Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8, “Shadow and Flame.”The Rings of Power season 2 brings Adar’s story to a close during its finale, but the villain’s inevitable replacement makes the prospect of season 3 even more exciting. Adar plays a crucial role in The Rings of Power‘s first two seasons, playing directly into Sauron’s hand with his destruction of the Southlands and his attack on Eregion. Adar is a tragic figure, as he’s a victim of Morgoth who becomes a leader of the Orcs — and an antagonist to the Elves and Men he views as their oppressors.

Adar does terrible things during both seasons of the Lord of the Rings show, but he sees the error of his ways during The Rings of Power season 2’s finale. After wearing Nenya, he tells Galadriel he wants to destroy Sauron and make peace between his army and the rest of Middle-earth. However, his story is too short-lived to see that through. Sauron turns his forces against him, and he and the Orcs kill Adar. This means Adar will be replaced as the show’s main villain in The Rings of Power season 3, which makes the next outing even more exciting.

Adar’s Death Makes Sauron The Sole Villain In The Rings Of Power Season 3

He’s Meant To Be The Lord Of The Rings Show’s Big Bad

Image via Prime Video

Adar‘s death at the end of The Rings of Power season 2 will make Sauron the sole villain of the third season. This is an exciting prospect, as Sauron is meant to be the Big Bad of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series. While minor antagonists, like Adar and Rhûn’s dark wizard, keep the show’s multiple storylines moving and interesting, it’s about Sauron at its core. He’s the one who pushes for the creation of the titular rings, and he’s the one who attempts to conquer Middle-earth using their power.

Charlie Vickers’ character becoming the main villain of season 2 means the stakes will get higher, leading to a more intense outing overall.

And with all 19 Rings of Power created, things are poised to get really interesting heading into The Rings of Power season 3. The upcoming episodes will show how Sauron manipulates the Men of Middle-earth, and they’ll likely cover his creation of the One Ring. While Adar’s story is officially over, Sauron’s is just getting started. And Charlie Vickers’ character becoming the main villain of season 2 means the stakes will get higher, leading to a more intense outing overall.

Adar Was A Great Addition To The Rings Of Power, But His Story Had To End

There Isn’t Room For Him Beyond Season 2

Adar is a great addition to The Rings of Power during seasons 1 and 2, with his narrative showing a new side of the Uruk — and revealing that even the most sinister forces in Middle-earth try to stop Sauron’s rise to power during the Second Age. Unfortunately, Adar’s story must come to an end during season 2. There’s no room for him in The Rings of Power season 3, which needs to place its full focus on Sauron to emphasize his influence over Middle-earth. This is an inevitable shift, as Sauron needs to be the primary threat heading into the later seasons.

Adar’s story does exactly what it needs to during The Rings of Power season 2, and there’s no purpose for his character beyond the latest episodes. His entire journey leads him to exactly where Sauron wants him. He brings the Orcs to Middle-earth’s Dark Lord, giving Sauron the chance to recruit them for his army. This is Adar’s purpose in the Amazon series, and he dies right after fulfilling it. With Adar not appearing during the Third Age, his Rings of Power death was inevitable. And with Sauron likely to dominate the later seasons, it’s fitting it arrives when it does.

The Rings Of Power Season 3 Will Further Fulfill The Show’s Central Premise

Season 2 Already Takes Steps In The Right Direction

By putting Sauron front and center in The Rings of Power season 3, the Amazon series will further fulfill its central premise. The Lord of the Rings series is supposed to be about Sauron and the creation of the Rings of Power. Unfortunately, season 1 doesn’t tackle either subject sufficiently until its later episodes. However, The Rings of Power season 2 takes a massive step in the right direction, showing J.R.R. Tolkien fans Sauron’s stint as Annatar and his manipulation of Celebrimbor. This is the meat of the Second Age’s story, and there should be a heavy focus on it.

The Rings of Power season 2 delivers on that promise, and while the titular rings are mostly made, the third outing will continue to as well. With Adar gone and most of the series’ storylines converging, there won’t be many distractions from Sauron’s rise to power. The Lord of the Rings show will rightfully expand his story, eventually leading to the Second Age’s war between the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and Sauron. Of course, this confrontation isn’t likely to hit its peak in season 3 — but we could see it forming soon enough.

What Sauron’s Rings Of Power Season 3 Story Might Look Like

His Narrative Will Likely Center On The Rings For Men & One Ring

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore 

Sauron replacing Adar and becoming The Rings of Power season 3’s primary villain is exciting because it fulfills the series’ main promise. However, it also means that season 3’s narrative is likely to focus on the distribution of the Rings for Men and the One Ring. The former is inevitable now that Sauron has the Nine Rings, and with the Fall of Númenor poised to unfold in The Rings of Power season 3, it makes sense that he’ll find Men to corrupt beforehand. This will answer one of the show’s most pressing questions: which characters will become Nazgûl.

Adar will be missed, but his death marks a turning point of sorts for the Lord of the Rings show.

After multiple seasons spent theorizing about whom the Ringwraiths really are, it will be satisfying to finally get an answer in the third season. The forging of the One Ring also gives viewers something exciting to look forward to, and the increased focus on Sauron means we’ll probably see that in season 3 as well. With so many major events unfolding, The Rings of Power‘s next outing is poised to become its best one yet. Adar will be missed, but his death marks a turning point of sorts for the Lord of the Rings show.

And The Rings of Power will only get better from here, with the planned fourth and fifth seasons promising to be even more thrilling than season 3. After all, once Sauron corrupts the Men of Middle-earth and crafts the One Ring, his reign will truly begin. So will the major conflict of the Second Age, which will make great television — especially if season 2’s big battle is anything to judge by.