The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is coming to Prime Video streaming service soon, and following the resounding success of House of the Dragon, fans are hoping the series will appeal to both the generation that grew up with The Lord of the Rings franchise and those fans who are just discovering the world that Tolkien imagined. Along with the various images and trailers from the show released by the streaming service, there are some interesting fan guesses about season 1.
For the first time, Prime Video's The Rings of Power brings to screens the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of familiar and new characters as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil on Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains to the majestic forests of the Elvish capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Numenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
Sauron's Evil Put to the Test
Sauron is the most enigmatic character in The Rings of Power and the one that fans dare to theorize the most. One of the popular theories about Sauron has to do with his evil. Just as Sauron was portrayed in The Lord of the Rings, fans can say that he is the source of evil and pure destruction.
However, some fans think that if The Rings of Power were to take into account one of Tolkien's letters, the show could turn the tide on Sauron and introduce in season 1 a character who tries to advocate for the greater good, albeit unsuccessfully. As the seasons progressed, that little success in the path of good would come to frustrate him and cause him to fall further and further down the rabbit hole until he became the source of evil that The Lord of the Rings established.
Of course, this approach to the character would be innovative and faithful to the original author. However, it seems difficult for fans of the franchise to see it with good eyes, at least at first. After all, a monster is not born, and the story of how Sauron came to be one would have potential.
Another of the fan theories surrounding Sauron in The Rings of Power has to do with his identity. Some fans think the show may not introduce the villain in season 1 if not mislead the audience by presenting him with another name and backstory, just like in the books. In them, Sauron pretended to be Annatar, appearing to be someone good, when his only intention was to manipulate and trick Númenor and the elven smiths into creating the Rings of Power.
The Istari as a Central Part of the Story
The Istari is the race to which Gandalf, Saruman, and Sauron belong. Two of them are villains, while Gandalf became one of the key players on the good side. Reconnecting with these characters in a different version of themselves would certainly be an interesting twist for The Rings of Power.
Some fans believe this would be the case, and, since the series will show the Southlands, the proximity of the three Blue Wizards to the East would give the show and the audience the opportunity to explore unexplored places -- even by Tolkien -- in Middle-earth.
Galadriel a Reflection of Daenerys?
The premiere of House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power is only a few days apart, and as two of the biggest fantasy franchises of recent times, it's understandable that fans of the genre draw connections between them.
Although comparisons can hurt both series -- which would be an interesting debate -- the truth is that they are inevitable. Fans feel that Galadriel's arc would be approached similarly to Daenerys in Game of Thrones. However, fans hope that if this theory is true, Galadriel's final fate will not be as disastrous as Daenerys's, and, therefore, The Rings of Power is not doomed to repeat history.
Barahir's Ring
The Ring of Barahir is an important item from the Third Age of Middle-earth. The Elven lord Elrond gave this ring to Aragorn as a reminder of his heritage as king of Gondor. However, the ring originally belonged to Finrod, a character played in The Rings of Power by Will Fletcher.
Therefore, since The Rings of Power is about what happened in the Second Age, the series may introduce the origin story of the ring, if only for the sake of continuity and a nod to Lord of the Rings.
The Black Numenoreans
As all fans of Tolkien's world know, the Fall of Numenor is an event that marked a before and after in Middle-earth. Since Numenor will appear in The Rings of Power, fans think it's the perfect time for the Black Numenoreans to show up.
These characters are defined as corrupt Numenoreans who joined Sauron in his quest for eternal life, and three of them actually became Ringwraiths. And since The Rings of Power is essentially the story of Sauron’s rise and how he became the villain all of Middle-earth feared, it's not unreasonable to think that the series will show how Sauron's power grows thanks to his allies.
Meteor Man’s Identity
Meteor Man, aka “The Stranger,” is one of the few things keeping fans baffled and unsure of what to think in The Rings of Power. No one knows who The Stranger is since he may be an adapted or original character for the series. And the way of appearing in Middle-earth -- through the sky -- also caught the attention of fans.
There are many theories surrounding the identity of Meteor Man. Fans believe it could be Gandalf or an original character, among others. But the most substantial bet so far is that Meteor Man is none other than Sauron since as the magical flame surrounding Meteor Man's landing dies out, a circle of fire reminiscent of the Eye of Sauron appears.
Time will tell which fan theories are accurate and which are not, but the best part is that they won't have to wait too long to find out, as The Rings of Power is set to premiere on Prime Video on September 2, 2022.