Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 2 spoilers follow.
There are as many mysteries in the new Lord of the Rings show as there are rings. Well, actually, we haven't seen much of these so-called Rings of Power just yet, but you get our drift.
Three episodes in, Meteor Man's true identity continues to keep us up at night, and episode two ended with a mystery cliffhanger too. This week, Middle-earth plagues us still following an intriguing name drop at the end of episode three, one that could change the entire course of this show.
What to Read Next
From the very start of chapter three, the name "Adar" can be heard in whispers around Arondir and the other captives. While they're forced to build tunnels for the orcs, Arondir's gang get to know each other and quickly surmise that this so-called "Adar" is the leader of their captors.
But could Adar actually be Sauron? At this point, Lenny Henry could be Sauron for all we know, but it's interesting to note that Arondir and his buddies even suggest Adar as a possible candidate at one point.
In this episode, we learn that the orcs are secretly building tunnels through the Southlands for Adar, perhaps in search of a weapon (like the blade Theo stumbled upon?). That's not all though. The tunnelling also seems directly connected to a larger plan that Galadriel uncovers.
If Sauron's sigil is actually a map of the Southlands, it could mean that the orcs are actually building what will eventually become Mordor. So that means Adar must be Sauron, right?
At the end of episode three, we finally catch a glimpse of someone who is most likely Adar, but he's mostly hidden in shadow. So let's do some more digging. Ahem.
Who is Adar?
From what little we see of Adar in episode three, he appears to be a pale elf or human with dark hair. Which is not exactly the most hopeful observation.
What we do know is that Adar means "father" in the Elvish dialect Sindarin, so if he's leading meanies like the orcs, we can probably surmise that he's not a great guy.
We also know that Adar is played by Game of Thrones actor Joseph Mawle, who you might recognise as Benjen Stark. In the casting call, Adar was described as:
"A villain who can also evoke a deep sense of pathos and wounded / fallen nobility. Must possess a certain degree of physicality. Should seem middle-aged, though must also project a sense of timelessness."
That "timelessness" mention seems to confirm that Adar is indeed an elf, and not a kind one at that. Given that he's father figure to the orcs, plus this "fallen" description, it's safe to say that the villainous Adar will clash with the usual goody-goody elves we know and love in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
So, is Adar Sauron?
Adar could be Sauron. After all, the shape-shifting baddie has claimed many names over the years, and this could simply be one we haven't heard before. Rings of Power is forging a new path that doesn't adhere to just one text, so it's entirely possible episode three just introduced the franchise's biggest Big Bad — especially with Adar's connection to what looks like the beginnings of Mordor.
However, the fact that Arondir and his buddies have already wondered all this out loud makes us think that Adar isn't Sauron, after all. Wouldn't that be too obvious? The Sauron mystery plays a huge role here, so we doubt the writers would tip their hand directly in conversation like this.
Plus, we're only three episodes in, so it's unlikely that Rings of Power would cut that mystery short so soon.
Looking back at Tolkien lore, it's also worth pointing out that Sauron doesn't usually twirl his evil moustache and cackle out in the open like this. During the Second Age of Middle-earth, Sauron tricked the elves into trusting him under the guise of Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, so Adar's approach here isn't exactly Sauron's usual modus operandi.
It seems far more likely then that Adar is actually one of Sauron's generals or captains who commands the orcs on his behalf. But why Adar chose to align himself with ol' big eye still remains a mystery for now.
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power airs weekly on Amazon Prime Video from September 2, 2022.
Warner Home Video Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit – 6-film Blu-ray
The Noble Collection Lord of the Rings Collector's Chess Set
Warner Bros Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Warner Bros Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Warner Bros The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Warner Bros The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey
Warner Bros The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Warner Bros The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Funko Gandalf Funko Pop! Vinyl
Funko Frodo Baggins Funko Pop! Vinyl
Funko King Aragorn Funko Pop! Vinyl
Winning Moves Lord of the Rings Monopoly Board Game
Waddingtons Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit
Rhino/Warner Records Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings
After teaching in England and South Korea, David turned to writing in Germany, where he covered everything from superhero movies to the Berlin Film Festival.
In 2019, David moved to London to join Digital Spy, where he could indulge his love of comics, horror and LGBTQ+ storytelling as Deputy TV Editor, and later, as Acting TV Editor.
David has spoken on numerous LGBTQ+ panels to discuss queer representation and in 2020, he created the Rainbow Crew interview series, which celebrates LGBTQ+ talent on both sides of the camera via video content and longform reads.
Beyond that, David has interviewed all your faves, including Henry Cavill, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Colman, Patrick Stewart, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Dornan, Regina King, and more — not to mention countless Drag Race legends.
As a freelance entertainment journalist, David has bylines across a range of publications including Empire Online, Radio Times, INTO, Highsnobiety, Den of Geek, The Digital Fix and Sight & Sound.
