The Rings of Power portrays Orcs as antagonists, but I’m not entirely sure if the Lord of the Rings show wants me to hate them or feel sorry for them. In The Rings of Power season 1, the show’s intentions seem pretty clear. Although their backstory and allegiance to Adar makes the Orcs more sympathetic than their Lord of the Rings counterparts, they’re still obviously villains. They prove this during The Rings of Power season 1’s ending, which sees them helping Adar destroy the Southlands.

With The Rings of Power season 2 pitting Adar and Galadriel against a shared and greater enemy, the show’s stance on Orcs is even less clear. And The Rings of Power season 2, episodes 3 and 6 further changes how I feel about the show’s Orcs, even as it insists we’re not supposed to care about them. It’s confusing, and it’s something the Amazon series really needs to clear up before it’s through.

The Rings Of Power’s Orc Baby Changed How I Feel About Orcs

Episode 3’s Orc Family Humanizes The Villains A Bit

The Rings of Power season 2, episode 3 introduces an Orc baby, and this development changes everything I thought I knew about The Lord of the Rings. It also makes it easier for me to sympathize with these villains, even knowing they’re nowhere near being the heroes of this story. Previous Lord of the Rings projects depict Orcs as violent and ruthless monsters, suggesting they aren’t capable of love or redemption. The Rings of Power doesn’t abide by this, even in season 1, and its Orc baby further upends this belief.

The Orcs depicted previously seemed bad through and through, and we’ve never seen an Orc who seemed innocent or worthy of compassion. The baby Orc proves these villains aren’t born evil, however, and its family shows they have bonds with one another. This makes me feel a bit sorry for the situation the Orcs are in. The baby Orc helps to humanize Tolkien’s antagonists, and I’m starting to think that’s the point. After all, this isn’t the only way The Rings of Power changes the narrative surrounding them.

The Rings Of Power Has Changed The Attack On Eregion To Make Orcs Look Less Evil

They’re Trying To Stop Sauron In The Amazon Series

Image via Prime Video

In addition to humanizing the Orcs through episode 6’s baby, The Rings of Power season 2 also changes the attack on Eregion in a way that makes them look less evil. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore, the Siege of Eregion unfolds because Sauron wants to recover the Rings of Power. The Amazon show alters the narrative, having the Orcs attack the Elvish stronghold because they want to stop Sauron. In a twisted way, this puts them on the right side of Middle-earth’s history. They may not be heroes, but they aren’t as terrible as Sauron either.

The Rings of Power makes it seem as though the Orcs are simply a product of the way they’ve been treated.

This twist on Tolkien’s Second Age makes it harder to hate the Orcs, even if I know they’re often cruel and violent. The fact that they’re trying to stop Sauron proves that they care about Middle-earth’s future, even if it’s for their own selfish ends. Their loyalty to Adar also showcases that there is some good in them. The Rings of Power makes it seem as though the Orcs are simply a product of the way they’ve been treated. However, it’s not totally clear whether we should feel sorry for them or not.

The Rings Of Power Still Wants The Orcs To Be The Bad Guys

Arondir Casually Kills Them In The Same Episode They Attack Sauron

Although The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6 makes a compelling case for sympathizing with the Orcs, it also still wants them to be the bad guys. Arondir casually kills deserters at the beginning of the latest installment, suggesting we aren’t supposed to feel that sorry for them after all. To be fair, the Orcs do attack Arondir first — and if anyone has a good reason to want them dead, it’s him. However, the show itself doesn’t offer any indication that we should feel sorry for the Orcs or see things from their perspective.

The Orcs’ deaths aren’t dwelled on, emphasized by other characters, or touched on in any significant way. This makes me think twice about how The Rings of Power season 2 is handling these villains — and how we’re supposed to respond. Only time will tell if the show is trying to convey a deeper message about the Orcs. Since they’ll eventually become Sauron’s followers, the series can’t try too hard to get us on their side. However, it has shown glimpses of nuance in its depiction of them.