The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will return for a second season on Amazon Prime and is set to capitalize on some new stories from Middle Earth.
The show runners of Rings of Power gave a tidbit about what to expect in Season 2. Apparently, Sauron will have some similarities to Walter White from Breaking Bad in the next chapter of the Lord of the Rings series.
The Dark Lord made his presence known in the season finale. He’d been hiding in plain sight as Halbrand, whom many believed was previously the long-lost king of the Southlands. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay spoke to THR about introducing the Dark Lord as the “low man” and teased what’s next for him in Rings of Power season 2.
Rings Of Power Season 2 Will Develop Sauron As A Character
While Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy depicted Sauron as an encompassing eye watching everything above the tower, the showrunners of Rings of Power felt that the character “should be a character in his own right.”
They intended to create an origin story of the Dark Lord and became attached to the idea of him as a “deceiver” who could potentially “deceive the audience.” The Dark Lord’s introduction in Rings of Power and his deception sets the stage for an incredible season 2.
The showrunners stated they drew inspiration from Paradise Lost, where Satan comes off as what they call a “compelling character” and the first “ant-hero.” Satan’s persuasiveness ultimately becomes Adam and Eve’s undoing. Rings of Power keep Sauron in the darkness long enough for him to trick the viewer and make them more interested in how the story unfolds in season 2.
However, the showrunners did admit many had guessed Halbrand was indeed the Dark Lord. They explain that Sauron’s deception wasn’t a means to fool anyone but to create “emotional engagement.” When discussing Rings of Power season 2, the producers hint that Sauron’s inclusion will now be more natural.
Things became interesting when they talked about the Dark Lord’s role in Rings of Power season 2. They compared his role to that of other villainous characters such as Tony Soprano and Walter White, saying all of them have a “complexity” that goes along with their diabolical nature. Sauron’s role appears in season 2 looks to be significant since the producers teased that the story is “the one [they] been hoping to get to in season one.”
Now with all the pieces from the first season filled in, Lord of the Rings fans can expect to see more of Sauron in Rings of Power season 2. As noted by the showrunners, many fans expected Halbrand to be the Dark Lord ever since the cryptic exchange between him and the corrupted Elf Adar.
With Sauron’s identity no longer a mystery, the story can now focus on the Dark Lord’s next move and his role as an “anti-hero.”
Rings Of Power Season 2 Doesn’t Have A Release Date Yet
Rings of Power season 2 has begun filming. The season doesn’t have a release date, but it is expected that it will come sometime in 2024.
Critics Love It, Fans Want More
The first season received mainly positive reviews from critics that praised the show’s cinematography, visuals, and musical score.
Whether or not the showrunners can successfully tell Sauron’s story in Rings of Power remains to be seen. As for now, fans are just chopping at the bit to see what happens in season 2 and how the events of the finale will impact the story in the future.