The great Dark Lord in The Lord of the Rings franchise transformed in more ways than one this season 2. How can Sauron shapeshift in The Rings of Power this time, when it was believed he couldn't in the first season?
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2, so proceed with caution.
Sauron's 'Limited' Shapeshifting Abilities in Season 1 Explained
Halbrand, who was eventually revealed to have been Sauron disguised all along, could barely afford to lose the identity Galadriel knew him in The Rings of Power season 1. This drove fans to question whether he could even shapeshift at all.
However, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels would know that Sauron is part of a supernatural species called the Maiar. The Maiar are immortal and primordial spirits who can shapeshift into anything and anyone of their choosing.
But how come Sauron is merely showing this power of his in The Rings of Power season 2? Keep in mind that throughout the first season, Halbrand's main goal was to gain the trust of the Elven kingdom enough to conjure up rings of power.
He succeeded in doing so by maintaining his image as seemingly the long-lost king of the Southlands. As seen in the show, it is not that his powers were "weakened", but that he was restrained to his circumstances.
Now that Galadriel has solved the case that he is Sauron, he has no reason to hide himself or his powers anymore.
In the words of Sauron actor himself, Charlie Vickers, "Sauron has to earn it," the 'it' in question being in taking over Middle-Earth as the new Dark Lord through his deceit, "Sauron needed to up his game and present in such a way that blew Celebrimbor's mind."
This explains why we finally get to see him showcase more of his powers in season 2, namely, when he turns into Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, to push his plan forward in deceiving the elves for the rings of power.
The thing is, Sauron won't be able to use his shapeshifting for long, considering that by the Second Age, specifically after the downfall of Númenor, he is destined to lose his physical body and take the form of his spirit. Thus, he loses his ability to shapeshift.
READ NEXT: Why Does Elrond Want to Destroy the Rings of Power in Season 2? Their Grim Future Looms
Fans will have to wait until The Rings of Power season 2 episode 4 unravels more on Prime Video on September 5.
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