This article contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 5.The Lord of the Rings, Amazon's latest fantasy TV series has nevertheless taken viewers by surprise by introducing a number of characters who do not appear to have any foundation in Tolkien mythology. One of these, Adar, even appears to be serving as the main antagonist of The Rings of Power episode 5.
Adar served the dark being Morgoth during the wars of the First Age, and he appears to be one of Morgoth's lieutenants of old - along with Sauron. His name comes from an old Elvish word that means "father," perhaps implying he is the one who created the Orcs given they treat him with an attitude of reverential worship. Adar seems to be enacting a plan crafted centuries earlier in the event of Morgoth's defeat, to be followed by his chosen successor. Under Adar's leadership, an Orc army is taking the Southlands - the region destined to become the harsh and foreboding volcanic wasteland of Mordor. This naturally led to speculation he is either working for Sauron, or is in fact an alias of Sauron himself.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 5 strongly suggested this was not the case, however. In an angry outburst, Adar rejects any suggestion that he is in fact Sauron hiding in plain sight, perhaps hinting at a potential rivalry between the character and the fabled Dark Lord. It seems the Amazon series is eschewing such a simple plot, and instead is setting up something much more complex - a story in which evil turns against evil, rather than allying together against the forces of the light. This is a smart approach, and it would mean even now viewers are yet to see Sauron's hand, debunking the original Adar/Sauron theory in the process.
Rings Of Power Episode 5 Strongly Suggests Adar Isn't Working For Sauron
In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 5, a group of Sauron loyalists approach the Orcs and offer to Adar's forces. One of them, Waldreg, foolishly addresses Adar as Sauron; the fallen Elf angrily denies this, and in fact seems outraged at the comparison. Given Adar is the one carrying out the ancient plan reserved for Morgoth's successor, it's quite likely he is the one who has claimed that mantle - not Sauron. While it is true Sauron often worked through intermediaries in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Adar seems to be a major, independent antagonist in his own right.
A fallen Elf is, of course, a force to be reckoned with in the first place. Although J.R.R. Tolkien toyed with the idea of Orcs being created from fallen Elves while creating Middle-earth, he pivoted away from the idea; Tolkien preferred to believe his fantasy races had innate qualities, and thus he stressed the inherent nobility of the Elves. Adar doesn't quite break Lord of the Rings canon, but he probably comes about as close to the idea as the Amazon TV show is willing to go. Adar is presumably at least as old as Galadriel, with his own bitter story explaining the scars that line his face and body, and if he is indeed the creator of the Orcs then he will surely prove a worthy successor to Morgoth.
Rings Of Power Teases Sauron Betrayed Morgoth & Sets Up An Adar Fight
Most viewers have shared Galadriel's view, that Sauron is the true being responsible for the rising darkness on Middle-earth. This assumption is a natural one, given Sauron is the great villain of The Lord of the Rings; he's also the one responsible for forging the One Ring, and the Amazon series is an exploration of the Ring's origin. Still, if Sauron is not Morgoth's successor, then it is possible he is instead working out his own purposes in the deepening shadows.
This would be a smart approach for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, reinforcing the sense Sauron's evil comes not from overwhelming force but rather from his Machiavellian scheming. The strength of Adar's reaction suggests he is now viewed as a traitor to Morgoth and his successor, someone who is acting independently and who will take advantage of the chaos caused by Adar to get what he wants. This even raises the possibility Sauron has been part of the show all along, given Tolkien envisioned him as a master of disguise. Rather than acting in secret, he could be doing so in the open, preparing for the inevitable moment when he will come face to face with his rival Adar and prove himself to be the greater of the two.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power releases new episodes at 9 PM Pacific Time on Thursdays and at 12 AM Eastern Time on Fridays on Prime Video. Want more The Rings of Power articles? Check out our essential content below...
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