Sauron actor breaks down the shape-shifting with Galadriel in The Rings of Power finale

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As a die-hard fan of Middle-earth and all things Tolkien, I must say that the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been nothing short of a breathtaking journey. From King Durin’s heroic stand against the balrog to the shocking revelation of the Stranger’s true identity, this series has managed to keep me on the edge of my seat week after week.

The second installment of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” came to an exciting conclusion recently, featuring several climactic moments. King Durin engaged in a fierce battle with a balrog, while the enigmatic figure known as The Stranger unveiled his true identity. Meanwhile, the Siege of Eregion continued, with Sauron slaying the elven smith Celebrimbor before squaring off against his former ally Galadriel in a thrilling duel. In this conflict, Sauron showcased his divine abilities by shapeshifting multiple times to confound Galadriel, assuming forms such as the divine Annatar, the earthbound Halbrand, Celebrimbor, and even Galadriel herself. As per J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” lore, Sauron possesses god-like powers that enable such transformations.

It was quite a surprise to encounter Halbrand, the first version of Sauron from season one, however fleetingly. Yet for actor Charlie Vickers, moving between these roles presented difficulties. “I filmed the Halbrand scenes on a Monday morning,” he shared with CBR. “That meant I had the weekend to attempt growing some stubble, but it was quite sparse.” He added, “My beard is naturally patchy, and I only managed to grow enough before filming that they still needed to touch it up with color.

It was like Halbrand, but it was slightly different. Like his hair’s a bit curlier, and he’s not quite as stubbly, but it kind of works, because he looks like a more shiny memory version of Halbrand.

In essence, Morfydd Clark, who played the character Galadriel, briefly took on the role of Sauron in the scene where her character appeared as Sauron. This unexpected twist added complexity to an already confusing scene. According to director Charlotte Brändström, “For Morfydd to portray the other Galadriel…her performance had to be distinctly different.” She explained that Morfydd was more severe, embodying Sauron, and then had to transform and become a completely different person after her brief stint as the dark character.

The Rings of Power actors happy after a “really wonderful” second season

That specific scene was quite demanding to shoot, and overall, the entire finale presented its own set of challenges. I’d argue that the pinnacle moment of the episode, if not the season, could be the one depicting Sauron tormenting Celebrimbor, which might even surpass as the series highlight. This scene effectively portrays Sauron at his most malevolent yet reveals his flaws; he’s arrogant enough to believe he should rule all Middle-earth, and pride often precedes a fall.

Vickers expressed great enthusiasm about sharing this tale, saying to Gold Derby, “This story is truly iconic in Tolkien’s work – it’s like a dream come true for us! We’ve grown fond of Tolkien during our work on the show, and there’s a vast community with vivid mental images of this story. It’s an incredible honor for us to bring this tale to life, give it our unique touch, and serve as its custodians at this moment in time.

Charles Edwards, who portrayed Celebrimbor, added: “What made it exciting was that this story had never been depicted on screen or in any adaptation before. We were aware that there would be a tale about the forging of the rings, but we didn’t know how closely it would adhere to Tolkien’s original work. Once everything fell into place, we knew we were in for a fantastic season, and indeed, we had one.

I found that the second season of The Rings of Power had its ups and downs, but it concluded powerfully, and I’m hopeful that the team behind it will have the opportunity to carry on with this tale. Although a third season hasn’t been officially announced yet, everyone associated with the project seems quite optimistic, hinting that we might hear good news soon.

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2024-10-10 19:41