Summary

• A Hill-troll named Damrod will be introduced in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 as a new addition to Adar's army.
• The monster is inspired by Mike Ehrmantraut from Breaking Bad in of his strength and physical presence.
• Various monsters were given strong depictions in The Rings of Power season 1, which bodes well for Damrod's role in season 2.

The Rings of Power season 2 is set to bring back a number of familiar characters from season 1, in addition to introducing a number of new characters and creatures.

One new creature set to debut in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is the Hill-troll, which Empire Magazine reveals in a new photo. Check out the new image below:

The formidable monster's name is Damrod, and McKay describes him as an "eater of dragon bones." Actor Benjamin Walker voices the Hill-troll, who will play a key role as part of Adar's army in the season. As he explains below, McKay also reveals that the inspiration for Damrod actually came from a character in the Breaking Bad universe:

“[He] was inspired in part by Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, if you look at the way he moves and his casual sense of strength.”

The Rings Of Power Season 1's Monsters Were A Highlight

Damrod Could Be A Strong Addition To Season 2

Though The Rings of Power season 1's reviews were somewhat mixed from audiences, one area in which the show excelled was in its depiction of Middle-earth's monsters. The show essentially opens with Galadriel taking down a Snow-troll, which puts a frigid twist on the Cave-troll that appeared in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Arguably the creatures that the show gets even more right, however, are Orcs.

The first real sequence with an Orc in The Rings of Power proves that these goblin-like monsters are more than mere cannon-fodder, at least for regular humans. To a civilian, a single Orc is enough to be truly terrifying, and the show arguably conveys this better than Jackson's trilogy ever did. Another monster that the show gets right is the Balrog, with this beast getting a lot of build-up before actually making its fiery debut on-screen.

While there are certainly aspects of season 1 worth criticizing, it does handle Middle-earth's monsters in a compelling way, suggesting that Damrod will be a welcome addition to season 2. From the sounds of things, the Hill-troll will be given something of a personality and a story purpose beyond just being a large enforcer. It remains to be seen how prominently Damrod will feature in The Rings of Power season 2, but his dynamic with Adar is certainly one to look forward to.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 premieres on Prime Video on August 29, 2024.

Source: Empire Magazine