Rings of Power: Season 2 Opening Explained

A huge flashback to reveal the genesis of Sauron. Charlie Vickers tells us everything.

This is what you might call a successful launch! Season 2 of Rings of Power begins with a fascinating sequence exploring the history of Middle-earth. A big flashback to put Sauron in context… Spoiler alert!

What do we see? The Rings of Power takes us back to the First Age. While the Valar named Morgoth has just been defeated, his Orcs gathered before Adar must decide what they will do now. Sauron, Morgoth's first lieutenant, steps forward to take the crown and naturally succeed his master, in the black armor of the leader of Evil in Middle-earth. However, the Orcs decide otherwise. Arda betrays Sauron, stabbed, murdered and left for dead… But it will take more than that to exterminate him. Sauron gets back up as best he can and rebuilds his power little by little, in secret, until he crosses paths with Galadriel.

“This scene specifically does not exist in the books, but the theme is there and the writers have done a job of adaptation, illustrating some lines of Tolkien according to their vision.“, the director first tells us Charlotte Brandstromwho explains that this narrative choice allows the Rings of Power to enrich the mythology of Sauron by bringing to life, on screen, these moments evoked but never really developed in Tolkien's works.

Above all, this exciting opening scene is of crucial importance for the rest of the Prime Video series, because it “lays the foundations for season 2″, explains to us Charlie Vickerswho plays Sauron.”It allows us to better understand the origins of the character, this moment when he was put lower than earth. He has never been as weak as at this moment, after the defeat of Morgoth. The Orcs do not want to follow him. So he has nothing left. He is all alone and must rebuild his strength.“.

An era of vulnerability and decay for Sauron, fundamental to understanding the character's motivations and development.”That's where he comes across Galadriel on this makeshift raft.” Vickers continues. “We reshot the entire scene from season 1, but from Sauron's point of view this time. And it's like season 2: she's watching herself from Sauron's perspective. It completely changes the mood of the show, which suddenly becomes much darker, more sinister..”

The actor thus analyses this opening sequence which shows a Sauron “humiliated by his most faithful companion, Adar. It is this moment that feeds his thirst for vengeance and domination. He will still ask himself: should I repent? Because yes, this hesitation exists in Tolkien's Sauron. But is it even sincere? There is a conflict within him. He wonders, for a moment, if he could be benevolent. But in the end, Sauron is truly evil..”

Charlotte Brandstrom confirms that it was important that we understand the “motivations” of the big bad guy of Lord of the Ringsin this season 2 of Rings of Powertransforming the elusive demonic figure of Peter Jackson into a complex being, full of doubts: “I really think he's here to do good for Middle-earth. He's here to bring Middle-earth back together.”she assures.

“He wants to unite them, in a sense, and for Sauron, that's what doing good is. When he's destroyed by Adar, in this flashback, he's totally helpless. He has nothing left. And at that moment, he doesn't know who he is yet. He has a choice. He meets an old man who tells him that he can be on the good side if he wants to be. He gets on this boat with him and if that boat hadn't been attacked in the middle of the sea by a creature, who knows what would have become of Sauron? In his panic, he has a decision to make: help the old man in bad shape or steal his pendant and leave him there. He's going to choose the second option. This is a decisive moment for Sauron. From then on, he takes the path of who he's going to become…”

Season 2 of Rings of Power will continue next Thursday on Prime Video.