The Rings of Power may’ve taken big swings with its version of Sauron, but one star is standing firm; he believes his portrayal is the most faithful to Tolkien yet. Instead of going full dark lord from the jump, this Sauron is a slow-burn threat, hiding in plain sight and playing the long game.
The actor behind the character sees it as a necessary evolution, one that leans into manipulation, charm, and quiet control rather than brute force. It’s a take that adds layers to the villain we thought we knew, and according to him, it’s exactly what the story needed after The Lord of the Rings.
Is Sauron just misunderstood? Charlie Vickers thinks so
Sauron isn’t just the shadowy figure looming over Middle-earth; he’s layered, conflicted, and, according to Rings of Power star Charlie Vickers, misunderstood.
At an FYC event (via Variety), Vickers opened up about playing the Dark Lord in Amazon’s The Rings of Power. He’s not just portraying evil, but exploring the heart beneath the havoc. The Palm Beach star alluded,
I think it’s tricky with Sauron, because he’s kind of like the embodiment of evil, right? And you think of Sauron as synonymous with one of the most evil characters ever written.
But when you really look into what Tolkien wrote about him, he’s incredibly three-dimensional, and he seeks peace for Middle-earth and the healing of Middle-earth. It just all has to happen his way, which is, I think, where the evil bit comes in.
That portrayal of twisted morality was pure Tolkien. Vickers dove into the original text and found that the author “wrote specifically about Sauron” having “good intentions.” The result was a villain who truly believes in his mission, even if it means manipulation, murder, or domination.
Season 2 takes that duality up a notch. From his emotional breakdown after killing Celebrimbor to the intense power struggle with Galadriel, Sauron’s complexity is front and center. Vickers even highlighted a pivotal moment where Celebrimbor accuses Sauron of deceiving himself, something that visibly shakes him.
And that Galadriel connection was more than a lie. The 32-year-old star plays it with nuance, giving fans just enough ambiguity to wonder: does he care, or is it all part of the con?
Sauron might be the villain, but he’s no cartoon baddie. He’s deeply flawed, tragically sincere, and disturbingly relatable. That’s what makes him unforgettable and exactly how Tolkien imagined him.
The Rings of Power turned Sauron’s evil plan into a redemption arc
Sauron, the flaming eyeball of doom, is suddenly giving underdog energy in The Rings of Power Season 2. Instead of a towering Dark Lord, we meet a guy clawing his way back from betrayal, orc beatdowns, and full-on blob mode. All in the name of building his dream empire.
Be it buying drinks for smiths in Númenor or getting shanked by his own army, Sauron’s story is a tragic, oddly inspirational grind. Charlie Vickers’ portrayal leans into the struggle. And while we know Frodo eventually undoes it all with one volcanic toss, Season 2 shows just how hard Sauron worked for it.
Middle-earth’s biggest villain, you call it? Maybe. But he’s also the most determined. And frankly, who knew Sauron would become fantasy TV’s most relatable dreamer?
Catch the layers unravel on Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, streaming now on Prime Video.
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