Key Highlights:
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 establishes Sauron’s dominion across Middle-earth, introducing the “Nazgnagôl”—mortal men who accept Rings of Power and begin their descent into becoming the Nazgûl.
- Alongside original and speculative ring-bearers like Theo and the king of the Lossoth, the series incorporates Khamûl, the only Ringwraith explicitly named in J.R.R. Tolkien’s expanded writings.
- Played by Zubin Varla, Khamûl is an Easterling resisting Ciarán Hinds’ Dark Wizard in Rhûn, taking his first steps toward becoming the Shadow of the East and the Witch-king’s second-in-command.
Sauron Consolidates Power with the Rise of the Nazgnagôl
In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, the villains take center stage. Sauron, portrayed by Charlie Vickers, has established firm command over the vast majority of Middle-earth. To solidify and enforce his rule across far-flung territories, the Dark Lord relies on a network of key followers known as the Nazgnagôl, or Ring-servants. These mortal men have pledged their loyalty to Sauron in exchange for their own Rings of Power, marking the nascent stage of their inevitable descent into dark servitude.
While the designation “Nazgnagôl” is a creation unique to the television series, its narrative roots remain deeply tied to J.R.R. Tolkien’s foundational mythology. Readers of Tolkien’s texts and viewers of Peter Jackson’s film adaptations know that the nine human lords gifted with rings ultimately forfeit their mortal existence to become the terrifying Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths. In The Rings of Power, these proto-wraiths have already adopted their signature black cloaks, stepping onto a tragic path destined to strip their humanity and bind them to Sauron’s will as undead specters.
Key Ring-Bearers: From the Far North to Rhûn
The premiere block of four episodes in Season 3 showcases several mortals drawn into Sauron’s snare. Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel suspects one of the new ring recipients to be the ruler of the Lossoth, who dwell in Middle-earth’s frigid northern regions. Meanwhile, young Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) takes a fateful turn by claiming a ring of power, immediately fueling ongoing speculation regarding whether he will ultimately become the feared Witch-king of Angmar.
Amid these diverse regional figures, the production places significant narrative focus on Khamûl, portrayed by Zubin Varla. Introduced as an Easterling based in the territory of Rhûn, Khamûl initially seeks to challenge the authority of the Dark Wizard, played by Ciarán Hinds. Unlike many characters conceptualized specifically for the television adaptation, Khamûl stands out as an established figure drawn directly from Tolkien’s canonical writings.
The Canonical Legacy of Khamûl the Easterling
Within Tolkien’s lore, Khamûl occupies a unique position as the only Ringwraith whose personal name is recorded, even though he is not directly identified by name in the primary text of The Lord of the Rings. His background is instead outlined in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, which reveals him as the primary deputy and second-in-command to the Witch-king of Angmar. Owing to his geographical roots in Rhûn, Tolkien referred to him by epithets such as the Shadow of the East and the Black Easterling.
Tolkien’s texts further record Khamûl’s pivotal role during the events of the Third Age. He was the particular Nazgûl dispatched into Hobbiton during the opening moves of The Fellowship of the Ring, pursuing Frodo Baggins and nearly intercepting the Hobbits at the Bucklebury Ferry crossing. Additionally, Sauron later stationed Khamûl as the commander of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, a stronghold highlighted in the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings and depicted in Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy. Though those events lie thousands of years in the future, Khamûl’s decision to accept a ring in The Rings of Power permanently seals his dark fate.
Why This Matters
The introduction of the Nazgnagôl marks a crucial turning point for The Rings of Power, shifting the narrative focus from the forging of the rings to their corrupting distribution among men. By bringing Khamûl into the spotlight, the series bridges original creative liberties with deep-cut lore from Unfinished Tales, delivering long-awaited backstory for one of Middle-earth’s most enduring antagonists. It also enriches the political complexity of regions like Rhûn and the far North, illustrating how mortal desperation and regional rivalries pave the way for Sauron’s overarching domination leading toward the War of the Last Alliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Khamûl in Tolkien’s lore?
Khamûl is an Easterling lord and the only member of the nine Nazgûl explicitly named in J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings. Detailed in Unfinished Tales, he serves as the Witch-king of Angmar’s second-in-command and is also known as the Black Easterling and the Shadow of the East.
What does the title “Nazgnagôl” mean in The Rings of Power?
The term “Nazgnagôl” translates to “Ring-servants” and was invented for the television series. It designates the mortal human men who accept Rings of Power from Sauron before they fully transition into the undead Ringwraiths known as the Nazgûl.
When do new episodes of The Rings of Power Season 3 premiere?
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 streams globally on Prime Video, with new episodes releasing weekly on Wednesdays following its initial four-episode premiere.
