Before we get into Sauron, it’s best to start with his predecessor and the first Dark Lord of Middle-earth: Morgoth. First known as Melkor, he was a Valar—or one of the most powerful beings in Arda.

Elle Johnson is a feature writer who enjoys many topics, including TV, movies, and travel. She has a BA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. In her free time she plays games, reads, ...

Spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season-two finale, “Shadow and Flame,” below. Charlie Vickers loves torturing and murdering Elf-Lords. From a purely artistic perspective, that ...