There are slight hints of Sauron's repentance at the end of the First Age in the Silmarillion, and it seems that in the first part of the Second Age sufficient of the Elder believed him to allow him to get on with the whole ring-making thing. But equally, important members of the Elder didn't believe his repentance was genuine.

There was a scene in the Ainuindãle (the first part of the Silmarillion) where certain of the minor Vala (by inference Sauron and the Vala who later became balrogs) chose to align with Melkor's discordant theme. That seems to be the decision point, and none of them switched side afterwards. Which would include Sauron.

I'll maybe watch the Amazon thing when it's DVD's are in the second-hand shops. Or on YouTube.

There are slight hints of Sauron's repentance at the end of the First Age in the Silmarillion, and it seems that in the first part of the Second Age sufficient of the Elder believed him to allow him to get on with the whole ring-making thing. But equally, important members of the Elder didn't believe his repentance was genuine.

There was a scene in the Ainuindãle (the first part of the Silmarillion) where certain of the minor Vala (by inference Sauron and the Vala who later became balrogs) chose to align with Melkor's discordant theme. That seems to be the decision point, and none of them switched side afterwards. Which would include Sauron.