The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has now offered viewers multiple versions of Sauron and season 3 could be about to provide more. The Rings of Power season 1 finale ended the mystery box of Sauron’s identity, while the season 2 finale did the same for Gandalf, so season 3 seems certain to eventually reveal the identity of the mysterious Dark Wizard. But meanwhile, season 3 should tackle Sauron forging the One Ring and leaving behind his deception in Eregion, having brooked the city’s downfall with just a few well-placed words of malcontent.

Sauron used his fair form in Eregion to manipulate Celebrimbor into helping him forge the Rings of Power, evincing what may be the show’s most faithful adaptation yet. Pulled straight from the pages of high fantasy genius J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, Sauron’s Annatar form was as close to a word-for-word adaptation as it could be, given that Tolkien didn’t clarify details like hair color and length. Going into season 3, Annatar will give way to new storylines that open Sauron’s arc up to different forms and different personalities.

Sauron Doesn’t Need To Stay As “Annatar” In The Rings Of Power Season 3

Annatar’s Work Is Done By The End Of Season 2

The Rings of Power season 2 finale saw Sauron gather the nine Rings of Men from Galadriel, despite failing to get Nenya from her, leaving him done with forging and free to leave his Annatar persona behind. Having successfully manipulated Adar into attacking Eregion on his behalf, Sauron destabilized both Adar and his forces and Eregion, weakening both his enemies. This means he has no cause to stay in Eregion, and in fact, he must seek out Mount Doom at some point to forge the One Ring. Since Sauron can shapeshift at will, he could take any form.

No longer needing Annatar’s form to deceive Celebrimbor and the Eregion Elves, Sauron can take this form or leave it. Sauron showed off his shapeshifting abilities in Rings of Power season 2, episode 8. Shifting fluidly between Annatar, Celebrimbor, Halbrand, and Galadriel, Sauron proved he could imitate anyone at this point. Having taken back power over Mordor from Adar, Sauron doesn’t need his doppelgänger ability to get to Orodruin and forge the ring. But he may want to take on his more traditional Dark Lord appearance to intimidate the Orcs.

Which Form Sauron Could Take In The Rings Of Power Season 3

Sauron Could Take His Dark Lord Form In Season 3

In The Rings of Power season 3, Sauron could take a form like the Dark Lord that viewers saw silhouetted against the horizon in season 1. In lore, Sauron eventually lost the ability to take fair form, but he hasn’t reached that point yet in the show. Although at full power, Sauron may choose a less fair form at some point in season 3. Hilariously, The Nature of Middle-earth confirmed that “while [Sauron] was obliged for the cozening of Western Men and Elves to wear as fair a form and countenance as he could, [Orcs] despised him and laughed at him.”

It seems like the right time for Sauron to start showing his teeth in The Rings of Power and offering a glimpse of some kind of Second Age Dark Lord form…

In his fair form, Sauron had only just regained control of the Orcs at the end of season 2, but they didn’t seem too keen to mock him so quickly. Sauron was also capable of managing the War of Wrath, it seems, in his previous redheaded Elvish form – played by Jack Lowden. Although, tellingly, this form didn’t last. It seems like the right time for Sauron to start showing his teeth in The Rings of Power and offering a glimpse of some kind of Second Age Dark Lord form, like the one played by Sala Baker in The Fellowship of the Ring’s prologue.

Sauron Could Have Two Very Different Looks In The Rings Of Power Season 3

Sauron May Have To Manipulate Pharazôn In Season 3

Sauron may well take his Dark Lord form in The Rings of Power season 3, but should he progress his Númenor storyline, he may take another form as well. When in his Halbrand form, Sauron led himself to be shipwrecked in the middle of the Sundering Seas. This was fortunate for him, in many ways, leading to his advantageous meeting with Galadriel. Not just that, but it led to his being rescued by Elendil’s ship and carried to Númenor. This didn’t happen in canon, but in the show’s logic, it sets up Sauron’s fear of the power of Númenor.

The show has set up The Silmarillion’s fall of Númenor story in many ways, rendering it a real possibility for season 3.

In lore, Sauron started to consider how to defeat the Númenóreans as he rose to power in the Second Age, hearing of the threat they posed to his dominance. The Sauron of The Rings of Power saw this threat for himself already, first-hand, and actually commented in the show that he feared the Númenóreans. The show has set up The Silmarillion’s fall of Númenor story in many ways, rendering it a real possibility for season 3. If not, it should at least appear for season 4. In this arc, Pharazôn will confront Sauron and may recognize him in his Annatar form.

Sauron’s Annatar form was very similar to his Halbrand form, both being played by Charlie Vickers. Sauron didn’t need to convince Celebrimbor that Annatar and Halbrand were different people, as he was openly shapeshifting to impress him. Likewise, Sauron won’t need to hide his abilities from Pharazôn, who will know it is him from the start. So, Sauron could well keep his Annatar form in Númenor. However, like Sauron chose his Annatar form to manipulate Celebrimbor, he may choose the perfect form to manipulate Pharazôn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.