The following contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video captivated audiences with its first season. But certain elements left some viewers wanting, hoping for something more substantial when the series continues. Luckily, according to one star, it looks as though the villains in Rings of Power season 2 will be something to see.
Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel in The Rings of Power, is widely considered one of the high points of the show's inaugural season. Playing an already beloved character from the Lord of the Rings books and movies while making the role her own was no small feat, but she arguably pulled it off splendidly. However, much of the season drew criticism from fans, with many citing its pacing and relative lack of interesting characters and stories. (The dwarves were cool though. Everybody likes Durin and Disa.)
Aside from the main antagonist, whose clever portrayal by Charlie Vickers earned praise from viewers, there was also a concern regarding the Rings of Power's villains. Namely, some may have felt they weren't particularly compelling overall. But in a new interview with Collider, Clark had some cryptic yet optimistic things to say for those hoping to see a bit of a shake-up on that front in Rings of Power season 2. Clark understandably had to hold back substantially when asked what she can reveal about the upcoming season, but she had one morsel to spare. "What I can tease about Season 2 is, there's some very interesting villains coming," she offered.
That's not much to go on. But it's something, and it's cool to know that it won't just be everybody vs. Sauron going forward. There's a lot of nuance in Rings of Power, particularly evidenced by questions like why didn't Galadriel tell everyone that Halbrand is Sauron? Every character is complex in their motivations and emotions, even if the stories being told don't always live up to that same standard. So some exciting new villains will surely shake things up and possibly revitalize some fans' interest.
One particularly noteworthy villain in Rings of Power season 1 was Adar, the leader of the orcs. The character held some surprising depth, leading some viewers to question whether he was completely in the wrong for trying to make a home for his people. Granted, he annihilated an entire region to do so, which doesn't help his case. But his focus on that home has inspired new questions, particularly whether Adar will join Sauron or fight with him for control of Mordor. Perhaps some new villains will join the orc faction to keep things fresh.
One thing is for certain, however. Galadriel will continue to be a driving force for The Rings of Power. Clark has teased some exciting developments for Galadriel in Rings of Power season 2, and she still wants to keep things close to the chest regarding how her character will deal with Sauron going forward, as mentioned in the Collider interview. "I kind of want to keep it ambiguous, as well, but I think the thing with Galadriel is that she knows that should she go to the dark side things will be catastrophic." It sounds like she has unfinished business with the Dark Lord, and a new slew of villains will complicate things.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in 2024.
Source: Collider