The Rings of Powerseason 2 brings many of the show’s storylines into the next phase, causing many questions and theories about season 3. Interestingly,The Rings of Powerhas an advantage regarding speculation as it follows an extensive mythology: Tolkien’s expansiveLord of the Ringstimeline. As such, it becomes slightly easier to theorize about what will be depicted as part ofThe Rings of Powerseason 3’s storythan it is to do so about original stories that are not adaptations.
Theending ofThe Rings of Powerseason 2adequately wraps up most major storylines, though not without teasing what is to come in the future. The various characters spread across Middle-earth are dealing with their own darkness, from the shadow of Sauron lingering over the elves and Númenor to the Balrog threatening Khazad-dûm and the Dark Wizard aiding in the reveal ofThe Stranger’s identity as Gandalf.Amid war and the creation of the titular jewelry, many storylines could be included inThe Rings of Powerseason 3, both from Tolkien’s writing and those of an original nature.
11The War Between Sauron & The Elves Grows Larger
The Battles Of Eriador Will Rage In The Rings Of Power Season 3
The main conflict between Sauron and the elves in Tolkien’s books is aptly named The War of the Elves and Sauron. In theSecond Age of Middle-earth, this war began with the Siege of the Eregion as Sauron sought to claim the Rings of Power. After doing so and sacking Eregion,Sauron’s armies spread further across the realm of Eriador and waged several other battles against the elves. This was teased by Gil-galad inThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s final scene.
The Siege Of Eregion In The Rings Of Power vs Lord Of The Rings: 8 Major Book Changes Explained
The Siege of Eregion is the major battle shown in The Rings of Power season 2, which is depicted with some changes to the original works of Tolkien.
InThe Rings of Powerseason 3, it is highly likely that the two other major battles of The War of the Elves and Sauron will be depicted. The first of these is the Siege of Imladris, as Sauron attempts to rob Elrond of his newly built stronghold of Rivendell. The second will be the Battle of the Gwathló in which Gil-galad holds the line of defense between Sauron and the elven capital of Lindon.
10Sauron Begins Choosing His Ringwraiths
The Nine Rings Of Men Will Find Their Bearers
While Sauron’s armies wage their war on the elves, the Dark Lord will turn his attention to the kingdoms of Men.The Rings of Powerseason 2’s ending saw Sauron retrieve the Nine from Galadriel after declaring his intent to give them to the strongest lords of Men. Upon doing so, Sauron will be able to bend these lords to his will until they become all the more familiar to fans of the original books and Peter Jackson’s trilogy and turn intoThe Lord of the Rings’Ringwraiths.
Who these lords of Men will be remains to be seen, but there are a few possibilities afterThe Rings of Powerseason 2…
Before the Nazgûl become Sauron’s servants, however, the Dark Lord must find the Men who are doomed to die. Who these lords of Men will be remains to be seen, but there are a few possibilities afterThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s ending. Common theories have stated that Theo, dubbed lord of Pelargir in season 2, will be a recipient of one of the Nine. Others have claimed that Kemen, now establishing a stronghold in Theo’s town, will also be a victim of Sauron’s corruption.
9Pharazôn & Númenor Confront Sauron In Middle-earth
Pharazôn’s Corruption By Sauron Is First Preceded By War
While Kemen establishes a Númenórean foothold in Middle-earth, his father Pharazôn continues to rule as the new king of the island nation. In the books, Pharazôn’s timeline is slightly different than it is inThe Rings of Power. Tolkien wrote that Pharazôn and his civil war against the faithful came after The War of the Elves and Sauron, leading Sauron to come to Númenor himself and orchestrate the downfall of the kingdom.
The Fall Of Númenor Explained: How, Why & When It Happens
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has introduced viewers to Númenor, a beautiful but doomed island kingdom. Here’s how its fate plays out.
The Rings of Powerchanged this timeline somewhat, with Númenor’s civil war already happening as The War of the Elves and Sauron broke out.This means that Pharazôn’sRings of Powerseason 3 storyline will be a complex one that begins with him fighting Sauronin Middle-earth during the aforementioned Battle of the Gwathló. This is necessary to establish Sauron’s fear of Númenor regarding a military threat, leading him to corrupt Pharazôn later and begin the destruction of the kingdom of Men.
Suaron’s corruption of Pharazôn may run concurrently with the latter’s opposition to the former thanks to the introduction of the Palantír.
8Elendil Reunites With Anárion & Isildur & Travels To Middle-earth
On the other side of the Númenórean civil war are the likes of Elendil and Míriel. Although the latter will remain to oppose Pharazôn, Elendil endedThe Rings of Powerseason 2 by traveling west to his hometown and his second son, Anárion. Just as Elendil flees Armenelos, Isildur takes a ship back to Númenor, teasing a reunion between him, his brother, and his father.
This foreshadows the three eventually leaving Númenor to settle in Middle-earth. As is known from Tolkien’s books, Elendil becomes the High King of Gondor and Arnor, creating the two kingdoms of Men alongside his sons. InThe Rings of Powerseason 3,Elendil is in possession of the sword of Narsiland has turned his back on Númenor, potentially taking him and his children from members of the Faithful to kings of Middle-earth.
7Gandalf Confronts The Dark Wizard & Confirms The Villain’s True Identity
Gandalf’s New Identity Offsets The Dark Wizard’s Mystery
A major reveal inThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s ending was The Stranger’s identity as Gandalf. This coincided with the Dark Wizard imploring his fellowLord of the RingsIstarto help defeat Sauron, only for them to rule as malevolent tyrants in his stead. Gandalf, of course, opposed this, setting up a clash between the two wizards going forward.
Pallando
The Blue
Aside from their confrontation in theMiddle-earth lands of Rhûn,The Rings of Powerseason 3 will also likely answer the true identity of the Dark Wizard. He is evidently one of the Istari, yet which remains to be seen. Radagast is incredibly unlikely, with the most probable outcome being that the Dark Wizard is an early version of Saruman. This would explain the parallels between his and Gandalf’s antagonistic relationship inThe Lord of the Ringsbut leavesThe Rings of Powerwith the task of explaining how they lose their memories and are reborn later.
The Dark Wizard being one of the Blue Wizards makes much more sense than Saruman, as little is known of their journeys in Middle-earth.
6Durin IV Faces Dwarven Rebellion & The Balrog
In the dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm, massive changes took place inThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s ending. Durin III sacrificed himself facing the Balrog, trapping both of them in a great chasm as Durin IV looked on. Now the king of Khazad-dûm, Durin is facing a power struggle, claims over the dwarven Rings of Power and the wealth of his kingdom, and the creature wreathed in flame and shadow lurking beneath the mountains.
LOTR: All 20 Rings Of Power Explained (Creation, Owners & What Happened)
Amazon’s LOTR series is officially titled Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Here’s everything we know about the 20 pieces under that name.
One of the claims against Durin’s newfound power is said to come from his brother, marking an interesting change in the status of Khazad-dûm forThe Rings of Powerseason 3. Where the Balrog is concerned, Durin has seen it now, and it is hard to imagine him simply ignoring it going forward. Given that little story of worth is provided between the Siege of Eregion and the fall of Khazad-dûm at the Balrog’s hands in the Third Age of Tolkien’s writings, the destruction of the dwarven kingdom could be moved forward and begin as early asThe Rings of Powerseason 3.
5Nori Leads The Stoors & Harfoots To The Shire
The Harfoot Storyline Is Seemingly Coming To A Close
InThe Rings of Powerseason 2’s ending, Nori and Gandalf seemingly parted ways. Nori inducted the Stoors into the art of wandering as Gandalf returned to Tom Bombadil. This leaves the storyline of Nori and the Harfoots somewhat unclear, but finding The Shire could be a way of wrapping it up. Theorigin ofLord of the Rings’Shirewas teased by the Stoors inRings of Powerseason 2, and Nori finding it alongside the other tribes of Hobbit would be a neat way of tying her storyline up.
4The Construction Of Rivendell With Elrond As Its Lord
Rivendell Will Finally Become A Reality
The final scene ofThe Rings of Powerseason 2 saw Elrond lead Gil-galad, Arondir, Galadriel, and the elven survivors of the Siege of Eregion to a hidden valley at the foot of the Misty Mountains. This valley will forever be known as Imladris, or Rivendell, from this point on.InThe Rings of Powerseason 3, Elrond will likely construct the buildings of Rivendellas seen inThe Lord of the Ringsbefore Sauron lays siege to it.
3Galadriel Will Reunite With Celeborn
SinceThe Rings of Powerseason 1’s premiere, one of the biggest questions has surrounded Galadriel’s husband, Celeborn.The Rings of Powerseason 1, episode 7 made mention of Celeborn, with Galadriel stating he went missing during the War of Wrath and is thus believed dead. This cannot be true based on Tolkien’s writing, as Celeborn is alive duringThe Lord of the Rings.
Rings Of Power Season 3 Is All Set To Make Elrond & Galadriel’s Kiss Even Weirder
The next step in Elrond’s canon story in Rings of Power season 3 is about to make his kiss with Galadriel feel a whole lot weirder.
InThe Rings of Powerseason 3, Celeborn will likely return. This will reunite Galadriel with her husband, leading her to be more like her character inThe Lord of the Rings.Furthermore, the creators ofThe Rings of Powerhinted in an interview withIGNthat Celeborn could show up across the 50-hour story that the Prime Video show is telling.
Sauron Needs A Base Of Operations
As The War of the Elves and Sauron erupts inThe Rings of Powerseason 3, the Dark Lord will need somewhere to operate from. InThe Lord of the Rings, that place is the fortress of Barad-dûr, the Dark Tower located in Mordor. This tower was built as Sauron forged the One Ring, before The War of the Elves and Sauron.Given the different timeline ofThe Rings of Power,Barad-dûr will likely be built as the One Ring is forged,establishing Mordor as the seat of Sauron’s power.
