The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is making a surprising change to the canon with Sauron’s new appearance. Although this character has a slightly different face to that played by Charlie Vickers in season 1 – Halbrand – it is still recognizably him, through the prosthetics, make-up, or special effects. Rather than adding someone new to The Rings Of Power season 2 cast to play Sauron’s next form, the show stuck with Vickers for narrative reasons that season 2 will reveal.

As Halbrand in The Rings of Power season 1, Charlie Vickers played the reluctant “king of the Southlands” – a position which Galadriel pointed out after noticing the royal crest on the coin pouch he carried. Despite saying he found the pouch “on a dead man” and that he wasn’t the hero Galadriel was looking for, he never denied Galadriel’s claim. This was part of Sauron’s manipulative cover, and one instance of how he would lie through not telling the whole truth, rather than by lying outright. With his identity in the open, it’s likely Sauron’s deceptions will look different in season 2.

Sauron Looks Like A Regular Elf In The Rings Of Power Season 2

Charlie Vickers’ Elf Sauron in The Rings of Power season 2 may not match lore

There appear to be many changes between Vickers’ Halbrand character and Vickers’ Elf character. Not only will he struggle to use half-truths to deceive the Elves of Eregion into making the rings of power, which are evident in the season 2 trailer, but of course, he appears to have changed his race. With the pointed ears and long hair that Peter Jackson popularized as Elvish in his The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, Vickers looks like a typical Elf. The only other signs that he is Dark Lord Sauron are his smirk and perhaps the darkness of his robes.

Sauron’s season 2 disguise compares to Tolkien’s description to a certain extent, which was “fair” and “beautiful” and went by the name of Annatar, Lord of Gifts. However, J.R.R. Tolkien described Sauron in Eregion, using his fair form, as an “emissary of the Valar.” If Sauron was posing as a member of the Valar race – the Ainur – he could’ve taken any shape he wished to help him convince the Elves that he came bearing the news of their Gods. If Ulmo, Lord of Waters, “wore a… foam-crested helm”, Sauron could’ve manifested something impressive.

Annatar Didn’t Necessarily Look Like An Elf

J.R.R. Tolkien used mysterious terms to describe Sauron’s fair form

Sauron’s season 2 disguise may be logical, after all, as Ainur often took humanoid forms. The well-documented Ainu Melian took Elf form in the First Age. Trying to gain the trust of the Elves of Eregion could have led Sauron to choose the form of an Elf, as he attempted to win them to his side in the long-term battle for dominion of Middle Earth. The extended edition of Peter Jackson’s The Return Of The King actually offers a similar-looking Sauron in his fair form, with long hair and an elegant face, as does Middle-earth: The Shadow of Mordor game.

However, Tolkien never described Sauron’s fair form in the Second Age explicitly as an Elf, nor did he confirm Elves had pointed ears. He was described “as a man, or one in man’s shape, but greater than any… of the race of Númenor in stature.” This could back up The Rings of Power’s portrayal of Sauron as a human in season 1, but it seems likely that this points to an otherworldly Ainur form. If the Sauron of season 2 ignores Tolkien’s hints toward his Ainur fair form, this may break with the lore.

A Rings Of Power Season 2 Trailer Scene Hints At A More Faithful Annatar

Looks could be deceiving in The Rings of Power season 2 trailer

Judging from the season 2 trailer, there is many a monster in The Rings of Power season 2. One such magical being can be seen emerging from a bright light and heading towards Celebrimbor. Annatar succeeded in persuading Celebrimbor to make rings of power with him in the books, and people “feared the light of his eyes,” so this shining, angelic figure is possibly Sauron. The eye of Sauron imagery is also hard to ignore. This could be Sauron in another form, or Vickers’ blonde Sauron form confessing his Ainur nature to Celebrimbor.

This could work as Sauron needs to manipulate Celebrimbor into trusting him. If Sauron tells Celebrimbor that he took Halbrand’s form as people would never have accepted his alien, true nature, he can then flatter and groom Celebrimbor by showing his true self to Celebrimbor only and imploring him to secrecy. Knowing Celebrimbor’s pride and desire to make something as great as his grandfather, Fëanor, it’s reasonable to imagine Celebrimbor being vulnerable to this flattery and desire to create a legacy to rival the Silmarils.

This theory is backed up by a scene near the end of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 trailer which shows Sauron making hand gestures, cornered by Elves in Eregion, presumably after being exposed. While the scene cuts away to show a supernatural explosion, watching closely reveals what actually happens. As he smirks, Elves appear to turn their swords away from Sauron and towards each other. Then, as he twists his wrists, an Elf can be seen jerking violently, implying a possible broken neck. Perhaps a super-powered, Ainur Sauron is upcoming.