EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsLord of the Rings TV ShowsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerAdar is The Rings of Power’s best original character – and the season 2 finale just proved whyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsLord of the Rings TV ShowsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerAdar is The Rings of Power’s best original character – and the season 2 finale just proved whyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Prime Video)
Warning: This feature contains major spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2 finale.
Standing equal to the show’s other military commanders, Adar’s role is rooted in classic Tolkien themes, offering fresh insight into the Orcish perspective. He receives some of the most thought-provoking writing this season – including his tragic death in the finale. Mirroring the way Adar himself came to power, his orc “children” assassinate him and transfer their allegiance back to Sauron.
A worthy king for the Orcs
Thematically speaking, Adar embodies a recurring archetype in Tolkien’s work: A worthy king who wants what’s best for his people, positioned opposite a corrupt and power-hungry usurper. The most famous example is Aragorn, and we see something similar play out among the ruling classes of Númenór.
As one of the show’s main villains, Adar obviously isn’t a traditional version of this trope. His army attacks peaceful civilians, and his leadership style is hardly cozy. But he does genuinely care for the Orcs, portrayed as a more honorable antagonist than the chillingly manipulative Sauron.
Above all, Adar’s arc creates a clever workaround for a controversial element of Tolkien’s lore: the inherently evil nature of the Orcs.
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Sparking debateacross other fantasy properties like Dungeons & Dragons, this concept has a troublesome political subtext, embracing the idea of a “savage” race that can be slaughtered without moral qualms. The evil nature of the Orcs is so foundational that when The Rings of Power briefly confirmed that Orcs can have children (and therefore form loving communities), it caused uproar among more conservative fans. Characterized as a sympathetic alternative to Sauron, Adar introduces thepossibilityof Orc redemption without rocking the boat too much.
The tragedy of Adar’s backstory
When Adar dons Galadriel’sRing of Power, his scars heal and he returns to his original, Elvish appearance. But when Galadriel asks him for his Elvish name, he replies that it’s “a meaningless name. A name I was given." He now identifies solely as Adar, father of the orcs. He then does something notably impressive, surrendering the ring for strategic (and arguably moral) purposes. Suggesting that they form an alliance, he promises to withdraw his army to Mordor once Sauron is defeated. “Let this ring heal the rift between elf and orc,” he says. “Let us create a lasting peace in Middle-earth.”
So maybe Adar’s manifesto for Orcish peace was overly optimistic. He was too elvish to fully understand the Orcs’ motives, failing to realize that they’d prefer to follow a sadistic tyrant into endless war – even if that tyrant clearly doesn’t care about the orcs’ wellbeing. His plan was destined for failure, and that destiny was written into his role from episode one. Introduced with a two-season arc in mind, Adar had enough time to evolve as a sympathetic villain before dying at the perfect time for maximum emotional impact.
For more on the fantasy show, read our guide toThe Rings of Power season 3.
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I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
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