*The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim*, an anime prequel taking place 183 years prior to the events of *The Lord of the Rings*, centers on the fierce battle between King Helm Hammerhand of Rohan (voiced by Brian Cox of *Succession*) and Wulf, a lord from Dunland (voiced by Luke Pasqualino of *Medusa Deluxe*). Yet, for a fleeting moment, the film broadens its narrative to encompass a wider perspective of Middle-earth—particularly, the ominous ascent of Mordor.
### A Glimpse of Mordor’s Reach
Mordor’s shadow subtly intertwines itself with *The War of the Rohirrim* during an extended siege scene. As the residents of Rohan find themselves confined within the Hornburg fortress, Helm’s daughter, Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise), stumbles upon a concealed route that leads into the mountains behind the stronghold. Here, she comes across two orcs rifling through the bodies of slain warriors, taking any rings they discover. The orcs, however, appear to be less than enthusiastic about their grim duty.
“What does Mordor want with rings?” one of them mutters.
Although Héra and the orcs are oblivious to the deeper meaning of this inquiry, the audience quickly grasps its significance. Sauron’s malign influence is beginning to reemerge in Middle-earth, as his ceaseless quest for the One Ring—the linchpin of his ultimate dominion—has already commenced. The presence of orcs in Rohan, distanced from Mordor, exemplifies the reach of Sauron’s shadow, even in its nascent phase.
### Building Connections to *The Lord of the Rings*
Arty Papageorgiou, who co-wrote *The War of the Rohirrim* alongside Phoebe Gittins, elaborated on the importance of the orcs’ role in the narrative. “You want to grasp how the world is evolving,” Papageorgiou stated to *Mashable*. “That darkness is starting to infiltrate from the edges, from the outskirts.”
Interestingly, the brief excerpt from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Appendices that inspired the film does not reference orcs. However, the minimal source material—just one and a half pages—allowed Gittins and Papageorgiou the creative liberty to create broader links to the storyline of *The Lord of the Rings*. The introduction of orcs and the subtle indications of Sauron’s burgeoning presence are intentional choices made to foreshadow the overarching conflict to come.
“They’re Easter eggs, but they’re intentional,” Gittins noted. “They fittingly belong in the narrative.”
Papageorgiou added, “Most viewers are fully aware of what’s on the horizon. It’s no mystery. So how do we approach it in a subtle but effective manner?”
### The Encroaching Darkness
The darkness tied to Sauron and his orcs is reflected in other aspects throughout *The War of the Rohirrim*. From the devastation and incineration of Edoras to Wulf’s unscrupulous methods in his final confrontation with Héra, the film portrays the gradual yet unavoidable degradation of Middle-earth. Even the white skull masks donned by Wulf’s followers evoke imagery of the non-human adversaries that will rise against Middle-earth’s champions in the future.
Through these sequences and the orc appearances, the film provides a glimpse of Middle-earth nearly two centuries prior to *The Lord of the Rings*. It illustrates how Sauron’s shadow is progressively extending, paving the way for the imminent conflict that fans anticipate. A significant battle in that war will occur at the Hornburg itself, creating a connection that resonates with the events of *The Two Towers* and highlights how history in Middle-earth tends to repeat, with the past influencing the present.
### A Prelude to War
With these thoughtfully designed details, *The War of the Rohirrim* not only narrates the tale of Helm Hammerhand and his kin but also acts as a prelude to the grand struggles of *The Lord of the Rings*. By incorporating aspects of Sauron’s mounting influence, the film connects its own story to the broader saga, reminding audiences of the constant clash between light and darkness in Middle-earth.
*The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim* is currently showing in theaters.