I don’t learn about you, however once I consider probably the most evil villains, Lord of the Rings’ Sauron is likely one of the first to pop into my thoughts. He’s the being behind all the difficulty Center-earth faces and fights, and it’s arduous to think about him as way more than the unhealthy man. Nonetheless, Charlie Vickers, who performs him in Rings of Energy (which you’ll stream with an Amazon Prime subscription), did a deep dive into why his character is extra sophisticated than that, and I’m so right here for it.
Whereas Rings of Energy Season 3 continues to be a methods away, Charlie Vickers spoke throughout an FYC occasion (by way of Selection) about Sauron and his function in Season 2 reverse Charles Edwards’ Celebrimbor. He particularly talked about making Sauron three-dimensional and extra than simply evil. He did that by going again to J.R.R. Tolkien’s work and realizing how the writer fleshed out his villain:
I feel it’s difficult with Sauron, as a result of he’s form of just like the embodiment of evil, proper? And also you consider Sauron as synonymous with one of the crucial evil characters ever written. However if you actually look into what Tolkien wrote about him, he’s extremely three-dimensional, and he seeks peace for Center-earth and the therapeutic of Center-earth. It simply all has to occur his approach, which is, I feel, the place the evil bit is available in.
In one other Selection clip from the identical occasion, Vickers reiterated that Tolkien “wrote particularly about Sauron” having “good intentions.”
All the perfect villains assume they’re doing the proper factor, and that’s 100% true with Vickers’ character. I feel that’s why he’s so good at manipulating and gaslighting others, as a result of he absolutely believes what he’s saying to a fault. And it’s this pure motivation that drives him ahead, makes him a strong unhealthy man and in addition illuminates his flaws.
Over the course of Season 2, my favourite moments got here once we noticed the failings of Sauron or a crack in his facade. We received that when Celebrimbor referred to as Sauron out in Episode 7, saying that he “can deceive even [himself].” Then, we received that once more, when Vickers’ character cried after killing Celebrimbor, as a result of, because the actor mentioned, Sauron misplaced his “management” and was very pissed off and indignant over it.
Sauron’s relationship with Galadriel additionally highlights his complexities. Since I assumed he was simply Halbrand for many of Season 1, I used to be underneath the impression that he really cared for the elf. Nonetheless, when it was revealed that he was Sauron, it turned clear that he was utilizing her. Nonetheless, even throughout their battle in Rings of Energy’s second season, I couldn’t shake the nuanced emotions Sauron clearly has in terms of attempting to get Galadriel on his aspect.
Like all good characters, Sauron is three-dimensional. He’s evil, however there’s much more to it than that, and that complexity is what makes him such an attention-grabbing villain to observe.
Now, as we bounce ahead for Rings of Energy Season 3, I’m curious to see how Vickers continues to play this character as he works to do what he thinks is therapeutic Center-earth.