Summary
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerhas teased a unique new character for season 2, and this makes me even more excited that the show has taken a fresh approach to its villains. Of course, the Prime Video series has faced a lot of backlash for its various changes to the way J.R.R. Tolkien (or Peter Jackson) typically did things. However, some changes, especially those including character perspectives thatLord of the Ringsfans have never gotten before, can be highly valuable to the overarching story. In the case ofRings of Powerseason 2, this will be reflected in the opposing army.
There’s a big battle on the way inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, confirmed to be the siege of Eregion. This is a significant canon event of the Second Age of Middle-earth, though it has primarily only been recounted through the history-book-likeSilmarillion.Rings of Powerhas the rare opportunity to dive into this battle from the personal perspectives of the characters who witnessed it. While those like Elrond, Gil-galad, and Galadriel are a given,Rings of Powerhas also set itself up to provide audiences with a sympathetic look at the villains' perspectives.
The Rings Of Power Cast & Character Descriptions
Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has known characters and brand new ones, all with familiar faces. Here’s where you know them from.
Adar Allows Us To Get Up Close & Personal With Sauron’s Army
Rings Of Power Added Adar To Give Audiences An Inside Look At The Enemy Army
Adar is an original character in Prime Video’sThe Rings of Power, which means his general existence has been divisive. I can empathize with those who are frustrated when screen adaptations add characters that the author had never seen fit to include, butin the case of Adar, I think he brings something very valuable to the Prime Video series. He is revealed to be an early Orc—one of the Elves twisted by the Dark Lord Morgoth into something new. While this makes him evil in general, Adar is also sympathetic, which adds an engaging twist to the enemy army.
Shows like Games of Thrones have proven how much more engaging war scenes are when audiences are invested in characters on both sides.
Adar will lead thesiege of Eregion inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, with his army of Orc children behind him. This means that rather than seeing a nameless army of monsters attacking the Elven city, we will get up close and personal with the villainous hosts. Ultimately, this will allow the battle to be more immersive overall. Shows likeGames of Throneshave proven how much more engaging war scenes are when audiences are invested in characters on both sides.Rings of Powerhas adopted this, withSauron, Adar, and other teasedRings of Powervillains being fully fleshed-out characters in their own right.
Damrod “Eater Of Dragon Bones” Will Be More Than Just Canon Fodder
Rings Of Power’s New Troll Character Won’t Just Be A Mindless Monster
Rings of Powerhas teased another villain added to the mix in season 2, who should again provide us with a unique new perspective.Damrod, “Eater of Dragon Bones,” is a Hill Troll who joins Adar’s army. ShowrunnerPatrick McKay says that Damrodwas inspired by “Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul,” referencing his strength and how he movies. Such a description implies that the Hill Troll will be unlike the mindless monsters used in otherLord of the Ringsadaptations. This time around, the creature will be more like a legitimate character.
Looking at Damrod’s teased character, I predict the continuation of an idea suggested byThe Rings of Powerseason 1—Sauron might see creatures like Orcs and Trolls as little more than cannon fodder, but there is more to them than that. Adar aimed to give Orcs a safe home in the Prime Video series' first installment, which means there will have to be some motivation behind his leading them into battle in Sauron’s name.Characters like Damrod will need individual motivations as well, and this should ultimately result in an even more rounded story.
How Adar & Sauron’s Perspectives Uniquely Benefit The Rings Of Power
Lord Of The Rings Was Lacking The Villains' Perspectives
Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsbooksare told predominantly through the Hobbits' perspectives, which makes Sauron a sort of invisible, looming force. Similarly,The Silmarillionis meant to be a found manuscript written from the perspective of the Elves, so there is never much personal account from the villains. This is whyThe Rings of Poweris so unique.Tales of the Second Age are being told from multiple angles, with even the villains getting some POV moments that allow for further depth in the plot.
Rings of Power’s version of Sauron is a fully fleshed-out, almost tangible character. The series has the opportunity to show moments and villainous thought processes that were only implied or speculated by Tolkien. Then, addedcharacters like Adar allow Prime Video to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of Sauron’s armies, ensuring that we, as the audience, can fully understandwhythey are marching, to begin with. While I understand why such creative liberties would make people uncomfortable, I have a hard time seeing this as anything but a benefit toThe Rings of Power.
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.
