The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's season finale exceeded all expectations, with the biggest reveal coming when Halbrand, played by Charlie Vickers, was confirmed to be Sauron. Many fans have theorised this could be the case, but the Prime Video series kept us guessing right to the very end.
Entertainment Weekly caught up with the actor to get his thoughts on the big twist, and Vickers confirmed it wasn't until well until the audition process he knew he'd be playing Sauron. That meant keeping it a secret from his co-stars, while a deep dive into Tolkien mythology was also necessary to get a better grasp on where we find the villain in this Second Age.
"It's interesting because Tolkien speaks of Sauron as repentant. He quite clearly says that he is repentant, and he is ashamed. He says it in The Silmarillion, and he says it in some notes in Morgoth's Ring. But he always puts the words 'out of fear' right after 'repentance,'" Vickers explains. "I think fear can lead one to genuine repentance, and I think he fears the gods and he fears retribution. I think Halbrand is an example of him in this repentant stage."
"Whether or not you view that repentance as genuine completely colors his actions of the season. You can look back at his actions, and they can be genuine repentance and it all makes sense. But if you look at him as manipulating everything and using Galadriel to bring him back."
Of course, there are some coincidences that happen along the way, which play into his hands. But he is able to manipulate people," he continues. "I have a clear answer as to what worked best for me, but I like to leave it kind of ambiguous for the audience because it creates a bit of interesting discussion. It makes it cool to look back on and leave it to interpretation."
Vickers went on to say that, when Sauron offers Galadriel the chance to join him, "I don't think it's out of romance, at all. It's not a proposal. It's based on his own personal gain. He thinks he can rule more effectively with her at his side. And if she says no, by no means is it the end of the world."
"I think he is evil, and he is terrible, and in the end, he is going to be in charge by himself. Whether or not she's by his side, he'll find a way to do that. But at this time, it'll be more effective with her there."
The actor would go on to talk in detail about J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings lore, and we'd highly recommend reading the full interview. After sharing that he believes Sauron is the "epitome of evil," the actor talked about how in the author's work, Sauron reformed somewhat after spending time in Middle-earth.
"I think that's there in Halbrand. You see a lingering of this evil, and you see Halbrand slowly reforming from someone who has been humbled and is at the lowest of the low, floating on a raft in the sea, to being the king of the Southlands," Vickers says. "You see the building blocks and how it all reemerges, and that completely aligns with what Tolkien said."
It's clear the best is yet to come with Sauron in this series, and we're sure season 2 will better explain his motivations and wider plans. For now, he's set his sights on Mordor, and clearly hopes to rule over that as his kingdom. He may, however, have to deal with Adar and his Orcs first.
What do you hope to see next from Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?