It is almost upon us, so I figured I’d discuss the biggest questions I want answered in The Rings of Power Season 2. Season 1 had some good and some serious work on’s for me. Some of the questions I want answered are the strange little story deviations, or what I consider current plot holes. It’s also worth noting that as a Tolkien enthusiast I’m a little more critical of adaptations in this particular franchise. If there’s a deviation from the lore, it needs to be essential or well handled.

From what I can see and the early word I have heard, Season 2 looks to be an improvement. That remains to be seen though and some of what I discuss below will define that in my mind. Let’s get to it.

Why Was Sauron On The Boat?

The big reveal of Season 1 was that Halbrand was Sauron. In my reviews I noted they seemed to be hinting this all along, yet I hoped in the end it was a fake out. Why? Because I cannot think of one single plausible explanation for why Sauron was on that boat in Episode 1. Sauron is a full Maiar (Angel) who can appear in any shape of any body he wishes at this time in his existence. I cannot say how long it takes Sauron to create a new body, but I doubt it is instant. However, it seems he can shed a body quickly and exist in his spirit form. I therefore don’t see why he’d be on a boat to the West of Middle-earth? 

Was he attempting to get to Numenor to explore it? It seemed instead that Numenor was a surprise to him at this point.

Now, I don’t need an answer for this that fits perfectly with any lore. I’m just looking for something that makes a little bit of sense, even if not originally intentional. I’ll take a retcon is what I’m saying. I’ll be shocked if it’s answered in a fantastic way and I’ll remain annoyed if it’s swept under the carpet.

Sauron’s Pouch

This is kinda related to the question above. Many fans are intrigued by the pouch Sauron wore around his neck (see above) as Halbrand. Some theorised some fantastical ideas on this one. The daftest one being that this was the One Ring…..just…no. He cannot have the One until the other Rings are made first or it makes no sense. 

However, they spent an awful long time focusing on that pouch in Season 1. It does not need to be a spectacular revelation for me, I just want to know what’s in it and that it feels like something he’d look at in Season 1. In other words, make it make sense and let’s move on.

The Dying Tree Of Lindon

One of the things I disliked in Season 1 was the idea that some corruption was destroying to Elven tree in Lindon. It felt like a silly excuse with no reasonable origin just to give the Elves reason to seek the power of Rings. 

There were some good fan theories (before the Halbrand reveal) that Sauron was already present in Lindon as Annatar. Or, a hidden Elf and corrupting the tree himself for the purpose of creating a need for his services. 

Problem is, Halbrand was elsewhere at the time. Powerful as Sauron is, he can’t (that we know of) be in two different bodies at the same time in different locations. 

Therefore, the good fan theory doesn’t quite make sense as of Season 1. I’m looking for this plot to somehow make sense in Season 2. Ideally with the writers finding a way to have it be Sauron’s corruption.

To this I will also add the apocryphal Mithril origin story. The show would be so much better if this myth was begun by Sauron for his own reasons. I hate the idea that Mithril is some kind of key to magic Rings of power and was created by the fusing of a Balrog and a Silmaril. I kinda hope that isn’t just waved away either in Season 2.

Gandalf Or Blue?

This is a question I definitely want them to answer in Season 2 and not leave dangling for Season 3. Is The Stranger Gandalf or a Blue Wizard. One (blue) is a great idea if confirmed and I love it. The other (Gandalf) is horrible and definitely squeezed in for marketing alone. Season 1 made it clear the Stranger was Istari (Wizard), but a few teases in the finale also seemed to hint this was Gandalf, which annoyed me greatly. Gandalf wasn’t even his name till later in the Third Age and there is no evidence to suggest Gandalf was ever sent to Middle-earth as an Istari in this Second Age.

Here is a quote from Return of the King when talking to Aragorn post the Rings end. 

“The Third Age was my age. I was the enemy of Sauron; and my work is finished. I shall go soon.”

Other quotes could be offered, like the one where Gandalf says “to the East I go not.” The Stranger heads East in Season 2.

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I get the feeling the show may feel alluding to Gandalf for another season is good strategy. For me it just annoys lore hounds like me who are silently screaming that this cant be Gandalf. Please, just go with Blue Wizard and make that very clear at some point before the end of Season 2.

Some less well read fans still think Season 2 has Gandalf heading East to take on Saruman (Ciarin Hinds). We know the Wizard in the East has gone dark, or failed their mission. Ergo, it logically cannot be Saruman or else he’d never have been sent back or made the leader of the White Council. No, this Wizard in the East is surely a Blue Wizard. My hope is that the show is mixing both of Tolkien’s versions together for these two. One went bad and began a magic cult in the East, one stayed true to their mission and kept the East from wholly falling to Sauron. 

That’s the dream, I dread the nightmare. 

Weird Witches

I’ll keep this one simple, as I think it’s exactly what we are going to get in Season 2. The two weird magical like witches that should not really exist. In Season 1 we wondered if they worked for Sauron. However, I now think they work for this dark Wizard in the East. Ergo, I hope it becomes established that these two are actually one of several mortals who the Wizard has taught some of his skills to. 

Either way, I want the question of who and what they are cleared up in Season 2, because their existence is troubling. 

That’s it folks. Whilst there are many plot questions, and character arcs I want to see develop I don’t need to have these resolved in Season 2 of a planned five. Instead these question above are more like me saying, here’s what I’m hoping they fix in The Rings of Power Season 2. I need to feel like the show is learning its lessons from Season 1. i.e. deviate only from Tolkien where absolutley necessary to pull off the show.

So, those are the biggest questions I want answered in The Rings of Power Season 2? What about you? The Rings of Power Season 2 hits Amazon Prime on August 29 with a three episode premiere. Thoughts below.

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