Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8, “Shadow and Flame.”
Sauron puts his deception skills on full display inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, and as Celebrimbor notes in the finale,it seemstheLord of the Ringsvillainhas even managed to deceive himself. One of the most interesting things theLord of the Ringsshow does with J.R.R. Tolkien’s villain is give him more complex motivations for conquering Middle-earth. In the Amazon series, Sauron really does believe that he knows what’s best for the people of Middle-earth, even though he’s actively harming them to get what he wants.
Sauron demonstrates as much duringThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s finale, which sees him finally obtainingthe Nine Rings for Men. He kills Celebrimbor during this installment, and he has another showdown with Galadriel — and both incidents highlight the fact that he’s deceiving himself as much as everyone else.He really believes he can “heal” Middle-earth, viewing it as a broken place that needs his help. This is nonsense, of course, but it does make him an even more intriguing character.
Sauron Sees The Races Of Middle-earth As Divided & Broken
The Rings Of Power Sort Of Helps His Case
Sauron tells Galadriel he can “heal” Middle-earth during their confrontation inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 8, and this sentiment might leave viewers scratching their heads. After all, Sauron leaves destruction in his wake wherever he goes; just look at Eregion or the mines ofKhazad-dûm. But Sauron makes it clear why he believes Middle-earth needs saving. InThe Rings of Power,the villain views the races of Middle-earth as divided and broken, and he claims he wants to bring them back together in peace.
The Real Reason Sauron Keeps Fëanor’s Hammer After The Rings Of Power Season 2
Sauron keeps Fëanor’s hammer, previously owned by Celebrimbor, after The Rings of Power season 2, and there’s a deeper reason as to why.
The Rings of Powersort of helps him make his case, as there are clear examples of this within Amazon’sLord of the Ringsshow. The people of Númenor openly hate the Elves, and they’re reluctant to help the Southlands in its time of need. The Dwarves and Elves are also on shaky ground, though they rally together at theend ofThe Rings of Powerseason 2. And the Elves don’t care to help the race of Men, something Celebrimbor proves early on in season 2.
He takes a darker view of Middle-earth because it makes a convenient excuse for him to conquer it.
Given these examples,it’s easy to see how someone looking at these relationships on the surface could come to the conclusion Sauron does.The Rings of Power’s villain doesn’t acknowledge or care about the smaller acts of good that prove him wrong, like Míriel aiding the Southlands or the Dwarves agreeing to help Eregion. He takes a darker view of Middle-earth because it makes a convenient excuse for him to conquer it.
How Morgoth’s Influence Contributed To The Rings Of Power’s “Broken” Middle-earth
Sauron Wants To Fix The World His Former Master Broke
Morgoth’s influence also contributes to Sauron’s view that Middle-earth is “broken,“asSauron despises his former master— somethingThe Rings of Powerseason 2 drives home over its eight-episode run. Morgoth tortured Sauron, and he left him resentful after his downfall. That bitterness pushes Sauron to attempt to “fix” the world he believes Morgoth broke. In reality, Sauron seems to be rebelling against his master by taking his place. However, he is also repeating his cruelty in many ways he refuses to recognize.
Sauron Believes He Can Heal Middle-earth By Dominating The Will Of Its People
His Methods Indicate Tyranny, Not True Peace
Sauron may claim he’s piecing together the world Morgoth broke, but his methods of achieving peace are just as bad as his former master’s. If theRings of Powerseason 2 proves nothing else, it’s thatSauron believes he can heal Middle-earth by dominating the will of the people who live there. He isn’t trying to bring the races of Middle-earth together of their own accord. Instead, he’screating Rings of Powerthat can be used to force them into submission.
In the end, Sauron doesn’t really want to change Middle-earth for the reasons he claims; he simply wants power.
Sauron’s methods indicate tyranny, and they won’t actually achieve true peace. This doesn’t matter toThe Rings of Power’s villain though, ashe’s lying to himself about his motives for creating the Rings of Power. In the end, Sauron doesn’t really want to change Middle-earth for the reasons he claims; he simply wants power.
The Rings Of Power’s Sauron Is Lying To Himself
The Amazon Show Takes His Role As The “Deceiver” To A New Level
Sauron is lying to himself with his rhetoric about healing Middle-earth, as it sounds better than merely wanting power. He doesn’t wish to be like Morgoth, and he wants people like Galadriel and Celebrimbor to side with him. However, as Celebrimbor so elegantly states, Sauron is so skilled at deception that he’s started deceiving himself.The Rings of Power’s version of the character convinces himself that his cause is noble, even though it’s obviously in the name of self-interest. This only makes Charlie Vickers' Sauron an even more captivating antagonist.
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.
