When The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 confirmed that Sauron would be in his Annatar form, fans were intrigued about how he would fool the people of Eregion. He plays on Celebrimbor’s arrogance and helps him forge more rings of power. It’s a job Sauron does pretty easily.

Even despite Celebrimbor being concerned about Annatar’s powers, he goes about the mission as a project of art and culture. It left viewers curious how exactly Sauron would take his enemies out. They were converging on him at Eregion, both with the same intent. Sauron finally shows his hand, and it’s a clever one that continues to harp on how arrogant and lusty for war people can be.

Rings of Power’s Sauron Is Plotting a Bloody Standoff

Sauron Is Tricking the Elves and Uruk to Kill Each Other

Sauron is using the Forge for two purposes in Ring of Power Season 2. Firstly, it’s where he will have his rings made. Once he can dole them out to Men, Elves and Dwarves, he will have warriors he can mind-control and corrupt. These are the lords the J. R. R. Tolkien books spoke of. Secondly, Eregion is an epicenter where Sauron knows hate will reign due to the xenophobia between species.

Sauron is aware that Adar and the orcs are coming to kill him. Once they show up, he is counting on Gil-Galad and Elrond’s Elves from Lindon arriving and clashing, too. It’s worth noting that he pit them all against each other in Rings of Power Season 1 in the Southlands. There is still bad blood and an unlikely chance diplomacy will be entertained by such rash individuals.

The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power Episode Details

Season

2
6
“Where is He?”
Justin Doble
Sanaa Hamri
Sept. 19, 2024

As a contingency, he knows once Elrond’s team sees Adar’s laying siege to Eregion and killing Elves there as they try to breach the Fortress to get Sauron, that will tip Gil-galad over. It plays on passion, politics and the idea that a species will not like anyone who has spilled their tribe’s blood. It is a cerebral plot, and proves Sauron knows how to manipulate all these clans to do his dirty work for him and wipe each other out.

Eregion is panicked as they spot enemies looming and firing on their home, while Sauron has created an illusion of happiness, so that Celebrimbor will keep making rings in his Forge. This is indeed the mark of a powerful chess master, confirming how brilliant Sauron is at predicting everyone’s moves. There is no defense mechanism to deter war: he preys on the anger in them all. It changes the source material, where Sauron marched on Eregion to get the rings that Celebrimbor made to fight him. In this case, Sauron is using the rings on the inside to keep being a puppet master.

Rings of Power’s Adar Is Making a Big Mistake

Adar’s Obsession With Sauron Is Dooming the Orcs and Middle-earth

While the Elves are hot-headed, Adar seems to be more logical and composed, which is why Adar doesn’t kill Galadriel. He wants to be her partner. He gleans the truth that Halbrand is Sauron and is disguised at the Forge, hence the name of the episode title. He wants all the information, as he can tell the “Deceiver” is a clever tactician. He also admits that he needs Galadriel and her ring. Adar has Morgoth’s crown, so he believes these two relics can kill Sauron permanently.

Adar is bitter that Sauron tried to sully Morgoth’s movement. He is also resentful that he failed to murder him in the past. Adar’s own pride is dented, and wants to show the orcs that he is their leader and a father who can take care of them. He needs to kill Sauron and get the “Uruk” behind him. However, Galadriel doesn’t have her ring. She gave it to Elrond to take to Lindon. This means her mind is clear. She senses Adar’s rage is blinding him.

Galadriel warns that he is playing into Sauron’s hands like she did. If they march on Eregion right now, they won’t be able to forge an alliance with Elrond’s legion. It’s a bad war strategy that will render both parties extinct. In the process, Sauron will be all clear to get his crown and the ring back.

Ultimately, it’s a rare showing of ignorance by Adar, but he is obsessed with the orcs he didn’t want Sauron to enslave. He has Galadriel imprisoned once more, as he beefs up his army. Adar thinks the assault in the final scene a show of strength, but he is doing exactly what Sauron wants: being bloodthirsty, vulnerable and inciting Elrond to fight back.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams Thursdays on Prime Video.