Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1, episode 8.The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 will have a more canonical story according to showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. The Rings of Power has utilized many details from J.R.R. Tolkien's account of Middle-earth's Second Age, such as characters and locations. These include the prominence of the island nation Númenor as well as the inclusion of notable figures like Galadriel, Elrond, and Sauron. While there are some discrepancies to these familiar names, such as Galadriel acting different from her older The Lord of the Rings counterpart, the story being told is generally accurate to Tolkien's texts.
Early on, however, the show introduced reworked characters and concepts that are unique to its retelling of the rise of Sauron and the forging of the Rings of Power. This includes the Stranger, a mysterious man who fell from the sky that appears to be one of the five wizards, and Eärien, Isildur's sister, who did not exist in Tolkien's work. Most importantly is Halbrand, a figure claiming to be king of the Southlands who reveals himself as Sauron to Galadriel prior to the forging of any Rings of Power. Despite these new additions or alterations to the lore, it appears season 2 will be utilizing Tolkien's text with more detailed accuracy.
In an interview with THR, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay confirm a larger focus on Tolkien's canon in the show's second season. Payne and McKay use Sauron as an example, explaining how Rings of Power season 2 will allow them to focus on building his character up. Check out what The Rings of Power's showrunners had to say below:
Payne: “Season one opens with: Who is Galadriel? Where did she come from? What did she suffer? Why is she driven? We’re doing the same thing with Sauron in season two. We’ll fill in all the missing pieces.”
McKay: “Sauron can now just be Sauron. Like Tony Soprano or Walter White. He’s evil, but complexly evil. We felt like if we did that in season one, he’d overshadow everything else. So the first season is like Batman Begins, and the The Dark Knight is the next movie, with Sauron maneuvering out in the open. We’re really excited. Season two has a canonical story. There may well be viewers who are like, ‘This is the story we were hoping to get in season one!’ In season two, we’re giving it to them.”
What Will The Rings Of Power Season 2's Story Be?
Payne and McKay's focus on canon in The Rings of Power seems to have been established in the season 1 finale, with Celebrimbor forging the three Elven Rings as he does in Tolkien's writings. Since the show was envisioned as a five-season story, it's likely that Rings of Power season 2 will focus more on building the groundwork for Sauron's rise to power. There's a strong possibility audiences will see him begin work on his fortress, Barad-dûr, in Mordor, perhaps taking control of the orcs under corrupted Elf Adar in the process. Sauron's trickery may also not be at an end, as sixteen rings are left to be forged alongside the Elves under Sauron's watch. To do this, the Dark Lord takes the form of Annatar, a good-natured disguise he uses to gain the trust of the Elves, a route he may pursue in The Rings of Power.
The introduction of new characters like Círdan in Rings of Power season 2 implies a heavier focus on the Rings as well, as Círdan in particular warns Celebrimbor against working with Annatar to create them. Payne and McKay have also previously detailed a two-episode battle in Rings of Power season 2, which could be an adaptation of Sauron's siege of the Elven city Eregion during the War of the Elves and Sauron. Such a conflict, however, would require the One Ring to be forged, implying viewers may see the titular Lord of the Rings heirloom sooner rather than later. With promises of a canon-focused story, Payne and McKay are setting the stage for an action-packed, fast-paced, and memorable The Rings of Power season 2.
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Source: THR