The season one finale of The Rings of Power left a lot of things to be picked up later, but it looks like we might have to wait some years for more in season two. While we wait, we can review Tolkien’s vast writings and figure out where the second season might take us.
Yet, as season one has shown that the series is condensing and modifying the lore of Middle-Earth, events likely won’t align exactly with Tolkien’s writing in season two either, and we don’t know what will be changed or left out. Looking to Tolkien while examining the promising and plentiful plot of season one will allow us to see where The Rings of Power season two could go.
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Nori and The Stranger’s Journey to Rhûn
When we left Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) in the season one finale, they began their journey to the land of Rhûn, to possibly find out The Stranger’s origin. All we know is that he is one of the Istari, the five wizards sent to Middle-Earth by the Valar. Though we do have subtle confirmation that The Stranger is Gandalf, which would explain his particular affection towards Hobbits in the future.
In Rhûn, The Stranger and Kiri will most likely meet Khamûl, the lord of the land, and here we can surmise that Sauron (Charlie Vickers) will be forming more rings very soon, as Khamûl is later turned into a Ringwraith by one of Rings. The duo may also meet other Istari in Rhûn, namely the Blue Wizards, who might teach The Stranger how to wield his magical powers and become Gandalf the Grey.
Elrond and Durin, Elves and Dwarves
Elves and Dwarves are historic fantasy rivals, but friendships between species are more common than you think. In The Rings of Power, the friendship between elvish statesman Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and dwarven prince Durin (Owain Arthur) is an important subplot not in Tolkien’s books, as Durin attempts to secretly help Elrond acquire mithril (used to forge the Rings) to save the Elves from extinction. This could be the start of Elf-Dwarf cooperation, which in Tolkien’s writings even leads to the master builders of each race, Celebrimbor and Narvi, creating the Gate of Khazad-dûm as a symbol of cooperation between Elves and Dwarves, who will need to be united to face the Dark Lord Sauron.
Pharazôn’s Schemes for Númenor
Númenor is an important island-kingdom in The Rings of Power, and Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) has plans for it. Much of his plans in season one were ruined by Sauron, but Pharazôn will likely make the best of it in season two. While the show has not yet explained his greatest ambitions, Tolkien lays it all out for us.
As a cousin to Queen Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), who just suffered an enormous defeat at hands of Sauron trying to aid a less-than-liked Elf, causing many soldiers to die far from home and losing her own eyesight, Pharazôn is much closer to his destiny in Tolkien lore. He ultimately usurps the throne and becomes the powerful King of Númenor. Pharazôn spreads Númenor’s reach into Middle-Earth, establishing colonies of Black Númenoreans. The Númenoreans later are corrupted by Sauron and three become Ringwraiths. So likely we will this little island become very important very soon.
The Destruction of Eregion
The second season will likely see more battles than the previous one, and the next big climatic battle for The Rings of Power may be when Sauron attacks the Elf city of Eregion, where the forges that created the Rings are, as is the creator Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards). Combining multiple plot-lines, including the Elves of Lindon fighting alongside the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, Sauron will torture Celebrimbor into giving him knowledge on the Rings, which he will use to create the One Ring, before he is pushed out by the Númenoreans.
Later on in Tolkien’s writings, Sauron is captured by future Númenorean King Tar-Minastir, but in an effort to compress hundreds of years into a few episodes, Pharazôn will likely take over this role and might capture Sauron at Eregion, where in captivity, Sauron will corrupt Pharazôn and lead the Númenoreans to their doom.
Adar, Sauron, and Mordor
The most memorable moment of The Rings of Power season one is the epic eruption of Mount Doom that created Mordor. Adar (Joseph Mawle) is the corrupted Elf not in Tolkien lore who created the volcanic wasteland as a home for the Orcs. But, when last we see Sauron in the finale, he’s heading into Mordor, which is his future base of operations and dark kingdom later on.
Adar and Sauron have no love for each other, Adar having abandoned Sauron’s war and taken Orcs away from his army, they try to kill each other whenever possible. Mount Doom is important in the fate of Middle-Earth, where Sauron forges the One Ring and where Frodo Baggins destroys it. Before launching his attack on the rest of Middle-Earth, Sauron will wrestle Mordor from Adar in season two before he does anything else, in what will likely be an epic showdown.
Forging of the Rings (and the Ring)
The last moments of the season one finale see the completion of the three Elvish Rings. Yet there are still seventeen more rings to be forged, including Sauron’s One Ring to rule them all. If Sauron does get the information from Celebrimbor, we will very likely see season two’s finale also ending with the forging of more Rings, even the One Ring, which will bring the show even closer to the great battle of the Second Age.
