A key moment fromThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s season 1’s climax may have surprising inspirations from a J R.R. Tolkien book. The Prime Video series is a prequel to the events ofThe Lord of the Rings,exploring the creation of the Rings of Power.The Rings of Powerseason 2 aired in 2024.
One key player of the first season was the mysterious Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), the supposed long-lost King of the Southlands who allied himself with Galadriel (Morfydd Clarke). While the pair fought together,it is soon revealed thatHalbrand is actually Sauron. Now unveiled to the world, Sauron moves on to the next stage of his plan.
The Rings Of Power Season 1’s Final Sauron Scene Mirrors A Fall Of Númenor Image
The Image May Have Drawn Inspiration From A Key Middle-earth Artist
InThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 1, Galadriel and Halbrand fight to hold the Southlands from a gathering army of Orcs. However, the battle is soon lost once the Orcs cause the eruption of Orodruin, devastating the region and turning it into what will later become Mordor. Halbrand vows to continue fighting, but his true intentions are soon revealed.
After regrouping in Eregion, Galadriel discovers that the Southlands' royal bloodline died generations ago and demands that Halbrand reveal his true self.Unveiling his true identity as Sauronand failing to bring Galadriel to his side, he returns to the Southlands. Stepping into the ravaged landscape, Sauron assumes control of the newly christened Mordor.
However, the image of Sauron walking into Mordor may have its origins within a Tolkien book.The Fall of Numenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earthcollectsseveral stories covering the Second Age, including Sauron’s fall. The book also features several illustrations by Alan Lee.
One such image depicts Sauron treading his way across a mountainous terrain into the realm of Mordor. The image is similar to the shot of Vickers' Halbrand making his way into the realm in the season 1 finale.
The Fall of Numenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-Earthwas developed alongside the first season ofThe Rings of Power, and published in November 2022, just over a month after the season concluded. Given its subject matter, it is an ideal companion piece to those wanting to learn more about the setting.
As such, it is possible that Prime Video may have taken inspiration from Lee’s work. While he served as a concept artist on the Peter Jackson Middle-earth movies,Lee did not have any involvement in theRings of Power’s production. However, he has played a key role in shaping Tolkien’s world’s visual depictions for over 40 years.
Because of this, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team behind the scenes took inspiration from the illustrations that Lee had been developing forThe Fall of Numenor. Given the timing of the release, it is possible that the crew of theRings of Powerwere able to gain access to Lee’s submitted work, shaping their shot choices.
This Minor Detail Proves The Rings Of Power Wants Consistency With The Source Material
The Showrunners Were Careful In Creating A Consistent World
The Rings of Powerhas taken certain liberties with Tolkien’s lore across its run, most notably by complicatingthe relationship between Galadriel and Sauronfrom sworn enemies to having romantic feelings between the pair. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the team behind the show still wished to create a consistent world.
While not connected directly to Jackson’s works, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay still set out to evoke a connection between their series and past on-screen depictions of Middle-earth.This included methods such as enlisting Howard Shore to develop a new main theme, and taking on similar production designs.
As such, with their goals and the consultation of the Tolkien estate’s lore experts, it would be unsurprising ifThe Rings of Power’s crew hadn’t directly taken inspiration from Lee’s illustrations. This shows the careful handling that the team behind the series took in developing their take on Middle-earth.
I Appreciate The Lord Of The Rings Series Even More Thanks To This Book Image
The Series Has Added New Layers To Recognisable Moments
While it is a recent discovery, the similarities betweenThe Rings of Power’s pivotal Mordor reveal and the illustration of Sauron found inThe Fall of Numenorhelp add a new level of appreciation to the series. The show already had the difficult task of bringing Middle-earth to the small screen, and this connection shows the level of care taken.
Even their own expansions on the lore of Middle-earth still hold some reverence to what came before, be it from Tolkien or older adaptations.Galadriel’s connection to Sauron adds new layers to her movie appearances, specifically her darker side. Her sudden temptation in Jackson’s movie is more effective, knowing how Sauron once offered her power alongside him.
As such, I am eager to see just how future seasons ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powermay build on Tolkien’s world.Season 2’s ending may haveset up the coming war, but there is still plenty of room to add further layers to the major players of this world.
