Adar turns from an Uruk into an Elf in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power—so what does this mean, and why did it happen? This villain has been consistently antagonistic since he was introduced in season 1, but this all changed in the finale of season 2. Adar willingly gave Nenya, Galadriel’s Ring of Power, back to its true owner despite all he went through to obtain it. This has everything to do with the unique power of this Ring, combined with Adar’s true nature back before he became the father of Orcs in Rings of Power.

Adar stole Galadriel’s Ring from Elrond in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7, with the intention of using it against Sauron. In doing so, he would lay waste to Eregion, which was all part of Sauron’s plan. Intent on stopping him, Galadriel confronted Adar in Rings of Power season 2, episode 8, but she was surprised to discover that Adar’s appearance had changed entirely. The villain’s face was clear of scar and stain, and he looked to be an altogether typical Elf rather than a creature of darkness. Once Adar removed Nenya in Rings of Power, however, his Orc appearance returned.

How Adar Turned From An Elf Into An Orc Before The Rings Of Power

Adar Was Very Different Thousands Of Years Before Rings Of Power

Rings of Power had previously explained that Adar was born an Elf. He would have been among the first to live in Middle-earth, several thousand years before the events of the Second Age. During this time, the Dark Lord Morgoth began capturing and corrupting Elves, and this treatment twisted them into something entirely new. Tolkien never went into much detail regarding this process, but Rings of Power has presented its own version of what Adar went through in those earliest days.

According to Adar, Morgoth had promised him and 13 other Elves power, but it came at a high cost. They were taken to a dark peak, where they were bound, starved, and tortured. When they could take no more, Suauron appeared with wine, which he offered to each. It’s implied that something about this wine completed the terrible transformation for these Elves. They became the Moriondor, Dark Elves, and were bred to create the Orc species. Adar said that Morgoth had promised him children and, in a way, the Dark Lord and followed through.

Why Wearing Nenya Returns Adar To His Elf Form

Adar’s Appearance Has Everything To Do With Morgoth’s Evil

Adar spent endless centuries in his dark form, but putting Nenya on his finger transformed him back into the Elf he was born to be. This is because Galadriel’s Ring of Power has the powers of preservation and protection. In Rings of Power, the mithril used to create Nenya carries the light of the Two Trees of Valinor, which is the purest and holiest of light. While wearing the Ring, Morgoth’s darkness that carries on in Adar’s blood is forced to flee. It’s precisely this that allows Elrond to use Nenya to heal Galadriel’s wound in Rings of Power season 2, episode 8, since it stops the darkness from taking over her body.

In Adar’s case, Nenya can only keep Morgoth’s darkness at bay so long as he is wearing it. Once he takes it off in Rings of Power season 2’s finale, his appearance returns to that of a Moriondor. However, he seems to maintain the clarity of mind that Galadriel’s Ring granted him.

Moriondor is a work created by Rings of Power from the Quenya language (invented by Tolkien). It translates to ” Sons of the Dark .”

Adar Returning To His Elf Form Explains Why He Returns Nenya To Galadriel

Nenya Did More To Adar Than Change His Appearance

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Adar had intended to use Galadriel’s Ring of Power to destroy Sauron, as well as the Elves of Eregion and anyone else who stood in his way. However, placing Nenya on his finger changed everything. Not only was the darkness temporarily banished from his body, but he was also given clarity of mind. Earlier in Rings of Power season 2, Galadriel claimed that her Ring was guiding her—telling her the right steps to take to reach her goal and warning her against danger. It can be assumed that Nenya did the same for Adar, which is why he knew confronting Sauron with the Ring was the wrong move.

Galadriel’s Ring would have made Adar realize that his method was flawed, so he turned it over to those whose destiny it was to stop Sauron.

Instead, Adar returned Nenya to Galadriel and said he would pull his forces from Eregion and return to Mordor. Adar’s goal had never been domination over Middle-earth but peace for the orcs, which he believed impossible while Sauron was alive. Galadriel’s Ring would have made Adar realize that his method was flawed, so he turned it over to those whose destiny it was to stop Sauron. Unfortunately, this clarity came too late for Adar. Sauron had already corrupted his Orcs, and they immediately turned on their father. It’s a tragic moment in Rings of Power—an ironic end for Adar the Moriondor.