Because of their fast reproduction rate and loyalty to Sauron, orcs can be used en masse as dependable soldiers and workers. However, being that The Rings of Power will focus on Sauron before he officially becomes the Dark Lord that he is in The Lord of the Rings, orcs will not yet be utilized in the same capacity. With that said, The Rings of Power has the unique opportunity to develop orc lore and make them more interesting. Seeing the orcs during a different Middle-earth Age fleshes out their history. Plus, with them being at a different point in their evolution, orcs can villainize characters in a new way in The Rings of Power.
Executive producer Lindsey Weber explained why The Rings of Powers’ orcs look different, stating that the orcs are “part of a wilder, more raw, Second Age, Middle-earth” who are “not yet organized into armies.” Looking at the prequel show’s orcs, their tattered, jagged armor achieves this more wild and raw orc persona for this time period, creating some designs that stand out as a result. Furthermore, while Weber claims that the orcs aren’t yet in armies, The Rings of Power images still show them banded together in well-sized groups. Considering that Sauron won’t have as big of an influence over orcs as he does in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, they’ll be more likely to act on their own volition against characters. Therefore, they could potentially be more cunning and threatening – which would make these designs even more interesting, as they may reflect individual characteristics in the orcs themselves more.
Along with other LOTR changes in The Rings of Power, a newer vision for the orcs would be good for the franchise. Tolkien expressed plenty about orc history in his numerous Middle-earth works, but there’s no telling how faithful The Rings of Power will be to original sources when revitalizing them. Of course, this isn’t to say that The Rings of Power won’t respect Tolkien’s work. However, orcs definitely carry unseen potential in the franchise. For example, while the orcs in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies were undoubtedly menacing villains, they were still pawns of Sauron who were at their most dangerous and threatening when they acted together in massive, ravaging armies. Seeing how effectively terrorizing the orcs can be in smaller numbers pre-Sauron carries new possibilities for The Rings of Power.
So long as Rings of Power avoids Game of Thrones’ mistake and maintains its character development, there should be plenty of promise for the show. Seeing the kind of direction that the orcs are already going down, The Rings of Power is wisely recognizing the strengths it has as a prequel show. The Lord of the Rings is a beloved franchise with its material being produced for over half a century, so any new works being made need to be approached with a sense of reverence. With that said, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power can still honor the franchise while breathing new life into it – as evidence by the great orc designs shown so far.
