The Game-Changing Revelation of Sauron's Rings: Resolving a Crucial Movie Issue in Lord of the Rings

Article Overview

The Rings of Power series solves a problem in the Lord of the Rings by revealing Sauron's true identity and giving depth to his character.

The portrayal of Sauron in The Rings of Power enhances his character, providing a more comprehensive understanding of his powers and true nature. This version of Sauron emerges as a captivating and multifaceted antagonist unlike any seen before.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a revelation was made about one of its key characters, the Dark Lord Sauron, which resolved a long-standing issue within the Lord of the Rings storyline. The Prime Video series took some creative liberties with the established Tolkien canon, introducing a form for Sauron called Halbrand that had never been mentioned in the original source material. However, The Silmarillion, a posthumously published book, did provide an explanation that before the events of The Lord of the Rings, Sauron had the ability to assume different forms and used this to manipulate and influence various individuals. Unfortunately, this crucial information was absent in both the original Lord of the Rings books and movies, resulting in a less-developed portrayal of Sauron's character.

In the season 1 finale of The Rings of Power, Galadriel pieced together the true identity of Halbrand, surprising even the most knowledgeable Tolkien enthusiasts. While the Lord of the Rings books and movies lacked depth when it came to Sauron's character, The Silmarillion shed light on how the Dark Lord would assume the alluring form of Annatar to deceive the Elves and Men of Tolkien's universe, manipulating them to fulfill his own desires. Halbrand, in The Rings of Power series, appears to be a revitalized interpretation of this character, ultimately serving the same purpose of making the Lord of the Rings antagonist significantly more intriguing.

The Lord Of The Rings' Depiction Of Sauron Is Lacking

For many who have not read The Silmarillion, The Rings of Power's Halbrand provides their first encounter with Sauron. In both the Lord of the Rings books and movies, Sauron was portrayed as an invisible force rather than a physical menace, with the perspective focused on the heroes. In Peter Jackson's trilogy, Sauron was depicted as an armored monster before losing his One Ring, and later, he became nothing more than a flaming eye atop his tower in Mordor during Frodo's journey. As a result, the portrayal of this Dark Lord of Middle-earth left something to be desired in terms of being a formidable villain. Apart from being characterized as evil, there was very little known about his persona, if one could even call it that.

In the Lord of the Rings books, Sauron is discussed to a greater extent and is considered an actual individual with plans, ambitions, and a physical presence. However, since Frodo and his companions never come face-to-face with the villain, Sauron remains more of an abstract concept rather than a tangible menace. This changed with the posthumous release of The Silmarillion, where readers could delve into Sauron's backstory and see him as a fully realized character in the Lord of the Rings universe. Nonetheless, The Silmarillion reads more like a historical account than a narrative, leaving Tolkien fans with limited opportunity to truly know the characters introduced in it.

The Rings Of Power's Sauron Reveal Gives The Villain More Depth

Bringing Middle-earth's Second Age to the screen not only offers fans the chance to experience these characters in a new storytelling format but also provides an up-close and personal look at Sauron through the character Halbrand. Although Halbrand may not have met fans' initial expectations, his portrayal allows us to delve into the depths of the villain's personality, uncovering his strengths, weaknesses, temptations, motivations, and even his sense of humor. The revelation of Halbrand's true identity in The Rings of Power adds another layer to the films, enabling audiences to view Peter Jackson's adaptations in a fresh perspective. No longer a faceless, abstract threat, Sauron now has a tangible connection through his concrete identity. It is important to note that while The Rings of Power's version of the character is not strictly considered canon, it still aligns with Tolkien's portrayal of the Middle-earth villain.

The Rings Of Power's Sauron Is True To J.R.R. Tolkien's Vision

In Tolkien's canon, Sauron, along with Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast, is depicted as a Maia, a celestial being entrusted with aiding in the creation and maintenance of the world. These beings possess the ability to transform into various shapes. When Sauron turned to the side of evil, he used his shapeshifting abilities to his advantage, assuming forms that the Elves and Men of Middle-earth would find trustworthy. The most prominent incarnation of Sauron, known as Annatar, deceived the Elves of Eregion into forging the Rings of Power. While Halbrand differs in appearance from this particular form, his actions and intentions in The Rings of Power align with Annatar's established backstory.

According to the established canon, Halbrand was not deceitful in the Season 1 finale of The Rings of Power when he expressed his desire to rectify the damage caused by Morgoth. Tolkien's notes reveal that Sauron had previously disassociated himself from Morgoth's mission even before the defeat of the Dark Lord. Sauron aimed to reunite the inhabitants of Middle-earth and govern a renewed and beautiful world. However, as evident in the conflict between Galadriel and Halbrand in The Rings of Power, the pursuit of power can lead to a dangerous path of domination, especially when the One Ring is involved. This understanding entirely alters our perception of Sauron's character in The Lord of the Rings, and that is the central focus.

Editor's P/S

The Rings of Power series on Prime Video has made a bold and exciting move by revealing the true identity of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Middle-earth. This revelation not only enriches the character of Sauron but also resolves a crucial issue that has plagued the Lord of the Rings storyline for years.

In the original Lord of the Rings books and movies, Sauron was portrayed as a distant and abstract threat, with little depth or character development. While the books provided some insight into Sauron's motivations and plans, his true nature remained largely unexplored. The Rings of Power series has taken a different approach, presenting Sauron as a complex and multifaceted villain with a rich backstory.