Sam Hazeldine as Adar in The Rings of Power season 2 with burning land behind himAdar perishes during The Rings of Power season 2’s finale, and the Amazon series foreshadows his death during the second outing’s very first sceneThe Rings of Power season 2 opens with a flashback to Morgoth’s downfall, showing how Sauron sought to take his master’s place in Middle-earth — and how Adar killed him. It’s no surprise Adar stabs Sauron, as he tells Galadriel he killed the Dark Lord during The Rings of Power season 1. Of course, Sauron doesn’t stay dead. He returns as Halbrand in season 1, and he gains even more power as Annatar in season 2.

He also gains an Orc army by the end of The Rings of Power season 2, and it’s Sauron’s ability to sway the Orcs that leads to Adar’s death. Although they initially oppose him, Adar’s missteps lead the Orcs directly to Sauron. He convinces them to betray the Uruk they call “father” just as Adar sees the error of his ways. And season 2’s opening flashback cleverly foreshadows the brutal way Adar is killed, as Sauron’s death is very similar.

Adar’s Death In The Rings Of Power Season 2 Was A Perfect Mirror Of Sauron’s Death

Both Villains Perish In An Eerily Similar Way

Adar (Sam Hazeldine) dead after being betrayed by his army of Uruks in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8
The army of Uruks kills their leader, Adar in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8 Forodwaith Sauron (Jack Lowden) is murdered by the orcs under Adar's orders in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 1 Forodwaith Sauron (Jack Lowden) about to be crowned in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 1 Adar (Sam Hazeldine) regains his original appearance by using Galadriel's ring in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8Adar (Sam Hazeldine) dead after being betrayed by his army of Uruks in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8 The army of Uruks kills their leader, Adar in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8
Forodwaith Sauron (Jack Lowden) is murdered by the orcs under Adar's orders in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 1 Forodwaith Sauron (Jack Lowden) about to be crowned in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 1 Adar (Sam Hazeldine) regains his original appearance by using Galadriel's ring in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8

The Rings of Power season 2 uses Sauron’s death in the first episode to foreshadow Adar’s in the finale. Both of their deaths mirror one another, with Adar stabbing Sauron in the flashback and Sauron delivering the final, fatal blow to Adar. The top-down camera angle as each villain perishes is even similar; the final shots of Adar’s body and Sauron’s initial form both bear a striking resemblance to one another. This is likely intentional, as the characters’ storylines are so wrapped up in defeating each other.

Most viewers suspected Adar would die during the second outing, with Sauron replacing him as The Rings of Power‘s main villain in season 3. However, few anticipated that he’d go out the same way as Sauron during season 2’s opening. Perhaps we should have expected this outcome though, as it adds symmetry to their confrontation. It’s also something Sauron would definitely do on purpose, with Adar’s death further characterizing the Lord of the Rings villain.

Did Sauron Deliberately Kill Adar In The Same Way Adar Killed Him?

The Lord Of The Rings Villain Is Petty Enough To Do This

Sauron (Charlie Vickers) looking evil before the invasion of Adar's army to Eregion in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 6

Adar’s and Sauron’s deaths are too similar to be coincidental in The Rings of Power season 2, and it’s very likely Sauron intentionally kills his enemy in this manner. There’s a ton of resentment between these characters throughout Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show, so there’s little doubt Sauron would take a sadistic pleasure in watching Adar suffer as he did. The Rings of Power has also shown Charlie Vickers’ version of the villain to be quite petty, meaning he’d absolutely try to make a statement while killing his enemy.

He even ensures that he’s the one to land the final blow, highlighting how badly he wants to rub Adar’s loss in.

And there are certainly more practical ways Sauron could have gone about killing the Uruk, but he sticks with the one closest to his own death. He even ensures that he’s the one to land the final blow, highlighting how badly he wants to rub Adar’s loss in. All of this is very in line with Sauron’s depiction throughout The Rings of Power, and it makes him a more entertaining villain to follow.