‘They’re more seductive and sinister’: Rings of Power creators reveal how dwarven and human rings differ from their elven cousins
Full spoilers follow for The Lord of the Ring And The Rings of Power the first four episodes of season 2.
The Rings of PowerThe showrunners have revealed some exciting details about the making of rings for dwarves and men, which will be featured in Season 2.
Speaking exclusively to Ny Breaking ahead of The Rings of Power Season 2 on August 29, co-creators JD Payne and Patrick McKay opened up about how the newly created rings will differ from their elven counterparts. And, it seems, the dwarf lords and kings of man will have a hard time dealing with the impact the dark magic-infused jewelry will have on them in the Prime Video series.
Before dropping any hints about much darker events—born from the formation of said rings—that would take place in Season 2, Payne and McKay revealed whether, like the Elven rings, they looked to the real world for inspiration for the rings given to the dwarves and humans. In short: they didn’t.
“It was always about what tone each ring should evoke, rather than[taking inspiration from]real historical or mythological references,” Payne replied to my question. “For the elf rings in season one, we took inspiration from Lalique jewelry, which has an Art Nouveau feel that lent itself to the natural world, hence the vine-like and floral nature of the elf bands.”
“But for the dwarves, we wanted them to have some dwarven features (with) this kind of solid, rocky, mountainous design. Some of them have very specific details, like King Durin’s ring with the three peaks of Khazad-dûm, so you see the landscape reflected in the ring itself. For the men’s rings, we wanted them to be more angular and sharper and have a very muted, unobtrusive color.”
Adding to Payne’s reaction, McKay said, “We also wanted them to feel progressively worse with the creation of each group. The dwarf rings have a slightly sinister and seductive quality to them, and the male rings have even more of that.”
Sounds ominous – but why are the Dwarves and Men more vulnerable to Sauron’s machinations via the titular Rings? Despite being created by Celebrimbor and Sauron – the latter posing as Halbrand at the time – in The Rings of Power Season 1 finale, the Elven rings (and those who wear them) are impervious to the influence exerted upon them by Middle-earth’s big bad. Sauron did indeed provide insight into their creation and was later present during their forging, but he had no physical hand in the making of the Elven rings. That’s because he never touched any of the materials, including the mithril, used to make them.
We also wanted them to feel worse and worse
Patrick McKay
Unfortunately, the dwarves and men who would eventually possess one of these rings won’t be so lucky. Sauron, who spends much of the second season of one of Prime Video’s best shows under a different guise—Annatar, the so-called Lord of Gifts—was responsible for adding a fresh batch of mithril to the mix for the dwarven rings in Season 2, Episode 2. Before throwing the metal into the forge, however, he pauses for a second or two; the sorcerer infuses it with some of his dark magic, which should make it easier for him to control those who wield the rings for the seven dwarven lords.
As for the rings that were made for the nine kings of men… well, without giving too much away, those were made later in season 2. Considering that, in The Lord of the RingThese nine individuals become the Nazgul, Sauron’s most trusted lieutenants, because of the evil influence the rings have on them. Sauron/Annatar has an even more diabolical plan hidden up his elven sleeves for the creation of these rings.
There’s more to come from me The Rings of Powerr season 2 front, so stay tuned to Ny Breaking over the next four weeks as the finale approaches. In the meantime, read more of my exclusive stories with the cast, including why “there’s got to be a price” for the creation and use of the Dwarven Rings and how Sauron and Celebrimbor’s relationship goes to “some dark places” in the second half of season 2.