The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Poweris successfully spinning many plates with its multiple arcs, but one Sauron-Galadriel storyline still requires major growth, which season 3 could materialize.Rings of Powerseason 1received criticism for the kind of mystery box writing normally associated with J.J. Abrams, rather than high fantasy, teasing Sauron’s true identity over a whole season. With Halbrand revealed as Sauron, season 2 kept up the mystery teasing, slowly deciphering the identity of the Stranger. He was unveiled as Gandalf in season 2, but a key Sauron arc still has not yet come full circle.

Rings of Powerseason 3has lots of loose threads to tie up to get the show where it needs to be by its final season. Amazon Prime Video’s show was pitched as a five-season deep dive into the story covered by the first five minutes of Peter Jackson’sThe Fellowship of the Ring. Thus far, the show is still scheduled to run for five seasons. The Second Age ended in Jackson’s prologue and the Third Age began. Galadriel has far more power over Sauron in the Third Age than she does in the show, so she has some catching up to do.

Sauron and Galadriel on the raft in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1.

The Rings Of Power Must Reverse Sauron & Galadriel’s Telepathy Dynamic By Its End

Sauron & Galadriel’s Telepathy Dynamic Has To Change Soon

Sauron and Galadriel’s telepathy dynamic inThe Rings of Poweris currently inside out and must reverse by the end of the show to fall in line with J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore. Tolkien established in his magnum opus,The Lord of the Rings, that Galadriel was dominating Sauron telepathically in the Third Age. During the War of the Ring, Galadriel discussed her mental warfare with Sauron with Frodo and Sam in “The Mirror of Galadriel.” In this chapter of the 1954 high fantasy masterpiece,Galadriel revealed that she was the one in control, but Sauron is pulling the strings in the show.

Before time

Charlie Vickers as Annatar Sauron and Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2.

33,537

10,061

Charlie Vickers as Sauron from The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power.

Elves awoke in Cuiviénen

4,902

Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power Season 2 Poster Showing Charlie Vickers as Sauron

War of Wrath ended

3,441

3,021

Fo.A 1 - unknown

Unknown

In the book, Galadriel confirmed that she regularly reaped military intel from Sauron’s mind, which she still can’t do in the show. More to the point, she confirmed that Sauron groped for her mind all the time but “still” the door was closed. This was theLotRquote that actually inspired showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne to make the show - they were fascinated by the apparent history between the two and decided to invent a backstory for them. In the show,Galadriel hasn’t yet learned to close her mind to Sauron, but this will have to change by season 5.

Sauron & Galadriel’s Separation In Season 3 Is The Perfect Opportunity For Telepathy

The Show Confirmed That Sauron & Galadriel Will Remain A Key Relationship

Sauron and Galadriel’s dynamic inRings of Powerneeding to reverse offers season 3 the perfect opportunity to give them more telepathy scenes. The reason this is particularly doable is thatthe two will be separated throughout season 3, and the show has confirmed that they will remain a key relationship. This isn’t surprising, since their chemistry was a critical driver of viewership in season 1. The romance tease between the two canonically opposed characters was controversial, but many viewers never read the books and loved the romantasy atmosphere they created.

Keeping the engaging and popular Sauron-Galadriel subplot going will require telepathy, so reversing their dynamic should be inevitable.

Charlie Vickers and Morfydd Clark are undeniably exceptional in their roles as Galadriel and Sauron and more scenes together can’t be a bad thing. Now that the two are on a war path, it seems certain that the show couldn’t land them in more controversial territory, romantically, butthe “cosmic connection” constantly referred to by cast and crew remains strong. Season 2 proved this, with both characters still seemingly obsessed with each other, despite their clash in season 1. Keeping the engaging and popularSauron-GaladrielRings of Powersubplotgoing will require telepathy, so reversing their dynamic should be inevitable.

Sauron And Galadriel’s Telepathy Enables More Flashbacks For Rings Of Power

Galadriel Must Enter Sauron’s Mind At Some Point, Allowing Intriguing Flashbacks

The Rings of Powerhas used flashbacks to great effect in the show and Sauron and Galadriel’s telepathy dynamic is a way for the show to maintain this.The Rings of Powerseason 2opened with a fascinating First Age flashback, continuing the tradition of season 1. Showrunners confirmed that they would like to do this for a different character each season (Reddit).Flashbacks have been one of the most popular elements of the show, enabling rich and surprising lore adaptations. Sauron and Galadriel have the richest lore to tap into, and the show should exploit that through telepathy.

Sauron’s Powers In The Lord Of The Rings Fully Explained

Sauron’s powers are explored in The Lord of the Rings movies and The Rings of Power, but only Tolkien’s lore provides answers on their true nature.

Showrunners confirmed they like flashbacks and want more - Elrond would be a good bet to have as season 3’s flashback character, as he will rise to power in Rivendell shortly. But Sauron and Galadriel must remain key in the show, as the showrunners commented. Plus,no character enables flashbacks as intriguing as Sauron, and he must start losing control to Galadriel soon, or the show risks breaking its deal with the Tolkien Estate to not seriously contradict Tolkien’s canon. Telepathic flashbacks are a serious bonus for the show, offering an incredibly useful plot device.

As Galadriel enters Sauron’s mind more inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,she can see into his past.

Thus far, Sauron has entered Galadriel’s mind, enabling flashbacks to her childhood. Galadriel saw Sauron’s future in season 2, excitingly.Season 3 must show Galadriel’s ring empowering her to see more into Sauron’s mind, which needs to blow up into a whole new level of clarity and intimacy when he forges the One Ring, as this will amplify their connection. As Galadriel enters Sauron’s mind more inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, she can see into his past. This enables unprecedented, tantalizing flashbacks like the Timeless Halls and, perhaps most interestingly, Sauron’s real past with Morgoth.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Cast

Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.