As the Prime Video Lord of the Rings series The Rings of Power hits the halfway mark on its second season, showrunner Patrick Mckay shared his thoughts on the character of Sauron.

Patrick Mckay revealed, “Each of these societies and heroes that we set up in Season 1 reveals serious cracks in the foundations that Sauron can exploit. What the audience will start to realise as the season goes on is this is not a story about several different worlds but a story about one world—and Sauron is the spine that connects all of it. We’re going to watch as he uses deception, manipulation, lies, coercion, and cunning to set the chess pieces in motion. This season is about reaching a deeper understanding of his modus operandi—and seeing it in action.” 

Charlie Vickers plays Sauron in the series. The second season follows Sauron's exploits as he tries to gain control of Middle Earth. Watch our thoughts on the first three episodes here:

Mckay also shed some light on the central theme of this season, sharing, “There is good and evil in Tolkien. But what side you are fighting for is something that everyone has to struggle with. Evil is not something in some far-off place. One of the central themes is the evil that dwells inside us all.”