Five years after the fall of Eregion, Sauron has made significant strides in conquering Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3, yet the forging of the One Ring remains elusive. Actor Charlie Vickers, who portrays Sauron, suggests that the Dark Lord's greatest adversary is not an external force but his own lack of genuine self-belief. "It's so funny when you join him, because we think of him as an all-conquering villain, which he is in a way, but he also fails a lot," Vickers told Polygon.
This history of failure was highlighted early in season 2, when Sauron's attempt to crown himself the new Dark Lord was met with violent rejection by the orcs and Adar, leaving his physical form destroyed. Series co-creator Patrick McKay noted that this insecurity is a driving force behind Sauron's actions. "There's nothing worse than a supervillain with an insecurity," McKay said. "Sauron wants to be the dark lord, but until he's made that ring, he actually isn't yet. That speaks to a splinter of insecurity in his mind."
McKay elaborated that Sauron is currently performing the role of the Dark Lord rather than fully embodying it, stating, "He's trying to embody the dark lord, but he hasn't become the dark lord yet. That insecurity is driving him crazy."
Sauron's desire for control stems from his origins as a being associated with craftsmanship and order, a stark contrast to Morgoth's destructive ambitions. While Morgoth sought to ruin creation, Sauron aims to perfect it through absolute dominion. This drive to impose his will is reflected in his attempts to forge the One Ring, which he sees as a mechanical solution to compel obedience where affection has failed.
However, as Tolkien outlined, pouring his essence into the One Ring to govern the lesser rings means Sauron must externalize and surrender a measure of control over himself, creating a key vulnerability. McKay and co-showrunner J.D. Payne intended the creation of the One Ring in season 3 to be central to Sauron's character arc, something he must earn and that will change him.
Vickers described Sauron's struggle as both psychological and practical, noting that Sauron believes Celebrimbor possessed crucial knowledge for the Ring's completion. The fact that Sauron himself killed the elven smith in a moment of lost control adds another layer to his internal conflict.
Sauron's journey in season 3 is characterized by a compelling blend of immense power and a deeply human fear of inadequacy. Unable to command loyalty willingly, he seeks to forge a ring that makes loyalty irrelevant. To achieve this, he must first overcome his own insecurities and transform from a dark lord into the Dark Lord capable of ruling the world. The series recontextualizes this journey of self-actualization in a way that feels uncannily relatable and, consequently, more frightening.