The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 is all set to continue Sauron’s romance trend with a new character. The Dark Lord has proven himself capable of manipulating women, particularly littering Galadriel with attention in season 1 and Mirdania in season 2. In his various forms, Sauron made these women feel special, hinting that he was romantically interested, but in both cases, this was for his own personal gain. Now, Rings of Power season 3 will take him to the next phase of his plan, and there is another woman character he has a chance to woo.

It’s unclear whether Sauron has the ability to love anyway. Perhaps the closest he could come would be Galadriel, but his goal to make her his “queen” comes more from a desire to utilize her power and influence than romance. His connection with Mirdania in Rings of Power season 2 is another thing entirely. Sauron wanted this Elf to trust him fully so she wouldn’t suspect his true intentions, simultaneously sewing seeds of doubt regarding Celebrimbor’s mental competence. Unfortunately, he murdered Mirdania in the end—a bad sign for a next possible “love” interest.

Eärien Is All Set Up To Be The Next Mirdania In Rings of Power Season 3

Sauron Is Likely To Again Turn On The Charm

With the Nine Rings made in Rings of Power season 2, Sauron’s next mission will likely be set in Númenor. Canon dictates that the Dark Lord will come to this island and deceive Pharazôn in a similar matter as Celebrimbor. He will seduce the usurper and manipulate him into leading his forces against the Valar in Valinor, resulting in the massive wave that will destroy Númenor. Of course, just as in Eregion, Pharazôn won’t be the only person on whom Sauron uses his wiles. Those close to the king, like Kemen and Eärien, are sure to be influenced as well.

Given Sauron’s relationship with Mirdania, it seems likely that he would take a similar angle with Eärien. She is already someone who is likely to be on the fence about any decision made by Pharazôn, given the fact that her father, Elendil, was dubbed a traitor. Soon, she sees that her island kingdom is in danger, and, like Mirdania, Eärien is clever enough to see through Sauron if left to her own devices. So, the Dark Lord will recognize the importance of getting her on his side in Rings of Power season 3. Sauron’s best method of doing so seems to be good old-fashioned romantic seduction.

Will Eärien Be As Easy To Deceive As Mirdania?

Things Are Much Tenser In Numenór Than When Sauron Arrived In Eregion

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore

Mirdania was easy enough for Sauron to flatter. From the moment he compared her beauty to that of Lady Galadriel, she was like putty in his hands. However, Eärien may prove more of a challenge. Things in Eregion were perfectly peaceful before Sauron arrived, so there wasn’t much reason for anyone to be on alert. However, the political climate in Numenór has become steadily more tense over the last couple of seasons of Rings of Power. Eärien is already critical of her own choices since, as of the end of season 2, she recognizes that she may have made a bad call regarding Pharazôn.

What’s more, Sauron has an additional tool in Rings of Power season 3 that should make his work much easier.

Still, deception and manipulation are what Sauron does best. He will be able to recognize precisely what Eärien needs in Rings of Power season 3, and he will know precisely how to offer it to her. If he decides that he wants to get her on his side, then there won’t be much that will be able to stop him—especially given the corruptibility of Man. What’s more, Sauron has an additional tool in Rings of Power season 3 that should make his work much easier. His Nine Rings for Men are specifically designed to control the hearts and minds of Men, and Sauron may decide to give Eärien one of these gifts.

Sauron Manipulating Eärien Would Fit With A Popular Rings Of Power Theory

Sauron May Even Offer Eärien A Ring

Since the start of Rings of Power, there has been an ongoing theory that Eärien will end up being the recipient of one of Sauron’s Nine, which would make her a future Lord of the Rings Ringwraith. Tolkien never provided the identities of Sauron’s nine monsters, indicating that they themselves had forgotten their true identities. Therefore, Prime Video has no choice but to use original characters as the wearers of these Rings of Power. As Elendil’s daughter, Eärien could be considered a future princess, qualifying her as a person of interest to the Dark Lord.

It’s unlikely Tolkien ever intended for any of the Ringwraiths to have once been women, but this isn’t out of the realm of Rings of Power ‘s previous changes.

If Sauron manipulated Eärien into thinking he cared for her and gifted her one of the Nine, then Rings of Power season 3 would begin the decline of these Men (and women) as they are slowly corrupted. This would naturally motivate Elendil and Isildur to stand against the Dark Lord, providing additional context for their war against the villain during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. It would be a fittingly tragic story, but, of course, only time will tell.