“Tolkenien Lawrence Of Arabia”: The Rings Of Power Season 2’s First Middle-earth Desert Teased By Showrunner
Summary
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 releases a new image, revealing the show’s Hill-troll. After first debuting on Prime Video in 2022, the hit J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation – created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne – is now gearing up to continue the story of the rise of evil in Middle-earth during the Second Age.The Rings of Powerseason 2is set to bring back a number of familiar characters from season 1, in addition to introducing a number of new characters and creatures.
One new creature set to debut inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 is the Hill-troll, whichEmpire Magazinereveals in a new photo. Check out the new image below:
The formidable monster’s name is Damrod, and McKay describes him as an “eater of dragon bones.” Actor Benjamin Walker voices the Hill-troll, who will play a key role as part of Adar’s army in the upcoming season. As he explains below, McKay also reveals that the inspiration for Damrod actually came from a character in theBreaking Baduniverse:
“[He] was inspired in part by Mike Ehrmantraut inBreaking BadandBetter Call Saul, if you look at the way he moves and his casual sense of strength.”
The Rings Of Power Season 1’s Monsters Were A Highlight
Damrod Could Be A Strong Addition To Season 2
ThoughThe Rings of Powerseason 1’s reviewswere somewhat mixed from audiences, one area in which the show excelled was in its depiction of Middle-earth’s monsters. The show essentially opens with Galadriel taking down a Snow-troll, which puts a frigid twist on the Cave-troll that appeared in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy. Arguably the creatures that the show gets even more right, however, are Orcs.
The Rings Of Power Season 1 Ending Explained (In Detail)
Rings of Power season 1’s ending gave a lot of answers, from who Sauron was to who fell from the sky and the unveiling of the titular jewelry.
The first real sequence with anOrc inThe Rings of Powerproves that these goblin-like monsters are more than mere cannon-fodder, at least for regular humans.To a civilian, a single Orc is enough to be truly terrifying, and the show arguably conveys this better than Jackson’s trilogy ever did. Another monster that the show gets right is the Balrog, with this beast getting a lot of build-up before actually making its fiery debut on-screen.
While there are certainly aspects of season 1 worth criticizing, it does handle Middle-earth’s monsters in a compelling way, suggesting that Damrod will be a welcome addition to season 2. From the sounds of things,the Hill-troll will be given something of a personality and a story purpose beyond just being a large enforcer. It remains to be seen how prominently Damrod will feature inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, but his dynamic with Adar is certainly one to look forward to.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 premieres on Prime Video on July 13, 2025.
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.
