Summary
I don’t know whatThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 has in store for Sauron and Celebrimbor, but I’m glad that it probably won’t be as simple as I thought. I know that season 2 willexplain Sauron’s identity, focusing on his origins and introducing his new Annatar disguise, plus more Rings of Power. Celebrimbor will be the subject of Sauron’s deceit, as he is essential to forging more rings. Showrunners confirmed all this toTotal Filmin a print feature, but it looks likeSauron’s deception will also follow other threads from Tolkien’s work.
As a lifelong J.R.R. Tolkien fan, I did follow the show, despite its numerous reimaginings of Tolkien’s world. And I wasn’t displeased to learn that Celebrimbor will be “arguably the principal protagonist” of season 2, despite Galadriel occupying this place in season 1. I think this falls in line with the show’s original premise of telling the story of the Rings of Power. But watchingSauron actor Charlie Vickers in his new “fair form” disguisein the season 2 trailer, I couldn’t see how Celebrimbor would see past it.Recent news suggested a Tolkienian twistthat I like.
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Celebrimbor Will Deal With Both Halbrand And Annatar In Season 2
Halbrand Will Dare To Return To Eregion
In aColliderexclusive, showrunners revealed an image of Sauron talking to Celebrimbor as Halbrand, and another of him talking to Celebrimbor in his new disguise. I didn’t hate the mystery box writing that culminated in Galadriel exposing Halbrand as Sauron inThe Rings of Powerseason 1 finale, but after seeing Sauron’s new disguise in the season 2 trailer, I wondered how the show would use the same actor to deceive the same characters in season 2.Sauron manipulating Celebrimbor as both Halbrand and Annatar is an exciting twistas it could address this question by adaptingUnfinished Tales:
Before long, Sauron had the Gwaith-i-Mírdain under his influence… So great became his hold on the Mírdain that at length he persuaded them to revolt against Galadriel… and to seize power in Eregion… Galadriel thereupon left Eregion… Now Celebrimbor was not corrupted in heart or faith, but had accepted Sauron as what he posed to be…
Celebrimbor was “greatest in skill” among “the craftsmen of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain… the Jewel-smiths” of Eregion, and this description of his relationship with Sauron inTolkien’s Second Agepoints to the Elves' mistrust of Galadriel. Semi-canonical, as Tolkien never published it in his lifetime, this story gets at whatThe Rings of Powerseason 1 was implying - Galadriel’s community mistrusts her, and Sauron could exploit that and poison them against her. I wouldn’t mind ifUnfinished Talesinformed the show -Sauron may happily risk returning as Halbrand if the Elves don’t believe Galadriel’s warningsabout him.
Sauron May Pass Off His Shapeshifting To Celebrimbor As Divine Power
Sauron’s Fair Form Wasn’t Necessarily Elven In Lore
With Galadriel’s warnings about Halbrand falling on deaf ears,Sauron may not have to fool the Elves or Celebrimbor into thinking that Halbrand and Annatar are different people, and may admit his natural shapeshifting abilities as a Godlike Ainur. In Tolkien’s books, Sauron was the same race as Gandalf and the Valar, the Gods that ruled under the highest power, Eru Illuvatar. In Tolkien’s lore, Annatar was posing as an “emissary of the Valar” in Eregion while he deceived Celebrimbor and I think this could mean he was open about his “Valarin” race.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 will air on June 16, 2025.
While Annatar could have just been posing as a messenger of the Valar, rather than one of their race, other descriptions supported the idea of him being open about his race so that he could use his powers to impress and intimidate.Tolkien described Annatarwith a scary light in his eyes, which matches the blinding light that approaches Celebrimbor in the season 2 trailer and is suggested byEmpirephotos to be Annatar. I’d appreciate this nod to Tolkien.If Annatar does admit that he can shapeshift, I imagine he will do so to Celebrimbor alone, making him feel privileged.
Elves May Not See That Halbrand And Annatar Are The Same Person
Sauron Will Drive Celebrimbor Mad
The twist of Sauron returning to season 2 in both his Halbrand and Annatar forms also makes me excited about other possibleCelebrimbor season 2 storylines-Sauron may be driving Celebrimbor so mad that he can’t tell the difference between the two forms. This was suggested by showrunners toTotal Film- they confirmed that Celebrimbor will face a “descent into madness” in season 2, driven by Sauron’s “temptation, manipulation, and corruption.” Sauron and Celebrimbor’s relationship will become “arguably the central relationship of the season.”
I would enjoySauron’s “fair form” inRings of Powerseason 2having supernatural elements that nodded to Tolkien’s Valar and Sauron’s Ainur heritage, but I don’t think this necessarily means that he will admit his Ainur race and shapeshifting abilities to Celebrimbor. Halbrand could confess to Celebrimbor in confidence that he is also Annatar, or vice versa, and using his new Elven-looking appearance to honor the Elves. However, judging from Sauron’s invasion of Galadriel’s mind in season 1, his mind control power is more than enough to distort Celebrimbor’s perception.
InThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2, Sauron could gradually poison Celebrimbor and the rest of the Elves against Galadriel, muting her warnings, whilst eroding the Elves' mental clarity. Sauron’s power over the Elves could mean that they can’t tell the difference between Halbrand and Annatar. Sauron would be focusing his efforts on driving Celebrimbor mad, so he can get the one Elf he really needs on his side subdued and creating more Rings of Power with him.
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.
