How Middle-earth is different in The Rings of Power compared to LOTR

The Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is very different from what is seen in Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings films. JRR Tolkien was one of the most expansive and creative writers of all time, and the world he created is remarkably vast, with an incredibly complex mythology. The timeline of Eä (the universe in which Middle-earth exists) is divided into four eras, spanning literal millennia. The rings of power is set in the Second Age, long before the Third Age days of Frodo, Aragorn, and the rest of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Just like in the real world, a lot of changes in Middle-earth over thousands of years. There are kingdoms and people of the second age that no longer exist by the third. Other places and races, on the other hand, have changed greatly over the centuries to the point that they are unrecognizable by the events of The Lord of the Rings. While the third age was heavily explored on screen, Rings of power is the first we’ve seen the Second Age adapted in any detail– Picking out the differences is all part of the fun.

The Rings of Power features the island of Númenor

The Lord of the Rings will be long gone

The first key difference lies in the importance of an island nation called Númenor. One of the greatest civilizations in the history of Middle-earthThe kingdom of Númenor was a majestic city inhabited by the Edain – Middle-earth’s first recorded people, who allied with the Valar against Morgoth. As a reward for their loyalty, the Valar raised an island of water for them to live on, and it was ruled by Thor-Miniature – Elrond’s brother, who left his eleven half.

The fall of Númenor will mark the end of the Second Age, with The great city drowned by a great wave and its inhabitants killed – including Sauron’s physical body. However, there will be faithful survivors who establish new kingdoms in Middle-earth. The Númenoreans will mix with the humans living on Middle-earth, with their descendants becoming known as the Dúnedain, possessing many of their attributes. The Numenoreans would be responsible for founding many of the well-known kingdoms of the Third Age, including Gondor in the south and Arnor in the north.

The Southlands are yet to become Mordor

Mordor’s past is forgotten by Lord of the Rings

The rings of power Introduces viewers to new Tolkien locations such as the Southlands, confirmed to be the given name for Mordor. According to the elves, the Southlands were once barren but have now become fertile grasslands; It is likely that this alludes to historical volcanism. Mount Doom erupted in The end of Rings of power Season 1So the Southlands are no more. Now Mordor, this is a prime example of how Rings of power is slowly forming Middle-earth in the place of The Lord of the Rings.

Hobbits will live in the Shire in Lord of the Rings

Meanwhile, a group of proto-Hobbits known as Harfoots thrive in Rhovanion. According to Tolkien, the Harfouts were one of three branches of early hobbits. The Harfoots excel at hiding away from the other races of Middle-earth and live a migratory life. They live quite close to the region that will become known as the Mirkwood after Sauron chooses to settle there, which tends to be inhabited by various dark creatures. TOlkien’s notes suggest the proto-hobbits will flee Mirkwood and the shadow of Sauron’s citadelDol Guldur, and in the third age, they will finally settle in the Shire.

The elven kingdoms of Middle-earth

Many eleven kingdoms will be gone or diminished by Lord of the Rings

The elves of The rings of power Be ruled by the high king Gil-Gald, whose throne is located in Lindon. It is described as a place of great beauty, situated near the Gray Haven, where ships can be sent out to Valinor. Gil-galad founded Lindon during the First Age, and it was primarily inhabited by a branch of elves called the Ñoldor, though in the Second Age, it became much more diverse. Lyndon will still exist through the third age, albeit much diminished; The ships seen leaving Middle-earth for Valinor in The return of the king Get out of there.

to the east, The rings of power Introduces viewers to the elven stronghold of Eregion. Tolkien wrote several different accounts of Eregion’s origins in his unpublished notes, and it is already clear The rings of power is taking a new approach that blends elements of them all. Eregion is destined for tragedyWith Celebrimbor forging the Rings of Power in his forge there. Eregion will not exist in the Third Age, as it is set to be destroyed by a wrathful Sauron – an event teased for The rings of power Season 2.

The dwarves flourish in Khazad-dûm

Moria was long abandoned by The Lord of the Rings

The Second Age is known for the dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm, the most famous of all dwarven kingdoms and situated near the region beneath the Misty Mountains. It was founded in the First Age but grew in importance during the Second Age, pursuing good relations with the nearby elves. As with so many locations in The rings of powerThe beautiful city has a tragic future. in the third age, Miners will dig too deep and discover a fearsome Balrog.

The rings of power Season 1 foreshadowed the fall of Khazad-dûm (slightly earlier than scheduled), with tears for Season 2 hinting that King Durin V will dig too deep because of the influence of one of Sauron’s rings of power. This is slightly different from Tolkien’s version of the tale but serves as a logical explanation for the poor decisions of the dwarves that led to their greatest kingdom’s downfall.

Rhûn is a mysterious land in the east of Middle-earth

Rhûn is often just called the East in Lord of the Rings

The strangers and Nori go to Rhûn in The rings of power Season 2, an area barely explored in an on-screen adaptation of Tolkien’s work. It is often called the “East“In The Lord of the RingsAnd her people are called the Estlings (the people who joined the battle of Pelennor Fields on the Olifaunts). The East was regarded as a place of great evil and chaos The Lord of the RingsAnd while that may be true to a point in The rings of power Season 2, perhaps not entirely.

The elves of Middle-earth technically originated near Rhûn, in Cuiviénen. They woke up there after their creation, but when some were captured and tortured by the Dark Lord Morgoth, the Valar invited the elves to travel west to Valinor to live in peace and safety. Those taken and corrupted by Morgoth became the first Orcs (vi Rings of power‘s Adar), which makes Rhûn the birthplace of the creatures as well. Additionally, Rhûn is where Sauron hid after Morgoth’s fall, so There is a lot of indication that this area will be more critical in Rings of power As it was in Lord of the Rings.

The Return of Sauron changes Middle-earth in The Rings of Power Season 2

Middle-earth will slowly look more familiar

The beginning of Rings of power Season 1 sees a version of Middle-earth that is much more prosperous As it was in the beginning of Lord of the Rings. The Prime Video series came up at a time when kingdoms like Lyndon and Númenor believed that the dark days were behind them and their numbers and wealth had greatly increased. However, now that Sauron had begun to create his rings of power and build his influence, things were about to change Rings of power Season 2.

in The Lord of the RingsSauron has been gone for centuries, but his One Ring and evil soul still remain. Murdur was in shambles, lost without a king. The elves are dwindling, and the dwarves are fighting an ongoing battle to rid their caves of orcs and other evil beings. Rings of power Will start to see the beginning of this decline in season 2. Middle-earth will buckle and bend under Sauron’s subtle, deceitful rule. It will not be until his final fall at the end of The Lord of the Rings That the prosperous Middle-earth will return.