Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episodes 1-3.Galadriel and Halbrand face a sea monster when they first meet inThe Rings of Power,andseason 2 of Amazon’sLord of the Ringsshow revisits this moment from the latter’s perspective. It reveals that Halbrand faces the creature prior to meeting Galadriel. But while the sea monster kills Halbrand’s allies and destroys their boat, it doesn’t directly attack theman later revealed as Sauron. The creature turns away fromThe Rings of Power’s villain at the last moment, deciding against devouring him.
When Galadriel and Halbrand meet the sea monster again, it also attacks everyone but the two of them. This is an interesting choice forThe Rings of Power,butJ.R.R. Tolkien’s booksoffer a possible explanation for why the creature doesn’t seem interestedin Sauron. Given how he faces the monster inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 1 — which later sees him calming another beast — it’s safe to assume the series is using Sauron’s book lore to explain his survival.
The Rings Of Power’s Sea Monster Likely Sensed Halbrand Wasn’t A Normal Man
His Power Would Have Scared It Off
The creature might sense that Sauron is a Maia — or at least something very powerful — convincing it to back down from a fight.
The sea monster inThe Rings of Powerseems to consider attacking Halbrand, but it likely stops when it senses he isn’t a normal man. InLord of the Ringslore,the Maiar are innately connected to nature. The creature might sense that Sauron is a Maia — or at least something very powerful — convincing it to back down. Additionally, the sea monster is likely very old, so it may also recall Morgoth’s reign from the First Age of Middle-earth. Morgoth is largely responsible for these creatures being there, and if Sauron’s energy feels like Morgoth’s, the creature would back off.
It’s possible Sauron uses some magic to ward off the sea monster as well, as he looks directly at it before it veers in the opposite direction. He uses magic to calm a wolf later in the episode, but he utters an incantation to stop the beast from attacking him. It’s unclear if he could do the same to the sea monster without speaking aloud. Only time will tell if we get ananswer to thisRings of Powerquestionlater in season 2.
Sauron Has A History Of Controlling Dark Beasts In The Lord Of The Rings Mythology
He Could Control Morgoth’s Creations
Sauron’s influence overThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s sea monster and wolf dates back to Tolkien’sLord of the Ringslore. In addition to having shape-shifting powers,Tolkien’s writings confirm that Sauron can control the beasts Morgoth created. His interactions with the creatures he encounters inThe Rings of Powerare in line with his depiction in the books. He may continue to use this to his advantage in the Amazon series, adding further context to how many beings come to serve him during his reign.
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.
