Spoilers Rings of Power is back!

[Hriston]

Great to hear you know him so well! Any other insights to share? Sauron’s favourite dessert perhaps, or his college transcript?

Just my impression of the character which the show has so far failed to live up to. In fact, it reminded me that no depiction of Sauron in any visual media has. Halbrand is my favorite Sauron (in TV or movies) so far, but that's not saying much.

 

[Deset Gled]

Just my impression of the character which the show has so far failed to live up to. In fact, it reminded me that no depiction of Sauron in any visual media has.

I definitely understand where you're coming from. With the combined movies and TV episodes that we've seen so far, Sauron is a lot more "tell" than "show". We've seen him as a giant disembodied eye that can't see Hobbits and dissolves into nothing. We've seen him as an over-armored fighter that gets his hand cut off. We've seen him as a down-on-his-luck traveler stranded in the ocean. Now, this season, we've see him taken out by a handful of orcs. That's not exactly a portrait of the ultimate evil threatening all of Middle Earth.

That being said, I also understand the desire to show his rise to power. And the deception games he's playing are a reasonable story. It just feels like Sauron's "rock bottom" before he gets to the top is much lower than I expected.

I'm still enjoying the show (an episode or two behind now). And as long as Sauron eventually gets there I think it will turn out well. But there's also nothing wrong with pointing out that it's already season 2 and the Lord of the Rings ain't lording yet.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm still enjoying the show (an episode or two behind now). And as long as Sauron eventually gets there I think it will turn out well. But there's also nothing wrong with pointing out that it's already season 2 and the Lord of the Rings ain't lording yet.

The season trailer suggests that, by the end of the season, all of the rings will be forged and if Sauron hasn't yet forged the one ring, everything else will be in place for him. So I'd expect his threat level to be cranking way up over the next few episodes.

 

[Maxperson]

It helps that Amazon sent these nice rings as a free gift to all subscribers.

My subscription to Amazon has slowly been turning me into a wraith for years.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

As per Tolkien, Sauron gets his ass kicked by the Numenorians even after he has the One. That’s after getting his ass kicked by Beren and Luthien. He really ain’t that powerful at this point. It’s just that by the end of the Third Age the power of those who can oppose him has been broken (apart from hobbits, who he overlooked).

 

[Zardnaar]

My subscription to Amazon has slowly been turning me into a wraith for years.

They've been the best one for us lately. Older back catalog but last year or so

Fallout (great)
Clarkson Farm
The Boys
Grand Tour rewatch
Top gear rewatch
Bond movie marathon
WoT S2 (good)
RoP (watchable wife's words).

Currently watching Grand Tour final. Thumbs up.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The season trailer suggests that, by the end of the season, all of the rings will be forged and if Sauron hasn't yet forged the one ring, everything else will be in place for him. So I'd expect his threat level to be cranking way up over the next few episodes.

The One is forged in Sauron's own forge in Mount Doom, I doubt that will be changed since it's a pretty important important plot point. Sauron seems a long way off having access to Mount Doom at this point.

Speculation: this season will end with the forging of the Nine, and the fall of Eregion to Adar. Adar captures Sauron and drags him off to Mordor in chains.

Season three: Sauron gains some level of influence over the orcs, perhaps using the Nine (Gandalf uses one of the Three, despite not being an elf). He builds his Mount Doom forge and crafts the One. Only for Mordor to fall to the Numenorians and Sauron to again be dragged off in chains (quickly hiding the One).

Season four: Sauron, in the guise of a prisoner of Adar, gains influence over the death-fearing Al-Pharazon and persuades him to attack Valinor (heaven). Numenor falls.

Season Five: Sauron reforms in Mordor, this time as an armoured giant. Events in this season leads to the Last Alliance, as seen in the Fellowship of the Ring prologue.

Meanwhile, at some point during seasons 3-5, the Stranger leads the halflings to Suzat - The Shire, where they become the true strength of opposition to Sauron.

It's pretty clear that Sauron is the main protagonist in this story.

 

[Hriston]

It just feels like Sauron's "rock bottom" before he gets to the top is much lower than I expected.

This is what I found myself thinking during the blob monster sequence, or rather, why did they need to bring him so low? I get they're telling a rags to riches (to rags) story with him, but a blob monster? And in that coronation scene, he hasn't quite hit rock bottom yet. He's on the run, yes, but this is the Sauron the elves were hunting in season one, fearing he would rise again, a powerful sorcerer in his own right who struck terror into the hearts of his enemies, and yet he comes off as some poindexter from upper management trying to convince the rank and file to throw themselves under the bus for the good of the company. And he was just so unconvincing and not in the least bit scary. Again, this is supposed to be a powerful sorcerer and one of the most powerful of the Maiar. I watched episode two last night, and he had no problem pulling out all the stops to convince Celebrimbor to do his bidding. Are we supposed to believe he's learned how to be persuasive as a result of his failure with the orcs? I'm just not seeing that arc taking place or any reason he didn't overawe the orcs with his divinity. I suppose he could have not been trying out of sheer arrogance, but he also seemed unsure of himself, so it's a bit of an unclear mess what they were trying to do with that scene. To me, the whole Adar subplot is unnecessary. He was brought low because of the fall of Morgoth and his own moral failing when given the chance to repent. It would have been interesting to see that actually explored.

 

[Parmandur]

It's pretty clear that Sauron is the main protagonist in this story.

And that's a pretty smart move to make this work.

I am interested to see how the various threads link in the end: it is also pretty clear by now that the writers have a pretty tightly outlined plan.

 

[Nikosandros]

And that's a pretty smart move to make this work.

I agree with this. Sauron makes a good focal point of the whole story. All the others, in one way or the other, sort of dance to his tune.

I am interested to see how the various threads link in the end: it is also pretty clear by now that the writers have a pretty tightly outlined plan.

I agree that they have a plan. Personally, I hope that they keep tightening the scripting in general. IMHO, the first season was a bit weak, but I see a marked improvement here and I hope that they'll keep moving in this direction in the following seasons.