely, while their enemy remains inexplicably ambivalent toward them. One can see how Vickers got here. Galadriel is Sauron’s chief adversary, whileSauron, inThe Rings of Powerseason 1, was critically bored, lost, and lonely. This lostness reflected Sauron’s canonical repentant phase. The Master or Moriarty to Galadriel’s Doctor Who or Sherlock Holmes, Sauron has complex, conflicted feelings toward his enemy.
Sauron’s Motivation In The Rings Of Power Means A Rematch With Galadriel Is Inevitable
Galadriel & Sauron Will Probably Get More Scenes Together
Given that Vickers is leaning into Sauron returning Galadriel’s obsession with him, he is sure to get more scenes with Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel. SinceSauron is relying on Galadriel to fight him for his amusement(or sanity), a rematch seems very likely. At the very least,Sauron and Galadriel must reverse theirRings of Powerdynamicto line up with their canonical positions by the Third Age. Sauron beats Galadriel telepathically in the show, but she must beat him by the Third Age. As such, more telepathy-related scenes are a must.
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The cast and crew of the show often have fascinating takes on their characters, with it being important to recognize that they don’t constitute fact. What goes on the screen is the fact, and viewers should interpret it however they see fit. ButThe Rings of Powerasks if Galadriel would love againafter losing Celeborn through her obvious feelings for Halbrand, and it shouldn’t leave this question open. As showrunners confirmed at SDCC 2024, Celeborn’s mysterious absence will end. Likewise,Galadriel should keep fighting Sauronto resolve their situationship mentally or physically.
There’s 1 Challenge To Having Sauron & Galadriel Circle Each Other In The Rings Of Power
The Rings Of Power Must End A Certain Way
There could be a thematic or narrative obstruction to a Sauron-Galadriel rematch. Taking the forms of Annatar, Halbrand, and Galadriel, Sauron’s climactic fight with Galadriel endedThe Rings of Powerseason 2with a bang, but season 5 can’t end the same way. The showrunners shared thatthe show covers a five-season version of the prologue to Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.The series will, therefore, likely end with Elendil and Gil-galad toppling Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, before Isildur cuts the ring from Sauron’s finger and finishes him.
“The History of Galadriel and Celeborn” inUnfinished Talesdescribes Galadriel and Annatar’s sojourn together in Eregion.
Sauron and Galadriel are circling each other inRings of Power. Despite how the two hate each other in the books, there is clearly more to it than that in the show. From Galadriel and Sauron’s ongoing psychological warfare inThe Lord of the Ringsto the mystery of Galadriel apparently knowing Sauron’s identity in Eregion and yet reluctantly letting him stay inUnfinished Tales, the legendarium left enough breadcrumbs for the show to construct its version of events.A rematch could come in seasons 3 or 4, and some kind of honesty between the two should transpire before season 5, in person or not.
5 Best Moments From The War Of The Last Alliance I Can’t Wait To See In The Rings Of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will likely adapt the War of the Last Alliance in season 5, with some moments looking to stand out.
Director Charlotte Brändström said Galadriel “was very much in love with Halbrand,” which viewers don’t have to adopt as their own opinion (Entertainment Weekly). But the show should tie up the loose ends of the complexity between the two famous characters. After all,Middle-earth’s God brought Sauron and Galadriel togetherin the series by their chance meeting. The “cosmic connection” so often described by cast and crew can’t be swept under the carpet ifThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Poweris to feel complete by season 5.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
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.
