The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power hid Sauron from the audience for the entirety of season 1, but season 2 will do no such thing, and I’m worried that the show may give in to Hollywood trends that don’t do his character any favors. The Rings of Power season 1 finale explained that its original character Halbrand was Sauron, finally opening the main mystery box of the season. Although not popular with everyone, I have to say – this mystery box writing didn’t bother me. That said, I find myself praying that season 2 doesn’t betray literature’s greatest villain by repeating an overused trope.
As a Tolkien reader, I’m both a devoted fan and academically obsessed with the original source material. As such, I would like Tolkien’s legacy to continue the way he would have wanted it. At odds with this is how I am quite laid-back as a TV consumer because TV is how I zone out. Despite myself, I enjoyed the show, including some of its less Tolkienian elements. But I know that The Rings of Power season 2 will focus heavily on Sauron, a literary and cinematic character with important moral lessons to share, and I really don’t want this to be mishandled.
Showing Sauron’s Perspective In Rings Of Power Season 2 Risks Humanizing Him
Some Of Season 2’s Story May Be Told From Sauron’s Point Of View
Focusing on the dangerous, murderous Sauron in The Rings of Power season 2 may lead audiences to like him or relate to him – a villain trope that has become increasingly popular for TV series. In an interview with GQ, Sauron actor Charlie Vickers confirmed that in season 2, we will “start to see Sauron’s journey – in the same way that we saw Galadriel’s origins.“ Showrunners confirmed that season 2 will be “all about the villains” to Total Film in a printed feature. It looks to me like season 2 will explain Sauron’s identity through his perspective. Even Sauron has feelings, but showing these more will risk humanizing him.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will air on August 29, 2024.
Granted, season 1 literally humanized him by having him assume a human form, and it did tempt pathos to a certain extent with the rogueish charm of his Halbrand act. But showing Sauron as Sauron, undisguised, away from prying eyes would open up the can of worms that is his complex, ancient reality and all the highs and lows that come with it. Intimate or not, a portrait of the villain, if shown from his perspective, would highlight his suffering and probably some admirable qualities too – strength and intelligence. This may endear or connect him to viewers.
Is Sauron Supposed To Be Sympathized With In The Lord Of The Rings?
Sauron Is A Terrifying Villain In J.R.R Tolkien’s Work
There is a story in Sauron’s complexity, but he was meant to horrify. Having spent more time processing Tolkien’s work than I care to admit, I know there was a dichotomy between slaver and enslaved inherent in his character. Morgoth “seduced” him and “the bonds that Morgoth had laid upon him were very strong” – this could elicit sympathy. This was played up by Sauron in the finale of The Rings of Power season 1. However, Tolkien’s most important and prevalent characterization of Sauron was of ruthless tyranny with no respect for life, terrifyingly empowered. Never has this warning been more relevant.
In a letter published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien in 1981, Tolkien confirmed that he did not deal in absolute evil in his legendarium, as he didn’t believe it existed. He also confirmed that Sauron represented as close an approach to the wholly evil will as was possible.
Especially at the start of Tolkien’s Second Age, Sauron “was not… wholly evil” – he had “fair motives” and “Very slowly” became “a thing lusting for Complete Power.” Overall, I can see why the showrunners intend to show Sauron as “complexly evil” (in their own words to The Hollywood Reporter) – it’s canonical. But Sauron’s origin story is a mere footnote in the villainy that made Lord of the Rings so effective. Sauron wasn’t supposed to be sympathetic, he was supposed to be nauseating, demonstrating our real-world need to resist those who would rule with an iron fist.
Humanizing Sauron Would Continue A Strange Modern Franchise Trope
Hollywood Loves A Villain
Showrunners confirmed that Rings of Power is indeed “an origin story for Sauron” to TheHollywood Reporter, which falls in line with Hollywood’s fixation on villains. Season 2 will dive deeper into these origins. This movie and TV trend has seen some of the world’s best baddies explained and humanized on screen. Joker had his own movie in 2019, Cruella had hers in 2021, even serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer had their time in the limelight on Netflix. Perhaps it started with 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which is arguably Darth Vader’s origin story.
I’ll be the first to confess that I often find villains more compelling than heroes and that I enjoyed Joker thoroughly. However, a similar approach to Sauron would risk undoing the essence of what makes him such an iconic Tolkien villain, undermining his original purpose. Rings of Power season 2 must find a way to explain Sauron’s full plan, conveying his demonic treachery, without making the audience feel sorry for him. That would undo Tolkien’s hard work in establishing him as the archetypal despot, a mirror to the most uncomfortable aspects of our own times.
What I loved about Heath Ledger’s Joker was that The Dark Knight refused to confirm his true backstory. He was inexplicably amoral, a classic, grandstanding villain. I think this has been missing from productions somewhat. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has an unprecedented opportunity to show Sauron’s greatest powers, schemes, and drives. And whether in delight or mild annoyance, I’ll be watching. I just hope that the show delivers an incomprehensibly callous creature, rather than a man we can all understand just a little too much.
