The Galadriel and Sauron stars of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power made some interesting and apt commentary on the season 2 reunion of their characters. The Rings of Power season 1 finale dramatically revealed that original character Halbrand, who had spent the season bonding with Galadriel, had been Sauron all along. Their connection was real, as much as Sauron had been playing the part of a human man the whole time. In season 2, “they’re connected, if not by proximity, then by their psyche,” according to Vickers (GamesRadar+). The stars weighed in on this physicality intriguingly.

Galadriel spent season 2 trying to redeem herself for being fooled by Sauron and Sauron spent it fooling someone else (Celebrimbor) in Eregion, having had Galadriel blow his cover in Lindon. At the end of The Rings of Power season 2, Sauron and Galadriel came together in a spectacularly choreographed fight that brought their season-long separation to a close. Galadriel was protecting the Rings of Men, but Sauron succeeded in securing these from her during their fight. Clark and Vickers shared that they were glad that their characters did not meet until this moment, giving fair reasoning.

Sauron & Galadriel Almost Reunited Before The Rings Of Power Season 2 Finale

The Rings Of Power Showrunners Toyed With Reuniting The Two In Adar’s Cam

Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne discussed reuniting Sauron with Galadriel in the Orc camp in season 2 but decided against it (Collider). This could have entailed the two meeting with Adar, which could have been more explosive, with both Adar and Galadriel on a war path with Sauron. Adar’s Rings of Power origin story revealed how hypnotized he was by Sauron’s beauty once, so Sauron encountering both of his “exes” could have made for some interesting dialogue. Sauron might have been searching for Nenya and may have eventually come to Adar’s camp to retrieve it.

Rings of Power season 2’s opening showed Sauron’s shapeshifting in vivid detail, proving how he could have easily tricked his way into Adar’s camp if he did want to avoid an incendiary run-in with his historical nemesis. And, running into Adar would have been incredibly risky for Sauron, since his whole plan relied on Adar attacking Eregion to get to him, therefore destabilizing Adar’s army and Eregion’s – both a threat to Sauron. But it is clear that he may have risked it all to get to Galadriel. As Vickers stated to Collider, “It keeps him going in a way, her existence.”

Morfydd Clark & Charlie Vickers Believe An Earlier Reunion Would Have Been A Mistake

Vickers & Clark Rightly Shared That Absence Makes The Heart Grow Freakier

Rings of Power’s Sauron and Galadriel stars spoke to Collider and confirmed that they agree with the showrunners’ decision to cut their meeting at the Orc camp. Both actors thought prolonging their separation over season 2 “adds more weight to the ending.“ This goes back to Vickers’ assertion of the mental connection between the two. Firstly, they share respect for each other and genuine enjoyment of the other’s company, which amounts to the “cosmic connection” commonly referenced by cast and crew (Inverse). Secondly, Sauron can enter Galadriel’s mind as a Maia skilled in ósanwe – telepathy in Middle-earth.

Elven-ring
Name
Gem
First Owner
Last Owner

Vilya
The Ring of Air
Sapphire
Gil-galad
Elrond

Narya
The Ring of Fire
Ruby
Círdan
Gandalf

Nenya
The Ring of Water
Adamant
Galadriel
Galadriel

Thirdly, Galadriel acquires one of Lord of the Rings’ Elven-rings in season 2, which was made with Sauron’s instruction, creating “an extra-weird connection between Galadriel and the baddest man in Middle-earth” (Empire). Referring to Galadriel’s physical distance from Sauron, Clark “liked that it was teased out,“ like Vickers. As Clark rightly noted, “they’ve just been obsessing over each other this whole time” and connected substantially via strange visions – Galadriel saw Sauron’s future at one point. They are “always connected through the ether” (Yahoo UK). This built their resolve to meet in person, creating “the epicness of the final confrontation.”

The Rings Of Power Stars Are Right About Season 2’s Sauron & Galadriel Confrontation

Sauron Taunting Galadriel As A Prisoner Is A Tempting But Messy Prospect

Overall, it seems that Payne, McKay, Clark, and Vickers were right to discredit the original idea for their reunion. Both actors had a steadily building connection throughout season 2 to keep their arc alive, which was an important factor in the retention of season 1’s fans. This negated the need for regular meet-ups between the two. Although the idea of Rings of Power’s Sauron finally confronting Adar face-to-face at the camp and entering his mind the way he entered Galadriel’s is tempting, as is the idea of Sauron taunting a bound Galadriel, it is too messy to make much sense.

Tolkienian Age
Event Marking The Start
Years
Total Length In Solar Years

Before time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Indeterminate

Days before Days
Ainur entered Eä
1 – 3,500 Valian Years
33,537

Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.)
Yavanna created the Two Trees
Y.T. 1 – 1050
10,061

First Age (F.A.)
Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
Y.T. 1050 – Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 – 590
4,902

Second Age (S.A.)
War of Wrath ended
S.A. 1 – 3441
3,441

Third Age (T.A.)
Last Alliance defeated Sauron
T.A. 1 – 3021
3,021

Fourth Age (Fo.A)
Elven-rings left Middle-earth
Fo.A 1 – unknown
Unknown

It could also have been anticlimactic but does present the prospect of future ideas for the two’s evolving relationship. As Vickers said, “Whether they’re in close proximity to each other or not, their relationship is going to be a theme throughout the show. She symbolizes good and he symbolizes evil” (EW). Sadly, it is too late for Adar to get any more scenes with Sauron, but The Rings of Power must still reverse Sauron and Galadriel’s telepathy dynamic since she is the one dominating him by the Third Age. Therefore, more scenes between them, physical or not, must ensue.

The Showrunners’ Choice To Keep Sauron & Galadriel Apart Made Season 2’s Ending Even Better

Season 2 May Have Felt Empty Without Sauron’s Season 2 Meeting With Galadriel

Season 2’s clean break made more sense for Sauron and Galadriel than “If they were just hanging out all the time“, culminating in their violent showdown (Collider). For the purposes of season 2, at least, Galadriel and Sauron’s separation ensured space to breathe as individual characters. This enabled the show to explore Sauron’s powers in Lord of the Rings and Galadriel’s growing strength, wisdom, and independence. Saving Galadriel and Sauron’s reunion for the final episode of season 2 also gave the finale the emotional depth it needed beyond just war.

Character-driven TV like Rings of Power needs emotional hooks underneath its grand-scale missions.

The Siege of Eregion was an awesome feat of cinematography, but it helped viewership that fans had something to look forward to beyond fighting. Sauron and Galadriel were the beating heart of the show for many and character-driven TV like Rings of Power needs emotional hooks underneath its grand-scale missions. In considering Celeborn lost, Galadriel may have loved again in Rings of Power, but the show was wise to keep her apart from her frenemy. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power can keep creating narrative tension with separation, followed by the strange relief of meeting in person.