I don't think it would be wise to make an entire show encompassing the whole of the
Second Age. I am not saying it could not be done, but I think the storytelling could be told in an overarching fashion and many parts would have to feel episodic, such as the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, for instance, which has minimal relation to
Sauron's return or the great rings. That feels akin to adapting
the Third Age and having one episode entitled "The
Hobbit" and another entitled "The War of
Dwarves and
Dragons" and so forth.
If, however, you ask me how to do what Amazon is trying to do in a way more faithful to the lore, making a television series about Sauron's return, his rise to power, and his fall, mine would probably look something like this:
Season 1
Season 1 would surround
Celebrimbor primarily and him falling for the deceits of
Annatar. Secondary characters would be others in Eregion such as
Galadriel,
Celeborn,
Celebrían, and Narvi. Other characters would probably be
Elrond,
Gil-Galad,
Círdan, Dúrin III, and perhaps, if
Lórinand becomes relevant because of Galadriel and her family's association there around this time,
Amroth, Nimrodel, and Amdír-Malgalad (provided they have the rights to him) might appear. A secondary plot might involve the introduction of Minastir. If necessary, he could be introduced in the next season so as not to interfere with the timeline, but I think he would be a useful character because, other than having aided the
Elves in the War of Elves and Sauron, he is known to have loved the Elves but envied them. This quote is in Appendix A, so Amazon has the rights to it. I think Minastir is useful because it could be used for foreshadowing for
Númenor's fall because
Men envied
Elvish immortality.
Season 2
This would concern the War of Elves and Sauron and be about roughly the same characters. If not introduced in the previous season, Minastir, Ciryatur, and Tar-Telperiën would also be present. This would feature the death of Celebrimbor, now fully redeemed. There might be some time compression here for an adapted format, but nowhere near as much as we are getting.
Season 3
This season might surround the first appearance of the
Nazgûl and feature the beginning of the love story of Elrond and Celebrían and Galadriel and Celebrimbor in Belfalas (depending on which timeline we are following). The lore is loose enough that several things can be done with the story, but Sauron's power should be growing in
Mordor. However, this is now the secondary plot, the minor plot being in Númenor. This would be the first major time jump and surround Tar-Palantír, Tar-Míriel,
Ar-Pharazôn, Amandil,
Elendil, and possibly
the young Isildur and Anárion. This should surround the death of Tar-Palantír, the usurpation of Ar-Pharazôn and his marriage to Tar-Míriel, ending with Ar-Pharazôn arriving at
Umbar and capturing Sauron.
Season 4
This would primarily concern the Fall of Númenor, the sailing of Amandil to the west, and other such important issues, leading to
the Faithful leaving Númenor before the sinking.
Season 5
This would concern the founding of
Gondor and
Arnor. Here, the friendship of Elendil and Gil-Galad could be developed, still not neglecting other characters. One ought to also care about Isildur, Anárion, and their families.
Season 6
This would concern the
Battle of Dagorlad and the
War of the Last Alliance. This would also feature the death of Amdír and Oropher, along with possibly the massacre of the Entwines, culminating in death of Anárion, Gil-Galad, and Elendil, the taking of Ring, and finally the death of Isildur.