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Rings of Power seems to be the place of origin stories when it comes to Middle Earth. It tells not only how the famous characters in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit got their beginnings, but also how certain places formed within the world, like the creation of Mordor. In the latest episode of the series, the interrogation that takes place between Adar and Galadriel hints at another origin story, which has long been debated among the fans of Tolkien’s works: What exactly are orcs, and where did they come from? There are two opposing sides to the argument presented by the characters in the scene. But interestingly, they both fall in line with different versions of the Moriondor, the ‘sons of the dark,’ and the history of how they were created.
One of the difficulties in getting to the heart of the matter is that Tolkien re-wrote and refined his works and his theologies several times throughout his life. This revision is why there is some uncertainty over what constitutes the full truth. It is clear from his works, and from the Rings of Power series, that the orcs in question are a much older, more archaic form than those seen in the later Peter Jackson movie adaptations. The orcs in these films are far more barbaric, and are able to move freely in the sunlight. The Uruk-hai from Saruman’s lair and the warriors that attack at Helms Deep are all more straightforward, as they seem outright evil. Meanwhile, the Moriondor and their origins present a much more problematic viewpoint. If they are indeed elves who have been corrupted, are their elven consciences still in there somewhere? And if so, is it possible for them to one day find salvation?
The answer to their salvation really depends on which rendition of Tolkien’s lore is followed. In one version of events, the Moriondor were once elven children, who were led astray by the evil of Morgoth. They followed him to a dark tower, where he conducted all manner of evil tortures upon them, until, over hundreds of years, he was able to corrupt and twist them into something ruined, as Galadriel suggests. This version falls in line with the concept that only Eru Illuvatar, the god of the world, was able to actually create life. Therefore, all that Morgoth, and later Sauron, could do was to twist what already existed. All they could do was make a mockery of it, as Galadriel puts it.
This version of the Moriondor history sounds very similar to that in Adar’s backstory, in which he describes to Galadriel:
“Sauron devoted himself to healing Middle Earth, bringing his ruined lands together in perfect order. He sought to craft a power, not of the flesh, but over flesh. […] But try as he might, something was missing. The shadow of dark knowledge kept itself hidden, even from him, no matter how much blood he spilled in its pursuit.”
Clearly, Sauron could not create this power he desired. The ability eluded him because it belongs to the true creator alone.
In that version of the Moriondor (or the Uruks), it may be decidedly possible that what once was twisted and corrupted may be saveable. Gollum himself has the possibility of redemption, even after being tainted by the one ring. If these beings do in fact still have elven souls, it may be possible that they’re not as purely evil as first believed. However, considering Tolkien’s Catholic background, this version of the orcs eventually became troublesome for him. He believed that the contamination of a soul, especially one as pure and light as the elves, was a heinous betrayal of God. He therefore changed the concept of the orcs to make them more animalistic, like the ones seen in the Lord of the Rings.
In this version, these beings may once have been men who were poisoned rather than elves. They may also have been an animalistic species all of their own, that never had a soul or a moral consciousness. In this subsequent version, the Moriondor are thought to simply have been the first of their kind to have followed Sauron and conduct his evil bidding. This would suggest that they perhaps had another creator, in the same way that Aule created the dwarves, but they weren't fully formed until Illuvatar breathed life into them.
The Rings of Power series seems to fall more in line with the first account of their history. The very existence of Adar suggests that they were indeed once elves, and that they are able to have civilization, autonomous thought, and even hearts, just as Adar implores to Galadriel. It will be interesting to see how opening up this long-held debate among fans plays into the remaining storyline of the Amazon series.