In 2022, Prime Video The first season of the series was released on TV. Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Fans have been excited to see how the show's characters will transition from J.R.R. Tolkien's written accounts of Middle-earth's history to the screen. Now that season two has arrived, fans are wondering if Sauron, the show's main antagonist, will return.
In the first season, he did a lot of mischief: he went to war with the elves for their rings of power, he left Lindor to try to overthrow Mordor, and it was eventually revealed that Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers) was actually Sauron in disguise. When Sauron’s true identity was revealed, fans weren’t sure whether the villain would return as Vickers or another character. Now that Season 2 has arrived, the answer is clear. But is this what fans expected?
Speculation about Sauron's recasting
The idea of recasting Sauron in Season 2 gained momentum due to the character's unique history. In Season 1, Halbrand was presented as a seemingly simple human with a mysterious past. Although it initially seemed that Sauron's story would involve some redemption, this perception was turned on its head by the end as his powers were made clear. In Tolkien's legacy, Sauron is a skilled trickster who can change his physical appearance to serve a variety of purposes, leading to the dark turn in Season 1.
Fans were eager to know if this would happen in season two, specifically who would play Sauron if he appeared in a different form. Some viewers assumed that Vickers would return to play the troublemaker, while others speculated that other actors would play Sauron when he transformed into another form. Prior to the new season's release, Vickers himself was coy about the role, refusing to confirm or deny that he would appear again in season two.
In an interview with Schön!, Vickers offered some insight into his approach to the role of Halbrand, saying, “I think there was a character who had this kind of mystery and darkness in his past, which I liked, and I was interested in. I liked that he had this kind of hidden nobility. He was sold to me as the heir to a great army.” This quote suggests that Vickers sees Sauron as more than just a villain; he’s a complex character with his own motivations, and Vickers is keen to continue exploring these layers in the new season. It was clear that there were many aspects of the character that had the potential to be explored if he returned. So, let’s see what Sauron’s return actually entails.
Sauron's appearance in season 2
After the release of the new season of High Tension on Prime Video on August 29, 2024, it was confirmed that Sauron is back on the show, but in a different way than most people expected.In fact, the first episode begins with the origin story of Sauron, where Played by Jack Lowden as an evil dwarf. Before he was reborn into an evil version of himself, where Charlie Vickers returns as the villainIn an interview with Variety, producers Payne and McKay described their intentions for the character in season two, saying:
“He wants a home; they’re refugees, in a way. Sauron wants to help everyone, but he wants to do it with absolute power and the Ring. He’s infiltrating everyone’s minds and manipulating them. This season is really about how Sauron does what he’s going to do. He starts with nothing, he’s alone, he has no army. He’s completely alone. How is he going to basically conquer Middle-earth and have Celebrimbor make him the Ring?”
The show’s creative team is clearly striving to deliver a nuanced and complex portrayal of Sauron in the upcoming season. Sauron’s presence is likely to become a central aspect of the story, as more conflicts with characters like Celebrimbor and Adar continue to unfold. For fans who were hoping for Vickers to be the main character for Sauron, this is good news: we’ll be able to see the psychological aspects of Sauron come to the forefront as he fights complex battles. Vickers, who takes his responsibilities as Sauron seriously, will likely be able to portray these aspects authentically.
New characters and Sauron's growing influence
Season 2 also introduced a host of new characters, most of whom are intertwined with the story of Sauron and the dark realm of Middle-earth. While Vickers takes on the role of villain, there are new faces he interacts with and manipulates. Among the new characters are Cirdan, an elderly dwarf (Ben Daniels) who is aware of the conflicts in Middle-earth. Other new characters include Tom Bambadil (Rory Kinnear), and Rian, a dwarven archer from Lindon (Selina Law). In their own ways, these additional characters add complex and specific elements to Sauron’s narrative, as the heavy truths about the Rings of Power come to the fore.
Now, the audience has had the opportunity to express their own assessments of Sauron’s character in Season 2. Overall, Sauron’s appearance has been full of twists and new discoveries. Charlie Vickers’ portrayal of Sauron in Season 2 focuses on the mental and emotional changes the character goes through, which serves as a great context for the character’s past and a launching pad for the future. Stream on Prime Video.
