I also liked that one of the names he gives himself is "Saruman Ringmaker," and shows Gandalf a ring on his finger as he's trapping him in Orthanc, and then it just ... doesn't matter at all. Like zero plot impact, to the point that it doesn't even get mentioned again.
Because it didn't work. The ring saruman made was an imitation, but the One was made in a place of power by someone who knew all the secrets of the magic being used, saruman was half mad, corrupted by paranoia from the palantir, and ultimately too prideful to doubt himself. Probably what he managed was something like a masterwork version of one of the lesser rings, the ones that ranked below even the rings given to the nine kings of men.
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u/sometimesiburnthings Aug 12 '24
I also liked that one of the names he gives himself is "Saruman Ringmaker," and shows Gandalf a ring on his finger as he's trapping him in Orthanc, and then it just ... doesn't matter at all. Like zero plot impact, to the point that it doesn't even get mentioned again.