Sauron puts his deception skills on full display in The Rings of Power season 2, and as Celebrimbor notes in the finale, it seems the Lord of the Rings villain has even managed to deceive himself. One of the most interesting things the Lord of the Rings show does with J.R.R. Tolkien’s villain is give him more complex motivations for conquering Middle-earth. In the Amazon series, Sauron really does believe that he knows what’s best for the people of Middle-earth, even though he’s actively harming them to get what he wants.

Sauron demonstrates as much during The Rings of Power season 2’s finale, which sees him finally obtaining the Nine Rings for Men. He kills Celebrimbor during this installment, and he has another showdown with Galadriel — and both incidents highlight the fact that he’s deceiving himself as much as everyone else. He really believes he can “heal” Middle-earth, viewing it as a broken place that needs his help. This is nonsense, of course, but it does make him an even more intriguing character.

Sauron Sees The Races Of Middle-earth As Divided & Broken

The Rings Of Power Sort Of Helps His Case

Sauron tells Galadriel he can “heal” Middle-earth during their confrontation in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8, and this sentiment might leave viewers scratching their heads. After all, Sauron leaves destruction in his wake wherever he goes; just look at Eregion or the mines of Khazad-dûm. But Sauron makes it clear why he believes Middle-earth needs saving. In The Rings of Power, the villain views the races of Middle-earth as divided and broken, and he claims he wants to bring them back together in peace.

The Rings of Power sort of helps him make his case, as there are clear examples of this within Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show. The people of Númenor openly hate the Elves, and they’re reluctant to help the Southlands in its time of need. The Dwarves and Elves are also on shaky ground, though they rally together at the end of The Rings of Power season 2. And the Elves don’t care to help the race of Men, something Celebrimbor proves early on in season 2.

He takes a darker view of Middle-earth because it makes a convenient excuse for him to conquer it.

Given these examples, it’s easy to see how someone looking at these relationships on the surface could come to the conclusion Sauron does. The Rings of Power‘s villain doesn’t acknowledge or care about the smaller acts of good that prove him wrong, like Míriel aiding the Southlands or the Dwarves agreeing to help Eregion. He takes a darker view of Middle-earth because it makes a convenient excuse for him to conquer it.

How Morgoth’s Influence Contributed To The Rings Of Power’s “Broken” Middle-earth

Sauron Wants To Fix The World His Former Master Broke

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore 

Morgoth’s influence also contributes to Sauron’s view that Middle-earth is “broken,” as Sauron despises his former master — something The Rings of Power season 2 drives home over its eight-episode run. Morgoth tortured Sauron, and he left him resentful after his downfall. That bitterness pushes Sauron to try to “fix” the world he believes Morgoth broke. In reality, Sauron seems to be rebelling against his master by taking his place. However, he is also repeating his cruelty in many ways he refuses to recognize.

Sauron Believes He Can Heal Middle-earth By Dominating The Will Of Its People

His Methods Indicate Tyranny, Not True Peace

Sauron may claim he’s piecing together the world Morgoth broke, but his methods of achieving peace are just as bad as his former master’s. If the Rings of Power season 2 proves nothing else, it’s that Sauron believes he can heal Middle-earth by dominating the will of the people who live there. He isn’t trying to bring the races of Middle-earth together of their own accord. Instead, he’s creating Rings of Power that can be used to force them into submission.

In the end, Sauron doesn’t really want to change Middle-earth for the reasons he claims; he simply wants power.

Sauron’s methods indicate tyranny, and they won’t actually achieve true peace. This doesn’t matter to The Rings of Power‘s villain though, as he’s lying to himself about his motives for creating the Rings of Power. In the end, Sauron doesn’t really want to change Middle-earth for the reasons he claims; he simply wants power.

The Rings Of Power’s Sauron Is Lying To Himself

The Amazon Show Takes His Role As The “Deceiver” To A New Level

Sauron is lying to himself with his rhetoric about healing Middle-earth, as it sounds better than merely wanting power. He doesn’t wish to be like Morgoth, and he wants people like Galadriel and Celebrimbor to side with him. However, as Celebrimbor so elegantly states, Sauron is so skilled at deception that he’s started deceiving himself. The Rings of Power‘s version of the character convinces himself that his cause is noble, even though it’s obviously in the name of self-interest. This only makes Charlie Vickers’ Sauron an even more captivating antagonist.