The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Has a Non-Canon ‘Orc With an Arc’ Who Turns Against Sauron and Even Writes Poetry
Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces Marnûkh, an original character created specifically for the show that deviates significantly from J.R.R. Tolkien’s canonical portrayal of orcs. Set during the Second Age thousands of years before The Hobbit, the series features this orc—played by Adam Young—as an unexpected ally who joins forces with Galadriel to fight against Sauron.
The showrunners have described Marnûkh as an “orc with an arc,” highlighting the character’s narrative journey and evolution throughout the series. Rather than embodying Tolkien’s depiction of orcs as singular, destructive forces driven solely by the desire to conquer Middle-earth and destroy humanity, Marnûkh represents a more nuanced characterization—one that allows for individual agency and moral complexity.
This creative departure from source material underscores how the television adaptation reimagines Tolkien’s world to explore alternative storylines and character dimensions not present in the original texts. The character’s arc toward defecting to the Elves exemplifies the show’s willingness to expand the mythology in ways that add depth and moral ambiguity to races traditionally portrayed as purely antagonistic. The inclusion of poetry among Marnûkh’s character traits further emphasizes the series’ effort to humanize and develop characters in unexpected directions, suggesting layers of culture and sensitivity within orc society that differ markedly from the source material.