One Key Canon LOTR Clue Suggests Halbrand May NOT Be Annatar in Rings of Power

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The reveal of Halbrand as Sauron in disguise in The Rings of Power season 1 suggests that the series may have replaced Sauron's fair form, Annatar, with this new character.

Halbrand's interest in Númenór suggests a potential storyline in season 2 of Rings of Power based on Tolkien's canon.

The potential for Sauron to appear in his Annatar form cannot be disregarded in future seasons, given his interactions in Númenór which demonstrate his ability to shape-shift and manipulate.

The introduction of Halbrand in season 1 of The Rings of Power seems to suggest that Annatar will not make an appearance in the future. This surprising revelation, as there is no character named Halbrand in Tolkien's works, has left fans eager to see Annatar, Sauron's fair form. However, the fact that the Prime Video series has replaced him with the "Southlands king" has led many to believe that this character may be omitted from Rings of Power. Nevertheless, the canon stories of Númenór offer a glimmer of hope.

Throughout season 1 of The Rings of Power, Galadriel and Halbrand develop a close bond. They save each other, fight alongside one another, and experience their fair share of conflicts. Their adventures include a journey to Númenór and a return to Eregion, where Halbrand is unveiled as Sauron. Given that it was Annatar who deceived the Eregion Elves into forging the Rings of Power, it is assumed that Halbrand represents Prime Video's interpretation of the Dark Lord's fair form. However, Halbrand's interest in Númenór hints at another story from Tolkien's canon, potentially influencing season 2 of Rings of Power.

Sauron Used a Mysterious Form To Deceive The Númenóreans In Tolkien Canon

Most of the information about Númenór can be found in The Silmarillion and the appendices of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. These works describe the destruction of the island kingdom, which was foreshadowed in the first season of Rings of Power, and heavily involves Sauron. During the Second Age, the Dark Lord was imprisoned in Númenór but managed to manipulate Ar-Pharazôn into setting sail for Valinor, the birthplace of Galadriel, and declare war. Unfortunately, this plan did not end well, resulting in the destruction of Númenór.

The exact form that Sauron assumed while in Númenór remains unclear. It is presumed that he was not in the form of Annatar, as he poisoned the minds of the High Men against Elves. Instead, he likely took on a human form to blend in with the people of Númenór and gain influence over Pharazôn's inner circle. The identity and appearance of this form have always been a mystery, so the introduction of Halbrand in Prime Video's Rings of Power may serve as a way to address this gap in the established story.

Halbrand Could Be Prime Video's Version Of Númenór's Deceiver (Not Annatar)

Though Halbrand was assumed to be Prime Video's version of Annatar, he may instead be the unnamed Númenór deceiver.

Halbrand's presumed identity as Prime Video's version of Annatar may actually be the unnamed deceiver from Númenór. The first season of The Rings of Power has established this possibility, as Halbrand showed a strong fascination with Númenór during his visit with Galadriel. While he manipulated Galadriel into bringing the island's forces to the Southlands, there may have been genuine intentions behind his expressed desire to remain in Númenór. Subsequent seasons could explore his return and his influence over the people of Númenór.

Furthermore, it is known that Sauron will distribute nine Rings of Power to Men in Middle-earth, with some of them, like the Witch-king of Angmar, originating from Númenór. The identities of these individuals remain a mystery in Tolkien's lore, leaving room for Rings of Power to develop its own interpretation of these characters. To achieve this, the Lord of the Rings antagonist will need to once again engage with humans, and assuming a human form seems to be the most fitting approach. Therefore, the revelation about Halbrand not only keeps the possibility of Annatar's future appearance open in The Rings of Power, but also foreshadows the significance of Númenór in the Second Age.

Could Sauron's Annatar Form Make An Appearance In Rings Of Power Season 2?

Annatar, described as the enticing Elven appearance of Sauron in Tolkien's writings, captivates the audience's fascination. As a morphing Maia, it is conceivable that the Dark Lord could assume a different form in The Rings of Power—particularly considering Halbrand's encounters in Númenór. If this human guise is Sauron's strategy to win the trust of the Men of Middle-earth, it is highly probable that he will employ an Elven guise to achieve the same with those in Eregion.

According to Tolkien's canon, Sauron loses the ability to transform into alluring forms following the downfall of Númenór.

In addition, it should be noted that Halbrand did not manipulate Celebrimbor like Annatar did to create his Rings of Power in the original story. However, Halbrand did implant the idea that ultimately led to the creation of the three Elven Rings, which, in Tolkien's mythology, were crafted without Sauron's knowledge. This implies that anything Annatar accomplished could still unfold in the second season of The Rings of Power. Considering Galadriel's awareness of Halbrand, it is highly probable that Sauron will return to Eregion in the guise of Annatar, deceive Celelbrimbor into forging his rings, and then assume the form of Halbrand to exert influence in Númenór. Only upcoming seasons of the Prime Video series will reveal the truth.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the possibility of Halbrand being Annatar in The Rings of Power. On the one hand, I am excited about the prospect of seeing a new and different take on Sauron's character. Halbrand is a complex and intriguing character, and I would be interested to see how he would interact with the other characters in the series. On the other hand, I am also a bit disappointed that we may not get to see Annatar in his true form. Annatar is a fascinating and iconic character in Tolkien's legendarium, and I would have loved to see him brought to life on screen.

Ultimately, I think the decision of whether or not to include Annatar in The Rings of Power is a creative one that the showrunners will have to make. I trust that they will make the best decision for the series, and I am excited to see what they do with Halbrand's character in the future.