The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power looks headed to confirm one key part of Tolkien’s lore in season 3, and I think it may end up being the best thing about the season. The Rings of Power season 2 got better reviews than season 1, which was well-received, critically. The show is now looking to garner even more positive reviews and even higher viewership going into its third season as it looks to remain renewable for the full five seasons it has planned. Tapping into vital Tolkien lore will keep me and other fans engaged.

The Rings of Power season 3 will likely begin as season 2 left off, with Galadriel, Elrond, and Gil-galad in a sanctuary that will soon come to be Rivendell. This beautiful place has all the greenery and waterfalls of the Rivendell of Peter Jackson’s iconic movies, plus falls into the Second Age timeline at the right point for it to be the Imladris of Tolkien lore. As the Elves recover from their losses, Sauron will be contemplating the rings he recently seized from Galadriel. I can’t wait for season 3 to focus on these rings, leading to the almost certain exploration of Ringwraiths.

Rings Of Power Season 3’s Confirmation Means We’ll See Which Men Receive Rings

Season 3 Should Reveal The Ringwraiths

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 set up the exploration of the Ringwraiths, and season 3 is all set to dive in. This key part of Tolkien’s lore was portrayed terrifyingly in the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings trilogy, effecting a perfect representation of the awe-inspiring beings of the 1954 novel. But Lord of the Rings’ Ringwraiths are incredibly mysterious, and in the whole legendarium, only two have ever been named. I’m convinced that Rings of Power season 3 will show who the Nazgûl are, at least partially.

Rings of Power season 2 ended with Sauron forcing Celebrimbor to make the nine Rings of Men. As is widely known by myself and many Lord of the Rings fans, these are the rings that go on to create the Ringwraiths. The show has already covered the Seven Dwarf-rings, which never turned their wearers into wraiths, as the Dwarves were too hardy. Lord of the Rings’ Elven-rings also never turned their wearers into wraiths. But Sauron plans to hand out the Nine next, so the show will have to invent the identities of their bearers.

Sauron’s Season 3 Story Will Finally Give LOTR’s Nazgûl Proper Origins

The Ringwraiths Have No Origin Story In Lord Of The Rings

The Ringwraiths are shrouded in mystery in The Lord of the Rings, and Rings of Power could remove some of this. Some viewers will rightly claim that mystery is part of the Ringwraiths’ terror and appeal. Sauron and his Nine are scary because there isn’t certainty about the extent of their powers. Only their cruelty is known, making the possibilities endless. However, this can remain, even while the show exposes their identities. The show doesn’t have to reveal the origins of the bearers of the Nine, but I would feel shortchanged if it didn’t.

The Rings of Power doesn’t have the rights to Khamûl’s name, but could probably secure one-off rights.

The Rings of Power had to explore who received the Elven-rings, as this knowledge rests in Tolkien’s canon. Likewise, Durin III received one of Lord of the Rings’ Rings of Power in Tolkien’s writing. But the only thing that is known about the Ringwraiths is that one is known as the Witch-king of Angmar and another is known as Khamûl the Easterling, while they all became important in their day due to the influence of their rings. The Rings of Power, excitingly, could give the Nazgûl names, homes, families, and stories. The Rings of Power doesn’t have the rights to Khamûl’s name, but could probably secure one-off rights.

Lord Of The Rings Could Be Even Better If Rings of Power Does The Nazgûl Well

I’m Hopeful The Nazgûl’s Identities Will Make Their LOTR Fates Even More Tragic

The Rings of Power is set to make Lord of the Rings even better, if the Ringwraiths are done right. The Ringwraiths are a massive part of the impact of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Rings of Power could amplify this for rewatching or rereading. Rather than reducing the mystery of the characters and therefore rendering them less interesting, the show could portray the fall from grace of nine brilliant people. Alternatively, I’d like to see how the Nazgûl were totally vile from the beginning.

Tolkienian Age
Event Marking The Start
Years
Total Length In Solar Years

Before time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Indeterminate

Days before Days
Ainur entered Eä
1 – 3,500 Valian Years
33,537

Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.)
Yavanna created the Two Trees
Y.T. 1 – 1050
10,061

First Age (F.A.)
Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
Y.T. 1050 – Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 – 590
4,902

Second Age (S.A.)
War of Wrath ended

S.A. 1 – 3441
3,441

Third Age (T.A.)
Last Alliance defeated Sauron
T.A. 1 – 3021
3,021

Fourth Age (Fo.A)
Elven-rings left Middle-earth
Fo.A 1 – unknown
Unknown

In all of Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth in the Third Age, none of Sauron’s servants were as loyal or dangerous as the Ringwraiths. I would love to see how they came from small towns and rose to become kings and fell into being automatons. This would be an amazing story and totally analogous to Tolkien’s work. Likewise, Rings of Power could give viewers some of the best villains on TV – some of the bearers of the Nine could already be insufferable in some way. This would make their gradual decay immensely satisfying to watch.

Who Could Become Sauron’s Ringwraiths In The Rings Of Power Season 3

There Are Some Rings Of Power Characters Who Could Become Nazgûl

There are characters in The Rings of Power who are primed to become Ringwraiths. Also, the show may well be about to introduce some original characters. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay added different original characters each season, so it stands to reason for season 3 to continue in this vein. Bringing some original characters to the table as Ringwraiths would make sense to me, allowing for the development of all nine. However, some Ringwraiths could definitely have been introduced already. Theo is a dead ringer for a Nazgûl with his dark impulses and lack of parental figures.

Theo could use a ring to help create and protect a new home for the Southlanders.

Theo was drawn to the Orc Sigil Hilt in season 1 – Morgoth’s darkness clearly had a hold on him, which I’d like to see develop. Sauron could easily be about to tap into Theo’s struggle and share a ring with him, allowing him to start having more power. He would use this to overcome the damage done to his people by Sauron’s army, ironically. Theo could use a ring to help create and protect a new home for the Southlanders, which he may have to rule in his mother’s stead in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.