Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1, episode 7.Sauron is a former lieutenant of the Dark Lord Morgoth, poised to return to Middle-earth after his master's defeat in the War of Wrath. He is destined to bring about darkness in Middle-earth's Second Age, forging the Rings of Power alongside the One Ring, beginning events whose consequences would lead to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
While viewers of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power have theorized about Sauron's whereabouts in the show, he has yet to appear. Despite acting as the influence behind Galadriel's mission to avenge her brother and destroy all Orcs in Middle-earth, the Dark Lord has been absent from the story so far. While episode 7 revealed the Southlands to be a past version of Mordor, a land Sauron will one day rule, his presence is yet to be felt there. As it turns out, his lack of appearances in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power so far is very much purposeful.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunner Patrick McKay stated season 1 of the show is not meant to be focused entirely on Sauron. Instead, it's about building a Middle-earth viewers can grow to love before Sauron's return results in inevitable catastrophe. Check out McKay's explanation below:
“It would be very tempting to make the first season of this show The Sauron Show, very villain-centric. But we wanted that level of evil and complexity of evil to emerge out of a world that you’re invested in — not because evil is threatening it immediately. We wanted you to fall in love again with Middle-earth. We wanted you to understand and relate to the struggles that each of these characters are having before we test them in a way they’ve never been tested before.”
Will Sauron Show Up In The Rings Of Power Season 1's Ending?
In Sauron's absence, Adar, a corrupted elf, has taken charge of the Orcish armies of Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, having been the one to declare the Southlands as Mordor. With McKay explaining season 1 of the show is meant to build a connection to Middle-earth while teasing evils to come, it's easy to see why Adar is the central, visible antagonist instead of Sauron. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is slated to have five seasons, necessitating buildup to when Sauron someday arrives. By instead drawing focus to the characters in the show alongside a threat who, while formidable, is not as recognizable as Mordor's future ruler, McKay and the show's crew are crafting a season that may not necessitate an appearance from Sauron.
Even so, that doesn't mean Sauron won't reveal himself during the season finale. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's finale trailer promises all will be revealed, alongside a voiceover of an unknown person confirming someone else to be Sauron. If the trailer is to be believed, then it's possible Sauron's whereabouts and any other pressing questions the audience may have will be addressed in the show's episode. If he appears in the finale, then Sauron will certainly prove a compelling villain for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, as well as a daunting enemy for the show's heroes.
Source: THR