Did The Rings of Power Just Copy a Major Lord of the Rings Scene?

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The epic tale of “The Lord of the Rings” has left an indelible mark on both writers of books and screenplays for many years, with a specific scene from it finding its way into Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” J.R.R. Tolkien penned his masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings,” in three installments between 1954 and 1955. However, it was Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” films that truly catapulted this story into global recognition. The impact of these movies is so profound that they can be felt in Amazon Prime Video’s “Lord of the Rings” series, most notably in a captivating scene.

Making its debut in 2022 with a massive audience amidst controversy over deviations from the original storyline, “The Rings of Power” not only increased viewership on Amazon Prime but also sparked sales of Tolkien’s books. The showrunners, Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, revealed (through THR) that it serves as an origin story for Sauron, literature and cinema’s most infamous villain. In the first season, Charlie Vickers portrays this villain in his original form as Halbrand, and reappears in season 2, adopting the lore-friendly guise of Annatar. Interestingly, Jack Lowden previously played Sauron in a single scene that seems to draw heavily from the trilogy.

Sauron’s Deaths In The Lord Of The Rings Movies & The Rings Of Power Are Almost Identical

Sauron’s Rings of Power Death Appears Influenced By The LOTR Trilogy

In the second season of “The Rings of Power,” the series effectively reveals Sauron’s true identity, even alluding to his character in the 2000s film trilogy. The season commences with a flashback from Sauron’s past, similar to the opening scene of season 1 which was presented from Galadriel’s (Morfydd Clark) perspective. This flashback depicts the physical form Sauron took at the end of the First Age before assuming his Halbrand persona. Portrayed by Jack Lowden, this version of Sauron tragically meets his demise prematurely.

In the epic tale of “Lord of the Rings,” one of the immortal beings known as Maiar, named Sauron, would not perish entirely. Instead, his corporeal form was destroyed by Orcs and Adar through a fatal blow, causing it to disintegrate violently. This cataclysmic event released a brilliant light accompanied by an intense cold that froze the frigid landscapes surrounding his fortress. The radiant burst of light mirrors the one that emanated from Sauron’s vanquished body in the prologue to “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” In the film adaptation, remnants of Sauron’s armor are shown lying in ruins.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic work, “Lord of the Rings,” one of the immortal beings known as Maiar, named Sauron, wouldn’t fully perish. Instead, his physical body was annihilated by Orcs and Adar in a fatal attack, leading to an explosive disintegration. This catastrophic event unleashed a blinding light and extreme cold that froze the surrounding icy landscapes near his fortress. The radiant burst of light bears resemblance to the one that emerged from Sauron’s defeated body in the prologue to “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” In the movie version, fragments of Sauron’s armor are displayed as wreckage.

In the series “The Rings of Power”, Sauron’s physical form dissipates following a burst of power, leaving behind a heap of clothes and some dark stains resembling blood on the ground. In “The Fellowship of the Ring”, it remains unclear whether Sauron possesses a body beneath his armor or if the armor itself is his body. However, concept art sketches hint at a demonic form lurking under the armor. Interestingly, in the movie, Sauron’s helmet falls to the ground after his destruction, implying that his body might have vaporized beneath his clothes, much like it did in “The Rings of Power”.

Do Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings Movies & The Rings Of Power Exist In The Same Canon?

The Show & Movie Trilogy Have Completely Different Creators

While both “The Lord of the Rings movies” and “Rings of Power” share the same fictional universe, they were created independently by different teams. The film trilogy was produced by New Line Cinema, a part of Warner Bros., with Peter Jackson at the helm alongside Stephen Sinclair, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens for the script. On the other hand, “Rings of Power” is primarily a production of Amazon MGM Studios, with various directors including J. A. Bayona and Charlotte Brändström contributing to it.

Tolkienian Age Event Marking The Start Years Total Length In Solar Years
Before time Indeterminate Indeterminate Indeterminate
Days before Days Ainur entered Eä 1 – 3,500 Valian Years 33,537
Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.) Yavanna created the Two Trees Y.T. 1 – 1050 10,061
First Age (F.A.) Elves awoke in Cuiviénen Y.T. 1050 – Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 – 590 4,902
Second Age (S.A.) War of Wrath ended S.A. 1 – 3441 3,441
Third Age (T.A.) Last Alliance defeated Sauron T.A. 1 – 3021 3,021
Fourth Age (Fo.A) Elven-rings left Middle-earth Fo.A 1 – unknown Unknown

Amazon was asked by the Tolkien Estate to establish their television series within the ‘Second Age’ of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, as reported by Syfy. This decision might have been made to prevent any confusion with the movies, which are set in the Third Age. Interestingly, both the trilogy and the show possess rights to the same source material, making them essentially singing from the same songbook. Although ‘Rings of Power’ incorporates new elements, it has generally adhered to Peter Jackson’s portrayal of events. For instance, the manner of Sauron’s death in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is mirrored in the series, and even the armor depicted in the show echoes that seen in the trilogy.

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2025-06-07 23:48