The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 has many storylines to address, but there is one plot point from The Rings of Power season 1 that it must explain further to fall in line with lore. The series roughly follows the narrative that J.R.R. Tolkien sets out in his books around the Second Age of Middle-earth, as per the deal struck with the Tolkien Estate. However, it doesn’t have the rights to adapt much Second Age material, leaving Amazon Prime Video to fill in the gaps with original characters and settings.

Falling roughly in line with lore whilst staying true to Tolkien’s themes and values was always going to be challenging and divisive. Even with original Rings of Power characters and settings, acknowledging the source material is essential. The show legally cannot contradict anything that happens in Tolkien’s books. Deciding what stories to include is a collaborative process involving show consultants Simon Tolkien – J.R.R.’s grandson – and Tolkien scholar, Tom Shippey. Despite this, however, there is one key part of The Fellowship Of The Ring that the show currently contradicts, making one storyline an essential inclusion for The Rings of Power season 2.

The Rings Of Power Needs To Explore Galadriel And Sauron’s Unique Connection

The Show Should Keep Up Galadriel Sauron Moments To Line Up With Lore

In The Rings of Power season 1 ending, Sauron enters Galadriel’s mind. However, in The Fellowship of the Ring, it is Galadriel who can “perceive… his mind”, while her mind is closed to him. It’s therefore essential that The Rings of Power season 2 explains this gap between show and lore. The Fellowship of the Ring reveals that Galadriel and Sauron participate in psychic warfare – allowing Galadriel to gather military intelligence from him. The events of the show end centuries before this occurs, so it could probably get away with this lore shift, but ideally these characters’ roles must reverse throughout the show to get them in line with lore by the time of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy.

This lore shift is no accident. Speaking to Vulture, showrunners cite this part of The Fellowship Of The Ring as a key inspiration for the show, and that they want to explore the history evident between Sauron and Galadriel. Therefore, it seems likely that The Rings of Power season 2 onwards will start to show their psychic power dynamic reversing. Amazon’s promotional clip, A Look Inside Season 2, reveals mysterious scenes that could certainly be further illusions cast by Sauron – such as Galadriel screaming, bathed in red light. This provides further evidence that the characters’ psychic connection will play a major role.

The Rings Of Power Is Showing Galadriel’s Journey From Second Age Exile To Third Age Queen

Galadriel’s Weakness In Season 1 Is A Necessary Part Of Her Character Development

Though not as powerful in The Rings of Power season 1 as she is in the films, Galadriel will change in season 2, becoming stronger. Season 1 examines a Galadriel little-known to anyone who watched the films but didn’t read the books, a warrior exiled from the blessed realm. In episode 1 of season 1, she struggles to distinguish light from dark. This theme continues until the last episode, when she firmly rejects darkness. This character arc takes her nicely into season 2, where she will continue progressing into the Third Age Queen of Lothlórien.

As Sauron enters Galadriel’s mind in the season 1 finale, audiences see Galadriel’s memories. Galadriel will acquire the Ring of Power Nenya in season 2, judging from the trailer and lore. As she powers up and starts entering Sauron’s mind, the possibility opens up to showrunners of showing Sauron’s early memories. This would offer a unique cinematic opportunity, incorporating lore from the Second Age, First Age or before, that was never shown before. The rings are connected, so when the One Ring is made, there will be a direct line between Galadriel and Sauron, enabling an even stronger connection.

One Obscure Tolkien Essay Explains How Psychic Connection Works In The Lord Of The Rings

A Mind Can Be Open Or Closed In The World Of The Lord Of The Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien’s essay, Ósanwe-kenta, ‘Enquiry into the Communication of Thought’, published in Morgoth’s Ring originally, reveals the technicalities of mental communication in the Lord Of The Rings world. All visions, foresight, and domination of another’s will are a form of ósanwe – “interchange of thought”. A character must be open to receiving another’s thought, but openness varies greatly in degrees of intentionality – “knowledge may be gained or imparted” by the guest even when the host is “not seeking or intending to impart or to learn.” Closing “requires an act of conscious will” and may be done completely or selectively.

Bodies weaken natural ability for ósanwe. Sauron is innately a spirit being called an Ainur, and has endless centuries more experience with ósanwe than Galadriel. Nonetheless, his wearing of a body dims his power and Galadriel’s possession of a body dims his ability to transmit thought further. “For this reason in Incarnates transmission of thought requires strengthening to be effective. Strengthening can be by affinity, by urgency, or by authority”, according to the text. Ainur’s thought “often has the highest authority, and the greatest urgency”, and Sauron, in particular, is something of an authoritarian.

Sauron undercover and Galadriel interact in Eregion under mysterious circumstances, according to Unfinished Tales. Strangely, she suspects him but lets him remain in Eregion. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power addresses this question mark, posing their complex relationship as a reason why Galadriel may keep quiet about Sauron’s identity. Likewise, perhaps the show adds “affinity” as a layer in Galadriel and Sauron’s psychic back and forth. What showrunners call a “cosmic connection” may have fast-tracked Sauron’s mind control in The Rings of Power season 1 finale, but may be exactly what shuts him down in future seasons.

Source: Vulture