Sauron’s Many Forms in THE RINGS OF…

By August Tales

The mastermind of deception in Tolkien’s lore was Sauron. His shape-shifting ability always kept his foes on their toes. From creating The Rings of Power to battling with Galadriel in The Rings of Power’s first season, his shape-shifting powers were often used to flit between forms. Sauron’s disguise as the human king, Halbrand, an appealing facade to Galadriel, solidified him as the prime suspect throughout the season.

A New Face Revealed in Season Two

In the initial episodes of The Rings of Power’s second season, Halbrand was revealed to be a disguise. After enduring a brutal confrontation with Adar and the orcs, Sauron chose this form. Despite Charlie Vickers holding the title of Sauron, the plot twist revealed two separate actors playing the Dark Lord. Sauron’s second form, played by Vickers, was unveiled in the first three episodes. The true number of forms Sauron will adopt throughout the series, however, remains a mystery.

Jack Lowden: The Origin of Sauron

Season two opened, revealing Jack Lowden as an earlier incarnation of Sauron. Set a millennium before the central events of The Rings of Power, Lowden’s Sauron emerged ambitious and hungry for power post-Morgoth’s War of Wrath defeat. This form, having bitten the dust at the hands of Adar and the orcs, paved the way for a new phase of Sauron’s journey.

Unveiling the Black Goo Sauron

Sauron’s transitional stage was Black Goo Sauron. Nourishment and time aided Sauron in shaping his new body from this black goo that encapsulated his essence. Delighting fans with a captivating storyline, Black Goo Sauron feasted, thrived, and ultimately re-emerged.

Charlie Vickers Brings Halbrand to Life

Vickers’s portrayal of Halbrand tugged at many heartstrings. Through Halbrand, Sauron exercised his charm and cunningly seduced Galadriel while pretending to be a Southlander regal. Southlanders and Galadriel, deceived by Sauron’s Halbrand form, were convinced of his loyalty. However, Sauron’s Halbrand mask began to crumble by season two’s end.

Sauron’s Intricacies: Charlie Vickers’ Annatar

The second season featured Vickers introducing a new form of Sauron. Annatar, translating to ‘Lord of Gifts’ from Quenya Elvish, became Sauron’s new disguise. This new persona was meticulously sculpted to appeal to and manipulate Celebrimbor in forging the rings.

Sauron’s Dark Side Emerges

In the season’s finale, Sauron resurrected the Halbrand form against Galadriel. Dark and dangerous, this side of Halbrand revealed Sauron’s latent wickedness. Galadriel, undeterred by her former ally’s words and appearance, remained focused on the task at hand.

A Shocking Transformation: Sauron as Galadriel

The climactic showdown featured Sauron transformed into a dark version of Galadriel, pitted against the real Elf queen. The sight of Sauron’s Galadriel form battling the true Galadriel left audiences astound.

Potential Sauron Transformations in the Offing

Given Sauron’s shape-shifting prowess, we can anticipate unique transformations. His ability to switch forms rapidly was well-documented, with a range of creatures including serpents, vampires, and wolves. Although The First Age of Middle-earth has ended, Sauron’s mystical ability might still yield surprising transformations. Meanwhile, fans anticipate Sauron’s dwindling potential as his shape-shifting days approach their end.

Will the Eye of Sauron Ever Appear?

The haunting Eye of Sauron, beloved by fans of The Lord of the Rings series, is likely to show up in The Rings of Power. The Silmarillion situates Sauron’s Eye after the sinking of Númenor. Tolkien paints a chilling picture; Sauron resurrects, reborn as a terrifying silhouette of malice. Although Tolkien doesn’t confine Sauron to just an Eye, its iconic image may still surface in The Rings of Power, adding another facet to the Dark Lord’s identity.