Celebrimbor cannot see the real Eregion in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6, begging the question of how Sauron achieved this. For the most part, season 2 of the Prime Video show has centered around Sauron’s plan in T he Rings of Power. After being briefly cast out by Galadriel in The Rings of Power season 1’s ending, Sauron returned to Eregion and Celebrimbor to finish the crafting of the titular jewelry, leading the latter character down a dark path of deceit and manipulation.

This plan has proved mostly successful thus far, with 10 of the 20 total Rings of Power being crafted. In The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6, Sauron begins to lose his patience with Celebrimbor, who has yet to perfect the crafting of the nine rings of men. As the Siege of Eregion – a major part of The Rings of Power‘s Second Age timeline – gets underway, Celebrimbor is unable to see what is really happening around him. Naturally, questions will be raised of why this is the case, and what powers Sauron has to achieve this.

Sauron Has Gradually Been Chipping Away At Celebrimbor’s Mind In The Rings Of Power

Celebrimbor Is Much More Susceptible To Sauron’s Illusions

The reason behind Celebrimbor believing the illusions comes from the prior episodes of The Rings of Power season 2. Since the premiere, Sauron has been gradually embedding himself into Celebrimbor’s mind, following Adar’s words of “His eye bores a hole, and the rest of him slithers in.” Using his mastery over deceit, manipulation, and trickery, Sauron has slowly convinced Celebrimbor that he is losing his mind, successfully conveying this “reality” to the other smiths of Eregion too.

Rings of Power Season 2 Episodes
Episode Number
Release Date

“Elven Kings Under the Sky”
Season 2, Episode 1
August 29, 2024

“Where the Stars are Strange”
Season 2, Episode 2
August 29, 2024

“The Eagle and the Sceptre”
Season 2, Episode 3
August 29, 2024

“Eldest”
Season 2, Episode 4
September 5, 2024

“Halls of Stone”
Season 2, Episode 5
September 12, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 6
September 19, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 7
September 26, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 8
October 3, 2024

As such, The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6 shows Celebrimbor at his lowest point. Celebrimbor does not know what is real and what is not as a result of Sauron’s manipulation, meaning the latter can easily cast his illusion spell over the former. This explains why Celebrimbor is oblivious to what is really happening in Eregion, as he can no longer differentiate between logic and reality or fiction and deception.

Does Sauron Really Have The Power To Create Visions?

Sauron’s Magic Could Lead To Illusions & Visions

Custom image by Ana Nieves

This development with Sauron and Celebrimbor in The Rings of Power season 2 begs the question of whether the former can even create visions. In Tolkien’s works, it is never explicitly stated that visions such as the one seen in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6 could be created by Sauron, but it certainly makes sense using context clues. For example, deceit and trickery are prime weapons of Sauron in Tolkien’s Legendarium, as is his ability to shape-shift at will, such as presenting himself as The Rings of Power‘s Annatar.

The Rings of Power’s Sauron visions fit with the villain’s depiction in Peter Jackson’s two Middle-earth trilogies, where visions of the Ring and Mordor were often shown to characters falling under his influence.

Considering Sauron has the ability to change his own appearance, it is not a stretch to say he can manipulate the environment around him using his sorcery. This likely explains how he can create the vision of a peaceful Eregion to Celebrimbor. Sauron has already wormed his way inside Celebrimbor’s mind, and need only use a slight bit of magic to create the illusion around him. While not something outlined completely in Tolkien’s books, Sauron’s vision is another instance of The Rings of Power wisely altering the source material to tell a compelling story.