Recently I saw a theory going around talking about the character design of Annatar and how Sauron possibly chose blonde hair because he subconsciously wanted to feel closer to Galadriel.
Of course there’s the very valid explanation that Annatar’s design in the show was simply inspired by the video game, but I want to expand on the former theory some more.
When we first “meet” Annatar he portrays himself in a very angelic way with white robes, fair features, and a literal backdrop resembling the heavens. We as the audience know that this was very much a manipulation tactic. A way for Sauron to convince Celebrimbor into believing that he was a messenger sent by the Valar and that forging the other rings would be an act of good. However, I can’t help but think that the physical characteristics Sauron had chosen for his elven form, must’ve been inspired from things that he saw. Maybe he was more so inspired by someone in particular.
Come to think of it, that backdrop of heaven he created was shot in a very similar fashion as the scene were Galadriel choose to dive off of the boat going to the undying lands (a version of heaven).
Coincidence? I think not.
At the start of season 1 when Halbrand meets Galadriel for the first time on the sea, she’s only wearing a white dress. As Annatar in season 2, his very first outfit is also in white. I think the color white is something that Sauron unconsciously associated with Galadriel at first. Later on I believe the association is more purposeful because he sees her as this embodiment of light that he wants to worship and possess.
To further support that theory, let’s look at the conclusion of season 1 episode 8. When Sauron pulls Galadriel into their mind palace he specifically places her in another white dress with added details. Then upon changing the scene to their raft on the sea, she is once again wearing the very first outfit he saw her in; a white dress. But this is mostly circumstantial, right? The first dress to remind her of her home, the second to the when they first met. However, let’s look at the vision that he created…..
At first it’s simply her in a colorless dress standing beside him. It wouldn’t be revealed to us until further concept art that was released that this vision dress was specifically in white.
An additional parallel I found in the ending of both seasons is when the two are face to face, Galadriel is at some point or is already wearing white. And if you like me believe that Sauron was looking over Galadriel after the fall and again when she woke up, she is still in white! Meanwhile Sauron is still wearing his black armor, creating that contrast of light and dark between the two.
What about his complexion or choice of eye color for Annatar though? As Halbrand we see that he was much more tan with hazel/green eyes, very human looking one would say. Initially as Annatar he presented himself with rosy cheeks, a fair complexion and similar eyes to Halbrand. As the show progressed though, we saw how Annatar became much paler (almost ghostly) and now possessed eyes that shifted to seemingly an unsettling bluish color. (This change can be explained by the fact that he isn’t actually an elf and that his disguise was no longer fooling others.)
*Edit: Just had someone point out to me that the contacts Charlie wore for Annatar were actually green/yellow in color to create an otherworldly look. Thanks for letting me know @buffyfan145 😁
So I have an additional theory. They say the eyes are the window to the soul. What if Sauron intentionally kept the same eyes in hopes that if Galadriel saw him again, there would be chance of her recognizing that he and Halbrand are one in the same. What if he hoped she would believe that he was honest with her in his offer? But because his disguise was no longer pristine, his eyes no longer resembled the man Galadriel loves. Thus angering her further.
Still, Annatar’s first appearance bares a striking resemblance to Galadriel. Even though she instead has blue eyes, she is indeed quite pale with rosy cheeks. Come to think of it, it’s possible that Galadriel has been the only consistent elf to have rosy cheeks in TROP. At least, she’s the only elf with rosy cheeks that Sauron has spent a considerable amount of time with. They also have a similar face shape (this is probably just a real life coincidence), as well as high cheek bones that seem soft. Both have tinted lips and currently wear their hair pulled back in a similar manner. Even their freaking eyebrows bear a close resemblance!
Last but certainly not least, the hair. Where do I even start?
Sauron is clearly fixated on Galadriel’s hair. From noting a brief resemblance in Mirdania’s hair, to then him staring at it in the promo picture of him and Galadriel sword locked.
Also just look at his face when asked of whose likeness he was reminded of!! This is not the face of someone that meant to reveal such a thing out loud!
Ironically enough, Galadriel’s hair served as the catalyst (inspiration) for the silmaril’s in the first age. When referring back to ‘The Silmarilian’ we learn that Galadriel’s hair captured the light of the two trees in Valinor. Her uncle, Feanor, was so fascinated by this that he asked 3 times for a strand of her hair. And all 3 times she said no. Feanor was so offended by her refusal that he then created the very jewels that would eventually capture Morgoth’s attention.
It’s such a twist of fate that Galadriel has then become a living silmaril to Sauron and is now someone that he can never banish from his thoughts or desires. At first he wanted her to willingly join him. That he was right in the way he interpreted their connection. Her rejection of his offer however, hit harder than he cares to admit. Now (whether he realizes it or not) he can’t help but try and find a way to be connected to her. To be bound to her and her to him. I think Sauron constantly feels surrounded by the memory of her and the relationship they once had. He misses it and tries to grasp onto those threads. I think this is why his Annatar form bore such a resemblance to Galadriel. She inspired him to return to middle earth and now he continues to see her as a source for inspiration, so why not weave some of her features into his own? When he does see Galadriel again and she makes it clear that there is no going back, he’ll make sure that their connection remains by any means necessary. When he impaled her with the very same crown that brought upon his own rebirth it wasn’t planned, he saw the opportunity and took it. Now their connection will never be severed, no matter how many times she ignores him.
We even saw that the rings Sauron initially wanted for the elves were only two! Look how excited he was to tell her that they were making two rings instead of crowns! He even wanted her to see them cause he was so proud of his work! Don’t even get me started on how ‘Nenya’ looks just like an engagement ring and that the One Ring resembles to that of what a husband would wear.
What if that was his original plan? Make two rings to bind him and Galadriel together, to symbolize a marriage between the light and power(dark). But when she rejects that offer, it spurred him on to make more. Eventually leading to the forging of the One Ring. Perhaps this is all done to fulfill his desire to bind her to him; saving and creating peace for middle earth became an added bonus of sorts.
Could I be reading into these similarities too much? It’s a possibility, but with everything that has been discovered about the subtle ways the two are connected, I highly doubt that Annatar’s design wasn’t made without having Galadriel as a reference point.
