Researchers have named a new group of butterflies after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron. According to a report by the Natural History Museum in London on Sunday (May 7), while there are currently only two members of the genus Saurona, many more as-yet-undescribed species are thought to exist. Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera are the first butterflies named after Sauron.

"The Eye of Sauron is a well-known symbol from the Lord of the Rings and was famously depicted on screen as a fiery orange eye peering over the landscape of Middle Earth. So when a group of butterflies with bright orange hindwings and dark eyespots needed redescribing, researchers wasted no time in honouring the work of J.R.R. Tolkien in the name of a new genus," the report said. &nbsp;

Saurona is one of the several new butterfly genera described by an international team of researchers in a new paper, and one of the two named by Dr Blanca Huertas, the senior curator of butterflies at the museum. Dr Huertas said giving an unusual name to these butterflies helped to draw attention to this underappreciated group.&nbsp;

"It shows that, even among a group of very similar-looking species, you can find beauty among the dullness," she said and pointed out that naming a genus is not something that happens very often, and it is even rare to be able to name two at once.&nbsp;

"It was a great privilege to do so, and now means that we can start describing new species that we have uncovered as a result of this research, "Dr Huertas added.&nbsp;

But the butterflies are not only the ones to be named after Saurona. Sunday's report by the Natural History Museum said that a dung beetle, a frog and even a dinosaur have been named after the Lord of the Rings villain.&nbsp;

Though naming animals after a fictional character may seem spurious, &nbsp;it can be an important way of drawing attention to them.

Many species have been named after J.R.R. Tolkien and his work. "The wizard Gandalf, for instance, has a group of fossil mammals and species of crab, moth and beetle named after him, while Gollum gives his name to snails, wasps and a fish," the report said.&nbsp;

In 2021, Australian scientists named three beetles after Pokemon species Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.&nbsp;

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Researchers have named a new group of butterflies after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron. According to a report by the Natural History Museum in London on Sunday (May 7), while there are currently only two members of the genus Saurona, many more as-yet-undescribed species are thought to exist.

Researchers have named a new group of butterflies after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron. According to a report by the Natural History Museum in London on Sunday (May 7), while there are currently only two members of the genus Saurona, many more as-yet-undescribed species are thought to exist. Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera are the first butterflies named after Sauron. "The Eye of Sauron is a well-known symbol from the Lord of the Rings and was famously depicted on screen as a fiery orange eye peering over the landscape of Middle Earth. So when a group of butterflies with bright orange hindwings and dark eyespots needed redescribing, researchers wasted no time in honouring the work of J.R.R. Tolkien in the name of a new genus," the report said. Saurona is one of the several new butterfly genera described by an international team of researchers in a new paper, and one of the two named by Dr Blanca Huertas, the senior curator of butterflies at the museum. Dr Huertas said giving an unusual name to these butterflies helped to draw attention to this underappreciated group. "It shows that, even among a group of very similar-looking species, you can find beauty among the dullness," she said and pointed out that naming a genus is not something that happens very often, and it is even rare to be able to name two at once. "It was a great privilege to do so, and now means that we can start describing new species that we have uncovered as a result of this research, "Dr Huertas added. But the butterflies are not only the ones to be named after Saurona. Sunday's report by the Natural History Museum said that a dung beetle, a frog and even a dinosaur have been named after the Lord of the Rings villain. Though naming animals after a fictional character may seem spurious, it can be an important way of drawing attention to them. Many species have been named after J.R.R. Tolkien and his work. "The wizard Gandalf, for instance, has a group of fossil mammals and species of crab, moth and beetle named after him, while Gollum gives his name to snails, wasps and a fish," the report said. In 2021, Australian scientists named three beetles after Pokemon species Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Homage to 'eye-conic' villain: Butterfly species named after Sauron in Lord of the Rings

In the finale of 'Rings of Power' season 1, the identity of Dark Lord Sauron, which was earlier teased throughout the season, was reveald. While the trio of evil, white-clad witches declared the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the mysterious, tall man who had fallen from the sky like a meteor, and was found by Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and other Harfoots, as Sauron, it was soon proven false later in the episode. We saw Halbrand (<a href="'The Rings of Power' actor Charlie Vickers reveals that even he didn’t know he was Sauron">Charlie Vickers</a>) recovering a suspiciously quickly and helping elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) create the artifacts that would save the elves. It was Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) who finally realised that Halbrand is Sauron.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-rings-of-power-season-1-finale-alloyed-review-sauron-reveals-himself-in-an-exhilirating-episode-525401">'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale 'Alloyed' review: Sauron reveals himself in an exhilarating episode</a>

Unless you are not well-versed in your pop culture, you know Sauron is the main villain in JRR Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' and Peter Jackson's trilogy in the book. Sauron, briefly, appears in 'The Hobbit' trilogy as well. Sauron is one of the most well-known villains in pop culture. That is saying something since in 'LotR' he does not have a corporeal form and instead exists as a fiery eye.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F56jyZTA2z4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Sauron was a servant of Melkor, later known as Morgoth, who is mentioned in 'Rings of Power', basically Lucifer of Middle-earth who brought terrible destruction upon the earth and waged the greatest war against elves. But since 'The Rings of Power' is set in the Second Age and Morgoth is long gone, Sauron is the only one we should take into consideration.

<h2>So who is Sauron, exactly?</h2>

The Sauron we know was not always evil. Let me explain. The lore of Middle-earth, and the creation myth, are inspired by Christian theology. There is a supreme power called Eru or Eru Ilúvatar. Eru willed the world (called Arda by Tolkien) into existence through music. The first creations were angelic spirits called the Ainur, who later helped him create more numerous but lesser beings. Ainur joined their own melodies to Eru's music.

After the creation was complete, Eru gave the Ainur a choice to either stay with him or live at Arda. Those who lived at Arda&nbsp;were called the Valar, among whom was Melkor.&nbsp;Maiar were lesser spirits who were formed to assist the Valar. Both Sauron and Gandalf (along with the rest of the wizards) were Maiar. Sauron served Aulë, who was the smith of the Valar, and learned from his skills that would later help him while forging the One Ring. Sauron was well-respected among the elves, who were the only beings that populated Arda back then.

But he then becomes a lieutenant of Morgoth, the greatest of the Ainur, who rebelled against Eru, a lot like Lucifer. All evil on Arda stems from him. But after Morgoth was defeated, Sauron ran and established himself as the Dark Lord. The First Age of Middle-earth ended.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-a-majestic-fantasy-tv-series-worthy-of-jrr-tolkien-511819">'The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power' review: A majestic fantasy TV series worthy of JRR Tolkien</a>

<h2>What was Sauron doing in Second Age?</h2>
<img alt="sauron" data-caption="Charlie Vickers as Sauron." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e53e2a8d-8672-4db2-90ee-a3239c2dda7e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/sauron.PNG" />
We know 'The Rings of Power' is set during the Second Age. As the subtitle suggests, ‘Rings of Power’, is centred around the forging of magical rings by eleven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) who is tricked into it. While Sauron ostensibly gives powerful rings to all races, he forges the One Ring in secret, which can control the power of all the other, thus potentially allowing him to rule every single individual. We saw an actor, which many thought looked like a younger Eminem, looking all devilish, but that may just be Sauron's disguise, as among his many great powers was shapeshifting.&nbsp;

But why did Celebrimbor trust Sauron, who pretty much called himself the Dark Lord? Well, because he was disguised as Annatar or Lord of Gifts to seduce elven smiths, including Celebrimbor, in magical arts. The Rings of Power were forged, and they were powerful, but the One Rings's power could not be denied.&nbsp;'Rings of Power' changes a bit of the lore. In the show, Sauron is posing as a mortal called Halbrand and assists Celebrimbor into creating the rings. Presumably he will do the same with the dwarves and men.

<h2>How was Sauron vanquished?</h2>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FyzE9thQIPo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Most casual fans of the franchise would know Sauron as the flaming eye in Jackson movies, a form he is reduced to after the One Ring was taken from him by Númenorean prince Isildur. But Isildur did not destroy the ring, which would have ended Sauron once and for all, and it took thousands of years for Sauron to be finally vanquished mostly thanks to two hobbits, Frodo and Sam, at the end of the Third Age.

If you are yet to watch the Peter Jackson-directed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, you are in for an experience of a lifetime.

In the finale of 'Rings of Power' season 1, the identity of Dark Lord Sauron, which was earlier teased throughout the season, was reveald. While the trio of evil, white-clad witches declared the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the mysterious, tall man who had fallen from the sky like a meteor, and was found by Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and other Harfoots, as Sauron, it was soon proven false later in the episode.

In the finale of 'Rings of Power' season 1, the identity of Dark Lord Sauron, which was earlier teased throughout the season, was reveald. While the trio of evil, white-clad witches declared the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the mysterious, tall man who had fallen from the sky like a meteor, and was found by Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and other Harfoots, as Sauron, it was soon proven false later in the episode. We saw Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) recovering a suspiciously quickly and helping elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) create the artifacts that would save the elves. It was Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) who finally realised that Halbrand is Sauron. Also Read: 'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale 'Alloyed' review: Sauron reveals himself in an exhilarating episode Unless you are not well-versed in your pop culture, you know Sauron is the main villain in JRR Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' and Peter Jackson's trilogy in the book. Sauron, briefly, appears in 'The Hobbit' trilogy as well. Sauron is one of the most well-known villains in pop culture. That is saying something since in 'LotR' he does not have a corporeal form and instead exists as a fiery eye. Sauron was a servant of Melkor, later known as Morgoth, who is mentioned in 'Rings of Power', basically Lucifer of Middle-earth who brought terrible destruction upon the earth and waged the greatest war against elves. But since 'The Rings of Power' is set in the Second Age and Morgoth is long gone, Sauron is the only one we should take into consideration. So who is Sauron, exactly? The Sauron we know was not always evil. Let me explain. The lore of Middle-earth, and the creation myth, are inspired by Christian theology. There is a supreme power called Eru or Eru Ilúvatar. Eru willed the world (called Arda by Tolkien) into existence through music. The first creations were angelic spirits called the Ainur, who later helped him create more numerous but lesser beings. Ainur joined their own melodies to Eru's music. After the creation was complete, Eru gave the Ainur a choice to either stay with him or live at Arda. Those who lived at Arda were called the Valar, among whom was Melkor. Maiar were lesser spirits who were formed to assist the Valar. Both Sauron and Gandalf (along with the rest of the wizards) were Maiar. Sauron served Aulë, who was the smith of the Valar, and learned from his skills that would later help him while forging the One Ring. Sauron was well-respected among the elves, who were the only beings that populated Arda back then. But he then becomes a lieutenant of Morgoth, the greatest of the Ainur, who rebelled against Eru, a lot like Lucifer. All evil on Arda stems from him. But after Morgoth was defeated, Sauron ran and established himself as the Dark Lord. The First Age of Middle-earth ended. Also Read: 'The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power' review: A majestic fantasy TV series worthy of JRR Tolkien What was Sauron doing in Second Age? We know 'The Rings of Power' is set during the Second Age. As the subtitle suggests, ‘Rings of Power’, is centred around the forging of magical rings by eleven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) who is tricked into it. While Sauron ostensibly gives powerful rings to all races, he forges the One Ring in secret, which can control the power of all the other, thus potentially allowing him to rule every single individual. We saw an actor, which many thought looked like a younger Eminem, looking all devilish, but that may just be Sauron's disguise, as among his many great powers was shapeshifting. But why did Celebrimbor trust Sauron, who pretty much called himself the Dark Lord? Well, because he was disguised as Annatar or Lord of Gifts to seduce elven smiths, including Celebrimbor, in magical arts. The Rings of Power were forged, and they were powerful, but the One Rings's power could not be denied. 'Rings of Power' changes a bit of the lore. In the show, Sauron is posing as a mortal called Halbrand and assists Celebrimbor into creating the rings. Presumably he will do the same with the dwarves and men. How was Sauron vanquished? Most casual fans of the franchise would know Sauron as the flaming eye in Jackson movies, a form he is reduced to after the One Ring was taken from him by Númenorean prince Isildur. But Isildur did not destroy the ring, which would have ended Sauron once and for all, and it took thousands of years for Sauron to be finally vanquished mostly thanks to two hobbits, Frodo and Sam, at the end of the Third Age. If you are yet to watch the Peter Jackson-directed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, you are in for an experience of a lifetime.

'Rings of Power' finale: 'Who, exactly, is Sauron? Dark Lord's origin explained

Amazon's 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is almost here and the excitement among JRR Tolkien fans is sky-high. 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, set a dizzyingly high bar for any movie or show set in Middle-earth and created the sort of magic that even he, with 'The Hobbit' trilogy, could not recreate. A Tolkien adaptation that will not specifically be based on anything he wrote, 'The Rings of Power' is the most expensive production of its kind, TV or film. With five seasons, it reportedly has a budget of $1 billion, and the rights to the Middle-earth stories from the Tolkien Estate were brought for $250 million. Thus the total budget ($2.25 billion) dwarfs every movie or show ever made.

&nbsp;

Amazon's 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is almost here and the excitement among JRR Tolkien fans is sky-high. 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, set a dizzyingly high bar for any movie or show set in Middle-earth and created the sort of magic that even he, with 'The Hobbit' trilogy, could not recreate.

Amazon's 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is almost here and the excitement among JRR Tolkien fans is sky-high. 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, set a dizzyingly high bar for any movie or show set in Middle-earth and created the sort of magic that even he, with 'The Hobbit' trilogy, could not recreate. A Tolkien adaptation that will not specifically be based on anything he wrote, 'The Rings of Power' is the most expensive production of its kind, TV or film. With five seasons, it reportedly has a budget of $1 billion, and the rights to the Middle-earth stories from the Tolkien Estate were brought for $250 million. Thus the total budget ($2.25 billion) dwarfs every movie or show ever made.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power': What to know about Sauron, big villain of Amazon's fantasy series

Action-packed, brilliant, and outright fantastic, Prime Video’s 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' finale has been all that fans of the franchise were waiting for and more! 
 
The biggest jaw-dropping truths about the forging of the rings and the real identity of the looming evil of Sauron were unveiled in epic episode 8. While the makers of the series kept us&nbsp;audiences in the dark about who would take up the mantle of one of Tolkien's greatest sinister of all time, actor Charlie Vickers (Halbrand-Sauron) divulges how his character was deceptive but not ever lied to throughout season 1.

Vickers says, "I find it interesting because he is this deceiver and, ultimately, in order to deceive he has to fully embody this form he’s taken on. In order to convince someone like Galadriel, he has to be completely immersed in what he’s doing, which meant for me completely immersing myself in the character of Halbrand. But all the subconscious work of Sauron is there in the back. "

Upon finding out that Vickers is in fact Sauron, the actor said, "I didn’t know for sure until the beginning of the third episode. We filmed the first two episodes and then the show went on hiatus because of COVID. Toward the end of the hiatus, the showrunners sat me down and told me I filmed that sequence on the raft not knowing. I filmed it as Halbrand wholeheartedly. But I did have an inkling, if I’m honest with you. My last two auditions were [reading lines from Richard III], and we know he’s not the greatest guy in the world. And then the other audition lines were from Paradise Lost, where you’re literally giving the speech as Satan. So that gave me an inkling that there was something up. So I was definitely suspicious, but it wasn’t confirmed until right before we started filming the third episode. "

While fans cannot keep calm and see where the journey lies ahead for Sauron and Galadriel, season 2 is already in production and eagerly awaited. All 8 episodes of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' are available to stream now in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada exclusively on Prime Video.

Action-packed, brilliant, and outright fantastic, Prime Video’s 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' finale has been all that fans of the franchise were waiting for and more!

Action-packed, brilliant, and outright fantastic, Prime Video’s 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' finale has been all that fans of the franchise were waiting for and more! The biggest jaw-dropping truths about the forging of the rings and the real identity of the looming evil of Sauron were unveiled in epic episode 8. While the makers of the series kept us audiences in the dark about who would take up the mantle of one of Tolkien's greatest sinister of all time, actor Charlie Vickers (Halbrand-Sauron) divulges how his character was deceptive but not ever lied to throughout season 1. Vickers says, "I find it interesting because he is this deceiver and, ultimately, in order to deceive he has to fully embody this form he’s taken on. In order to convince someone like Galadriel, he has to be completely immersed in what he’s doing, which meant for me completely immersing myself in the character of Halbrand. But all the subconscious work of Sauron is there in the back. " Upon finding out that Vickers is in fact Sauron, the actor said, "I didn’t know for sure until the beginning of the third episode. We filmed the first two episodes and then the show went on hiatus because of COVID. Toward the end of the hiatus, the showrunners sat me down and told me I filmed that sequence on the raft not knowing. I filmed it as Halbrand wholeheartedly. But I did have an inkling, if I’m honest with you. My last two auditions were [reading lines from Richard III], and we know he’s not the greatest guy in the world. And then the other audition lines were from Paradise Lost, where you’re literally giving the speech as Satan. So that gave me an inkling that there was something up. So I was definitely suspicious, but it wasn’t confirmed until right before we started filming the third episode. " While fans cannot keep calm and see where the journey lies ahead for Sauron and Galadriel, season 2 is already in production and eagerly awaited. All 8 episodes of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' are available to stream now in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada exclusively on Prime Video.

'The Rings of Power' actor Charlie Vickers reveals that even he didn’t know he was Sauron

For many fans of JRR Tolkien's writings and Peter Jackson's movies on the author's works, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been an expensive atrocity. They say things like the series besmirches the name of Tolkien's magnum opus by making significant changes in the lore, casts actors of colour in roles that should be reserved for those with white skin, and so on. But for others, this writer included, 'Rings of Power' has been a gift. Perhaps, being a lifelong Tolkien fan, it is hard for me to be objective about it -- though I have tried my best.&nbsp;

'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale episode, 'Alloyed', is full of reveals, big moments, and hints for the dark future of Middle-earth. Above all, it feels wonderfully familiar. 'The Lord of the Rings' is above all a story about the perils of temptation, the pleasures of simple life, and how great evil fears courage more than anything else. 'Rings of Power', thematically at least, is approaching the 'LotR' we know.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6D5w2TG8IqM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

In the last episode, the forces of Southlanders and Númenór lick their wounds. The Númenóreans, greatly diminished, leave for their home, promising to return. Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) was injured in the battle. Galadriel takes Halbrand to Lindon, believing only Elvish medicine can cure him.

SPOILER ALERT

'Alloyed' begins with a bang and it is finally revealed who really is Sauron. Or not. The mysterious, white-clad trio converge on the tall, bearded Stranger (Daniel Weyman), and call him 'Lord Sauron'. He is certainly one among the Maiar, the primordial spirits among whom was Sauron. But the Istari, incarnated as five wizards (like Gandalf and Sauron), were also among the Maiar. So is he Sauron or one among the Istari? Turns out, he is a wizard, and most likely the one who would come to be known as Gandalf, though the episode did not confirm that. Yes, the wizards did not appear until the Third Age in Tolkien's stories, but 'Rings of Power' is allowed any liberty it wishes so long as it keeps the storytelling interesting. And, for my money, it has done until now.&nbsp;

The Istari urges Nori (Markella Kavenagh) to go on a journey, I mean adventure, with him. They bid adieu to the Harfoots.&nbsp;
<img alt="galadriel" data-caption="Morfydd Clarke as Galadriel." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74927ee7-b756-46db-b347-49a92f4d2c7f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/galadriel.PNG" />
Meanwhile, at the elvish stronghold Lindon, the elves are hopeless about what to do with their impending doom. The elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) is hard at work, thinking even a bit of Mithril can cure the sickness that is engulfing them. But he encounters issues. Halbrand, now apparently cured, gives a gift of using the right alloy can amplify Mithril's qualities.&nbsp;

After Galadriel gets suspicious about Halbrand, she checks the bloodline of the Southalnder kings, and finds out it was broken thousands of years ago. Halbrand isn't who he says he is. Yes, Halbrand is revealed to be Sauron. And while I suspected so, it is done in a thrilling way that will take your breath away. There is a shot featuring the reflections of both, with Halbrand wearing Sauron's pointy crown and Galadriel as his evil queen.
<img alt="sauron" data-caption="Will the real Lord Sauron show himself please?" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c7b9782-535c-437b-aa67-3573bbfd15fb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/rings-of-power.PNG" />
Sauron escapes, presumably to fool dwarves and men in Númenór and get them to forge similar rings too. And he will forge the One Ring at the ruined Southlands, now renamed Mordor. Remember the ditty: "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky / Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone / Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die / One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne / In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."

'Alloyed' is an exhilarating finale that gives a worthy conclusion to 'Rings of Power' season 1. It feels more crucial than even the sixth episode, 'Udûn', which featured the biggest battle of the season. The war against Sauron will not just be corporeal. It will also be a war against temptation. For the Rings of Power, true to the name, grant immense strength to its bearer, and the allure of such strength is hard to resist. We know many mighty folks will fall before the desire to have power over others.

For many fans of JRR Tolkien's writings and Peter Jackson's movies on the author's works, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been an expensive atrocity.

For many fans of JRR Tolkien's writings and Peter Jackson's movies on the author's works, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been an expensive atrocity. They say things like the series besmirches the name of Tolkien's magnum opus by making significant changes in the lore, casts actors of colour in roles that should be reserved for those with white skin, and so on. But for others, this writer included, 'Rings of Power' has been a gift. Perhaps, being a lifelong Tolkien fan, it is hard for me to be objective about it -- though I have tried my best. 'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale episode, 'Alloyed', is full of reveals, big moments, and hints for the dark future of Middle-earth. Above all, it feels wonderfully familiar. 'The Lord of the Rings' is above all a story about the perils of temptation, the pleasures of simple life, and how great evil fears courage more than anything else. 'Rings of Power', thematically at least, is approaching the 'LotR' we know. In the last episode, the forces of Southlanders and Númenór lick their wounds. The Númenóreans, greatly diminished, leave for their home, promising to return. Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) was injured in the battle. Galadriel takes Halbrand to Lindon, believing only Elvish medicine can cure him. SPOILER ALERT 'Alloyed' begins with a bang and it is finally revealed who really is Sauron. Or not. The mysterious, white-clad trio converge on the tall, bearded Stranger (Daniel Weyman), and call him 'Lord Sauron'. He is certainly one among the Maiar, the primordial spirits among whom was Sauron. But the Istari, incarnated as five wizards (like Gandalf and Sauron), were also among the Maiar. So is he Sauron or one among the Istari? Turns out, he is a wizard, and most likely the one who would come to be known as Gandalf, though the episode did not confirm that. Yes, the wizards did not appear until the Third Age in Tolkien's stories, but 'Rings of Power' is allowed any liberty it wishes so long as it keeps the storytelling interesting. And, for my money, it has done until now. The Istari urges Nori (Markella Kavenagh) to go on a journey, I mean adventure, with him. They bid adieu to the Harfoots. Meanwhile, at the elvish stronghold Lindon, the elves are hopeless about what to do with their impending doom. The elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) is hard at work, thinking even a bit of Mithril can cure the sickness that is engulfing them. But he encounters issues. Halbrand, now apparently cured, gives a gift of using the right alloy can amplify Mithril's qualities. After Galadriel gets suspicious about Halbrand, she checks the bloodline of the Southalnder kings, and finds out it was broken thousands of years ago. Halbrand isn't who he says he is. Yes, Halbrand is revealed to be Sauron. And while I suspected so, it is done in a thrilling way that will take your breath away. There is a shot featuring the reflections of both, with Halbrand wearing Sauron's pointy crown and Galadriel as his evil queen. Sauron escapes, presumably to fool dwarves and men in Númenór and get them to forge similar rings too. And he will forge the One Ring at the ruined Southlands, now renamed Mordor. Remember the ditty: "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky / Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone / Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die / One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne / In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie." 'Alloyed' is an exhilarating finale that gives a worthy conclusion to 'Rings of Power' season 1. It feels more crucial than even the sixth episode, 'Udûn', which featured the biggest battle of the season. The war against Sauron will not just be corporeal. It will also be a war against temptation. For the Rings of Power, true to the name, grant immense strength to its bearer, and the allure of such strength is hard to resist. We know many mighty folks will fall before the desire to have power over others.

'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale 'Alloyed' review: Sauron reveals himself in an exhilarating episode

The sixth episode of Prime Video's fantasy series 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is arguably its best yet. After starting off sedately and setting up characters and the central conflict, 'Udûn' fires on all cylinders (more literally than you would expect) to deliver an hour so of television brimming with action, character, and wow moments. The villagers of the Southlands finally face the battle that Adar (Joseph Mawle) and his orcs threatened with aplomb but everything comes crashing down before the end -- again, quite literally.

The show, based on the world created by JRR Tolkien, has been teasing the impending reveal or arrival of Sauron for quite a while. And no, this episode does not put an end to that speculation. Speculate away. But 'Udûn' does make it clear that the future Dark Lord and former Morgoth lieutenant is pulling the strings.

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The following paragraphs contain spoilers. Read at your own risk. Better still, watch the episode and then come back.

What happened in 'Udûn'?

A lot. As Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), and other villagers managed to spring Adar and orcs into a trap. But a lot of them still survive, and attack the villagers, who have retreated back to the village. Adar makes it purpose clear: to acquire the broken blade that has cause much trouble until now. The Númenóreans, led by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Míriel), save the day in time and Adar is captured before he can escape with the blade. However, the blade he has is a fake, and Waldreg escaped with the real blade. He blade is planted into that mechanism we saw earlier, which causes a lot of water from the dam to release. It rushes through the tunnels the orcs had dug, and the Mount Doom erupts. We see a stupefied Galadriel walking into the cloud of magma (of course, she will survive for thousands of years).

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-rings-of-power-episode-5-review-partings-sets-the-stage-for-war-against-sauron-518942">'Rings of Power' Episode 5 review: 'Partings' sets the stage for war against Sauron</a>

Why is 'Udûn' so good?

'Udûn', more than any other episode before that, evokes Peter Jackson''s 'LotR' trilogy in terms of scale, grand visuals, and elves (even if just two) doing insane acrobatics to cut through ranks of orcs. I just cannot wait for the finale.

What's Adar's deal?

<img alt="adar" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8a45c5a-eea8-4cec-bfc0-2dfab4baacd7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/adar.jpeg" />

Oh, and Adar is an Uruk (also called Moriondor in the show). Remember the Uruk Hai, whose leader killed Boromir and almost killed Aragorn in 'The Fellowship of the Ring'? Adar is the same, but less orc-ish and more elvish. Adar has proven to be a more complicated villain. He spoke about finding a home for himself and his children (the orcs), to explain why he is waging war in the Southlands, that he and the orcs feel something like orphans in a world without Morgoth and Sauron (whom he claims to have killed) -- which is interesting. We will have to see what the show does with this themes.

The episode also throws up a couple of surprises, particularly related to Adar, who is way more a devious enemy than anybody -- including us the viewers -- expected. When asked about where is Sauron, he says he killed him. But nobody is fooled. Perhaps he wanted to dawdle before his plan could be discovered and stopped?

<img alt="galadriel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13d2fe34-fb9c-41d1-9a43-9804d5a57f46" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/galadriel.jpg" />

Who and where is Sauron?

We know Sauron is somewhere. Perhaps he is somebody we have seen, but more likely he is somebody we are yet to see. Halbrand is not Sauron, the episode almost makes it clear. The Stranger is still a contender, but chances are, he is Gandalf or some other wizard. Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) is present in the show, and we know from lore that Sauron fools him into forging the Rings of Power that leads to chaos and war on Middle-earth. But we have not seen any character that the elven smith is working with until now. Sauron may already be working with Celebrimbor in disguise.

I love this show.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The sixth episode of Prime Video's fantasy series 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is arguably its best yet. After starting off sedately and setting up characters and the central conflict, 'Udûn' fires on all cylinders (more literally than you would expect) to deliver an hour so of television brimming with action, character, and wow moments.

The sixth episode of Prime Video's fantasy series 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is arguably its best yet. After starting off sedately and setting up characters and the central conflict, 'Udûn' fires on all cylinders (more literally than you would expect) to deliver an hour so of television brimming with action, character, and wow moments. The villagers of the Southlands finally face the battle that Adar (Joseph Mawle) and his orcs threatened with aplomb but everything comes crashing down before the end -- again, quite literally. The show, based on the world created by JRR Tolkien, has been teasing the impending reveal or arrival of Sauron for quite a while. And no, this episode does not put an end to that speculation. Speculate away. But 'Udûn' does make it clear that the future Dark Lord and former Morgoth lieutenant is pulling the strings. The following paragraphs contain spoilers. Read at your own risk. Better still, watch the episode and then come back. What happened in 'Udûn'? A lot. As Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), and other villagers managed to spring Adar and orcs into a trap. But a lot of them still survive, and attack the villagers, who have retreated back to the village. Adar makes it purpose clear: to acquire the broken blade that has cause much trouble until now. The Númenóreans, led by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Míriel), save the day in time and Adar is captured before he can escape with the blade. However, the blade he has is a fake, and Waldreg escaped with the real blade. He blade is planted into that mechanism we saw earlier, which causes a lot of water from the dam to release. It rushes through the tunnels the orcs had dug, and the Mount Doom erupts. We see a stupefied Galadriel walking into the cloud of magma (of course, she will survive for thousands of years). Also Read | 'Rings of Power' Episode 5 review: 'Partings' sets the stage for war against Sauron Why is 'Udûn' so good? 'Udûn', more than any other episode before that, evokes Peter Jackson''s 'LotR' trilogy in terms of scale, grand visuals, and elves (even if just two) doing insane acrobatics to cut through ranks of orcs. I just cannot wait for the finale. What's Adar's deal? Oh, and Adar is an Uruk (also called Moriondor in the show). Remember the Uruk Hai, whose leader killed Boromir and almost killed Aragorn in 'The Fellowship of the Ring'? Adar is the same, but less orc-ish and more elvish. Adar has proven to be a more complicated villain. He spoke about finding a home for himself and his children (the orcs), to explain why he is waging war in the Southlands, that he and the orcs feel something like orphans in a world without Morgoth and Sauron (whom he claims to have killed) -- which is interesting. We will have to see what the show does with this themes. The episode also throws up a couple of surprises, particularly related to Adar, who is way more a devious enemy than anybody -- including us the viewers -- expected. When asked about where is Sauron, he says he killed him. But nobody is fooled. Perhaps he wanted to dawdle before his plan could be discovered and stopped? Who and where is Sauron? We know Sauron is somewhere. Perhaps he is somebody we have seen, but more likely he is somebody we are yet to see. Halbrand is not Sauron, the episode almost makes it clear. The Stranger is still a contender, but chances are, he is Gandalf or some other wizard. Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) is present in the show, and we know from lore that Sauron fools him into forging the Rings of Power that leads to chaos and war on Middle-earth. But we have not seen any character that the elven smith is working with until now. Sauron may already be working with Celebrimbor in disguise. I love this show.

'Rings of Power' Episode 6 review: Amazon's fantasy series delivers thrilling, action-packed television

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