The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is successfully spinning many plates with its multiple arcs, but one Sauron-Galadriel storyline still requires major growth, which season 3 could materialize. Rings of Power season 1 received criticism for the kind of mystery box writing normally associated with J.J. Abrams, rather than high fantasy, teasing Sauron’s true identity over a whole season. With Halbrand revealed as Sauron, season 2 kept up the mystery teasing, slowly deciphering the identity of the Stranger. He was unveiled as Gandalf in season 2, but a key Sauron arc still has not yet come full circle.
Rings of Power season 3 has lots of loose threads to tie up to get the show where it needs to be by its final season. Amazon Prime Video’s show was pitched as a five-season deep dive into the story covered by the first five minutes of Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring. Thus far, the show is still scheduled to run for five seasons. The Second Age ended in Jackson’s prologue and the Third Age began. Galadriel has far more power over Sauron in the Third Age than she does in the show, so she has some catching up to do.
The Rings Of Power Must Reverse Sauron & Galadriel’s Telepathy Dynamic By Its End
Sauron and Galadriel’s telepathy dynamic in The Rings of Power is currently inside out and must reverse by the end of the show to fall in line with J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore. Tolkien established in his magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings, that Galadriel was dominating Sauron telepathically in the Third Age. During the War of the Ring, Galadriel discussed her mental warfare with Sauron with Frodo and Sam in “The Mirror of Galadriel.” In this chapter of the 1954 high fantasy masterpiece, Galadriel revealed that she was the one in control, but Sauron is pulling the strings in the show.
In the book, Galadriel confirmed that she regularly reaped military intel from Sauron’s mind, which she still can’t do in the show. More to the point, she confirmed that Sauron groped for her mind all the time but “still” the door was closed. This was the LotR quote that actually inspired showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne to make the show – they were fascinated by the apparent history between the two and decided to invent a backstory for them. In the show, Galadriel hasn’t yet learned to close her mind to Sauron, but this will have to change by season 5.
Sauron & Galadriel’s Separation In Season 3 Is The Perfect Opportunity For Telepathy
Sauron and Galadriel’s dynamic in Rings of Power needing to reverse offers season 3 the perfect opportunity to give them more telepathy scenes. The reason this is particularly doable is that the two will be separated throughout season 3, and the show has confirmed that they will remain a key relationship. This isn’t surprising, since their chemistry was a critical driver of viewership in season 1. The romance tease between the two canonically opposed characters was controversial, but many viewers never read the books and loved the romantasy atmosphere they created.
Keeping the engaging and popular Sauron-Galadriel subplot going will require telepathy, so reversing their dynamic should be inevitable.
Charlie Vickers and Morfydd Clark are undeniably exceptional in their roles as Galadriel and Sauron and more scenes together can’t be a bad thing. Now that the two are on a war path, it seems certain that the show couldn’t land them in more controversial territory, romantically, but the “cosmic connection” constantly referred to by cast and crew remains strong. Season 2 proved this, with both characters still seemingly obsessed with each other, despite their clash in season 1. Keeping the engaging and popular Sauron-Galadriel Rings of Power subplot going will require telepathy, so reversing their dynamic should be inevitable.
Sauron And Galadriel’s Telepathy Enables More Flashbacks For Rings Of Power
The Rings of Power has used flashbacks to great effect in the show and Sauron and Galadriel’s telepathy dynamic is a way for the show to maintain this. The Rings of Power season 2 opened with a fascinating First Age flashback, continuing the tradition of season 1. Showrunners confirmed that they would like to do this for a different character each season (Reddit). Flashbacks have been one of the most popular elements of the show, enabling rich and surprising lore adaptations. Sauron and Galadriel have the richest lore to tap into, and the show should exploit that through telepathy.
Showrunners confirmed they like flashbacks and want more – Elrond would be a good bet to have as season 3’s flashback character, as he will rise to power in Rivendell shortly. But Sauron and Galadriel must remain key in the show, as the showrunners commented. Plus, no character enables flashbacks as intriguing as Sauron, and he must start losing control to Galadriel soon, or the show risks breaking its deal with the Tolkien Estate to not seriously contradict Tolkien’s canon. Telepathic flashbacks are a serious bonus for the show, offering an incredibly useful plot device.
As Galadriel enters Sauron’s mind more in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, she can see into his past.
Thus far, Sauron has entered Galadriel’s mind, enabling flashbacks to her childhood. Galadriel saw Sauron’s future in season 2, excitingly. Season 3 must show Galadriel’s ring empowering her to see more into Sauron’s mind, which needs to blow up into a whole new level of clarity and intimacy when he forges the One Ring, as this will amplify their connection. As Galadriel enters Sauron’s mind more in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, she can see into his past. This enables unprecedented, tantalizing flashbacks like the Timeless Halls and, perhaps most interestingly, Sauron’s real past with Morgoth.
