The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 will follow Galadriel as she tries to undo the damage done through her engagement with Sauron in season 1, but her path may lead her to even darker places before she reaches the light. Galadriel’s character arc began with her as a child, struggling to distinguish light from dark, and extended to her rejecting Sauron’s darkness in The Rings of Power season 1 finale. Now she is secure in fighting darkness, season 2 should show her redemption, but there are signs that it won’t be that simple.

Over the course of the series, which depicts Tolkien’s Second Age, Galadriel should become the shining beacon of goodness known from Lord of the Rings. One key step in this journey will be her acquiring a Ring of Power in season 2, as per Tolkien’s books, enabling her to step up her magic and start becoming a sorceress of legend. Executive producer Lindsey Weber confirmed that Galadriel will get her ring in season 2, speaking to Empire in a print feature. However, even armed with magic, there’s a real possibility that Galadriel will not be free from the mistakes that defined her season 1 journey.

The Rings Of Power Season 2 Image Teases Galadriel & Adar Teaming Up

Galadriel And Adar Have Dinner In Season 2

An Amazon Prime still from season 2 revealed in a Collider exclusive showed Galadriel having a candlelit dinner with Adar in what appears to be an Orc lair in Adar’s territory, suggesting the possibility that the pair are chatting, negotiating, or teaming up. Galadriel does not appear to be bound in this photo, relaxing in her chair across from Adar. One of Rings of Power’s original characters, Adar seems to have been introduced to provide a villain in season 1 while Sauron was undercover, but he may serve a more complex purpose in season 2.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 will be released on August 29, 2024.

The Rings of Power explores the origin of Orcs through Adar, but also uses him as a foil for Sauron and Galadriel. He is interesting as an Orc leader with more humanity than Sauron, but is also interesting as a military leader with a career not too dissimilar to Galadriel’s, as he himself pointed out in season 1. Perhaps season 2 will build on this comparison between the two characters by having Galadriel misstep further in teaming up with Adar.

Why Galadriel May Be Tempted To Team Up With Adar

Sauron Is Galadriel And Adar’s Enemy

Both Galadriel and Adar hate Sauron, so Galadriel may collaborate with Adar to secure Sauron’s defeat in The Rings of Power season 2. The last Adar spoke of Sauron, he thought he had killed him, but with Sauron on his way to Adar at the end of season 1, he may not be in the dark for too much longer. In a Total Film print feature, showrunners confirmed that Sauron will go to war with the Elves in season 2. Sauron may manipulate Adar into fighting this war for him, but Adar could reject him or double-cross him with Galadriel.

Galadriel may be desperately looking for allies or assistance in defeating Sauron after she failed to reveal that Halbrand was actually Sauron at the end of season 1, presumably to protect herself and the continuation of the forging of the rings. If the Elves find out, they may lose trust in her, leaving her with no choice but to seek out Adar. Meanwhile, Sauron will invade Eregion in his new Annatar disguise in season 2, as confirmed by showrunners to Empire. It’s likely he’ll be sowing seeds of distrust against her as well.

Galadriel & Adar Working Together In The Rings Of Power Season 2 Would Inevitably Backfire

Galadriel Must Keep Rejecting Darkness

It wouldn’t work amazingly well for Galadriel’s story in The Rings of Power for her to team up with Adar after it seemed like she was on the straight and narrow at the end of season 1. It would disrupt the redemptive arc that must be inevitable in season 2. It would allow for some interesting character studies but would further remove her from the character Tolkien wrote. Galadriel was by no means black and white in Tolkien’s world, with interesting dimensions and flaws, but intentionally working with the enemy is too much of a stretch.

Galadriel may be at the dinner table with Adar against her will.

Galadriel is a mess in the photo from season 2, with her hair in disarray and mud on her face. It’s not the image of someone having a great time or at ease. If anything, it looks like she may have been in a scuffle or battle. Although mysterious, the photo seems to suggest that Galadriel may be at the dinner table with Adar against her will. Perhaps she will ill-advisedly go looking for Sauron or Adar on her own and get captured by Adar, resulting in her being forced into a cruel gimmick at a dinner table.

Galadriel should keep fighting Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: TheRings of Power, and although the show has successfully made a valid distinction between Sauron and Adar, she should also keep working to prove how she is different from villains like Adar. A brief moment of understanding between the two would be fair, or perhaps a feigned alliance, but it would make most sense for Galadriel to stick to her path. This is especially true if Adar is a part of Sauron’s extensive plan, rejoining him under duress.