The Galadriel and Sauron stars ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powermade some interesting and apt commentary on the season 2 reunion of their characters.The Rings of Powerseason 1 finaledramatically revealed that original character Halbrand, who had spent the season bonding with Galadriel, had been Sauron all along. Their connection was real, as much as Sauron had been playing the part of a human man the whole time. In season 2, “they’re connected, if not by proximity, then by their psyche,” according to Vickers (GamesRadar+). The stars weighed in on this physicality intriguingly.
Galadriel spent season 2 trying to redeem herself for being fooled by Sauron and Sauron spent it fooling someone else (Celebrimbor) in Eregion, having had Galadriel blow his cover in Lindon. Atthe end ofThe Rings of Powerseason 2, Sauron and Galadriel came together in a spectacularly choreographed fight that brought their season-long separation to a close. Galadriel was protecting the Rings of Men, but Sauron succeeded in securing these from her during their fight. Clark and Vickers shared that they were glad that their characters did not meet until this moment, giving fair reasoning.
Sauron & Galadriel Almost Reunited Before The Rings Of Power Season 2 Finale
The Rings Of Power Showrunners Toyed With Reuniting The Two In Adar’s Camp
Rings of Powershowrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne discussed reuniting Sauron with Galadriel in the Orc camp in season 2 but decided against it (Collider). This could have entailed the two meeting with Adar, which could have been more explosive, with both Adar and Galadriel on a war path with Sauron.Adar’sRings of Powerorigin storyrevealed how hypnotized he was by Sauron’s beauty once, soSauron encountering both of his “exes” could have made for some interesting dialogue. Sauron might have been searching for Nenya and may have eventually come to Adar’s camp to retrieve it.
After Celebrimbor, The Rings Of Power Must Do 1 Thing Different With Sauron’s Next Victim
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power should take care not to repeat some of the mistakes it made with Sauron and Celebrimbor’s arc.
Rings of Powerseason 2’s opening showed Sauron’s shapeshiftingin vivid detail, proving how he could have easily tricked his way into Adar’s camp if he did want to avoid an incendiary run-in with his historical nemesis. And,running into Adar would have been incredibly riskyfor Sauron, since his whole plan relied on Adar attacking Eregion to get to him, therefore destabilizing Adar’s army and Eregion’s - both a threat to Sauron. But it is clear that he may have risked it all to get to Galadriel. As Vickers stated toCollider, “It keeps him going in a way, her existence.”
Morfydd Clark & Charlie Vickers Believe An Earlier Reunion Would Have Been A Mistake
Vickers & Clark Rightly Shared That Absence Makes The Heart Grow Freakier
Rings of Power’sSauron and Galadrielstars spoke toColliderand confirmed that they agree with the showrunners' decision to cut their meeting at the Orc camp. Both actors thoughtprolonging their separation over season 2 “adds more weight to the ending.“This goes back to Vickers' assertion of the mental connection between the two. Firstly, they share respect for each other and genuine enjoyment of the other’s company, which amounts to the “cosmic connection” commonly referenced by cast and crew (Inverse). Secondly, Sauron can enter Galadriel’s mind as a Maia skilled in ósanwe - telepathy in Middle-earth.
Galadriel
Thirdly, Galadriel acquires one ofLord of the Rings’Elven-ringsin season 2, which was made with Sauron’s instruction, creating “an extra-weird connection between Galadriel and the baddest man in Middle-earth” (Empire).Referring to Galadriel’s physical distance from Sauron, Clark “liked that it was teased out,“like Vickers. As Clark rightly noted, “they’ve just been obsessing over each other this whole time” and connected substantially via strange visions - Galadriel saw Sauron’s future at one point. They are “always connected through the ether” (Yahoo UK). This built their resolve to meet in person, creating “the epicness of the final confrontation.”
The Rings Of Power Stars Are Right About Season 2’s Sauron & Galadriel Confrontation
Sauron Taunting Galadriel As A Prisoner Is A Tempting But Messy Prospect
Overall, it seems that Payne, McKay, Clark, and Vickers were right to discredit the original idea for their reunion.Both actors had a steadily building connection throughout season 2to keep their arc alive, which was an important factor in the retention of season 1’s fans. This negated the need for regular meet-ups between the two. Although the idea ofRings of Power’sSauronfinally confronting Adar face-to-face at the camp and entering his mind the way he entered Galadriel’s is tempting, as is the idea of Sauron taunting a bound Galadriel, it is too messy to make much sense.
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It could also have been anticlimactic but does present the prospect of future ideas for the two’s evolving relationship. As Vickers said, “Whether they’re in close proximity to each other or not,their relationship is going to be a themethroughout the show. She symbolizes good and he symbolizes evil” (EW). Sadly, it is too late for Adar to get any more scenes with Sauron, butTheRings of Powermust still reverse Sauron and Galadriel’s telepathydynamic since she is the one dominating him by the Third Age. Therefore, more scenes between them, physical or not, must ensue.
The Showrunners' Choice To Keep Sauron & Galadriel Apart Made Season 2’s Ending Even Better
Season 2 May Have Felt Empty Without Sauron’s Season 2 Meeting With Galadriel
Season 2’s clean break made more sense for Sauron and Galadriel than “If they were just hanging out all the time”, culminating in their violent showdown (Collider). For the purposes of season 2, at least,Galadriel and Sauron’s separation ensured space to breathe as individual characters. This enabled the show to exploreSauron’s powers inLord of the Ringsand Galadriel’s growing strength, wisdom, and independence. Saving Galadriel and Sauron’s reunion for the final episode of season 2 also gave the finale the emotional depth it needed beyond just war.
Character-driven TV likeRings of Powerneeds emotional hooks underneath its grand-scale missions.
The Siege of Eregion was an awesome feat of cinematography, but it helped viewership that fans had something to look forward to beyond fighting. Sauron and Galadriel were the beating heart of the show for many and character-driven TV likeRings of Powerneeds emotional hooks underneath its grand-scale missions. In considering Celeborn lost,Galadriel may have loved again inRings of Power, but the show was wise to keep her apart from her frenemy.The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powercan keep creating narrative tension with separation, followed by the strange relief of meeting in person.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
