Announced at the end of episode 3 and present in parts 4 and 5 of the Rings of Power, Adar is causing a lot of ink to flow among the fans of the series. But who is he really? We have a theory!
SPOILERS – Warning, the article below reveals potential spoilers. If you do not wish to know the content, please do not read what follows.
Announced at the end of episode 3 of the Rings of Power, Adar harbors many theories about his true identity.
After the events of episodes 4 and 5, it would seem unlikely that this implacable lord of the orcs is Sauron himself.
With his disfigured face, his phlegmatic calm and his terrifying aura, Adar is a deadly threat to the Men of Tirharad.
A CORRUPT ELF?
A stunning detail in its anatomy may give a clue to the true identity of this Adar, whose original name Sindarin (the language of the Gray Elves) means “father”. We already knew that the latter was an Elf, given his pointed ears.
But another detail attracts attention at the level of his arms. Indeed, Adar wears a gauntlet on his left limb. What’s amazing is that he doesn’t wear this piece of armor on both of his arms, leaving the right bare.
Why would the leader of the Orcs hide even one of his superior limbs? If we know that this character was invented for the needs of the series, the showrunners may have drawn on the lore of the Silmarillion of Tolkien to build Adar.
LOVE, MAGLOR AND BEAUTY
Indeed, in the book, we find an Elf named Maglor, second son of Fëanor, the creator of the 3 Silmarils. Renowned for his magnificent voice, Maglor took the Oath of Fëanor, following his father and brothers to Middle-earth.
This oath obliges them to prosecute anyone other than themselves in possession of a Silmaril. After many atrocities perpetrated to recover the Silmarils, Maglor and his brother Maedhros, the only survivors, had their hands burned by these jewels after holding them.
Maglor threw one into the sea after his member ignited. This would explain why Adar wears this gauntlet on his left arm. If Maedhros threw himself into a crevasse, Maglor wandered along the coasts of Middle-earth, singing his pain.
This description could therefore well correspond to Adar, a corrupt Elf who took command of the Orcs in the Southern Lands. Are we going to learn that the latter is called Maglor, inspired by his story in The Silmarillion ? Answer in future episodes of Rings of Power on Prime Video.
WHO IS ADAR?
Adar is portrayed by actor Joseph Mawle, who appeared in Game of Thrones, as Benjen Stark, brother of Ned Stark and First Patroller of the Night’s Watch.
In barely 6 episodes, divided between seasons 1, 6 and 7, the character had had time to be left for dead north of the wall, resisting a transformation into a spectrum.
When Joseph Mawle was announced for the cast of Rings of Power, Deadline reports said he would portray “Oren” and be the main antagonist for Season 1.
The character has had a name change, like most of those announced at the time, and it would presumably be a character who would not be allied with Sauron and would have goals of his own.
However, the last events of episode 5 blur the tracks. That’s why we’ll have to be patient before his true identity is revealed to everyone.
OUR DEBRIEF OF EPISODES 3, 4 AND 5 OF THE RINGS OF POWER