It’s a misty day in England, andMarkella Kavenaghlooks like a fairy queen.
Since the show features different groups of characters and storylines spread across the wide landscape ofJ.R.R.
That gives this gathering the aura of a warm family reunion… at least until the rain begins.
Charlie Vickers as Sauron in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
Storm clouds bring a chilly shadow over this beautiful gathering.
But now darkness gathers on the horizon.
Foremost among those villains is, of course, the Lord of the Rings himself.
Charlie Vickers as Sauron in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
Under his eye
WhenThe Rings of Powerbegan, Sauron was a mystery.
She rejected his proposal to be his queen, but remains shaken by her inability to identify him.
“She has really made a fool of herself,” Clark says of her character.
Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor and Amelia Kenworthy as Mirdania on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
He’s been very successful at destabilizing his enemies."
“In the past, the camera would cut away from him when he had his private thoughts.
Now the camera follows him through those thoughts.
Robert Aramayo as Elrond and Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
The audience is in on it, which I think is quite fun.”
What he’s thinking might not be exactly what viewers expect from such a prominent villain.
“His idea of himself is that he wants to heal and rehabilitate Middle-earth.
‘The Lord of the Rings; The Rings of Power’ stars Charlie Vickers and Charles Edwards.Sophy Holland
“There’s certainly a sense of anger and injustice on his part,” Vickers says.
Sauron has tried to compensate for that loss by making new friends among the elves.
Celebrimbor is desperate to prove himself worthy of that legacy.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ stars Owain Arthur and Sophia Nomvete.Sophy Holland
“The way I see it, his ambition has been eating away at him,” Edwards says.
So it’s a double-edged sword with him.
Now he thinks he’s found the key.”
Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ross Ferguson/Prime Video
Vickers says of his Annatar look.
Sophy Holland
“Celebrimbor has the ability, and Sauron has the vision,” Edwards says.
As you’ll see, it plays out in a very interesting way.
Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
Sauron is typically depicted as an overpowering overlord who forces his enemies into submission through overwhelming force.
But the more even playing field with Celebrimbor becomes a showcase for what makes Sauron truly dangerous.
“Other villains might take a stab at find your weakness and poke at it.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ star Maxim Baldry.Sophy Holland
Sauron does something different where he tries to find what your strength is,” Payne says.
“The image of the eye is really appropriate, because Sauron sees you.
The dwarves are a proud people, but they could really use the elf’s help.
Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
And beyond that familial split, the kingdom is facing structural problems that demand a magical solution.
“So rings are made by Celebrimbor and are introduced to Khazad-dum.
That presented a perfect opportunity forThe Rings of Powerto fill a big blank spot in the canon.
Maxim Baldry as Isildur in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ross Ferguson/Prime Video
The dwarven rings are a great example where it’s like, ‘What exactly did they do?
How might that play on a father-son relationship?'”
“It’s ambition meets fear meets love meets pain and worry,” Nomvete says.
Behind-the-scenes shot of the harfoot and stoors characters filming ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ross Ferguson/Prime Video
“She’s trying to figure out which of those emotions are useful or need to be listened to.
So she’s quite up and down in her views.
One minute she’s like, ‘Yes, we need the rings!’
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Ross Ferguson/Prime Video
Then she’s like, ‘Oh no, but the ring!’
She’s really working it out in real time.
But the Numenoreans are divided about their obligations to the mainland and the elves that helped found their kingdom.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ star Markella Kavenagh.Sophy Holland
As a cherry on top, Miriel returned home to learn that their aged father died in her absence.
Now there’s a power vacuum in Numenor, and Miriel’s position is weak.
“You’re almost existing within your own mind.
The cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.Sophy Holland
It’s a very isolated state, I would say.
But she knows that she is on very shaky ground.”
Now, his political education begins.
“Once she becomes blind, Elendil has to be her eyes,” Owen says.
“So he sees and informs, she interprets what he sees, and thus Elendil learns.
This is a leader in training for where we ultimately have to get him.”
Isildur, meanwhile, is left to fend for himself.
In season 1, Isildur wanted more than anything to see the world.
In season 2, he’ll do anything to get back home.
That adds a tragic resonance to the island kingdom’s predetermined fate.
“If you know the tale of Numenor, it doesn’t end well.
The same goes for the monstrous barrow-wights, who Galadriel encounters on a dark night in a haunted forest.
“They were so scary in real life,” Clark says of the ghoulish monsters.
So much of that was practical and they were just terrifying.
“We were filming in Tenerife, which was a beautiful and incredible landscape in its own way.
We really got to feel as if we were in completely new territory,” Kavenagh says.
“Nori’s excitement about being somewhere new was mirroring our own excitement to be in Tenerife.
It was really helpful for me in channeling that energy of being in a new place.”
But there are also dangerous new acquaintances, like the Dark Wizard portrayed by Ciaran Hinds.
Even this far from Sauron, villains are on the rise.
“The Dark Wizard has a point of view on Sauron.
Ar-Pharazon out in Numenor has a point of view about Sauron.
The elves obviously have a point of view about Sauron, as do Adar and his army of orcs.
