A Single Piece of LOTR Lore Is the Perfect Sauron Blueprint For Rings of Power Season 3

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Now that Adar was defeated in season two of the Prime Video series, the upcoming third season will likely center on Sauron as the primary villain. So far, Sauron has been hiding in plain sight, appearing as both Halbrand and Annatar to trick the people of Middle-earth. With his true identity revealed, viewers are eager to see Sauron unleash his full evil.

By the end of Season 2, Sauron still largely maintained his guise as Annatar, only changing from elegant Elven clothing to menacing black armor. While he could continue to appear this way, it would be more compelling if he transformed into a frightening and monstrous form, visually representing the darkness within him. A little-known piece of Tolkien’s writing offers a great explanation for this change, and connects to a debated plot point from the second season of The Rings of Power.

The Lord of the Rings’ Orcs Hated Sauron’s Annatar Form

This text comes from The Nature of Middle-earth, a book published in 2021. However, it wasn’t written by Tolkien himself, but rather compiled from his notes and drafts. One part details Sauron’s efforts to create an army during the Second Age. He forged Orcs in both Mordor and the Grey Mountains, but these early versions were generally smaller and less powerful.

Sauron went to the lands where scattered groups of Orcs remained from the army of his former master, the Dark Lord Morgoth. Over time, these Orcs had become savage and chaotic, fighting amongst themselves and attacking anyone they encountered. Sauron, now a Dark Lord himself and having served under Morgoth, believed he could easily command them, but he soon discovered it wasn’t so simple.

He was still pretending to be Annatar, and the Elves hadn’t yet discovered his deception. This attractive disguise greatly influenced the people of Middle-earth, particularly the Elves. However, it was precisely this appealing appearance that failed with the Orcs, who preferred power and fear to beauty and grace. When Sauron, appearing as Annatar, tried to give orders to the Orcs, they mocked and rejected him.

Sauron Has Taken Command of the Orcs in The Rings of Power

The idea of Orcs laughing at their leader in The Lord of the Rings is surprising, considering the severe consequences for disobedience. The story makes it clear that this master was quick to punish or even kill those who failed him. We see this in The Two Towers, specifically in the chapter “The Choices of Master Samwise,” where Shagrat warns another Orc: “I have orders, and it’s not worth risking my life – or yours – to disobey them. The prisoner must be kept safe, or we all face death.”

According to Tolkien’s writings, the eastern Orcs weren’t initially afraid of Sauron. They only became his followers after realizing his true nature. While Tolkien doesn’t say what happened to the Orcs who mocked him, it’s likely he severely punished them for their disrespect.

By the end of the second season of The Rings of Power, Sauron had gained command of Adar’s Orcs. The show has established that Orcs aren’t simply obedient followers; they’ll rebel if their leaders don’t meet their expectations. It’s possible Sauron will only truly earn the Orcs’ loyalty by fully discarding the identities of Halbrand and Annatar and taking on a more fitting appearance.

This connects to a flashback in the episode “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” where Sauron appeared in a similar guise. Although he wasn’t yet known as Annatar, he favored a showy appearance over a frightening one. The Orcs might have been willing to attack because he didn’t seem very dangerous. If Sauron becomes more intimidating in the third season of The Rings of Power, it would bring him closer to the powerful, fearsome Dark Lord depicted in Tolkien’s books.

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2026-01-26 02:08