Adar became one of The Rings of Power season 2’s most fascinating characters, raising questions about his role in The Lord of the Rings Books. The Amazon Prime Video prequel series tells the story of a condensed version of the Second Age of Middle-earth, an era of fantastical history bullet-pointed by J.R.R. Tolkien to establish the backstory of events leading up to the War of the Ring. While Tolkien’s The Silmarillion closely examines the First Age, there’s no extensive work that covers the Second, leaving much to the creative choices of the show’s writers.

Adar was introduced in season 1 of The Rings of Power, played by Joseph Mawle, as a villainous leader of the Orcs. In season 2, Mawle was recast, with Sam Hazeldine stepping into The Rings of Power cast, just as the series began to explore his character in more detail. The sophomore season’s opening scene showed Adar betraying Sauron at the beginning of the Second Age, establishing their antagonistic relationship going forward. By The Rings of Power season 2’s ending, Sauron won over the Orcs, killing Adar, but not before the character was revealed to have some compelling layers.

Adar Is An Original Character Introduced By The Rings Of Power

Adar’s Narrative Creates An Important Duality With Sauron’s

Like Arondir or Nori, Adar is an original character in The Rings of Power created to establish complexity among the Orcs. During Tolkien’s later writings, the author himself began to build more sympathy for the race he had once designed to be mindless minions of Sauron, and Adar helps to demonstrate that compassion. The show introduces Adar as their “father,” once an Elf who was taken by Morgoth, was manipulated and twisted, and later became the leader of Orcs in the Second Age.

Adar means “father” in the Elvish language Quenya.

Adar is a far more compassionate leader for the Orcs than Sauron and one who hopes to build a safe home for his “children.” Yet, throughout season 2, he finds himself acting more and more like Sauron in order to defeat him, which demonstrates that he isn’t entirely free from what Morgoth had instilled in him. This ultimately leads to him being betrayed by the Orcs he had displayed so much love for, who surrender him to Sauron and stab him to death Caesar-style.

Adar’s Backstory Does Adapt Tolkien’s Origin For The Orcs

Adar’s Origins Tie To Morgoth’s Creation Of Orcs In The First Age

Image via Prime Video

Adar may be an original character, but his origins importantly reflect Tolkien’s creations. The character all but confirms that he was one of the first Elves taken by Morgoth to be transformed into Orcs early in the First Age. Morgoth, jealous of Eru Ilúvatar’s (the creator in Tolkien’s mythology) ability to create life, sought to make creatures of his own by taking the Elves and corrupting them. Adar was taken by Morgoth, who tortured him into loyalty, setting the stage for his role in The Rings of Power.