'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2 Teaser Heralds Sauron's Rise

Nearly two years after its first season hit our screens, Prime Video has dropped the first teaser for Season 2 of its lavish fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which promises to be bigger, darker, and more dramatic than almost everything that's come before. Set during J.R.R. Tolkien's Second Age, The Rings of Power follows the story of the forging of the titular rings that will eventually lead so much of Middle-earth into darkness, and the rise of the various famous figures who stood against him, such as Galadriel, Elrond, and more.

During the series' first season, we learned that Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), the seemingly unassuming heir to the Southlands, was really the dark lord Sauron, who had somehow taken physical form once more. In the Season 2 teaser, we see him adopt a new disguise as his plans for Middle-earth domination begin to take shape. It's probably not an accident that he now looks elvish, and it's likely that this is his new form of Annatar, the identity that Sauron took to convince Celebrimbor to create the Rings of Power in the first place.

Speaking of rings, this clip is chock full of them, from the three Elven rings forged at the end of last season to a waterfall of jewelry that certainly seems like the nine rings that will bind the realms of men. (Plus, Durin gets a banger of a jewel in what appears to be his dwarf ring.) Will we see the infamous One Ring before Season 2 is over? At this point, it's probably even odds, particularly given that the rise of Barad-dur is also very prominently featured here.