Rings of Power Season 2 Teases Major Character Deaths

Summary

• The second season of The Rings of Power will be released in two months.
• The showrunners have hinted that 'many big players may not make it out alive.'
• Apparently, we can expect a big battle in which the main characters will die.

In two months, the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will premiere on Amazon Prime Video. Despite heavy criticism from hardcore fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's work and Peter Jackson's film adaptations, the first season of The Rings of Power proved to be a commercial and critical success, making it the most-watched series on Amazon Prime Video.

Fans of The Silmarillion and other works of Tolkien's lore know that the Second Age will bring major events as Sauron asserts his presence. However, the show may have more than a few unexpected twists, and with the showrunners themselves hinting at much darker things to come in Season 2, it's quite possible that some characters may not make it out alive.

Rings of Power Season 2 Will Take a Dark Turn

'We like to say that Season 1 was primarily about our heroes. But Season 2 is all about the villains,' J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay said in a conversation published in the latest issue of Total Film magazine. It looks like we're in for a direct confrontation with Sauron that will result in one of the greatest battles in Middle-earth history. Read what the showrunners had to say about the events of Season 2 below:

'This time, Sauron's agenda sets everything in motion: Adar [Sam Hazeldine, taking over the role from Joseph Mawle] and his army of orcs; Galadriel [Morfydd Clark], Elrond [Robert Aramayo] and Gil-galad [Benjamin Walker] and their armies of elves — all of which will come crashing together in the most ambitious battle our show has seen yet, a battle from which many big players may not make it out alive.'

Some Characters May Die in Season 2

In the Season 1 finale, we learned that Halbrand is the Dark Lord Sauron, and now he makes no secret of his presence in Middle-earth. He has now taken the form of a beautiful elf, and apparently this is his main alter ego from Tolkien's books, Annatar. In addition, McKay and Payne noted that one of the protagonists of the season will be Celebrimbor, an elven blacksmith who will create the Three Rings of Power, which will go to Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Elrond.

Sauron will also forge the Seven Rings for the Dwarf Kings and the Nine Rings for the Men Kings. Given the role that Durin III plays in the series, unlike in the books, it is likely that we will see the ring created by Sauron corrupt the King of Khazad-dûm and possibly his son Durin IV.

Furthermore, 'the most ambitious battle' likely refers to the Siege of Barad-dûr, a battle during the War of the Last Alliance, the final campaign of the Second Age, in which the Last Alliance of Elves and Men withstood Sauron's forces and destroyed his physical shell. During the conflict, Gil-galad and the High King of the Dúnedain, Elendil, were both killed, along with many others who will surely be introduced in Season 2.

Fans have also speculated that the Stranger may be one of this season's victims. While many speculate that the Istar is Gandalf himself (perhaps explaining his love of hobbits), there has been no confirmation in the show yet. Therefore, it could be one of the two Blue Mages of the Order of Wizards, who are less critical to kill off in the series, or it could be an original character not in Tolkien's canon.

The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 will premiere on Prime Video on August 29, 2024.

Source: GamesRadar+.