Even though the actors portraying characters from “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” are delving into fresh aspects in Season 2, the storyline is offering a unique twist by viewing some events from the viewpoint of the cunning character Sauron, who was previously known as Halbrand.
According to Charlie Vickers, who portrays Sauron, it can be challenging to make audiences sympathize with a villain due to the character’s enduring image in pop culture. As Vickers explained, “Sauron is a complex character because he represents evil.” Typically, people associate Sauron with one of the most wicked characters ever created in literature. However, when you delve into Tolkien’s writings about him, Sauron is deeply multidimensional and yearns for peace and restoration in Middle-Earth. The difficulty lies in the fact that he insists on achieving this peace through his own methods, which are inherently malevolent.
As a cinephile immersed in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, I can’t help but be captivated by the intricate web of deception spun by Sauron. In his quest for domination, he disguised himself under numerous identities, skillfully manipulating the powerful figures of this world to serve his dark purposes. Among those unwittingly ensnared in his clutches is Lord Celebrimbor, portrayed brilliantly by Charles Edwards. However, Vickers intriguingly suggests that beneath Sauron’s malevolent intentions, there may be a hint of sincerity, adding an enigmatic layer to this complex character.
Vickers pointed out that the manipulative power lies in portraying it authentically. After all, Tolkien made it clear that Sauron had noble intentions for Middle-Earth. The shift between seasons two is due to viewers experiencing the show through Vickers’ point of view. In the first season, when Sauron was contemplating, perhaps the camera followed Galadriel, but in season two, we join Sauron on his journey as he orchestrates events like moving chess pieces.
As a movie reviewer, I’d put it this way: “Celebrimbor, without a doubt, is the most intriguing character in this season’s production. It’s not your typical king and subject dynamic; instead, they’re more like two equal partners, each relying on the other. This unique bond makes their interactions a delight to watch.
Edwards made it clear that Celebrimbor is not a person who can be easily influenced by Sauron’s deceitful tactics.
Edwards stated, “We were mindful that it didn’t seem like the typical case of someone being controlled, but Celebrimbor has the necessary power, as he is the lord and in his own domain. It takes time for Celebrimbor to succumb, but unfortunately, I fear he may have been caught by his own trap.
As per Edwards’ viewpoint, setting the stage for Celbrimbor’s fall in Season 1 added complexity and richness to a notoriously underdeveloped character, who is often portrayed as infamous but sparsely written.
In Season 1, having a clear understanding of where this character would lead and how he would ultimately end, I intentionally incorporated small instances of arrogance, briskness, or impatience throughout the story. This was especially true when it came to the family history; his grandfather was known for making silver oils. Although Tolkien didn’t write much about Celebrimbor, there was a line in ‘Unfinished Tales’ that hinted at his secret ambition to match his grandfather’s skill. To me, this desire to rival his grandfather was the essence of the character.
Daniel Weyman, portraying Gandalf/The Stranger, found a significant milestone in embodying Gandalf when he uttered the character’s name out loud for the very first time.
According to Weyman’s recollection, the showrunners mentioned there was another scene left to shoot in Tom Bombadil’s house before it was destroyed, and he knew we had to skip a few episodes ahead in time. They weren’t thrilled about this but felt they needed to inform him of what was coming, and it dawned on him that he would be uttering the name Gandalf.
Weyman found himself with limited time to ready himself for a significant character transformation, yet he underscored the pivotal role of dialect in his depiction of the Grey Wanderer.
Weyman mentioned, “That particular scene was significant for me as an actor since at that time, I hadn’t yet received the script, especially episode eight, which wasn’t distributed to us then. I only had a day to familiarize myself with it before we began filming. I also consulted with a dialect coach about the previous work on The Stranger’s voice and the importance of words and their origins.
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2025-06-09 19:49