Sauron and Galadriel have yet to meet this season on The Rings of Power, but composer Bear McCreary is finding little ways to remind us of their connection.

Sauron has stepped up his game in the second season of The Rings of Power, disguising himself as a benevolent being called Annatar who’s “helping” the Elven smith Celebrimbor forge rings of power, which he eventually intends to turn to his own nefarious purpose. Meanwhile, Galadriel — whom Sauron tried to tempt over to the dark side in the first season — is on a collision course with her old friend. She’s on her way to the Elven city of Eregion, where Sauron labors at the forge.

So these two are going to meet sooner or later. But even before that, they’ve already been connected in other ways. For one thing, Saruon is looking at blonde-haired female elves and telling them they look like Galadriel, which isn’t creepy at all. Other connections are more subtle. For instance, in the series premiere, Galadriel says that Sauron “used me, and under his hand I was played like a harp to a melody not of my choosing.” As she says this, we hear a few notes of Sauron’s theme played in the background, on a harp, of course.

That was snuck in there by The Rings of Power composer Bear McCreary, who has also composed for shows like Black Sails, Outlander, The Walking Dead and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I wouldn’t have noticed that little lick if a fan hadn’t brought it to my attention on my Twitter. McCreary noticed too, and complimented them on their good ear:

Good ears! I’m thrilled somebody noticed. 😉 https://t.co/grSeYxBOVy

— Bear McCreary 🐻🎶 (@bearmccreary) August 30, 2024

There are only three more episodes left before the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power wraps up. We’re sure McCreary has s’more auditory surprises in store for us, especially as the show sets up the siege of Eregion, a major battle drawn from the text of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books.