The character, played by Sam Hazeldine in season 2, has expanded the possibilities of "The Lord of the Rings" and showed new depths to the orcs.

Thematically speaking, Adar embodies a recurring archetype in Tolkien’s work: A worthy king who wants what’s best for his people, positioned opposite a corrupt and power-hungry usurper. The most famous example is Aragorn, and we see something similar play out among the ruling classes of Númenór.

Even though Adar's story seems to contradict canon and his character, there's actually a beautiful symmetry that makes sense on a deeper level.