Sauron’s disguise in The Rings of Power season 2 trailer can be held up against the books for comparison, which may reveal why the show takes Sauron’s character in this direction. While Sauron paraded around as the roguish but lovable Halbrand before his big reveal in The Rings of Power season 1 ending, he likely needs a different disguise in season 2 now that Galadriel has discovered his identity. This explains the arrival of the blonde ‘elf’ smirking his way through the season 2 trailer. This character appears to be an adaptation of the Annatar disguise from the books – one of Sauron’s forms in the Second Age.

Annatar is featured in The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, as well as throughout Tolkien’s letters and the collection of posthumously published works brought together in The Histories of Middle Earth series by Christopher Tolkien. Sauron’s disguise in The Rings of Power season 2 recalls many elements of Annatar’s look in lore, immediately drawing the parallel in the trailer. What’s more, the disguised Dark Lord of the trailer appears to be wreaking destruction in Eregion, another hallmark of the Annatar character. Whether or not Charlie Vickers’ character looks entirely like Annatar is more complex.

What Tolkien Wrote About Sauron’s “Annatar” Disguise

Tolkien described Sauron’s fair form all throughout the legendarium

Tolkien depicted Annatar as a figure beautiful in appearance, with something not quite right about him. In Frodo’s words, “a servant of the Enemy would look fairer and feel fouler.” Tolkien described Sauron’s Annatar disguise as a “specious fair form” in Unfinished Tales. In a letter dated September 1954, Tolkien stated that “At the beginning of the Second Age he was still beautiful to look at,” and “his hue was still that of one both fair and wise” in The Silmarillion. In another letter, Tolkien built on this – Annatar is “a commanding figure of great strength of body and supremely royal demeanor and countenance”.

Sauron’s sojourn in Eregion as Annatar was followed in the books by his stay in Númenor. There’s nothing in the books to indicate that he used a different disguise for each stay, but like much Tolkien, this is open to interpretation. Sauron in Númenor was described as well-built and unusually tall, if Númeorean Elendil’s eight-foot height, as per lore, was anything to go by. But, interestingly, Númeoreans “feared the light of his eyes. To many he appeared fair, to others terrible; but to some evil.”

How Sauron’s Look In The Rings Of Power Season 2 Compares To Tolkien’s Writing

Season 2’s blonde Sauron with pointed ears isn’t explicitly laid out by Tolkien

Vickers’ smirking Sauron of The Rings of Power season 2 trailer hits some notes of Tolkien’s canon but not necessarily all. His complexion and physical features meet the expectations set by Tolkien’s “fair” description of Annatar. Other traits are also in line with the books, such as the threatening aura given off by the character and his royal demeanor. His lordly robes, after all, are a far cry from Halbrand’s rags.

Rings of Power season 2 Sauron’s height doesn’t measure up to the towering character of lore, but Númeoreans aren’t incredibly tall on the show either. Annatar’s placement in Eregion may suggest that he took the form of an Elf to fit in. Many assume all Elves have pointed ears and long hair, but Tolkien never specifically said that. The version of Sauron seen in the show cuts the figure of an Elvish Dark Lord if ever there was one, complete with the the gold embellishment of Elves. However, it’s uncertain whether Tolkien intended Annatar to be an Elvish Dark Lord at all.

The Rings Of Power Season 2 Appears To Be Changing A Key Part Of Tolkien’s Annatar

The trailer for The Rings of Power season 2 raises questions about Sauron’s appearance

Annatar was never explicitly described in the texts as an Elf, and in fact, Annatar described himself as an “emissary of the Valar” when he arrived in Eregion. The Valar, being the Gods of Tolkien’s world, took fantastical shapes that inspired both awe and fear. An emissary is just a messenger, so the show’s version of Annatar could represent one of the blonde, Vanyarin Elves that resided alongside the Valar in the blessed realm, arriving to pass on the words of the Valar. But it’s just as likely, if not more, that Tolkien’s Annatar was something a little more alien.

Sauron’s disguise in Eregion could have been openly Ainur, “of the Valar” as it was, and intended to subdue others to his will. If that’s the case, then his form could have been stranger than that of an Elf, with glinting eyes and great stature. It seems that The Rings of Power is steering away from this visual representation of Sauron’s fair form. Although, the trailer may show Sauron in what could be either another form entirely, or Vickers’ character in a rather different state.

Sauron’s fair form in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is heavily implied to be the blonde elf played by Charlie Vickers via the trailer, posters and press release issued by Prime Video. Despite this, Celebrimbor is seen in the trailer staring into a bright light as a figure appears to emerge from it, coming towards him. This figure also aligns with the Annatar of Tolkien’s legendarium, shining an inhuman light and filling the room with awe at his presence. It is known from the books that Celebrimbor and Annatar interacted in Eregion, further substantiating this idea.