Amazon Prime Video's fantasy series, *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*, is set to unveil a hidden gem of Tolkien lore in its upcoming second season: Ent-wives. While Ents, the tree-like beings, were featured in Peter Jackson's *Lord of the Rings
trilogy, their female counterparts have never been seen on-screen before.
Showrunner Patrick McKay, in an interview with *SFX Magazine*, revealed that the Ents will be central to a mystery that unfolds for Arondir, played by Ismael Cruz Córdova. This unexpected encounter will bring viewers face-to-face with not just a single Ent, but a married couple.
McKay explained, "This season, we have an incredible sequence involving Arondir... where he's going to uncover a mystery that will lead him to a very surprising encounter with a pair of Ents. They are the shepherds of the forest, which are talking, walking trees." He continued, "Ents are a thing that we know exist in Middle-earth but we've never seen a couple of Ents, including an Ent wife. So that's an instance of a thing that ostensibly is not a moment fans have been anticipating, or expecting to happen on the way to the road to the Battle of Eregion."
The introduction of Ent-wives is just one of many ways *The Rings of Power
season 2 is expanding the scope of Middle-earth, bringing lesser-known creatures and locations to life. For the first time, audiences will be introduced to the Hill-troll, Damrod, voiced by Benjamin Walker, who will play a key role in Adar's (now played by Sam Hazeldine) growing army.
The series also delves into the eerie realm of Barrow-wights, wraith-like monsters featured in Tolkien's *The Fellowship of the Ring*, but omitted from Jackson's adaptation. Season 2 promises a chilling encounter with these spectral beings, as seen in trailers depicting a misty forest where Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and other characters find themselves surrounded by their chilling presence.
In terms of new locations, the season will unveil the vast desert land of Rhûn. The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) will embark on a journey to this unexplored region, with the showrunners describing the sequence as a "Tolkienian *Lawrence of Arabia*."
With its ambitious expansion of Middle-earth, *The Rings of Power
season 2 promises a fresh and engaging experience for fans. The series returns on August 29 on Amazon Prime Video, offering a captivating blend of familiar elements and exciting new discoveries from Tolkien's world.