The Rings Of Power Has Already Set Up Amazon’s Season 3 With One Big Tolkien Reference

SPOILERS ahead for Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of PowerAmazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power seems to be mapped out for the long term, with the setup already in place for a pivotal Middle-earth moment. As audiences await The Rings of Power season 2, which will likely return in late 2024, there’s plenty to pick apart from the first season to determine how the series will play out. The series covers an amalgam of events in Middle-earth’s Second Age, compressing events in Tolkien’s fictional histories into the span of a five-season series.

The first season primarily established characters, settings, and the overarching plot line of Sauron’s rise to power with the forging of the rings. The Second Age is packed with fascinating events, building toward the last alliance between Elves and Men that defeats Sauron, as seen in the prologue of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. With that structure in mind, there are tons of events and Lord of the Rings battles that could be in season 2 and beyond, with the Downfall of Númenor being one of the crucial steps along the way.

The Rings Of Power Season 1’s Míriel Vision Set Up The Downfall Of Númenor

In episode 4, Míriel envisions the Downfall of Númenor, foreshadowing a pivotal upcoming event.

Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) is one of the many Tolkien characters that appear in Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings prequel. Season 1 establishes her as the heir to the throne of Númenor, though much of her story diverts from Tolkien’s writings when she leads her people to the Southlands to fight alongside Galadriel. While The Rings of Power does take its creative liberties, with her character becoming blind, season 1 constructed the foundation for Míriel’s vital role in events to come, as it builds toward the Downfall of Númenor.

In The Rings of Power season 1, Míriel has a vision of Númenor’s destruction in episode 4, with massive waves crushing the island civilization. Aside from her vision, season 1 also establishes the character Pharazôn, who differs from his book counterpart but will likely still play an instrumental role in the civil strife in Númenor. At some point, Sauron will return to Númenor as a captive, manipulating Pharazôn, using his desire for power to corrupt him, leading to Númenor’s destruction at the hands of Eru Ilúvatar, the creator deity of Tolkien’s world.

Why The Downfall Of Númenor Can’t Happen In The Rings Of Power Season 2

The Downfall of Númenor is coming, but a lot needs to happen first.

Season 1’s most important job was establishing Sauron’s capabilities, demonstrating his manipulative tactics and early role in creating the rings. Now that the Rings of Power season 1 ending has revealed Sauron’s hand, the next step is his rise to power, which is foreshadowed by his arrival in Mordor. Sauron will eventually be captured and returned to Númenor, but first, he has to seize power in Middle-earth, suffer a defeat at the hands of the Númenóreans, return to the island, and begin to manipulate Pharazôn.

Given how long Sauron’s conflict in Middle-earth takes in the books before he’s captured, there should still at least be an entire season before the Downfall of Númenor. The conflict surrounding Sauron, Celebrimbor, and the forging of the rings should take precedence for some time, as Númenor simultaneously begins establishing its settlements in Middle-earth and experiences its internal political conflict. The Downfall of Númenor would make for a shocking conflict to end season 3 or 4, but it shouldn’t happen any sooner unless the series really wants to mess with the timeline.

What We Know About The Rings Of Power Season 3

Amazon seems to be sticking with its guns on The Rings of Power.

Bringing The Lord of the Rings to television is a daunting task that requires immense planning and meticulous attention to detail. Initially, showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay set out with a five-season plan for the series (via Empire), and while this could still be possible, anything is subject to change when the show’s performance is a factor. While The Rings of Power running for five seasons isn’t guaranteed, making at least three seems more than likely.

With season 2 wrapping filmmaking to be released in late 2024, Payne and McKay have already begun early work on season 3 (via THR). To clarify, season 3 hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but the showrunners have been signed for a multi-year deal. Prime Video executives also ascertained that season 1 was an enormous success in viewership and expressed confidence in the creators and their vision. The Rings of Power could run for years, assuming viewership maintains Amazon’s expected numbers.

Sources: Empire, THR