Watch: Charlie Vickers and the showrunners of The Rings of Power discuss the relationship between Galadriel and Sauron

When the first season of The Rings of Power aired, something unexpected happened: fans began to identify with the relationship between Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) – even more so when it turned out that Halbrand was actually Sauron.

JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings may not have set the stage for a romance between the characters, but that hasn’t stopped fans of the Prime Video television series from taking inspiration from the relationship, which actor Vickers told Yahoo UK was a nice surprise. In season 2, the pair split up after Sauron’s identity was revealed, but with the Elven Rings now forged and the villain’s emergence set in motion, there’s more to come between them, according to the actor.

“I find it surprising. I found it surprising because we weren’t really aware of it when we were filming,” Vickers says of fans loving the Galadriel and Sauron couple. “But it’s great, I think it’s a cool byproduct of the show – if that story comes from the first season, I think that’s only a positive thing.”

“Their future relationship is one of… it’s no longer close, right, they’re not together, but they’re always connected over the airwaves.

“And I think that will continue to be the case as long as the show runs, because they represent good and evil, right? They haven’t fought their final battle yet.”

Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay also reflected on the lasting bond between the two characters, with McKay telling Yahoo UK that they didn’t think it would be a thing when a member of the show’s creative team mentioned it as a possibility.

“Gennifer Hutchison, executive producer of the first two seasons and a writer on the show, said, ‘Everyone is going to put these two together!'” McKay reveals. “We thought, ‘This is crazy. They’re enemies. What? What are you talking about?’ So, Genny, you were right.”

Payne adds: “I think when you have two such talented, thematically appropriate people in scenes together, it’s natural that people notice the chemistry between them. It’s just part of the nature of their drama, so it’s not that surprising.”

“Sauron is a real disgrace to Galadriel,” the showrunner continues about Season 2. “She is so sure all the time that what she is doing is right, and she unwittingly gave the Dark Lord power through her activities in Season 1.”

“So this season she’s a little behind, she’s alienated her friends, she’s lost her confidence and she’s got a lot of making up to do. So this season she’s going to have to grapple with how she could be so sure and yet be so wrong.

“And at the same time, Sauron is more determined than ever to create rings and obtain the Elven rings. This puts him on a collision course with Galadriel. So their story is far from over.”

The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will premiere on Prime Video on Thursday, August 29. The episodes will then air weekly.