InThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, there are perhaps no two characters more important than the ringmaking duo Sauron and Celebrimbor. A peerless master craftsman, Celebrimbor would be Sauron’s ideal partner as he plots to dominate the leaders of Middle-earth.
Game Rant spoke withThe Rings of PowerSauron actor Charlie Vickers and Celebrimbor actor Charles Edwards about the pair’s approach to their characters and the dynamic between them. Vicker spoke to Sauron’s motivations and perspective, while Edwards offered insight into the power dynamic between the legendary elven craftsman and the fallen Maiar.
Sauron Is Not Pure Evil In The Rings of Power
When it comes to Sauron, Vickers says it’s important to understand his motivation at this point in the tale.Sauron is not strictly evil, as Elrond once said: “For nothing is evil in the beginning. Even Sauron was not so.” Sauron’s goal, misguided as it is, is to heal and bring order to Middle-earth. Keeping that intention in mind, Vickers deliberately expressed some warmth and thoughtfulness in Sauron, which is a far cry from the embodiment of evil he eventually becomes.
“I think his intention, right? And I think any kind of character traits that are evident are all a consequence of what he seeks. That’s such a thing that was really clear to me right back from the early pages ofThe Silmarillionto Of the Rings of Power, The Akallabeth, all that stuff that he wants–at least at this time period–he wants to heal Middle-earth.
“Everything comes from that desire, and it stretches right back. You know, he was a student of Aule who was a master craftsman. Hence this relationship is so fruitful because he loves art and he loves beautiful things, and really respects someone who can bring those things to life. So I think that’s a real key part of the character, at least in this time period: making beautiful rings.”
As a student of Aulë,the craftsman Valarwho helped create the world’s base substances, Sauron has a deep love for fine craftsmanship, art, and gifted creators. There is some sincere admiration and respect from Sauron toward Celebrimbor despite some underlying manipulation, and Sauron likely sees a kindred spirit in Celebrimbor. In this way, Celebrimbor is as close to a friend in Middle-earth as Sauron can manage at this point.
The Rings of Power’s Celebrimbor and Sauron Are Locked In A Battle of Wits
In turn, Celebrimbor also sees Sauron–whom he knows as Halbrand–as a partner and a peer. Edwards points out that at least initially,Celebrimbor is not merely a puppet for Sauron. Early on in the second season, Celebrimbor is shown refusing to meet with Sauron for an entire day, leaving him to stand out in the rain as he mulls over what to do. It’s only when Sauron displays his godlike Valar powers that Celebrimbor begins to act more submissively.
“Well, it’s been a very, very rewarding shooting. This story for the two of us has been so rewarding and so enjoyable and satisfying, because, as you say, it gets very interesting and very psychological and challenging.
“But the one thing we tried to maintain was that with both of them–that it’s not just Sauron leading Celebrimbor–there’s a battle of wits and of power going on between the two for much of it, which makes it much more interesting to play and also more interesting to watch. So Celebrimbor is not just a kind of puppet, he fights back when he needs to until he can’t anymore.”
After Sauron’s display of power, Celebrimbor appears to be completely under his thrall, but Tolkien fans know a few twists are still waiting to play out. It’ll be interesting to see how The Rings of Power handles this relationship’s development and particularlyCelebrimbor’s tragic fate.
