One of the most enduring mysteries in the Amazon series The Rings of Power is who Sauron is. This is, of course, an understandable fixation on the part of audiences, as the Dark Lord is fated to play a major role in the events of the Third Age.
What’s more, there is no shortage of potential candidates for who might be Sauron in disguise during the Second Age. Given that he has shown throughout his existence that he is capable of changing form and deceiving others, it’s worth taking a closer look at some of those most likely to be Sauron.
The Stranger
In some ways, the Stranger is the most likely candidate to be Sauron. Ever since he crash-landed in a meteor, there has been something both enigmatic and dangerous about him. Whoever he is, as his actions with the burned-out grove reveal, he is in some ways one of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth.
This, combined with his own admission that he is a dangerous being, make him a very good candidate for being Sauron. If he is, that makes his alliance with the Harfoots even more tragic, since he will cause so much pain for their descendants.
Halbrand
Halbrand is another of the most likely candidates for being Sauron in disguise. Even though he has been in the series since the second episode, he has always kept something of himself back. What’s more, he has also shown a great deal of skill with smithing, and he seems to exude a particular form of charm and charisma.
Since Sauron was often able to persuade people to do what he wanted them by means of appearing fair, this means Halbrand has a very good chance of being the Dark Lord. If so, this would be particularly devastating for Galadriel.
Waldreg
Waldreg is one of the characters that viewers love to hate. Scheming and a clear devotee to the darkness, he is one of those who immediately leaves the refugees to take up with the villain, Adar. While he might seem like an unlikely candidate, since he seems to be a worshiper of Sauron himself, adopting such a guise might be just something that the Dark Lord would do.
What better way to get people to subscribe to such a form of worship, after all, than to pretend to be an acolyte? If he does prove to be Sauron, it would be quite a twist.
The Ascetic
As the first season of The Rings of Power has progressed, various new characters have been introduced. One of the most notable of these is the Ascetic, one of the three white-clad people who seem to be in pursuit of the Stranger.
This being has a great deal of power, as they demonstrate when they destroy the Harfoot encampment. Once again, it might seem unlikely that they are Sauron, given that they seem to be worshipers rather than the entity himself. However, it’s also worth pointing out that Sauron is a master of misdirection, with a subtle mind, so this could easily be another instance of that.
The Nomad
Like their companions, the Nomad is a strange and otherworldly figure. Also like the others, she doesn’t really say anything, preferring instead to simply wander Middle-earth, clearly in pursuit of the Stranger. However, the odds of this character being Sauron are slightly higher, as they seem less active than the Ascetic.
Given that Sauron likes to manipulate others–at least during times like these, when his powers are at a lower ebb–it makes sense that he might prefer to take a backseat to another figure until the time is right for him to emerge in his full might.
The Dweller
The last of the three cultists is the Dweller. Like the Nomad, they are very quiet, and they seem to be much more of an observer than an actual participant in the action. Since nothing much is known of this particular character, it is very likely that they are far more important than is immediately obvious.
Sauron has always been one of those characters with a subtle mind and an ability to craft multiple schemes. It is thus very possible, perhaps even likely, that he would be hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right moment to declare himself.
Eärien
Like other great fantasy series, The Rings of Power has invented some original characters to supplement those that come straight from Tolkien’s work. Eärien is one of them, and she is the daughter of Elendil and sister to Isildur.
Given that she doesn’t appear in The Lord of the Rings or its appendices, she is someone whose true identity is still something of an enigma. Thus, it’s entirely possible that she has been Sauron all along, having already planted herself in the midst of her enemies on Numenor, right at the heart of one of its most prominent families.
Kemen
Kemen is another of the series’ original characters. He plays a small but key part as Pharazon’s son and, as such, he has privileged access to the highest echelons of power. It’s easy to see how he could very well be Sauron, as he might be able to manipulate his “father” into doing what he wants him to do.
So far, Pharazon has not shown much respect or patience for his son, but this could easily change as the series progresses, giving this young man the chance to become one of his father’s most prominent advisers.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn is one of the characters most likely to survive to the end of the series. As she has already shown, she has the ability to endure when many others have perished.
Even though she seems to be a hero, as is so often the case in fantasy, appearances can be deceiving. It’s very possible that she is really Sauron, who is known for being able to appear in fair and beautiful guises. This would also help to explain why she has such an effortless air of command.
Adar
Adar is one of this series’ most fascinating characters. He claims to be one of the first Uruks, those who were once Elves but were twisted and deformed by the tortures of Morgoth. However, just because he says this is who he is, and just because he claims to have killed Sauron, doesn’t necessarily make this true.
He seems to want to become a god, which suggests that there is something avaricious in his nature, which closely matches what Tolkien wrote about Sauron, who aspired to bring order to the world around him.