The Epic Lineup: Unveiling the Top LOTR Characters for Season 2 as Per Tolkien Canon

The first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power incorporated various established characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's works, and the upcoming second season has the potential to introduce even more. The Second Age was a significant period in the history of Middle-earth, and it owed much to the pivotal individuals who shaped it. In the series' inaugural season, characters like Sauron, Galadriel, Celebrimbor, Elrond, and others were introduced, each playing a significant role. However, to maintain fidelity to the canon and accommodate the series' alterations, additional characters must make appearances in The Rings of Power. The first season commenced with Galadriel's narrative, setting the stage for a revenge-driven journey that aligns with certain elements of Tolkien's original story. This parallel can also be observed with other characters, such as Elrond, a political figure among the elves, Celebrimbor, characterized by his pride and arrogance, and Gil-galad, an apprehensive king prone to making poor decisions. Each of these characters, to varying extents, contributes to the creation of Sauron's Rings of Power in accordance with their established roles. Therefore, if these characters are included in the narrative, it stands to reason that others will be introduced as well, possibly in The Rings of Power's second season.

11 Celeborn

Celeborn's absence at the beginning of Season 1 of The Rings of Power was a glaring issue. In the established canon, it was expected that he and Galadriel would already be married. Therefore, the fact that the elf appeared to be single posed a significant problem. However, The Rings of Power addressed this concern by revealing that Celeborn had indeed been married to Galadriel, but she believed him to be dead. This clever plot twist foreshadowed his eventual appearance (since he is alive in The Lord of the Rings) and it is likely that he will emerge sooner rather than later, possibly in Season 2.

10 Celebrian

Fanart by ebe-kastein

In addition to being married in The Rings of Power season 1, it is expected that Galadriel would have already had her daughter, Celebrian. Although Celeborn's absence has been mentioned, Galadriel has not spoken about Celebrian yet. It is possible that Galadriel, like her husband, believes her daughter to be deceased, which would make their reunion in season 1 even more significant. As per canon, Celebrian will eventually marry Elrond and give birth to Arwen, a key character in The Lord of the Rings. Therefore, it is crucial for Celebrian to make an appearance in the future episodes of The Rings of Power.

9 Saruman

According to the mythology of Tolkien, Saruman did not come to Middle-earth until the beginning of the First Age, which was hundreds of years after the events depicted in The Rings of Power. However, the first season of The Rings of Power strongly hints that the Stranger is actually Gandalf, thus suggesting a change in this aspect of the story. Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast were all members of the Maiar race, celestial-like beings created to serve the Valar. They took on the guise of wizards, known as Istari, and were sent to Middle-earth to aid in the battle against Sauron. Therefore, if Gandalf has already arrived, it is reasonable to assume that Saruman, who is destined to become corrupt in The Lord of the Rings, is also somewhere in the world.

8 Radagast

Out of all the Istari, Radagast was considered the least important and he never made an appearance in The Lord of the Rings. Unlike the others, Radagast's primary focus was tending to the plants and animals of Middle-earth as the Maia of the Valië Yavanna, the queen of the earth. This meant that he did not directly involve himself in the conflict with Sauron. However, since Radagast arrived in Middle-earth alongside Gandalf and Sauron, it can be assumed that if they are present in The Rings of Power, Radagast would be too.

7 The Blue Wizards

Though Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast did not reside in Middle-earth during the Second Age as per the works of Tolkien, there were two Istari present—the Blue Wizards. Due to this fact, there has been speculation that the enigmatic character in The Rings of Power may not be Gandalf, but rather one of these Blue Wizards. The knowledge surrounding the Blue Wizards is scarce, as they ventured to the east of Middle-earth to combat Sauron's growing influence and never returned. This leaves ample room for The Rings of Power to explore creative possibilities, making it plausible for the Blue Wizards to make an appearance.

6 Tom Bombadil

Though J.R.R. Tolkien provided little information about Tom Bombadil's activities during the Second Age, The Lord of the Rings discloses that he is the oldest being in the mortal realm. Therefore, it is highly likely that he played a behind-the-scenes role in the creation of the Rings of Power and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Consequently, if Tom Bombadil were to be included in The Rings of Power, the challenge would be to seamlessly integrate him into the storyline. Even Tolkien himself never fully divulged the true identity of Bombadil and claimed to be uncertain about it, making it a divisive matter for Prime Video to arrive at any definitive conclusions.

5 Khamûl

Khamûl, the second-in-command under the Witch-King of Angmar, was one of Sauron's Ringwraiths in The Lord of the Rings. In the Tolkien canon, he was once a noble lord of men in the Eastern region of Middle-earth. However, upon receiving one of the corrupting Rings of Power, Khamûl transformed into a malevolent force of evil. Like the other bearers of the Rings, it can be assumed that he initially possessed good intentions. This presents an intriguing opportunity to witness the gradual descent of Khamûl and other future Ringwraiths into Sauron's control.

4 The Mouth Of Sauron

The Mouth of Sauron served as Sauron's herald in The Lord of the Rings. Although his appearance was ultimately left out of the Peter Jackson trilogy, the books depict him meeting Gandalf and Aragorn at the Black Gate in The Return of the King. During this encounter, he deceitfully presented the Dark Lord's terms. Similar to many other followers of Sauron, the Mouth of Sauron did not start off as inherently evil. In fact, during the Second Age, he would have been a Númenórean. This suggests that The Rings of Power may have already introduced the character of the Mouth of Sauron, unbeknownst to both audiences and the character himself.

3 Treebeard

Treebeard, an ancient character from The Lord of the Rings, has the potential to appear in The Rings of Power due to his age. In the Third Age, when he encountered Merry and Pippin, he shared information about the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, clarifying that he and his race did not participate in the battle. However, the second season of The Rings of Power may provide an opportunity for Treebeard's inclusion, as the series hinted at an undisclosed connection between the Hobbits and Ents. Although Treebeard was initially unfamiliar with Merry and Pippin's race, Sadoc mentioned that some trees possessed the ability to communicate, suggesting his familiarity with Ents. Furthermore, the subtle presence of Ents during the Stranger's crash landing implies that the race will likely have a role to play.

Although Anárion was mentioned in The Rings of Power season 1, his character has not yet made an appearance, making it likely that he will be introduced in season 2. According to the lore created by Tolkien, Anárion, the youngest son of Elendil, is destined to co-rule Gondor with his brother. Currently, at the beginning of The Rings of Power, Anárion resides on the western coast of Númenor. It will be intriguing to witness the direction the story of Elendil's family takes in season 2, especially considering the presumed demise of Isildur and the introduction of a non-canon character, Eärien, in season 1.

1 Círdan

Círdan, known as Círdan the Shipwright, played a significant yet unseen role in The Lord of the Rings. As the overseer of the Grey Havens and the link between Middle-earth and Valinor, he was involved in the transfer when Galadriel embarked on a ship in The Rings of Power season 1. However, Círdan's involvement in the story goes beyond this. He will receive one of the Three Elven Rings, Narya, in The Rings of Power season 1, and eventually bestow it upon Gandalf. Thus, his presence is of utmost importance to the overall plot.