As a movie enthusiast, Sauron from “Lord of the Rings” is undeniably one of the first sinister characters that spring to mind when contemplating evil villains. He’s the mastermind behind all the turmoil that Middle-earth endures, and it’s challenging not to view him solely as the antagonist. Nevertheless, Charlie Vickers, who portrays him in “The Rings of Power” (accessible with an Amazon Prime subscription), delved into the complexities of his character, which I find intriguing and eagerly anticipate exploring further.
Although Season 3 of “The Rings of Power” is yet to arrive, Charlie Vickers discussed Sauron’s role in Season 2 during a For Your Consideration event (as reported by Variety) alongside Charles Edwards’ Celebrimbor. He focused on giving depth to Sauron, moving beyond the stereotype of pure evil. This was achieved by delving into J.R.R. Tolkien’s work and understanding how the author had developed his antagonist, revealing layers that flesh out Sauron as a complex character.
In a nutshell, Sauron appears to be an epitome of wickedness, a character known for being exceptionally malevolent. However, upon closer examination of Tolkien’s writings, it becomes clear that Sauron is far more complex than just a villain – he yearns for peace and healing in Middle-earth. The catch is that his vision of peace must be achieved through his own means, which is where the evil aspect comes into play.
At a different part of the same event’s footage, Vickers emphasized again that Tolkien portrayed Sauron with “noble purposes.
The most compelling villains, such as Vickers, genuinely believe they are acting righteously, which explains their skill in deceiving and misleading others. This unwavering conviction in their actions adds to their power as antagonists, highlights their weaknesses, and provides depth to their characters.
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Through Season 2, my preferred scenes unfolded where we glimpsed Sauron’s imperfections or chinks in his armor. This became evident in Episode 7 when Celebrimbor challenged Sauron, stating that he “can even deceive himself.” Subsequently, a similar revelation emerged when the character Vickers shed tears upon slaying Celebrimbor. According to the actor, this was because Sauron lost his grip and was deeply upset and enraged by the turn of events.
The connection between Sauron and Galadriel showcases his intricate nature. Initially, I believed he was solely Halbrand throughout Season 1, leading me to think that he genuinely cared for the elf. But once unmasked as Sauron, it was evident that he manipulated her. Nevertheless, during their confrontation in The Rings of Power’s second season, I continued to sense a subtle depth to his emotions towards trying to persuade Galadriel to join him, which adds complexity to the antagonist’s character.
Just as well-crafted characters often are, Sauron exhibits a multi-faceted nature. He’s clearly malevolent, yet there’s a depth to his character that goes beyond this, which is precisely what makes him such an intriguing antagonist to follow.
Moving on to the upcoming Season 3 of “The Rings of Power”, it’s intriguing to find out how the actor portrays his character further, as he strives to execute actions that he believes will bring healing to Middle-earth.
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2025-06-12 04:07