Why I dislike the idea of Halbrand being Sauron

I am making some efforts to reconcile myself with Halbrand being Sauron, I still dislike this as a narrative decision but following episode 7 it seems more likely than ever that they are going down this path. My main issues with this theory are threefold:

1.       - Lack of narrative coherence

2.       - Lack of consistency with my interpretation of Sauron

3.       - Disappointment due to the loss of a potentially fascinating story

Lack of Narrative coherence

Halbrand being Sauron throws up several issues for me in the narrative we have been presented. The first of these is obvious – Why was he on the raft? There are several possible explanations for this, but all have serious flaws. One of the most important explanations I will need if this theory is true is one for his being on the raft. This theory has the added complication of needing to explain the goings on in Middle Earth specifically the activation of Mount Doom and the Elven desperation both of which will form essential parts in Sauron’s plot for forging the rings of power.

One popular explanation is that Sauron was repentant and attempting to return to Valinor, ignoring the inconsistencies with the character of Sauron in Tolkien’s mythology (he was seemingly repentant at the end of the first age but too proud to return to Valinor and face judgement), this theory would mean that the events in Middle Earth are entirely coincidental. This is too much for my suspension of disbelief.

Another theory I have seen is that he was there to deliberately ensnare Galadriel, this would have required him to have known well before it was announced by Gil-Galad that she would be sent on a ship to the west AND that she would initially accept before abandoning the journey at the last second. This level of foresight and understanding seems too great even for one of the Maiar.

This is far from the only stumbling block in this theory, there are some which are ‘lore-based’ such as our knowing that Galadriel did not trust Annatar (this could have simply been changed in the show). The clear fact that he has to have spent time in the Southlands, even if it was only to board the ship, why did Sauron head there only to sail on a ship? Why did he take that sigil? Did he know what it signified and think to himself ‘hey this will come in handy later if I need to impersonate the king of the Southlands’? Again, I see problems in narrative consistency here and would need some or all of these aspects to be explained.

Perhaps my biggest issue with Halbrand being Sauron is the fact that Galadriel and the Elves will simply accept that a human has the skills necessary to create the Rings of Power, this seems the most problematic of all to me. Why would the Elves who are more skilled than humans, especially non-Numenoreans, in all forms of craftsmanship accept that this man has such a level of skill? Explaining this will be essential for me to be able to suspend my disbelief around Halbrand being Sauron.

Lack of consistency with my interpretation of Sauron

In some ways this is the simplest issue to move past, I simply have to give up my preconceptions about who Sauron is and let myself go with what we are being presented by the show. This is far easier said than done. I think briefly setting out why Halbrand does not fit is still a useful exercise.

My conception of Sauron in the second age begins with his initial repentance to Eonwe, the key question which is posed to us in the Silmarillion is whether he was truly repentant or merely feigned it. My view is that he feigned repentance out of fear but that he had managed to convince himself that this was a genuine level of repentance. In so doing he convinces himself that he cannot return to Valinor without working to heal the wounds of Middle Earth. He spends the first part of the second-age seducing men in the far east and south of Middle Earth for his designs and begins building Barad-Dur. Then he begins his plot with the rings seducing the Elves in Eregion. This directly leads to the War of the Elves and Sauron, his capture and the Downfall of Numenor and finally the War of the Last Alliance and his loss of the One Ring.

As I have already said I do not believe Sauron ever truly repented but that he wanted to believe that he had. He convinces himself that the only way to fix the damage done to Arda is through his ruling and dominating all the races. He starts with those who are most easily swayed to his cause then attempts to ensnare the rest using the rings. He is utterly focused on his goal of reordering the world and will use nay means to accomplish this.

I cannot marry this version with Sauron with the character of Halbrand we see on the show. He would not be reluctant to return to Middle Earth, he would not nearly leave the ‘King of the Southlands’ pouch when he does decide to return, and he absolutely would not get teary-eyed at Adar when he suggests he hurt someone he loved.

There are some examples in what we have seen in the show that this is their interpretation of Sauron as well. The fact that he almost immediately goes to experiment on Orcs in a way that is obviously linked to his rings plot is suggestive. Then we get Adar stating that he supposedly 'devoted himself to healing Middle-earth bringing it's ruined lands together in perfect order. He sought to craft a power not of the flesh... But over flesh.' This description of Sauron's designs in the far north corroborates what Galadriel said in episode one and so may be one of the only truths spoken by Adar in this scene. This demonstrates that the character of Sauron in the show also wanted to 'heal' Middle-earth but set about doing so through domination.

Disappointment due to the loss of a potentially fascinating story

Halbrand’s story, if we accept everything he has told us, is a fascinating one. We have a man with a troubled past who clearly did something that he is deeply ashamed of that likely has a direct connection to Adar. When we first meet him, he is trying to run away from this past, but his façade is challenged by Galadriel’s (one of the best aspects of their storyline has been how they both do this to each other). Over the course of the season, we see him grow and accept responsibility for the people left in the Southlands, we still have this troubled past which he climactically confronts as he holds a spear to Adar’s neck. Then he visibly gives up on his revenge after Adar asks him who he is.

To my mind this storyline feels so much more impactful if Halbrand is a man from the Southlands who may have sworn fealty to Adar (being forced to kill someone he loved as an ‘only blood can bind’ ritual). He then grew disillusioned with working for Adar and tried to escape. This is far more interesting for his character than. He is Sauron and Adar betrayed him, so he wants revenge.

 

Now there are ways that JD and Patrick could conclude this story with Halbrand being Sauron that would soften the blow and, as I have largely agreed with their story decisions within the series, I am willing to give them some trust that this will be concluded satisfactorily. But if Halbrand is Sauron I will feel a deep sense of disappointment at the narrative decision and a sadness at the missed opportunity for a fascinating storyline.