Sauron takes numerous shapes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore, but The Rings of Power season 2 gives the best description of the villain’s true form. Despite The Rings of Power season 1 focusing on Sauron’s looming rise to power, the villain spends most of the first season disguised as Halbrand, the supposed king of the Southlands. He continues using this identity early in the second outing. However, season 2 leans more heavily into the Lord of the Rings villain’s shape-shifting abilities. This is why a new actor portrays him in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 1.

Jack Lowden shows how Sauron appeared during and directly after Morgoth’s reign in the First Age of Middle-earth. And Sauron takes yet another form when he visits Celebrimbor and convinces him to make more Rings of Power. Annatar is Sauron’s fair form, which he uses to deceive the Elves in Tolkien’s books. He does the same in The Rings of Power season 2, but one of them witnesses his true form in episode 5. When Mirdania tries on one of the Rings of Power, she glimpses the terror of Sauron — and her description is one of the best we’ve gotten regarding his true form.

The Rings Of Power Gives A Pretty Detailed Description Of Sauron’s Form

Mirdania’s

Mirdania glimpses the Unseen Realm when she’s attempting to resize one of the Rings of Power in season 2, episode 5 — and she’s shaken up by what she sees, even after Celebrimbor takes the object from her. As the smith describes what she saw, it becomes obvious that she’s talking about Sauron in his true form. The fact that she tells Celebrimbor she thinks “it’s been here among us all along” confirms as much, as Sauron is at Eregion with the Elves; he’s simply disguised as Annatar. It doesn’t appear that Mirdania has connected Annatar to her vision yet, however.

She admits that she initially believed she was looking upon the forge. However, it turns out she was glimpsing a tall beast who’s ‘ skin was made of flames .’

Mirdania’s description of Sauron is one of the most detailed ones we receive, and it’s easy to understand why it leaves her so spooked. She admits that she initially believed she was looking upon the forge. However, it turns out she was glimpsing a tall beast who’s “skin was made of flames.” She also mentions Sauron’s “pitiless” eyes, emphasizing how little the villain feels for his victims. Although Annatar ensures her and the other Elves that there’s “nothing to fear,” it’s obvious this isn’t the case.

The Rings Of Power’s Sauron Description Is Close To The Movie Trilogy’s Eye Of Sauron

The Villain’s Fiery Appearance Feels Reminiscent Of Peter Jackson’s Adaptations

Mirdania’s description of Sauron’s true form is intriguing, and it feels reminiscent of the villain’s portrayal in The Lord of the Rings movies. In Peter Jackson’s adaptations, the main symbol of Sauron is a fiery eye that sits atop the tower of Barad-dûr in Mordor. Outside the shadowy silhouette of the Necromancer, this is the only physical representation of Sauron in the films. He takes on more tangible forms in The Rings of Power, but season 2 implies that his true appearance is closer to the trilogy’s Eye of Sauron.

As the villain is one of Tolkien’s Maiar, he should have a less corporeal form to contrast the physical one he takes on while residing in Middle-earth.

The Eye of Sauron represents the villain’s increasing presence and influence over Middle-earth, but it also makes sense given the character’s backstory. As the villain is one of Tolkien’s Maiar, he should have a less corporeal form to contrast the physical one he takes on while residing in Middle-earth. What Mirdania sees is in line with Sauron being a Maia, and it also matches how Tolkien describes the villain in his writings.

What Tolkien Revealed About Sauron’s Actual Appearance

The Author Described Him As Shadow & Flame

Although Tolkien doesn’t give a concrete description of Sauron’s true appearance, the author’s work suggests the villain is composed of shadow and flame (via CBR). This is precisely how Mirdania sees him in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 5, suggesting the show is using Tolkien’s canon to craft Sauron’s identity. This isn’t surprising, as the Amazon series remains fairly faithful in its portrayal of his shape-shifting and deception as Annatar. And the fiery “body” of Sauron ties together The Lord of the Rings movies, Tolkien’s writings, and the Amazon series nicely.

While Mirdania’s description of Sauron sheds further light on Tolkien’s character, it also maintains the mystery surrounding his true form. This feels right, as the author intentionally leaves elements of Sauron — and the Maiar in general — open to interpretation. The Rings of Power could give viewers themselves a glimpse of what Mirdania sees in episode 5. However, it might be more effective to leave his true appearance up to the imagination.