Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6.The Rings of Powerportrays Orcs as antagonists, butI’m not entirely sure if theLord of the Ringsshow wants me to hate them or feel sorry for them. InThe Rings of Powerseason 1, the show’s intentions seem pretty clear. Although their backstory and allegiance to Adar makes the Orcs more sympathetic than theirLord of the Ringscounterparts, they’re still obviously villains. They prove this duringThe Rings of Powerseason 1’s ending, which sees them helping Adar destroy the Southlands.
WithThe Rings of Powerseason 2 pitting Adar and Galadriel against a shared and greater enemy, the show’s stance on Orcs is even less clear. AndThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episodes 3 and 6 further changes how I feel about the show’s Orcs, even as it insists we’re not supposed to care about them. It’s confusing, and it’s something the Amazon series really needs to clear up before it’s through.
The Rings Of Power’s Orc Baby Changed How I Feel About Orcs
Episode 3’s Orc Family Humanizes The Villains A Bit
The Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 3 introduces an Orc baby, and this development changes everything Ithought I knew aboutThe Lord of the Rings.It also makes it easier for me to sympathize with these villains, even knowing they’re nowhere near being the heroes of this story. PreviousLord of the Ringsprojects depict Orcs as violent and ruthless monsters, suggesting they aren’t capable of love or redemption.The Rings of Powerdoesn’t abide by this, even in season 1, andits Orc baby further upends this belief.
The Orcs depicted previously seemed bad through and through, and we’ve never seen an Orc who seemed innocent or worthy of compassion. The baby Orc proves these villains aren’t born evil, however, and its family shows they have bonds with one another. This makes me feel a bit sorry for the situation the Orcs are in.The baby Orc helps to humanize Tolkien’s antagonists, and I’m starting to think that’s the point. After all, this isn’t the only wayThe Rings of Powerchanges the narrative surrounding them.
The Rings Of Power Has Changed The Attack On Eregion To Make Orcs Look Less Evil
They’re Trying To Stop Sauron In The Amazon Series
In addition to humanizing the Orcs through episode 6’s baby,The Rings of Powerseason 2 also changes the attack on Eregionin a way that makes them look less evil. InJ.R.R. Tolkien’s lore, the Siege of Eregion unfolds because Sauron wants to recover the Rings of Power. The Amazon show alters the narrative, having the Orcs attack the Elvish stronghold because they want to stop Sauron. In a twisted way, this puts them on the right side of Middle-earth’s history. They may not be heroes, but they aren’t as terrible as Sauron either.
The Rings of Powermakes it seem as though the Orcs are simply a product of the way they’ve been treated.
This twist onTolkien’s Second Agemakes it harder to hate the Orcs, even if I know they’re often cruel and violent. The fact that they’re trying to stop Sauron proves that they care about Middle-earth’s future, even if it’s for their own selfish ends. Their loyalty to Adar also showcases that there issomegood in them.The Rings of Powermakes it seem as though the Orcs are simply a product of the way they’ve been treated. However, it’s not totally clear whether we should feel sorry for them or not.
Arondir Casually Kills Them In The Same Episode They Attack Sauron
AlthoughThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 6 makes a compelling case for sympathizing with the Orcs, it also still wants them to be the bad guys. Arondir casually kills deserters at the beginning of the latest installment, suggesting we aren’t supposed to feel that sorry for them after all. To be fair, the Orcs do attack Arondir first — and if anyone has a good reason to want them dead, it’s him. However,the show itself doesn’t offer any indication that we should feel sorry for the Orcsor see things from their perspective.
The Orcs' deaths aren’t dwelled on, emphasized by other characters, or touched on in any significant way. This makes me think twice about howThe Rings of Powerseason 2 is handling these villains — and how we’re supposed to respond. Only time will tell if the show is trying to convey a deeper message about the Orcs. Since they’ll eventually become Sauron’s followers, the series can’t try too hard to get us on their side. However, it has shown glimpses of nuance in its depiction of them.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
