"Rings of Power": First teaser reveals what the second season is all about

A teaser to subjugate them ... At least, if the producers of the most expensive television production of all time have their way: "The Rings of Power". Will they succeed?

In any case, there's a lot to make up for with the fans. The first season earned a lot of mockery, malice and rejection. The story deviated too much from J.R.R. Tolkien's original, mixed up historical events and portrayed characters such as Galadriel and Elrond in such a way that they no longer really fit into "The Lord of the Rings" universe - and that's just the tip of the iceberg of accusations.

However, this does not detract from the successful launch of the first teaser. It has already been viewed over 2.6 million times - in less than 24 hours. The end of the trailer also announces the release date: 29 August.

What is the second season about?

We remember: At the end of the first season, Halbrand, the "recovered" King of the South, revealed himself to Galadriel as Sauron. A shock: at that point, Galadriel had already been hunting him down for decades. Sauron is the disciple of Morgoth, who in turn is the source of all evil in the universe. After Morgoth's downfall at the end of the First Age, Sauron took his place. But only Galadriel seems to realise the extent of Sauron's true danger - until now.

If you are interested in the whole prequel to "Rings of Power" and especially the balance of power between Morgoth, Sauron, the Elves, Valar and Maiar, I recommend you take a look here:

In any case, the teaser for the second season makes it clear what the rough plot revolves around: Sauron's plan is to forge the Rings of Power and give them to the mighty princes of the dwarves and humans. Together they are to remould and rebuild Middle-earth, scarred by the war with Morgoth, in the image of Valinor, the immortal home of the Elves. At least that is Sauron's promise.

Because no one is naive enough to blindly accept gifts from Sauron, the former Maia disguises himself as the beautiful Elf Annatar, Lord of Gifts. Annatar, as we know from Tolkien's works, was particularly skilful at manipulating humans and elves into unwittingly doing his bidding. This is exactly what is hinted at in the teaser when the mighty Elven lord Celebrimbor begins to forge and finalise the Rings of Power.

What no one is supposed to know: Sauron himself is secretly forging his own Ring of Power, with which he can enslave the other rings - and thus their bearers - find them, drive them into darkness and bind them to his will forever.

The teaser also shows major battles. The siege of Eregion by Sauron's armies, for example, where the Rings of Power are forged. Or Sauron in his guise as Annatar among the people of Númenor, as he sets the course that will ultimately lead to the downfall of the mighty island kingdom. This was already hinted at in the first season in the visions of Queen Regent Míriel.

And then there's the Stranger with the Harfoots. Fans suspect Gandalf behind his figure, precisely because of his friendship with the ancestors of the hobbits. Historically, however, this would make no sense: According to Tolkien, Gandalf did not enter Middle-earth until the Third Age, which only began with the Battle of Mount Doom, where Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger. This is another reason why fans take issue with the historical accuracy of "Rings of Power".

Are you looking forward to the second season? Or are you already dreading what the makers are going to do with Tolkien's works?