As a long-time fanatic of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga, I must say that the reveal of Halbrand as Sauron was not only expected but masterfully executed by the creators of The Rings of Power. From the very beginning, there were subtle hints and signs pointing towards this outcome – from his fair form manipulation to the lack of another obvious candidate for the villainous role.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional universe, Sauron stands as a significant and menacing figure. He is the arch-villain during the War of the Ring, the mysterious Necromancer hinted at in “The Hobbit”, and the namesake of “The Lord of the Rings”. His influence stretches beyond the Third Age of Middle-earth history, as he plays a crucial role throughout the Second Age that precedes it. This era is when Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is set.
Although he plays a significant role in the series, it’s not until the second season that his character is fully revealed as Sauron, the Lord of the Rings and the Dark Lord of Middle-earth. Throughout the earlier seasons, he adopts various forms. In Season 2, he mainly disguises himself throughout Middle-earth as “Annatar, Lord of Gifts.” However, he appears as Halbrand, a dethroned Human king from the Southlands, at the start of Season 2 and continues this deception throughout Season 1.
In simpler terms, the character of Halbrand, portrayed by Charlie Vickers, was puzzling for viewers, both casual and dedicated, as he doesn’t appear in the original books. This article aims to clarify who this mortal character is (as presented by Sauron), examine fan reactions to the Halbrand storyline during Season 1, and explore connections between this mortal persona and the immortal being we are all familiar with from the books.
Who is Halbrand in The Rings of Power?
As a dedicated gamer diving headfirst into the captivating world of “The Rings of Power”, let me set the record straight – Halbrand is an exclusive character crafted for this series, deviating from Sauron’s depiction in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, although he adopts numerous forms throughout the novels. With that said, our understanding of Halbrand is shaped solely by the imaginative vision of J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.
In a surprising turn of events, the two unconventional allies make a stop at Númenor prior to their return to Halbrand’s native land, which has been overtaken by an Uruk army led by Adar (Joseph Mawle), seeking a new home. As they engage in battle, Halbrand sustains injuries and Galadriel escorts him to Eregion for recovery. It is during this time that we learn about his exceptional skills as a craftsman and metalsmith. He employs these talents to assist Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), an Elven smith, in the creation of Elven Rings, until Galadriel uncovers Halbrand’s true identity.
Why Rings of Power Fans thought Halbrand was Sauron in Lord of the Rings
At the end of Season 1 of “The Rings of Power,” Galadriel uncovers that the royal dynasty of the Southern Lands ceased existence over a thousand years ago. This revelation compels Halbrand to disclose his true identity, which is none other than Sauron in disguise. Although this bombshell took Galadriel aback, it didn’t come as much of a shock to the show’s viewers, who had noticed several indications pointing towards this twist ahead of time. In fact, there were many hints scattered throughout the storyline leading up to the big reveal.
As a gamer, I’ve come to notice some intriguing nuances in this series. For one, Halbrand seems to be quite cunning, using his seemingly benign demeanor to control others – much like Sauron in his business tactics. Earlier in Season 1, Gil-galad hinted that Galadriel’s actions could unknowingly bring about the very evil she was trying to defeat, and this prophecy unfolded when she backed Halbrand as the King of the Southlands. Halbrand himself has often suggested a chequered past, even revealing that his royal symbol originated from a deceased man. He’s gone so far as to question Adar about his identity, which echoes the tumultuous relationship between Sauron and Adar in the show.
Among all indications, the most telling one was the scarcity of another apparent contender. Given the circumstances on the show, Halbrand stood out as the most plausible choice for Sauron, as there were few others who could fit the role convincingly. The Stranger, later revealed to be Gandalf, was a possibility, but his innocence, confusion, and disconnection from events made him an unsuitable candidate for Sauron. Adar, on the other hand, lacked the personality traits characteristic of Sauron, making him an unlikely choice. In short, Halbrand became the most obvious guess once it was confirmed that Sauron had been hiding in plain sight.
Is Halbrand actually The Lord of the Rings Villain Sauron?
Is Halbrand and Sauron the same character, or are they separate entities that transition from one to the other over time? To answer this question, we need to consider that Sauron is a shapeshifting, malevolent figure serving as a Dark Lord in Middle-earth. Throughout his long existence, which spans thousands of years, he assumes various distinct forms. One example of this is when he takes on the guise of Annatar during Season 2 of “The Rings of Power.
In essence, certain aspects within these narratives restrict the Dark Overlord. For example, he temporarily loses his physical form on two occasions during the Second Age, and when he assumes a new shape in the Third Age, it requires several hundred years. Additionally, during part of this time, he exists as the Necromancer, a form that Tolkien hints at being less powerful or not yet fully potent.
Nevertheless, when we’re talking about Halbrand, we’re looking at a form of the Dark Lord that is at full power. This is confirmed through the backstory montage of the character’s creation at the beginning of Season 2. In that sequence, we see Sauron in another form as he’s betrayed by Adar and killed by his own Orc followers. After a lengthy, unspecified period of time, he takes on a new form as Halbrand.
In his new bodily form after reincarnation, Sauron has the ability to change his appearance at will. This means he might seem different, but as long as his physical body remains alive, the spiritual entity known as Sauron can adopt any shape and maintain a similar level of internal power. Essentially, Halbrand and Sauron are identical – they are both the Dark Lord and the ring-maker who poses a threat to all Free Peoples in Middle-earth.
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2024-10-26 19:32