Adar’s death was a terrible moment in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, but one particular detail could make it even more tragic. The villain’s death came just after he had gained some clarity, offering back Galadriel her Ring of Power and promising to lead his Orcs back to Mordor to never return. Unfortunately, Sauron had already gotten into the minds of Adar’s children, and they turned on their father. Adar’s murder was ironically similar to Sauron’s at the beginning of Rings of Power season 2, but that wasn’t the only impactful detail of this moment.

The reason Adar changed his mind about destroying Eregion and using Galadriel’s Ring, Nenya, against Sauron is the piece of powerful jewelry itself. Once on his finger, Nenya chased the darkness (embedded there by Morgoth himself) out of Adar, and he regained the Elven form he would have had prior to his corruption. The Ring changed more than just Adar’s appearance, however. It also changed his mind. Adar realized that his obsession with eliminating Sauron had caused him to lead the Orcs into further pain and slaughter—but was that all he learned from Galadriel’s Ring in Rings of Power?

Adar Might Have Already Known His Fate When He Gave Galadriel Back Her Ring

Nenya May Have Given Adar A Glimpse Of What Was Coming

Previous episodes of Rings of Power season 2 dove somewhat into the powers and abilities that Galadriel’s Ring gave her. It was a natural force against evil, corruption, and decay, but it also allowed her the ability of foresight, which came in handy when Galadriel and Elrond attempted to travel to Eregion. Given this, it’s interesting to consider what Adar might have seen while he wore Nenya. He might have seen glimpses of the betrayal that was moments from happening. Even before he gave back Galadriel’s ring, Adar might have known that his own children would murder him.

Nenya doesn’t allow Galadriel to see the future, but its powers of protection, preservation, and concealment from evil grant her wisdom to predict the right path forward and understand events before they play out.

Adar Knowing He Was Going To Be Betrayed Makes His Death So Much More Tragic

Adar Sacrifice Redeemed His Mistakes

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Before giving Nenya back to Galadriel, Adar told the Elf that the name he used before being corrupted by Morgoth was given to him, but the name “Adar” was one he had earned. By returning the Ring and pulling the Orcs from Eregion, Adar said he hoped to earn the title of father again. This comment is Adar acknowledging that he had stopped putting the well-being of the Orcs first, and he wished to remedy this. Of course, he didn’t have much of a chance since he was almost immediately killed by his Orcs. While this seemed a surprise, Adar even returning Nenya indicates otherwise.

If he had kept the Ring even a few moments longer, he would have had it in his own possession when the Orcs turned on him, and Sauron would have easily retrieved it.

The father of Orcs might not have known the details, but the fact that he returned Nenya to Galadriel indicates that he knew the Ring needed to be in her hands. If he had kept it even a few moments longer, he would have had it in his own possession when the Orcs turned on him, and Sauron would have easily retrieved it. The steps that Adar took here ensured that the Dark Lord didn’t win entirely. Then, by allowing fate to play out, Adar paid penetrance for how he had wronged the Orcs. If this is true, and Adar knew his fate, then his death in Rings of Power wasn’t just murder. It was a tragic sacrifice.