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Charlie Vickers Talks Sauron’s Plans for Galadriel, Celebrimbor Relationship, and Being Evil in Plain Sight on THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2

Middle-earth’s Dark Lord didn’t reveal his true identity on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power until season one’s finale, when “Halbrand” asked Galadriel to join him. During the show’s second season, Sauron will be able to fully embrace who he really is… Or at least he will when he’s not pretending to be someone else entirely. What will that mean for Sauron actor Charlie Vickers in The Rings of Power season two? How did this year differ from the show’s inaugural outing? And what has it been like walking around as “Hot Sauron” for two years? Nerdist asked Charlie Vickers about all of that and more when we spoke to him ahead of The Rings of Power season two.

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Nerdist: We spoke days after season one ended, so the world had only just learned Halbrand was really Sauron on The Rings of Power. What has it been like the last two years walking around with people thinking of you as one the most infamous villains ever created?

Charlie Vickers: It’s been cool. I mean, to be honest, it’s only ever been a pleasure being able to play this character, and it’s become such a massive part of my life. But it is really a part of my life away from the normal part of my life, I guess. And luckily, so far, the two haven’t really crossed over that much so that it’s not something I really have to deal with in day-to-day life.

For me, it’s been huge. It just makes me really excited every day. Particularly when you get to go in and make the show and film the whole second season, and finally, you can be able to be Sauron and not Halbrand anymore.

We’re going to get to that, but I need to know: Do people still call you Hot Sauron?

Vickers: :big laugh: Not to my face. Not to my face.

You spent season one of  The Rings of Power  deceiving Galadriel and, in turn, viewers. Did the fact that everyone now knows you’re really Sauron change your performance in any way this time around in The Rings of Power season two?

Vickers: Yeah, I mean also by the nature of where the character goes, it changed my performance. I guess it’s about manipulation, and the difference this season is he doesn’t really have to hide anything. There are, of course, smaller things, but in terms of who he is for the audience—he’s still hiding things from other characters. But in terms of who I am for the audience, I no longer have to hide anything. So I was kind of…reveling is the wrong word, but I was really just trying to enjoy myself playing this iconic villain. And it’s such an incredible privilege and place to be in to be able to do this. So I just kind of really let myself sit in it.

The key thing, if I’m really honest, is you know you’re playing a villainous character, but Sauron never believes he’s a villain. And I think that’s a real key theme in this scene series.

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I’ve seen the first three episodes of The Rings of Power season two, and it definitely comes across that you’re having a blast playing Sauron, who definitely seems more obviously evil and maliciously slippery than before. With Halbrand, there was at least a small chance he was a good, flawed person. Now that the mask is ripped off, do you think it is intentional that Sauron seems so much more evil this year? Or is that on me as a viewer because they can no longer give the character the benefit of the doubt?

Vickers: There’s definitely an intent from a creative point of view. When we were putting the look together and really creating the character, there were elements of a character that, I guess, thematically scream evil. But never from my performance was I trying to be evil. It’s the way that the show sets it up with the music and the lighting and the private moments that you see him have.

It’s kind of like those stolen moments that we’re now in on as an audience member, where Halbrand might’ve previously turned away and had a moment the camera doesn’t capture. Now, when Sauron turns away and has a moment, we’re with him, and you can see the cogs turning, and it’s that presence of evil is almost on us in a way as the viewers because we know everything that’s come before. But in the design there are definitely evil, evil elements for sure.

You spent all of season one working with Morfydd Clark, but obviously, that wasn’t really possible in season two of The Rings of Power. What was it like filming with so many new cast members this year?

Vickers: It was amazing. In a way, I spent most of this season with Charles Edwards, similar to the amount of time that I spent with Morfydd in the first season. But then I did dip in and out of a few other different worlds this season. The thing that just blew me away every day was acting opposite Charles. He’s such a legend.

He’s done so much here in England and all over the world, and he’s a real pro and just a really gifted actor. And to be able to go to work with him every day was such a privilege. And all of the same can be said for Morfydd. So it was similar in that respect, but it was an absolute joy to film with different people. Then there are times when I won’t say too much because [this interview] is going to be up before the show, but there are times when I meet characters from other worlds, and that opened my mind to some of the complications in filming technically. The technical complications of living in Middle-earth.

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Speaking of your old screenmate, Sauron asked Galadriel to be his queen at the end of season one of The Rings of Power. How much, if at all, does he still want that by this point? And does he think it’s a possibility?

Vickers: I think he probably does think it’s still a possibility because he has this hubris and this self-love. He thinks he’s really cool, and he thinks, “Well, she rejected me once, but next time I come back for her, she won’t reject me again because I’ll be so powerful she won’t be able to.”

But I don’t think he necessarily wants that. I think his initial proposal to her was to join him, and they could be king and queen of Middle-earth, but really, he would’ve been king, and she would’ve been his righthand woman. Any kind of dreams he has involve her being number two and him being number one.

What are Sauron’s long-term plans for Adar on The Rings of Power?

Vickers: Healing. I think he wants to kind of…what’s the best way I can put it…

Without spoiling anything, he is pissed off at him. I would say that Adar is going to, I think Sauron wants Adar to sort of get his comeuppance because what he did to him. And we see this in the first episode, so it’s not really spoiling anything. The thing that I love about the start of the show is we see the backstory and the history between these two characters. And I think, ultimately, Sauron wants Adar to get what he deserves for what he did. Throughout the season, we can see his plan to do that.

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Nerdist: We can talk about this because season two The Rings of Power trailers show you as Annatar, the deceptive form Sauron took on to trick Celebrimbor. What did you do to differentiate that version of Sauron with the other versions of him we see on the show?

Vickers: Obviously, there’s a big physical difference, but approaching it from a creative point of view, Annatar is very different. I took some ideas from the book, this idea of a fair form. I always thought of him as quite an angelic being. And everything that he does is for Celebrimbor. So the way I play the character comes from the place of I want Celebrimbor to do what I want, basically. There were certain ways that I would move, and ways that I’d speak, and things that I developed with lots of different people that are inherently different to Halbrand. But it all comes from the place of how can I best get the oldest, greatest Elvin smith in the history of Middle-earth to listen to a complete stranger.

Practically, it is an assuredness and a calmness. And I love this idea of his stillness, of Sauron’s stillness in the sense that everything is very centered, grounded, and still. Because if it wasn’t like that, there’s so much power. He’s holding so much power that any kind of shadow movement, whatever it might be, would cause ripples in the atmosphere from hundreds of miles. So it all needs to be contained, and everything is very under the surface. That demands respect from someone of the stature of Celebrimbor.

What was it like getting dressed up and made up as Annatar after usually filming in rags covered in dirt?

Vickers: It was certainly a longer process. I spent a lot of time, much more time, in the makeup chair. I was wearing ears, and I had different hair. It was quite nice, actually, because I was so used to full body makeup being Halbrand, in the sense of always covered in dirt or always covered in some kind of scabs or blood. Being Annatar, he is very clean. He’s a hygienic guy with almost kind of translucent skin, and wearing more clothes, he’s in a gown the whole time. So it was quite nice not to have to get home at the end of the day and wash my whole body. It was kind of just my face.

Did you have any prosthetics on your face to play Annatar?

Vickers: No. It’s all just the work of The Rings of Power‘s makeup team. What they really wanted was angular lines, and that was something that kind of creates this sense of evil and darkness and sharpness. They used a lot of contouring and shadowing to do that.

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Nerdist: You’ve already kind of hinted at how important their relationship is this season. How would you describe Sauron and Celebrimbor’s partnership in season two of The Rings of Power? And how does it differentiate from the way it’s described in Tolkien’s writings?

Vickers: To be honest, it’s very similar to the way it’s described in Tolkien’s writings. What we cover a lot of this season is the lore, what’s in The Silmarillion, in the chapter of The Rings of Power and the Akallabêth. So there’s some really exciting things for real fans of Tolkien there.

But I’d say their relationship is one of mutual respect, in that it’s kind of like the meeting of two minds to create an amazing piece of technology. One of them brings one element and the other, I like to think of Sauron as the idea man.

He brings this thing that he’s been stewing on. Not a power of the flesh, but over flesh, an idea he’s had am mean stewing on for centuries. But he doesn’t have the practical knowledge about how to implement it. And then, all of a sudden, he meets this guy who knows his way around a forge really well. Not that Sauron doesn’t, but he thinks, “Well, I can work with this person to put my ideas into motion.” It’s the bringing of them together. They push each other to new heights throughout the season.

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Nerdist: You say there’s a lot of lore this year. What are you most excited for fans to see in season two? It can be about Sauron or just in general.

Vickers: The thing that sticks out to me is…it’s tough and there’s no spoiler here because it is in the name of the show…just some guys making rings. Really, that is the exciting thing to myself as a fan. When I read the script, and when I think about all the things that are to come in this show, there are certain big bullet points that this show about this time in Middle-earth need to tick off and will tick off. Whether it’s the Fall of Numenor and beyond, the Battle of the Last Alliance, this one is about the crafting of the rings of power. And this is the exciting thing about this season is where we’re at. We’re up to it, and we get to see these things happen for the first time. That’s what I’m excited for fans to see.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.

The post Charlie Vickers Talks Sauron’s Plans for Galadriel, Celebrimbor Relationship, and Being Evil in Plain Sight on THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

Morfydd Clark Dives Into Losing Halbrand, Fireworks with Sauron, and Celeborn’s Potential Return in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2

In season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the elf Galadriel inadvertently fell prey to the Dark Lord Sauron and his deceptions. While seeking to destroy Sauron, Galadriel, in her stubborn single-mindedness, helped him return to his full power instead. Despite this, Galadriel followed through with Sauron’s plan and helped to forge the Elven Rings of Power at the end of the season. But all of that has left its mark. In celebration of season two of The Rings of Power, Nerdist sat down with Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel on the show, to discuss where Galadriel’s journey will take her in the wake of her season one revelations. In our conversation, Clark dives deep with us to discuss Galadriel’s still-present pull toward Halbrand, the potential for fireworks with Sauron, a complicated relationship with Adar, and where the elf finds herself heading this season.

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You can check out our full The Rings of Power season two Galadrien interview with Morfydd Clark below.

Nerdist: The loss of a friendship is never easy, and in season one, Galadriel lets Halbrand into parts of herself that she walled off from almost everyone else. Does Galadriel miss Halbrand, and how does she deal with the loss of him in The Rings of Power season two?

Morfydd Clark: I feel she definitely misses Halbrand, and I think she also misses herself before she was betrayed. I think there’s a loss of innocence once that’s happened to you. And yeah, and I think also something big that has happened is that she’s seeing herself as corruptible and that’s a tough thing to come to terms with.

Do you think that Galadriel believes anything Sauron told her as Halbrand, for instance, being sorry for killing her brother, not really wanting to go back to Middle-earth, things like that?

Clark: Yes. I feel there are parts of her that want to that she doesn’t allow herself to feel. It’s taking fierce control from her to, first of all, not kind of give into him and then also to kind of move on from this entanglement that she was in. But I also think that whether she thinks what he said is true or not, he’s changed her, and that’s so annoying.

What do you imagine a The Rings of Power reunion between Sauron and Galadriel would be like at this point?

Clark: I mean, I’m really excited about them eventually, say, coming face to face again because there’ll be fireworks for sure. And I mean, it just was interesting comprehending that as an actor, thinking in this world, there is the most evil thing, and he’s kind of obsessed with you. And you know now that it’s so real and what it would mean to join him. What I love about Tolkien is that there are loads of shades of gray within his world, but then also there’s kind of Galadriel and Sauron are just stark opposites. And so the idea of them coming together is just always going to be exciting because it’s like they shouldn’t exist in the same universe, but they do.

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In season one, Galadriel was so singularly self-assured in her past, but then that assurance did lead her astray. Does her guilt over her mistakes drive her or make her doubt herself? And what roads does that lead Galadriel down in The Rings of Power season two?

Clark: I think that they make her healthily doubt herself, but also she knows that there’s no time for her to be in a slump. And so she’s kind of like a wounded animal who’s having to keep running and try and lick their wounds, but there’s no time for it. And that’s tough.

Have her own black-and-white visions of the world softened or hardened in the wake of Halbrand’s betrayal?

Clark: So this is what I think is beautiful about elves: they continue to see kind of light and beauty no matter what happens. And ultimately, even though she was kind of almost as individualistic and unconnected to her elfness last season as she could be, she is an elf. And so, even though the darkness is so much more frightening and so much more real, she still can see it. She knows that light is there and has to be thoughtful.

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Something that struck me as I was rewatching season one and beginning season two are the interesting parallels between Galadriel and Adar on The Rings of Power. They both have this complicated love-hate relationship with Sauron, and they kind of want to kill him but also crave him. Adar pointed this out a little bit in season one. Do you think that’s something Galadriel could ever consider in a kind of “enemy of my enemy as my friend” way? Or could she just never see something like that?

Clark: Yeah, it’s an interesting thought. I mean, Adar is so interesting because he was an elf, and I think that will always be something that she can’t forget. And he also was an elf who was abandoned. And so this is something that’s so interesting about elves as well, is they’re complicit in everything that’s ever happened because they were there. So I think seeing Adar’s existence is extremely confronting and will never be something that she’ll be able to get any easy answers from or know what’s the right thing to do necessarily. I think he’s much more confusing to her than Sauron.

Do we see them have any more interactions this season?

Clark: Maybe.

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Although the Elven Rings of Power were not touched by Sauron, they do have this hypnotic pull to them. Does Galadriel’s ring control her, or does she control her ring on The Rings of Power season two?

Clark: Well, the thing is, they don’t know. This is what is the big thing. They’re taking a massive risk because the situation is so dire, and they don’t know what’s going to happen from that. And that’s going to be really interesting seeing whether they’ve made the right decision, whether they’ll ever feel whether they have, and I like to think that the rings influence the people, but also, or the elves, but the wearer influences the ring as well. So it’s going to be forever changing.

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Galadriel confirmed the existence of Celeborn in season one of The Rings of Power. Is that a facet of her life that’s explored in season two?

Clark: Well, I find it really emotional that she thinks that Celeborn is dead. And I like to feel that there’s this part of her that isn’t awake; the softest part of her has been closed. And one day, hopefully, Celeborn will be there to make her safe again.

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Are there any new characters that Galadriel interacts with this season of The Rings of Power that you particularly enjoyed seeing her meet?

Clark: Yes. Her and Elrond have a little band of elves, which was so much fun. And yeah, that was great. And it’s also exciting whenever a new elf is cast, like what’s their special thing? What are they going to be particularly amazing at? And we had some great, great actors. So yeah, we see her in very different situations to season one, where she was alone amongst men.

Speaking of Elrond, their bond begins in a complicated place in season two. How do you think the pair might begin to mend that relationship?

Clark: Yeah, I think it’s really tough for Elrond to forgive what she did, and I think all she can do is wait and hope.

And finally, are there any parts of Tolkien’s lore that you’re especially excited to see brought to life this season of The Rings of Power?

Clark: My desire to spoil right now is very strong, but I can’t, so I’ll just say there are things I’m very excited about.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.

The post Morfydd Clark Dives Into Losing Halbrand, Fireworks with Sauron, and Celeborn’s Potential Return in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

Who Is Celebrimbor on THE RINGS OF POWER? THE LORD OF THE RINGS’ Elven Smith and Sauron’s New Best Friend, Explained

Celebrimbor is a name that The Lord of the Rings fans may recognize as an important one in Middle-earth. In short, Celebrimbor is the elf responsible for forging the Rings of Power alongside Sauron. However, like many of Tolkien’s characters, Celebrimbor has a complex history and lineage in The Lord of the Rings world, and he’s only becoming more nuanced during his tenure in Prime Video’s The Rings of Power. In the spirit of exploring Celebrimbor’s importance to The Lord of the Rings series, we’ll first review his place and journey in The Rings of Power’s first two seasons. And then we’ll dive into what The Lord of the Rings‘ extensive lore shares about the elven smith.

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Let’s take a closer look at what we know about Celebrimbor’s The Rings of Power story and his history in The Lord of the Rings greater world.

Jump to:

Who Is Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ? : Celebrimbor in Season One // Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power // Celebrimbor and Sauron in Season Two // Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power? What We Know About Celebrimbor From The Lord of the Rings Lore : Celebrimbor’s Ancestry // Celebrimbor Creates the Rings of Power // Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season This Year on The Rings of Power? Celebrimbor on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: His Character and Story

Celebrimbor will become a main character in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. So, let’s review his season one role on the series and what season two has held for him so far.

Celebrimbor in Season One of The Rings of PowerPrime Video

Season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces us to the elven smith, Celebrimbor. While Celebrimbor does not play an enormous role in the first season of the show, he still has a major impact on the world of Middle-earth and the future of The Rings of Power.

Celebrimbor originally comes onto the scene as a part of Elrond’s storyline. Celebrimbor confides in Elrond that he wants to create work that really matters, that truly impacts Middle-earth. He reveals plans to build a mighty forge where he can create things of great power. Of course, though this is undoubtedly true for Celebrimbor, it’s really a ruse for a much more pressing concern. In The Rings of Power season one, Celebrimbor and High King Gil-galad are searching for a way to keep the light of the Valar from fading in Middle-earth. If the light of the Valar fades, the elves will be forced to leave Middle-earth or fade away.

In season one of The Rings of Power, we come to understand Celebrimbor as ambitious, brilliant, and more than a little bit vain. Although he is good-hearted, he is blinded by a desire for greatness and legacy. And this main drive pushes him to sometimes use people and be blind to certain dangers around him—ideas that only continue to cement in season two.

Ultimately, Celebrimbor’s manipulations of Elrond prove fruitful as Elrond uncovers the Dwarven discovery of Mithril and is able bring a small amount of it back to the Elves. Mithril, it is implied, contains some light of the Valar inside of it and can thus aid in strengthening it for the elves. However, despite the presence of Mithril, Celebrimbor cannot seem to devise a way to solve the problem at hand—enter, Halbrand.

Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of PowerPrime Video

Galadriel brings Halbrand to Eregion after he suffers injuries in the Southlands. Of course, we, and Galadriel, quickly learn Halbrand is Sauron on The Rings of Power, but not before he helps Celebrimbor to devise a method of forging rings that will create the power they all seek, a power not “of the flesh, but over flesh.” Sadly, Celebrimbor is not privy to the discovery about Sauron, and Galadriel merely tells him that he is not to treat Halbrand again.

Celebrimbor, ignorant of the truth that Sauron is really Halbrand in The Rings of Power season one, goes forward with the forging of the Elven Rings of Power at Galadriel’s behest. These Rings are made after Sauron/Halbrand leaves for Eregion, and thus, though his methodology is in play, he is not himself present for the forging of the three Rings of Power. Melting together Galadriel’s dagger, which contains pure gold and silver from Valinor, and Mithril, Celebrimbor creates the first Rings of Power for the elves.

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In season one, we simply see the Rings forged. But in early season two of The Rings of Power, the elves in Lindon finally don the Rings, and ‘lo, they work as desired, amplifying the light of the Valar in Middle-earth and letting it shine down upon the elves. Celebrimbor has done what he sought and saved the elves from a terrible fate. However, he is still in Eregion and does not know if his creations have been successful. Enter, again, Sauron.

Celebrimbor’s Relationship with Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2Prime Video

Appealing to the vein of vanity in Celebrimbor, Sauron, posing as a Halbrand desperate to work with Celebrimbor once more, causes the smith to forget his caution. And, of course, Sauron wastes no time in making Celebrimbor feel as though the elves are ungrateful for his contributions to saving their race, cleverly alienating him from Gil-galad, Galadriel, and the rest. As the cherry on top, Sauron transforms himself into his fair form, Annatar, and tells Celebrimbor the Valar or gods themselves have selected the smith to help them do their great work. How is an elf obsessed with legacy supposed to resist?

Sauron as Annatar tells him, “I have walked through the dusts and the deserts of far away lands in search of an artist possessing the craft to save all Middle-earth. A storm is coming, Celebrimbor. I can bring you the knowledge none other possess, I can unlock your grandest abilities. And when our work is complete, never again will the world overlook you as the mere scion of Fëanor. But forevermore know you as The Lord of the Rings.” To be fair, it would be hard for anyone to resist that.

For now, Sauron drives Celebrimbor to create more Rings of Power. Of course, they’ll need Mithril to do that, so Sauron and Celebrimbor invite Prince Durin IV and King Durin III to Eregion to propose a trade of the powerful artifact for the precious metal… A deal the dwarves agree to at the end of The Rings of Power episode three.

A Closer Look Than Ever Before at Sauron and Celebrimbor’s DynamicPrime Video

In sum, Sauron needs Celebrimbor’s skills to make Rings of Power, and Celebrimbor needs Sauron’s vision and power to create a legacy. In The Lord of the Rings‘ lore, the relationship between Celebrimbor and Sauron is only described in the broadest of strokes. But The Rings of Power will allow us to delve deep into the heart of its terrible intimacies and intense back and forth.

Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron shares, “I’d say their relationship is one of mutual respect, in that it’s kind of like the meeting of two minds to create an amazing piece of technology. One of them brings one element and the other, I like to think of Sauron as the idea man. He brings this thing that he’s been stewing on. Not a power of the flesh, but over flesh, an idea he’s had am mean stewing on for centuries. But he doesn’t have the practical knowledge about how to implement it. And then all of a sudden he meets this guy who knows his way around a forge really well. Not that Sauron doesn’t, but he thinks, ‘Well, I can work with this person to put my ideas into motion.’ It’s the bringing of them together. They push each other to new heights throughout the season.”

The relationship between the pair will be absolutely central to this season of The Rings of Power.

Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Charles Edwards plays Celebrimbor on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Jump to:

Who Is Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ? : Celebrimbor in Season One // Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power // Celebrimbor and Sauron in Season Two // Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power? What We Know About Celebrimbor From The Lord of the Rings Lore : Celebrimbor’s Ancestry // Celebrimbor Creates the Rings of Power // Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season This Year on The Rings of Power? Who Is Celebrimbor, the Elven Smith, in The Lord of the Rings Lore?

Now that we’ve taken a look at Celebrimbor’s place on Prime Video’s The Rings of Power, it’s time to delve into how his history from The Lord of the Rings informs his character in the series. We’ll strive to simplify the details of Celebrimbor’s history and offer the most important points you might need to know to understand his position and perspectives in the Prime Video series.

Celebrimbor Is the Descendent of Fëanor, a Highly Skilled Elven Craftsmith (Who Also Flew too Close to the Sun) Prime Video

In The Lord of the Rings‘ world, Celebrimbor comes from a storied elven line with a history of producing masterful craftspeople (that have a vein of vanity to them). Celebrimbor is, in fact, a descendent of a First Age figure called Fëanor. Fëanor, like Celebrimbor, was a craftsman and gem-smith of unparalleled talent, and he created the mythical Silmarils, gems that captured the very light of the Valar (a.k.a. the pure essence of elven power). In season one of The Rings of Power, Celebrimbor tells Elrond that the jewels of Fëanor were so beautiful that they almost turned the heart of Morgoth, Sauron’s wicked predecessor, from evil. However, creating such power and beauty did not lead Fëanor down happy paths; instead, the creation of the Silmarils inflamed Fëanor’s worst traits, jealousy, greed, and anger, and brought him and those around him much misery.

Fëanor’s story foreshadows Celebrimbor’s in many ways, an irony planted by Tolkien. But on The Rings of Power, Celebrimbor doesn’t seem to consider the tragic outcomes creating the Silmarils wrought on his ancestors. Instead, he is more preoccupied with the idea that his own work has not achieved anything close to those who have come before him. This facet of Celebrimbor’s story, the idea that living up to the legacy of Fëanor drives him, actually comes right from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings writings. In the Unfinished Tales, Tolkien writes, “Sauron had better fortune with the Noldor of Eregion and especially with Celebrimbor, who desired in his heart to rival the skill and fame of Fëanor.” It’s no accident Sauron brings up this pain point to Celebrimbor in The Rings of Power season two.

Celebrimbor Helps Sauron Create the Rings of Power in The Lord of the Rings‘ LorePrime Video

Speaking of the Dark Lord, of course, the main thing we learn about The Lord of the Rings‘ Celebrimbor from its source texts is that Celebrimbor was responsible for helping Sauron to craft the 19 Rings of Powers. As we know from The Rings of Power, in the Second Age of Middle-earth, Celebrimbor is Lord of Eregion, an elven realm that plays host to a guild of the most skilled craftspeople in the elven world. (In the texts, they are known as  Gwaith-i-Mírdain, or “People of the Jewel-smiths.”) Led by Celebrimbor, the smiths of Eregion welcomed Sauron into their ranks when he came to them in his fair form, Annatar, with a promise of gifts and teachings.

The Silmarillion notes, “It was in Eregion that the counsels of Sauron were most gladly received, for in that land the Noldor desired ever to increase the skill and subtlety of their works…They hearkened to Sauron, and they learned of him many things, for his knowledge was great. In those days the smiths of Ost-in-Edhil surpassed all that they had contrived before; and they took thought, and they made Rings of Power.” Among the Rings of Power created in Eregion by Celebrimbor, with Sauron’s guidance, were the nine rings for man and the seven rings for Dwarves. Celebrimbor also made three Elven Rings of Power without Sauron’s guidance.

While crafting these rings, Celebrimbor believed Sauron to be a friend. It was not until Sauron made his One Ring of Power in Mount Doom that Celebrimbor and all the other elves knew they had been deceived. Celebrimbor attempted to hide the location of the Rings of Power from Sauron. But, of course, Sauron did not like that very much. In retaliation for Celebrimbor seeking to deny him, Sauron marches on Eregion. We will leave what ultimately happens to Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings obscured for now. The Rings of Power will no doubt address it in season two.

Celebrimbor’s Other AchievementsPrime Video

In addition to creating the Rings of Power, during Middle-earth’s Second Age, Celebrimbor saw “friendship arise between Dwarves and Elves, such as has never elsewhere been, to the enrichment of both those peoples.” In the Unfinished Tales, Tolkien says Celebrimbor “had an almost ‘dwarvish’ obsession with crafts.” And “his greatest friend was Narvi.” Together, the pair of them oversaw the building of the Doors of Durin, gates that allow greater communication and cooperation between elves and Dwarves. Narvi is a Dwarven smith of great talent who will also appear on The Rings of Power season two. We can’t wait to see that relationship play out.

Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season on The Rings of Power?Prime Video

All of this brings us to the crucial question at hand. Will Celebrimbor have a banner season on The Rings of Power this year? Well, Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, teases, “That may be premature.” A fascinating thing to hear. Well, if you know, you know!

Jump to:

Who Is Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ? : Celebrimbor in Season One // Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power // Celebrimbor and Sauron in Season Two // Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power? What We Know About Celebrimbor From The Lord of the Rings Lore : Celebrimbor’s Ancestry // Celebrimbor Creates the Rings of Power // Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season This Year on The Rings of Power?

The post Who Is Celebrimbor on THE RINGS OF POWER? THE LORD OF THE RINGS’ Elven Smith and Sauron’s New Best Friend, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? The Oldest Elf in Middle-Earth’s RINGS OF POWER Journey and LORD OF THE RINGS History

Círdan the Shipwright is a familiar figure to those invested in The Lord of the Rings lore and the world of  J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. But those who are more casually acquainted with the franchise and its many nuances and materials might not be as aware of him. But now that Círdan has appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two, it’s time to get to know the oldest elf in Middle-earth.

Prime Video

Like many of Tolkien’s characters, Círdan has a long and winding history. And so, here, we’ll touch on the parts of it that are most relevant to his appearance in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power) Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s The Lord of the Rings History as it Pertains to The Rings of Power

In short, Círdan the Shipwright is the oldest known elf to remain in Middle-earth during the time of the Second Age, the period when The Rings of Power takes place. Given that elves are immortal beings, this is really saying something about Círdan. We’ll discuss just how old he is in upcoming sections and what that means for his power as an elf.

Over the years, Círdan has honed the craft of shipbuilding, motivated by his desire to one day sail to the elven Undying Lands of Valinor. And this, of course, earned him the title of Círdan the Shipwright.  “Círdan” actually means “shipwright” in Sindarin elvish, so the title of Círdan the Shipwright is a bit repetitious. But we guess it just underscores the point that no one builds better ships than Círdan. For The Lord of the Rings‘ Círdan, however, building ships is more than just a hobby; it’s one of the main thematic points of his story.

Círdan as The Lord of the Grey HavensPrime Video

One of the most salient aspects of Círdan’s story lies in his shipbuilding, an art we see him engaging with in The Rings of Power season two. Círdan was meant to sail to Valinor, the revered realm of the elves, when the elves first set sail for it, before the ages of Middle-earth even began. But through a series of different circumstances, he ended up not undertaking the journey the first time it happened, nor the second, and remained instead in Middle-earth, honing his shipbuilding craft.

At first, Círdan intended to use his skills in order to sail to Valinor himself, the light of it calling to him from the distance. But, as described in The Peoples of Middle-earth, a compilation of Tolkien’s writings, the Valar (or gods) sent him a vision that told him he could not yet embark on such a journey. Despite his great yearning to see realm of the elves, Círdan forewent the fulfillment of his greatest wish for an incredibly long time. The Lord of the Rings‘ texts note that Círdan’s “love of his kin and allegiance” lead him “forfeit the fulfilment of his greatest desire: to see the Blessed Realm.”

Instead, Círdan remained in Middle-earth to facilitate the building of such ships as the one Earendil, Elrond’s father, used to sail to Valinor in order to convince the Valar to help defeat Morgoth, Sauron’s predecessor, during the War of Wrath. Additionally, Círdan would become the Lord of the Grey Havens, helping to design the ships that could carry his fellow elves from the port of the Havens to Valinor. Without Círdan’s knowledge, no elves could reach Valinor. Thus, while Círdan facilitated the connection to the lands, he, himself, could not sail over until the last days of the elves on Middle-earth. And, indeed, he was one of the last elves to leave Middle-earth.

How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s OriginsPrime Video

We know that Círdan the Shipwright is the oldest elf in Middle-earth during its Second Age. But how old does that make him exactly during the time of The Rings of Power? The truth is that Tolkien does not fully clarify Círdan’s age in his The Lord of the Rings writings. There is much discussion of whether Círdan, originally known as Nowë, awoke in Cuiviénen among the first elves ever created, but ultimately, Tolkien was not clear on this point. It seems some lean toward the idea that he was born in Cuiviénen, though he did not awaken there, while others believe that he did awaken with the first elves.

Regardless, as mentioned above, we do know that Círdan was a part of the “Great Journey” in The Lord of the Rings world. This refers to the journey the elves took from the place they first awakened, Cuiviénen, to the lands of Valinor. That journey took place on 1105th Year of the Trees, so Círdan must have been born before then.

In English, that means that Círdan would be upward of around 10,000 years old during the events of The Lord of the Rings and somewhere around 7,000 years old during the events of The Rings of Power, which take place about 3,000 years before the Fellowship of the Ring forms.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power) Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and ForesightPrime Video

Of course, as such an old elf, Círdan is known to be one of the wisest and most respected elves around. Galadriel notes this of Círdan in The Rings of Power season two’s first episodes, saying that even High King Gil-galad would be forced to respect his opinions. But in addition to this, Tolkien seems to imply that Círdan was blessed by the Valar with special powers of foresight. Tolkien writes that after the Valar gave Círdan the vision not to sail to Valinor, and to remain in Middle-earth; “From that night onwards Círdan received a foresight touching all matters of importance, beyond the measure of all other Elves upon Middle-earth.”

Additionally, Tolkien writes, “Círdan is said in the Annals of the Third Age (c.1000) to have seen further and deeper into the future than anyone else in Middle-earth.(31) This does not include the Istari (who came from Valinor), but must include even Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn.”

Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to GandalfPrime Video

Tolkien also reveals that Círdan was one of the original bearers of the Elven Rings of Power. As we see in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Círdan was the first to wear the elven ring Narya, the Ring of Fire.

In The Lord of the Rings lore, Círdan spoke out against the creation of the Rings before they were made and was suspicious of Sauron. But, of course, in The Rings of Power, he did not know about the creation of the rings until they were already made. In The Lord of the Ring‘s books, he also accompanies Elrond and Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom after Sauron’s initial defeat at the end of the Second Age. There, he and Elrond urge Isildur to throw the One Ring into the fire and destroy it (and Sauron) once and for all. Isildur, of course, does not do that.

Círdan and GandalfPrime Video

But Círdan makes one very important decision with his Ring. Although it is a precious possession to him, he gives it to Gandalf during the Third Age of Middle-earth as the threat of Sauron begins to grow again. Tolkien writes in The Lord of the Rings’ Appendix B, that Círdan said to Gandalf. “Take this ring, Master… for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it, you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.”

It was his great powers of foresight that allowed Círdan to know how crucial it would be for Gandalf to bear the Ring of Power. But with The Rings of Power hinting that The Stranger might very well be Gandalf, we may see this Ring of Power leave Círdan’s hands earlier than planned.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power) Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Círdan in The Lord of the Rings MoviesNew Line Cinema

But is Círdan in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies? Yes, but only very briefly. In the movies, we see Círdan twice. First, we see him in the prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; he is behind Galadriel admiring his ring. Second, we see him at the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, standing behind Galadriel, Elrond, and Celeborn in the Grey Havens as they finally prepare to depart for Valinor. Notably, Círdan does not appear in the scene where Elrond tries to convince Isildur to destroy the One Ring. However, perhaps The Rings of Power will take the chance to give Círdan back this important role.

In The Lord of the Rings movies, Michael Elsworth plays Círdan.

Prime VideoCírdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Yes, Círdan is an elf with a beard. Tolkien only mentions Círdan’s beard once, in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, when Círdan is preparing to finally leave Middle-earth and sail West with Elrond and Galadriel. Tolkien writes, “As they came to the gates, Círdan the Shipwright came forth to greet them. Very tall he was, and his beard was long, and he was grey and old, save that his eyes were keen as stars; and he looked at them and bowed, and said: ‘All is now ready.’”

Why does Círdan have a beard when no other elves do? We assume it’s because he is just that old. Although we meet Círdan with his beard in The Rings of Power, he shaves it off in episode three. We feel curious to know how long it might take an elf to grow his beard back.

Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Prime Video

Círdan is a lot younger in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power than he will be when he finally sails west to Valinor. But as mentioned, The Rings of Power already gives Círdan his beard in the Second Age, if only for an episode or two. But, hey, he’s already pretty old.

In The Rings of Power season two’s first episode, we meet the series’ version of Círdan. Elrond turns to him for counsel on the Rings of Power. Recall that Círdan knew Elrond’s father. At first, Círdan is on board to destroy the Rings, even if it means that all elves must leave Middle-earth to its fate. Círdan trusts Elrond’s instincts and refuses to even examine the Rings of Power for fear of how they might sway him. But when fate intervenes to knock one into his hands, he too falls under their spell. Ultimately, Círdan brings the rings back to High King Gil-galad in Lindon. He, Gil-galad, and Galadriel put on the elven Rings of Power and, in doing so, restore the light of the Valar to Middle-earth.

Círdan seems to think the elves can harness the Rings of Power for good and that “beauty born in evil is no less beautiful.” He tells Elrond in episode three of The Rings of Power, “We do not yet fully understand these rings, but look at the power they exert over every form of life. In Sauron’s hands, they could work an evil beyond reckoning, dominating the minds and wills of all. This is why they must remain in the hands of Elves. You are wise to fear this power… but do not let that fear blind you to the ways it can be used for good.”

We’ll have to wait and see what journey Círdan undertakes in The Rings of Power‘s second season and beyond.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power) Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The post Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? The Oldest Elf in Middle-Earth’s RINGS OF POWER Journey and LORD OF THE RINGS History appeared first on Nerdist.

THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Reveals Bronwyn’s Fate After Actress Nazanin Boniadi Leaves Series

When real-life circumstances intervene in the filming of a fictional series, there are several paths a show can take. If an actor is no longer available to play a character, that character could be recast, they could be written off the story for a time, or they might be simply killed in the narrative to explain their absence. In June of 2024, Nazanin Boniadi, who played Bronwyn, announced that she would return in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. And, of course, that left Bronwyn’s fate hanging in the balance. But what exactly happened to Bronwyn in the story of The Rings of Power after Boniadi departed from the series? Here’s what we learned about Bronwyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, episode two.

[image error]What Happens to Bronwyn on The Rings of Power Season 2? Ben Rothstein/Prime Video

Alas, it seems that when Nazanin Boniadi revealed she would not return as Bronwyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two, she meant that her absence would be a permanent one. The third episode of The Rings of Power‘s second season reveals that Bronwyn has indeed met her death in the world of the show.

Bronwyn’s Death On The Rings of PowerPrime Video

But just how did Bronwyn die in The Rings of Power‘s world? After all, last we saw her, she and Arondir seemed ready to begin a new life together in Pelargir, a Númenorean colony in Middle-earth. Arondir explains that although she appeared to be recovering from her wounds, as we saw at the end of The Rings of Power season one, that recovery was a deceptive one. Instead, the series reveals there was orcish poison on the arrow that wounded Bronwyn during The Rings of Power season one’s sixth episode actually contained orcish poison. Though Bronwyn seemed on the mend, this poison actually proved to be fatal, killing her on the series.

Prime Video

Bronwyn’s death takes place off-screen since Nazanin Boniadi did not return for any part of The Rings of Power season two. But despite this, we “see” a body to confirm Bronwyn’s death. The Rings of Power shows us Bronwyn’s funeral pyre in the third episode of season two. It seems that she had only just died when The Rings of Power season two begins. The funeral pyre is gorgeous and tragic, we feel for Arondir and Theo as they lay Bronwyn to rest.

Nazanin Boniadi Chose to Leave The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Although we will miss Bronwyn on The Rings of Power, we respect that actress Nazanin Boniadi made the decisions that were most right for her regarding the role. On Instagram, Boniadi explained a bit more about her departure from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ahead of season two. She wrote, “I made the choice not to return for season two of ‘Rings of Power.’ This was unrelated to my subsequent decision to prioritize my advocacy. Throughout my career, the values I have held most dear are honesty, empathy and integrity.  My character Bronwyn was committed to these same ideals in striving for a fairer world, which is why I connected so deeply with her. I look forward to sharing my latest projects with you soon.”

Although Bronwyn’s tale in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has ended with death, her influence will no doubt be felt as the series continues. Both Arondir, the elf she loved, and her son, Theo, will continue the legacy of her story.

The post THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Reveals Bronwyn’s Fate After Actress Nazanin Boniadi Leaves Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Every Major Character Death in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power tells the tale of Middle-earth’s Second Age, a time described by Tolkien in The Silmarillion and other texts. That means those who have delved into the world of The Lord of the Rings in some capacity have a pretty good idea about the fates that await certain characters. Still, adaptations occasionally make changes to the narrative where relevant, and The Rings of Power has introduced many beloved original characters… More than enough to keep fans at the edges of their seats worrying over their fates. Not to mention, an epic fantasy, The Rings of Power is bound to have its fair share of character deaths in a season. And so, for the morbidly curious, we’ll keep track of all the The Rings of Power season two’s major characters deaths below.

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Here’s who faded away in season two.

The Rings of Power Season 2, Episodes 1-3 Deaths Sauron’s Post-Morgoth Form “Dies”

In season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Adar tells Galadriel that he killed Sauron. And we do see Sauron meet a death of sorts in the opening scene of The Rings of Power season two. Sauron, played by Jack Lowden in the opener, moves to assume power after Morgoth’s defeat. But Adar and the Orcs, having suffered much mistreatment at Sauron’s hand and having endured for long enough, have other ideas for him. Instead of crowning Sauron, Adar stabs him with his very own helm and is joined in his attack by the masses of Orcs gathered at the would-be coronation. After enough hits rain down on Sauron, he dramatically explodes, turning the fortress into an icy sepulcher.

Of course, as a Maia, Sauron is much harder to kill than that, and his dark spirit lives on. We see it return to life later in the episode, transforming into the Charlie Vickers form we now know as Sauron. But, in a sense, one version of Sauron did go to his death. Gold star to you, Adar.

Waldreg Meets His Death at the Hands of SauronPrime Video

Poor Waldreg. He was so ready to serve Sauron but abandoned that desire to loyally serve Adar, his Lord Father, instead. And Waldreg was a loyal servant. Unfortunately, in episode one of The Rings of Power season two, he meets his death thanks to Sauron.

Waldreg had been in charge of torturing the prisoner whom he’d thought to be the King of the Southlands, Halbrand. And Waldreg took his job very seriously, tormenting and taunting the captive. Of course, Halbrand is really Sauron in disguise, and it’s not really wise to anger the Dark Lord. Using his considerable powers, Sauron manipulated the Warg in his cell to follow his commands. And after convincing Adar to set him free, he left a gift behind for Waldreg. On Sauron’s orders, the Warg attacked Waldreg after Sauron had gone, presumably mauling him to death in The Rings of Power episode one. Sauron, of course, found the whole affair to be very funny.

The Rings of Power Confirms Bronwyn Died From Her Season One WoundsPrime Video

Alas, we saw this death coming after Bronwyn’s actress, Nazanin Boniadi, announced that she was leaving The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. But, still, it hurt when season two, episode three of The Rings of Power confirmed that Bronwyn, indeed, died in the universe of the series. Arondir shares that even though Bronwyn appeared to heal in season one of The Rings of Power, the orcish arrow that had struck her contained a slow-acting poison that brought about her death in the end.

Though Bronwyn and Arondir had seemed like they were heading for a happy ending in season one of The Rings of Power, it was not meant to be for the two. In the early episodes of The Rings of Power season three, we see Bronwyn’s funeral pyre as her body is set aflame. This heartbreaking scene is gorgeously tragic and creates a new story for those Bronwyn left behind. Instead of a love story, Arondir will now grapple with grief. And the death of Bronwyn on The Rings of Power leaves a tremendous gap between her son Theo and the elven archer. We’ll see if the pair can work together to begin healing from this pain.

Many More Deaths Are Likely on Season 2 of The Rings of Power

With evil on the rise during season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, surely more deaths will follow. After all, even among immortal beings, the cost of war is high. We bet there will be plenty of casualties on the side of good and evil before the season is out. We guess we will just have to hope Sauron doesn’t cast his eye on any of our very favorites.

The post Every Major Character Death in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

Which Rings of Power Have Been Forged on THE RINGS OF POWER? (Plus: Who Wears Them? And What Do They Do?)

What’s in a name? On The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power there’s clearly one important theme, and that’s rings. We know this season on The Rings of Power, we’ll be seeing at least 19 Rings of Power (drink) come to life at the hands of Celebrimbor, Sauron, or both. But how many of these Rings of Power have been forged already on season two of The Lord of the Rings series? Which ones are they? Who wears them as their ring bearers? Most importantly, what the heck do these Rings of Power even do on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? (And do they do different things?)

Prime Video

Join us as we forge into the power (not of the flesh but over flesh) and break down all the Rings of Power we’ve seen so far on The Rings of Power.

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Jump to:

The Three Elven Rings: Who Wears Them the Three Elven Rings of Power? // // What Powers do the Elven Rings of Power Have on The Rings of Power? The First Dwarven Rings of Power : How Do the Rings of Power Impact the Dwarves? Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2? The Three Elven Rings of Power (Forged During The Rings of Power Season One, Episode Eight)

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season one finale, we see the three elven Rings of Power forged in Eregion. It is true that these rings were formed according to the plan that Celebrimbor devised with Sauron. However, as noted in Tolkien’s lore, the three Elven Rings of Power are created after Galadriel confronts Sauron and he flees the elven realm. In this way, the three elven Rings of Power were “forged by Celebrimbor alone, and the hand of Sauron had never touched them.” (The Silmarillion) The elven rings of power are made out of mithril and gold and silver from Valinor. Thus, the Rings of Power can amplify the fading light of the Valar and stop the elves from fading away on Middle-earth.

Who Wears the Three Elven Rings of Power on The Rings of Power Season Two?Prime Video

In season two, the Elven Rings of Power finally choose their ring bearers. Although Elrond wishes for Círdan, one of the oldest and most noble elves in Middle-earth, to destroy them. Ultimately, Círdan is unable to throw them into a deep trench in the ocean. Instead, he brings them back to the High King Gil-galad, entranced by their power and beauty. A ring slips from his grasp and rolls over to Galadriel, ostensibly choosing her.

And so the three Rings of Power go to their first elven owners, Galadriel, Círdan, and High King Gil-galad. In the story of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the three elves become the first ringbearers in Middle-earth. It’s worth noting that in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings lore, the elven rings were actually made last, and so they possessed the greatest power. However, adaptation is all about changing the narrative to suit the story, and so, in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the three Elven Rings of Power were made first instead.

What Are the Names of the Elven Rings of Power?Prime Video

The three Elven Rings of Power have specific names that hail from The Lord of the Rings lore. They are Narya, Nenya, and Vilya. The Ring of Power Círdan bears is called Narya. The Ring of Power Galadriel bears is called Nenya. And finally, the Ring of Power Gil-galad bears is called Vilya.

Tolkien shares in The Silmarillion, “Narya, Nenya, and Vilya, they were named, the Rings of Fire, and of Water, and of Air, set with ruby and adamant and sapphire.” The Rings of Power follows these descriptions in creating its Elven Rings of Power.

What Powers Do the Elven Rings of Power Have on Prime Video’s The Rings of Power? Restoring the Light of the ValarPrime Video

The first power revealed by the Elven Rings of Power in The Rings of Power series is the power to restore the fading light of the Valar to Middle-earth. When Galadriel, Gil-Galad, and Círdan don their rings, the effect is immediate. The dying Great Tree of Lindon is immediately restored to its full glory, signifying the light of the Valar, too, has been restored in Middle-earth. Had the light faded, the elves would have faded with it.

This interpretation of the Elven Rings of Power’s powers makes a lot of sense based on what we know about the three rings from The Lord of the Rings‘ lore. In Tolkien’s texts, the Elven Rings of Power are known to have the ability to “ward off the decays of time and postpone the weariness of the world” (The Silmarillion) and are “directed to the preservation of beauty.” (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 131) We see both these ideas come directly to life in the context of The Rings of Powers‘ rings replenishing the fading light of the Valar.

ForesightPrime Video

In addition, the Elven Rings seem to offer the power of Foresight or predictive visions. Galadriel, at least, seems to catch whispers of the future after donning Nenya. She has a rather disturbing vision of the seeds of Sauron she helped sow coming to life and suffocating Celebrimbor. Her Ring of Power appears to be drawing her into the Unseen World.

AttractionPrime Video

Finally, the Elven Rings of Power seem to have a certain attractive sway over all living things that cross their path. When Círdan demonstrates the power of his ring to Elrond, it draws all the living things around it to it its light. Círdan seems to feel like this power can have a positive use… but it feels like a lot of power for any being to possess.

Jump to The Three Elven Rings: Who Wears Them the Three Elven Rings of Power? // // What Powers do the Elven Rings of Power Have on The Rings of Power?Jump to The Dwarven Rings of Power : How Do the Rings of Power Impact the Dwarves?Jump to Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2? The Dwarven Rings of Power (Forged During The Rings of Power Season Two, Episode Three) Prime Video

In The Rings of Power season two’s first episodes, Prince Durin IV receives a mysterious summons from Celebrimbor in Eregion. It is so curious that Prince Durin and his father, King Durin III, agree to a temporary truce from their familiar spat to pursue it. After all, Khazad-dûm is in a bad way after the explosion of Mount Doom, and perhaps Celebrimbor and his mysterious collaborator, Annatar, can offer a power that will help. What kind of power? Dwarven Rings of Power.

In exchange for Mithril to make more rings, for the Dwarves and the rest of Middle-earth, Celebrimbor and Annatar/Sauron will give this power to the dwarves, making rings for the Dwarves, “one for each of Middle-earth’s most powerful Dwarf Lords.” Although Prince Durin is suspicious of the offer, he and King Durin agree to see where the Rings of Power will take them. Thus, we see the first Dwarven Ring of Power begin to be forged in The Rings of Power episode three. Celebrimbor promises that he can provide Rings that will heal Durin’s mountain, just as they healed Lindon’s Great Tree.

It’s bad news for the Dwarves, though, because Sauron, as Annatar, himself drops the Mithril into the fire to be forged. And that means this Dwarven Ring of Power has officially been corrupted by the Dark Lord before its even fully formed.

What Powers Do the Dwarven Rings of Power Have? And What Impact Do They Have on the Dwarves?

It’s too early to tell exactly what the impact of the Dwarven Rings of Power will be on the Dwarves. But in trailers for The Rings of Power season two, we see the Dwarven Ring of Power may very well corrupt King Durin III, turning him against his family and people.

In The Silmarillion, Tolkien notes the following The Lord the Rings‘ Dwarven Rings of Power: “The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame; they ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows. They used their rings only for the getting of wealth; but wrath and an overmastering greed of gold were kindled in their hearts, of which evil enough after came to the profit of Sauron.”

In short, the Dwarves were less likely to fall under the evil manipulations of Sauron’s rings in The Lord of the Rings‘ world. However, the Rings of Power still inflamed some of their lesser instincts toward greed and anger. We’ll just have to wait and see how The Rings of Power portray the powers and effects of the Dwarven Rings of Power.

Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?Prime Video

As mentioned, official sources have confirmed we’ll see 19 Rings of Power this season on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. But will we see Sauron’s One Ring forged in The Rings of Power season two? The answer is… it’s possible. The Silmarillion‘s description of the events surrounding the forging of the Rings of Power is incredibly abridged, so it’s hard to say when exactly the forging of the One Ring will occur in the context of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. However, it’s worth nothing Sauron forged the One Ring before the sack of Eregion according to The Lord of the Rings‘ lore. With the sack of Eregion happening this season on The Rings of Power, it could be very possible we’ll see the forging of the One Ring as well.

For now, I’ll place my bets that we’ll see the One Ring forged as the final scene of The Rings of Power season two.

Jump to The Three Elven Rings: Who Wears Them the Three Elven Rings of Power? // // What Powers do the Elven Rings of Power Have on The Rings of Power?Jump to The First Dwarven Rings of Power : How Do the Rings of Power Impact the Dwarves?Jump to Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

The post Which Rings of Power Have Been Forged on THE RINGS OF POWER? (Plus: Who Wears Them? And What Do They Do?) appeared first on Nerdist.

Who Is Estrid on THE RINGS OF POWER? Could She Be a Character From LORD OF THE RINGS’ Lore?

Season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces us to a mysterious new character by the name of Estrid. Estrid appears to be a human character from the Southlands who incidentally crosses paths with Arondir and Isildur. But is she more than she seems? Although Estrid is not a The Lord of the Rings name we recognize from the lore, it’s possible this The Rings of Power character just might be an important figure that paves the way for the salvation of Middle-earth.

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Jump to: Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power? // Is Estrid Evil? // Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest? // Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? // Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power?Prime Video

But just who is Estrid on The Rings of Power? Well, we honestly don’t know too much about her except for the fact she’s already keeping secrets. Ultimately, it seems like Estrid is a normal human who was living in the Southlands when Mount Doom erupted and turned the land into Mordor. After the eruption, she was taken prisoner by Adar and the orcs but was set free again when Sauron, as Halbrand, manipulated Adar into letting the people of the Southlands go from his prisons. After that, she was trying to find the rest of the Soutlanders in the area around Mordor when she met Isildur in the woods.

In The Rings of Power‘s first episodes, we see that Adar had been offering the captives a choice, pledging allegiance to him and the Orcs or death. Those who chose life were branded with the mark of Mordor. Estrid appears to have such a brand of Mordor on her, meaning that she agreed to align herself with Adar. Naturally, Estrid hides this mark from Isildur and Arondir on The Rings of Power after they meet her on the road to Pelargir. At the end of The Rings of Power episode three, Estrid obscures the brand by burning herself with a knife on top of it.

Is Estrid Evil on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Prime Video

So, is Estrid evil on The Rings of Power? That seems to be a bit hasty. After all, when given a choice between death and pledging yourself to the forces of darkness, choosing life doesn’t necessarily mean that you agree with what your captors stand for with your whole heart. The Rings of Power‘s Estrid could still be evil, but just because the mark of Mordor ended up on her neck doesn’t mean that she is.

Of course, in interviews, it was teased that The Rings of Power‘s Arondir is suspicious of Estrid, feels she’s hiding something, and doesn’t trust her. Arondir does seem to be a pretty good judge of character, so his distrust might be a much bigger signifier that The Rings of Power‘s Estrid isn’t quite as pure as Isildur might want to believe her to be.

Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest on The Rings of Power?Prime Video

In the first episodes of The Rings of Power, Isildur and Estrid get pretty close, pretty fast. From her initial stabbing of him on the road to sharing deep pains about their dead mothers by the fire, the two are forging but a bond. But is Estrid Isildur’s love interest on the series? Well, all signs point to yes. Unless it turns out she’s really the human manifestation of Shelob or something, it feels like romance is in the air for Estrid and Isildur. Even though supposedly Estrid is searching for her betrothed on The Rings of Power, we feel like whoever that may be probably won’t hold much weight against Isildur’s presence.

And that leads us to suspect that though Estrid may be a morally gray character at the moment on The Rings of Power, the series is actually setting her up to be an important, albeit unexplored, character from The Lord of the Rings‘ lore.

Jump to: Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power? // Is Estrid Evil? // Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest? // Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? // Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? New Line Cinema

Although Estrid is now a character on The Rings of Power, most of us probably don’t associate the name Estrid with The Lord of the Rings. But we sure do associate the name Aragorn with it. And Aragorn, of course, is famously a descendant of Isildur. (Hence his wielding of “the blade that was broken” Narsil [reforged as Andúril] in The Lord of the Rings, the sword which Isildur originally used to cut off Sauron’s hand and Ring.) Aragorn is a descendant of Isildur through his fourth son, Valandil (another name that now carries more meaning for us after The Rings of Power). But in addition to detailing his sons, Tolkien writes that Isildur had a wife—paving the way for The Rings of Power‘s Estrid to play an important role.

Isildur’s Wife in The Lord of The Rings Companion Book The Peoples of Middle-earthPrime Video

Isildur’s wife is never given a name in any of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings works. We actually know almost nothing about her. Isildur’s wife is primarily mentioned in the book The Peoples of Middle-Earth, wherein J.R.R. Tolkien’s son complied additional The Lord of the Rings writings authored by his father. The Peoples of Middle-Earth notes that in the Second Age, year 3429, “Sauron attacks Gondor from the neighbouring land of Mordor. He destroys Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree. Isildur escapes by ship down Anduin, and sails north from Anduin’s Mouths to Elendil in Arnor, with his wife and sons; he bears with him a seedling of the White Tree, grown from its first fruit in Middle-earth.”

The specific time of Isildur’s marriage to his wife, when they met, or her identity is not noted in this The Lord of the Rings text at all, nor in any other. However, before the above singular overt mention of Isildur’s wife in The Peoples of Middle-Earth, it is written that the first son of Isildur, Kiryandil, was born in Númenor in 3299. While we couldn’t swear to it, the implication of this timeline is that Isildur met and married his wife at least 20-ish years before the fall of Númenor in 3319.

Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Given that The Rings of Power will be five seasons long, and this season covers the siege of Eregion, it seems likely that next season will turn its eye on Númenor, its civil war, and its ultimate fate. With the idea that Isildur might meet his wife sometime before this comes to pass, season two of The Rings of Power seems like the perfect time to begin embarking on the story of Isildur’s romance. And who has appeared in Isildur’s sights but Estrid? While all of this could be a misdirect, it does feel like The Rings of Power is setting up Estrid to be Isildur’s mystery The Lord of the Rings wife.

If Isildur and Estrid fall in love, then it will be a great opportunity to shed light on an important Tolkien character who has never before been detailed. After all, Isildur’s wife will be by his side through so many of his trials and tribulations in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Unnamed in The Lord of the Rings as she is, Isildur’s wife must have played an important role in helping Isildur to escape the fall of Númenor, to found Gondor, and to bring the armies of men and elves together in their last stand against Sauron. And, unknowingly, if Estrid does indeed become Isildur’s wife on The Rings of Power, then she will forge a lineage that will one day bring the golden age of Man to all of Middle-earth. That’s quite a lot for a character whose name we just learned.

Jump to: Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power? // Is Estrid Evil? // Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest? // Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? // Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

The post Who Is Estrid on THE RINGS OF POWER? Could She Be a Character From LORD OF THE RINGS’ Lore? appeared first on Nerdist.

Who Is Annatar? Sauron’s New Form on THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER Explained

During the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, one question ruled the thoughts of fans: Which character would turn out to be Sauron? Ultimately, if you watched season one of the series, you know that it was The Rings of Power‘s Halbrand who emerged as Sauron himself. But as The Rings of Power season two quickly reveals, Halbrand was less a pure vision of Sauron and more just one form of him, a version specifically created to deceive Galadriel into becoming his ally. This season, Sauron is after someone else’s attention on The Rings of Power, the great elven smith, Celebrimbor, whose knowledge Sauron needs to create his ruling rings. And with a new target in his sights, Sauron transforms again in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, this time becoming his “fair form,” Annatar.

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But who is Annatar exactly on The Rings of Power, and what do we know about him from The Lord of the Rings texts? Let’s dive in to explore the “divine” figure.

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Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

Who Is Annatar on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?

Quite simply, Annatar is Sauron on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. In the specific context of The Rings of Power, Annatar is the form that Sauron believes is most likely to sway Celebrimbor to his side. When Sauron becomes Annatar, he loses the noble yet humble human trappings that characterized The Rings of Power‘s Halbrand. After all, Halbrand was designed specifically to appeal to Galadriel and her goals in season one. More specifically, Sauron took on the guise of the human King of the Southlands, becoming the perfect ally to help Galadriel wage war against the Orcs in the Southlands as she sought to root out Sauron.

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Celebrimbor, however, has a different set of goals in mind on The Rings of Power. Namely, he’s obsessed with creating a legacy that leaves a true impact on Middle-earth for ages to come. When Sauron transforms into Annatar on The Rings of Power episode two, he tells Celebrimbor that he is an emissary of the Valar, or gods, on a mission to save Middle-earth from darkness by means of the Rings of Power.

Halbrand Becomes Annatar

Sauron, as Halbrand, says to Celebrimbor, “There are forces in this world, beyond evil, Celebrimbor. And sometimes they send aid in the form of an envoy, a messenger, sent to bring guidance to the ears of the wise.” And then transforming into Annatar, Sauron dramatically booms out, “I have walked through the dust and the deserts of faraway lands in search of an artist possessing the craft to save all Middle-earth. A storm is coming, Celebrimbor, I can bring you the knowledge none other possess, I can unlock your grandest abilities. And when our work is complete, never again will the world overlook you as the mere scion of Fëanor. But forevermore never you The Lord of the Rings.”

Of course, these dramatics from Sauron, complete with clanging explosions and plumes of fire, lead Celebrimbor to believe he is chosen by the gods themselves, via Annatar, to bring to life their creations on earth. Sauron as Annatar leads Celebrimbor to believe he is destined to save Middle-earth from darkness by creating rings. And there’s nothing Celebrimbor could desire more in this world.

On The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Sauron doesn’t appeal to the weaknesses in the characters around him, but to their strengths and hopes. In this way, Annatar is the perfect creation to tempt Celebrimbor into helping Sauron create the Rings of Power he needs to rule Middle-earth.

Charlie Vickers Reveals More About Sauron’s Annatar Form on The Rings of Power Season 2Prime Video

Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron in his Annatar form, shares a bit more with us about who Annatar is on The Rings of Power and where he’s coming from.

Vickers notes, “Approaching it from a creative point of view, Annatar is very different [from Halbrand]. I took some ideas from the book, this idea of a fair form. I always thought of him as quite an angelic being. And everything that he does is for Celebrimbor. So the way I play the character comes from the place of I want Celebrimbor to do what I want, basically. There were certain ways that I would move, and ways that I’d speak, and things that I developed with lots of different people that are inherently different to Halbrand. But it all comes from the place of how can I best get the oldest, greatest elven smith in the history of Middle-earth to listen to a complete stranger.”

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

How did Sauron become Annatar in The Rings of Power Season Two? Sauron’s Shape-Shifting PowersPrime Video

But just how did Sauron become Annatar on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Well, it turns out Sauron is a pretty powerful fellow. Sauron is one of the Maia, in The Lord of the Rings world, spirits who came to Arda, or Earth, to help the Valar, the gods, create the world. Although Sauron in the Second Age of Middle-earth, when The Rings of Power takes place, is not quite as powerful as he was in the First Age, when he served Morgoth, he still has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. And one of the powers Sauron happens to have is that of shape-shifting.

Prime Video

In The Rings of Power season two’s first three episodes, we see Sauron change forms a couple of times. The first time is after Adar and the Orcs “split him open.” He looks one way before his first “death” and then emerges again in his Halbrand form. Whether this is Sauron shape-shifting or merely reflects the idea that as a Maia, his spirit is difficult to kill and can emerge again even after “death,” is up for debate. But to become Annatar, we clearly see Sauron pulling out his shape-shifting powers on The Rings of Power. It’s quite a neat trick going from a ragged mortal to a divine, angelic being. And it has us wondering, what guise will Sauron wear next when Annatar no longer serves him. We bet the men of Númenor may have a few thoughts.

What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World?

“I am your partner, no more, no less, a sharer of gifts,” Sauron tells Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power episode two, “Annatar.” Of course, Halbrand would no longer suit Sauron, who is now proudly wearing a form that more recalls divinity and angels and less men and muck. But what does the name Annatar mean on The Rings of Power and in The Lord of the Rings world? Celebrimbor is happy to explain; he translates for the audience that Annatar means “Lord of Gifts.”

Prime Video

And, it’s true. As Celebrimbor confirms, the name “Annatar” indeed means “Lord of Gifts” in the elven language Quenya. Annatar is actually a compound word in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s world. It is composed of the elven word “anna,” which means “gift,” and the affix –tar, which indicates “lord,” or more specifically, “high, high; king or queen (in compounds).”

Does Charlie Vickers Wear Any Kind of Prosthetics or Makeup to Become Annatar on The Rings of Power?

Charlie Vicker’s transformation from Sauron’s Halbrand to Sauron’s Annatar on The Rings of Power season two is truly astounding. Even more astounding is that this transformation into Annatar is done solely by means of makeup on The Rings of Power. Vickers tells Nerdist, “It’s all just the work of the makeup team. What they really wanted was angular lines, and that was something that kind of creates this sense of evil and darkness and sharpness. They used a lot of contouring and shadowing to do that.”

He additionally shares, “Annatar, he is very clean. He’s a hygienic guy with almost kind of translucent skin, and wearing more clothe,s in a gown the whole time. So it was quite nice not to have to get home at the end of the day and wash my whole body. It was kind of just my face.”

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron?Prime Video

Quite simply, The Rings of Power prevents Celebrimbor from ever receiving word that Halbrand was really Sauron. All Galadriel tells Celebrimbor about Halbrand is that the elves are not to treat with him again. Though Gil-galad sends messengers to Celebrimbor to alert him that Halbrand is Sauron, the Orcs following Halbrand to Eregion kill the messengers, and word never arrives to Celebrimbor. Thus, Celebrimbor does not know that Halbrand, who transforms into Annatar, is Sauron.

What Can We Expect From Annatar, Lord of Gifts, This Season on The Rings of Power?Prime Video

Now that Annatar, Lord of Gifts, is on the scene, what does he want? Well, as mentioned, he’s after the power to control, or, heal, as he’d probably tell it, Middle-earth. Vickers notes of Sauron as Annatar’s great purpose and his relationship with Celebrimbor. “He brings this thing that he’s been stewing on. Not a power of the flesh, but over flesh, an idea he’s had am mean stewing on for centuries. But he doesn’t have the practical knowledge about how to implement it. And then all of a sudden he meets this guy who knows his way around a forge really well. Not that Sauron doesn’t, but he thinks, ‘Well, I can work with this person to put my ideas into motion.’ It’s the bringing of them together. They push each other to new heights throughout the season.

Of course, we can see from trailers for the season that Annatar won’t stay so divine as he first appears and will slowly become a darker, more menacing figure as his machinations as Sauron come to light. Will we see Sauron transform out of Annatar and into a darker form this season on The Rings of Power? We suppose we’ll have to wait and find out.

What Does Tolkien Tell Us About Annatar in The Silmarillion and His Other The Lord of the Rings Writings Prime Video

That’s Annatar on The Rings of Power. But, of course, Sauron’s Annatar form comes straight from The Silmarillion. Tolkien writes of Annatar, “Sauron took to himself the name of Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, and they had at first much profit from his friendship. And he said to [the elves]: ‘Alas, for the weakness of the great! For a mighty king is Gil-galad, and wise in all lore is Master Elrond, and yet they will not aid me in my labours. Can it be that they do not desire to see other lands become as blissful as their own?” Additionally, Tolkien notes in the “Index of Names,”: “Annatar ‘Lord of Gifts’, name given to himself by Sauron in the Second Age, in that time when he appeared in a fair form among the Eldar who remained in Middle-earth.”

It was in his Annatar, “fair form,” that Sauron managed to convince the elves of Eregion to forge the Rings of Power alongside him. Of course, Celebrimbor forged three rings without Sauron’s influence, and Sauron forged the One Ring by himself in the fires of Mount Doom before returning to wage war on the elves. In The Simarillion all this happens in a matter of pages. But what exactly we’ll see take place in season two of The Rings of Power is yet to be determined.

Annatar in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

One interesting note about Sauron’s time as Annatar in Eregion from The Lord of the Rings‘ Unfinished Tales reads:

Sauron used all his arts upon Celebrimbor and his fellow smiths, who had formed a society or brotherhood, very powerful in Eregion, the Gwaith-i-Mírdain; but he worked in secret, unknown to Galadriel and Celeborn. Before long, Sauron had the Gwaith-i-Mírdain under his influence, for at first they had great profit from his instruction in secret matters of their craft. So great became his hold on the Mírdain that, at length, he persuaded them to revolt against Galadriel and Celeborn and to seize power in Eregion; and that was at some time between 1350 and 1400 of the Second Age. Galadriel thereupon left Eregion and passed through Khazad-dûm to Lórinand, taking with her Amroth and Celebrían; but Celeborn would not enter the mansions of the Dwarves, and he remained behind in Eregion, disregarded by Celebrimbor. In Lórinand Galadriel took up rule, and defence against Sauron.

It will be interesting to see how the other smiths in Eregion react to Sauron’s Annatar in The Rings of Power season two… and whether Sauron can convince them to revolt against their elven brethren.

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

The post Who Is Annatar? Sauron’s New Form on THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

The Rings of Power: Season 1 (Recap)

Need a refresher on Middle-earth’s Second Age before The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two? Join our resident hobbithead Matt Caron as he breaks down everything that happened in this The Rings of Power season one recap.

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