The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 official trailer is here. With it come plenty of details of what’s to come for the sophomore season of the Prime Video series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. We’ve got rings, crowns, and big battles that will shape Middle Earth for centuries to come. And we’re here to breakdown what we noticed from the official trailer that debuted at San Diego Comic-Con!
*Note: Loads of speculation coming. If I missed the mark on something, help a girl out and share the knowledge.*
1. A mysterious crown
In the trailer we see the orcs carrying something that looks like “Sauron’s” crown. We also get to see Adar slamming that crown down upon someone’s head. With Adar seeing the orcs as his children, we don’t see him thinking of himself as a king. But it could be a remnant or symbol of Morgoth, who is said to have tortured Adar, with the three spikes symbolizing the three simarils (basically powerful and fancy jewels) on his crown. So it could be Adar having the crown to defeat Sauron and mockingly crown him as king of the world post Morgoth.
2. Galadriel feeling the allure of Nenya
The rings are temptation. And no matter how long you’ve been around, their pull with enthrall you. We’ve seen it first hand with Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. And we see it now in The Rings of Power season 2 official trailer. We even see it with Durin III with the Ring of Thrór, attacking his own son when told to take it off. And we can’t wait to see how Nenya affects Galadriel in season 2.
3. Sauron’s appearance as Annatar to Celebrimbor
We’re really hoping Celebrimbor notices that Annatar looks kind of the same as Halbrand. Twinsies really. Just different font aka different hair. But who wouldn’t be taken by this appearance and accept him as The Lord of Gifts. I know I would. But we hope he at least questions it and brings up Galadriel’s warning from season 1. It is really telling though of what’s to come and how Sauron loves drama, great entrances, and fire. He’s a diva first. Conqueror second.
4. Pharazôn looking into the seeing stone
If there’s anything we know about The Lord of the Rings, it’s that seeing stones always has the possibility of someone looking back at you. And in this scene with Pharazôn in what we assume is Numenor, you see a representation of the seeing stone come to life before it transforms into fire. With the fall of Numenor imminent, and with Sauron’s meddling about in Numenor as Halbrand, this feels like another piece of Numenor being chinked away. It’s made even worse by the queen facing a difficult test after the events of season 1. And you know Pharazôn is going to be there every step of the way.
5. The Balrog is awakened
The Balrog is one of the most iconic creatures in The Lord of the Rings. And even though we knew its presence was lurking around the corner, I personally didn’t think that they would just show off the balrog in the season 2 official trailer. And the fact that they did, full stop, terrifies me. Because what is coming for our favorites at Khazad-dûm, it destroys them completely. And I’ve come to fall in love with these dwarves, especially Disa. So while the world outside of their caves is dealing with Sauron more directly, they’re going to be dealing with a king influenced by a ring and a creature that is here to destroy them all and lead to their doom.
6. Queen Regent Míriel facing the sea monster
In the teaser trailer, we saw a woman submerged in front of a great sea monster. It looked like their death was imminent. And now in the official trailer for season 2, we get to see that that woman is Queen Regent Míriel. After the events of season 1, she is to face a test for her actions. And we’re hoping that she survives it because she’s one of the most interesting women on the show and someone is needed to give us a little hope before Numenor is…inevitably crushed and wiped off the map.
7. Meeting the Ents
If there’s anything that Tolkien loved, it’s talking about trees at length. That’s why the Ents are so special. This particular ent ends up crossing paths with Arondir and Theo. The ent is beautiful with blooming flowers at the top of its head. It’s also fiercely protective of its territory, no matter if human or elf. And I’m looking forward to how the ents will enter the battle that is to come. Because we’ve seen them in action before and would like to see them again on our screens. But maybe not on fire. Let’s protect these blooms.
8. Spiders.
Spiders are nightmare fuel and that is especially true for The Lord of the Rings. On the screen we’ve Frodo and Sam encounter these beings. Now it’s Isildur’s turn to encounter Shalob and her children. And with more creatures being featured this second season, it’s clear that Rings of Power is setting the stage to show how Sauron’s power corrupts and draws in the darkness.
9. The destruction of Eregion
The big battle hinted at in the official trailer is going to see Adar leading his orcs to Eregion. Adar created a home for the orcs and it’s easy to assume that he views what is happening in Eregion as a threat to his survival and those he claims as his own. So he’s going to show up and put the smack down on the elves and Annatar. But of course, Elrond and the others don’t really know that and think it’s just the orcs attacking, so they go on the defensive. This is just speculation, the latter part there. But Adar is playing right into the hands of Sauron just as he’s creating his powerful rings. And he’s totally using this battle as a means of destroying the forge and making it so no one can reproduce this power again.
10. Celebrimbor and his creations
In the official teaser trailer for season 2, we saw Celebrimbor injured and confronting Annatar with a bunch of elven guards. Around them, there is gravel. If you sync it up with Annatar’s outfit, this is happening while Adar attacks Eregion and after Celebrimbor realizes the gigantic mistake he has made with the rings and the danger that this “Lord of Gifts” actually poses. That’s why he dumps all the rings in the forge. And why he looks so terrified while holding his own creation.
The Rings of Power season 2 premieres August 29, 2024 on Prime Video.
