The Rings of Power: Has Anyone Seen Sauron? 4 theories about the Dark Lord’s whereabouts

• Sauron forged the One Ring known from Peter Jackson’s LotR trilogy.
• He is the most feared general of the dark forces and terrifies Middle-earth.
• So far he has not appeared in the Amazon series “The Rings of Power”.

Already in the prologue of “The Rings of Power” Sauron is presented as the great enemy of Middle-earth. Set thousands of years before the adventures of the Ring Companions, the series chronicles the rise of Sauron. Viewers witness Sauron’s growth into one of the most feared beings in Middle-earth and witness how he forged the Rings of Power and the One Ring.

Sauron is set to act as the main antagonist of the Amazon series over multiple seasons. But we haven’t seen him yet. Only a brief scene in the first 15 minutes of the first episode shows him taking over as Morgoth’s “successor”.

Watch “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” on Amazon Prime Video❯

But where is Sauron, whom Galadriel is so desperately searching for, in the Second Age? There are a few places to hide and possible camouflage. Today Netzwelt introduces you to 4 theories about the whereabouts of the Dark Lord.

1. Does Sauron play Masquerade in the Amazon series?

It was the rescue at the last second. Galadriel is picked up by castaways shortly before she drowns in the Sea of ​​Divide. One of them is the human Halbrand, who seems very inscrutable and mysterious. At one point on the raft he tells her: “Looks can often be deceiving”. Is this a possible reference to his later revelation as Sauron?

Although he later rescues Galadriel from the sea monster, he leaves his other companions seemingly unrepentant. Either way, it would suit Sauron to assume a different form and confuse and deceive his enemies.

2. Could Sauron not have arrived in Middle-earth yet?

Perhaps the search for Sauron so far has been in vain because he is not yet in Middle-earth. After the transformation of the world following the wars of the First Age, it took Tolkien centuries for Sauron to manifest himself and regain physical form.

So it is conceivable that he still has to gather more strength in order to manifest himself and intervene in the fate of humans and elves. Everything seen so far in the series is therefore to be interpreted as a mere sign and omen of his imminent arrival. This could perhaps await us in the season finale of “The Rings of Power”.

3. Is Sauron hiding in a safe place preparing his return?

At the beginning of the Second Age, Sauron intervened more covertly from the shadows in the affairs of the people of Middle-earth. Until the time comes to show his true colors, he might be hiding in a secluded place. This would also explain Galadriel’s hitherto unsuccessful hunt for him. The far east, or south of Harad, would be the ideal hiding places that evil has always used to lurk and wait.

Sauron’s later kingdom of Mordor could also be considered. At the time of the series, this is not yet a completely destroyed and spoiled landscape, but an inhabited area characterized by forests and mountains. A volcanic eruption in Mordor caused by Sauron or his servants may lead to the Dark Lord’s brilliant return.

4. One Enemy, Multiple Faces

Sauron has always been known as a shapeshifter throughout the ages. So it cannot be ruled out that he will show himself in several forms during the course of the series and maybe even in the first season. The unknown from the meteorite crater or the human Halbrand would be conceivable figures.

In the 3rd episode we see how the orcs who captured Arondir dig for something and follow a new leader named Arda. Another form of Sauron?

Another form of Sauron known from Tolkien’s works is that of Annatar the Gift-Bringer. Through this trick and his “beautiful presence” he succeeds in seducing both the people of Númenor and the elves of Eregion and manipulating them for his purposes.

An interesting approach for the series, because you could never be sure whether a new character is really good or Sauron in a different appearance.