Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7.
Adar’s death in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will likely come in an unexpected way, though one that is inherently more satisfying. Since season 1, Adar has been a primary element of The Rings of Power‘s cast. Initially introduced as a villain to the likes of Arondir and Galadriel, Adar has slowly developed into someone who simply wants what is best for his Uruk children. As Adar is an original character in The Rings of Power, the show has the freedom to develop him in whichever way the writers desire.
As of The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7, Adar was shown leading the Siege of Eregion, a major event in Lord of the Rings’ Second Age. For much of season 2, The Rings of Power‘s timeline has sped toward this conflict as the elves seek to free Celebrimbor from Sauron’s grasp and Adar wishes to kill his former master once and for all. Although the show is seemingly setting up Adar to have many conflicts in The Rings of Power episode 8, his death may come from an unexpected source.
Image via Prime Video
Unfortunately for the father of the Uruks, Adar seems to be first in the list of potential character deaths in The Rings of Power season 2. The reason Adar’s death is so inevitable is primarily due to his status as an original character. Of course, original characters can be important in The Rings of Power, but the show is evidently trying to stick to Tolkien’s overarching stories of the Second Age with only minimal changes.
Sam Hazeldine as Adar in The Rings of Power season 2 (2024) next to an orc screaming
In The Rings of Power season 2, Adar continues to insist orcs be called Uruks, leading to the question of why he is so dedicated to this.
As such, it is unlikely that Adar, or any other original characters, will make enough of an impact on the overarching story of The Rings of Power. While elements like Adar orchestrating the Siege of Eregion or Arondir helping to defeat Damrod are big moments, they are still footnotes in comparison to the overarching plot points written by Tolkien. This way, the original characters of The Rings of Power do not rob Tolkien’s stories or other characters of their weight. As a result, though, it seemingly gives characters like Adar a limited lifespan.
The Rings Of Power Season 2 Is Teasing The Orcs Turning On Adar
Adar’s Children Do Not All Agree With His Quest For Vengeance
An Orc showing his teeth in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The orcs under his command began to question Adar, wondering whether going to war so quickly after fighting another was wise. This coincided with the inclusion of a baby orc in The Rings of Power, slightly humanizing the typical Lord of the Rings villains with an element from Tolkien’s lore. Since then, the orcs have not been 100% on board with Adar’s plan to kill Sauro. This was evident in their looks of uncertainty as Galadriel shouted that attacking Eregion was what Sauron wanted and Adar unleashing Damrod without a second thought, knowing the troll would kill his own soldiers.
Why The Orcs Killing Adar Would Be More Fitting Than Sauron, Galadriel, Or Another Character Doing It
Adar’s Arc Would Be More Impactful If The Orcs Killed Him
Adar (Sam Hazeldine) knocks Galadriel off her horse in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4
Overall, Adar’s orcs killing him would be better than if he were to die at the hands of Galadriel. Sauron, Arondir, or any other Rings of Power character. This way, Adar could be painted as much more of a tragic future. As alluded to, Adar is not a complete villain in The Rings of Power. He has done evil things, but Adar is not the embodiment of darkness in the way Sauron or Morgoth are and instead wishes to give his children a home in which they can build their own lives free of servitude.
The Rings of Power season 2 is hinting at the orcs losing sight of Adar’s motives and killing him, likely with the reasoning that they assumed he was too hellbent on revenge against Sauron. If this came to pass, it would make Adar’s death more emotionally resonant than if he was killed by any of the aforementioned characters. The only other character whose story would benefit from killing Adar is Arondir, yet The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7 showcased this conflict, with Arondir seemingly losing.
It could be revealed that Sauron knew the orcs would eventually betray Adar, leaving the dark lord to swoop in and take control of them and Mordor afterward…
Furthermore, Adar being killed by his orc children would benefit Sauron’s arc. Sauron is a master manipulator and needs an army after the Siege of Eregion. It could be revealed that Sauron knew the orcs would eventually betray Adar, leaving the dark lord to swoop in and take control of them and Mordor afterward, leading into the War of the Elves and Sauron. This all points to the orcs killing Adar being the best conclusion of his story in The Rings of Power, one that could come sooner rather than later.
