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I am entitled to like it, thanks! Please be kind and don’t use diminutive language

That’s an interesting theory, I can’t say I’ve heard it before, but I think I see what you’re saying. Do you mean that Sauron will pit the death of Adar on Isildur, or more broadly the men of Numenor?

@@aidanpocock Thinking Isildur directly. Just seems how Sauron operates.

Yeah, the more I think about it the more I agree with that theory. I’ll bet the keep it in a locked chest until Thror eventually uses it. I think tying together the wealth of Erebor and smaug arriving to the usage of the ring actually works really well

Hey that just means you don’t have to worry about waiting week to week! You’re free to watch at your leisure! That’s pretty nice too!

I’ve seen some people throw around this theory, and while I think it’s fun, I personally see no way that it happens. Adar being Celeborn makes no sense on so many levels. And I think a lot of the theorizing stems from the fact that so many of us are frustrated that the show has given no hint whatsoever as to what happened with Celeborn. I’m honestly really worried for how they’re going to handle it

Yeah but have you ever seen a drug deal on a TV show? If they kissed to smoothly hand off a 20 for a baggie you would be like WTF THERES OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT

Yeah, I personally don’t think they will ever mention it again. It’s a non issue for me, and no where close to being a deal breaker. My only lamentations come from how much online hatred has sprouted because of this. Though, it’s hardly worse than it’s always been. But it is sad to see some members of the fan base infighting over it

Honestly, I don’t think I’d struggle too much if the show implies that the ring is locked in a chest and kept in the horde, being passed down and guarded from generation to generation. But not used. Since rings of power are incredibly hard to destroy. It might make sense for them to take up the task of safeguarding it. And maybe by the time of Thrain they’ve forgotten the warnings and start using it again. Which attracts Smaug. The more I think about it, the more scenarios I can imagine, it’s just a question of how the show will respond to it.

I largely agree with a lot of the points you brought up, but with many things, I think it largely depends on how much leniency you allow while watching. During my first viewing I really loved everything about it. And it wasn’t until I did my second watch that I started scrutinizing things like the battle tactics a lot more, and realizing many aspects didn’t add up. So while I think you’re right, I also hold that I was able to suspend my personal disbelief to simply wholeheartedly enjoy it the first time. The kiss though, I feel the same. It definitely took me out of it the first time around and I let out an audible groan as the premonition of a thousand different grifter thumbnails featuring the kiss floated through my head. I definitely didn’t see it as romantic, but I also definitely didn’t see it as necessary

Exactly, I think the most important aspect is whether or not we’re getting a good story. And while that might be subjective depending on who you are. By this point in the series I am enthralled by the tale and actively invested and eager to see what happens next. I know I’m also not the only one who feels that way, so I’d consider it a success.

Yeah, I think to most people it’s super obvious that the kiss was a ruse and nothing romantic. There’s even a quote from Robert Aramayo that just came out where he absolutely denied any romantic interpretation. However, it hasn’t prevented people from using this scene to complain about the show. Even RoP fans are going after eachother about it, it’s a real shame to see. But I agree, the two Charlie’s have been carrying this season on its back. The Celebrimbor/Annatar storylines was their first big opportunity to show how they’d handle these big lore moments and in my opinion they’ve completely nailed it. Which makes the other shortcomings of the season feel insignificant. Even my concerns about the rings being forged out of order have been assuaged. I feel like it makes total sense for the story they’re telling

@@aidanpocock There's a loud subset of people who will always find things to complain about with regards to this show. Comes with the territory of having to adapt Tolkien, i guess. Not that there isn't valid criticism to be leveraged against this show, but some people take it way too far and make this show to be far worse than it actually is. Probably the most dishonest criticism against it is the one regarding the visuals and effects, because lord knows you can count on one hand shows that look this good. Say what you will about the writing and some questionable intentional lore changes, but it's undeniable that the artistry and talent behind this show is ALWAYS (and in this latest episode more than most others) on full display. To call the work of the art department "trash" is inauthentic, unbelievable and dishonest.

Thank you! That’s kind of you to say! I’ve loved making them!

Thank you so much! That’s always been my goal, to increase the number of positive voices talking about this show. There is such an overwhelming amount of negativity out there for Rings of Power, and my videos just drown in the volume of hate that’s being put out. But I think it’s so important to spread positivity and not cruelty. Thank you so much for watching! And I agree, there are aspects of season one that I’ve warmed up to even more so now since making this video. Season two has really brought to light the fact that for me I genuinely do enjoy and love this show. And moving forward I’m going to unabashedly recommend it. There will always continue to be things I struggle with, but that is just a byproduct of the fact that everyone is free to interpret and enjoy things in their own way. But as long as we aren’t shaming others, or spreading hate because they like something we don’t, there’s no harm in constructive discourse.

@@aidanpocock absolutely! I can’t wait to see your next videos!

It’s funny you mentioned that, I actually went into a small tangent about the music choice in my recording but I ended up trimming it out since the raw video was 51 minutes long 😂

The music choice is actually something we talked about on the TORN Discord. But it’s only used for specific moments in the series including the S1 prologue with Galadriel and her boat. It’s basically used to signify Elrond’s and Galadriel’s trust again after the rift at the beginning of this season.

Ooh that's cool ​@@ATron-d8l

I saw that in the behind the scenes! It’s so freaking cool! And yeah, King Durin has been one of my favorite performances this season!

Thank you!

Half the reason I decided to cover this season was just because I was tired of seeing grifters dominate the online narrative. But it really is hard to push through that aforementioned “sea of grifters”. Im glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you!

The fact that so many people are unwilling to accept character arcs really boggles my mind. Especially on the Galadriel front. In my opinion RoP is exploring more about her character than PJ’s films ever did. And even when the showrunners do fabricate something, they try to base it off of writings from the books. Like I recently read about how they based her entire dynamic with Sauron off of a line from “the Mirror of Galadriel” where she alludes to some close connection to Sauron. And I just find that fascinating and telling of their commitment to analyzing the text (a feat they continue to not receive fair credit for) I’m glad you enjoyed the video! And i’ll continue to try my best to cultivate a space for positive constructive feedback without feeding into shameless grifting tactics. I’m planning on making a “In Defense of Rings of Power Season 2” in a couple weeks and I’m super excited to dive into it once again!

Oh I’m so glad to hear it! Im happy you enjoyed the video! There’s far too much negativity online and I really wish more people could resist the urge to make a quick buck and profit off of outrage

Come and hang out with me already and get one 😩

I think there are answers for all those questions to be fair. 1. Adar doesn’t know exactly who or where Sauron is. As seen in the episode he needs Galadriel to confirm his Halbrand theory, since he isn’t sure. And just because he knows he’s in the city, doesn’t narrow down the “where” it’s a big city. You can struggle to find someone in a big city 2. Regardless of if you assume the gender fluidity of Maiar, Sauron is clearly male presenting. That seems like a really odd critique to make. 3. I don’t think Adar is worried about the elves being aware. He has a powerful, intimidating force, as we’ll see in the next episode the elves of Eregion will be helpless without outside aid. The message is meant to be sent as intimidation to Sauron. As it appears to be written in some dialect of black speech that only he would be able to read anyway. And also, it could be that the orcs wrote the message, and not Adar. I think there are lots of possibilities. Lastly, the Numenor and Khazad-Dum storylines are fairly recognizable if not based on writings from the lore. Showing the corruption of greed from the dwarven rings, and showing the way that the faithful are slowly oppressed in Numenor by Pharazon is absolutely recognizable to the lore. They’re playing around with things, but they have to if they wanted to adapt a storyline we only have bullet points for. And a 3,000+ year timeline. So I understand why they’ve made changes. You need to for an adaptation. Some of the non canon storylines are pretty clearly filler. But I think now that the shows getting into the meat and potatoes of the story, it’s a lot stronger than season one was. I wish more people would give it a shot

@@aidanpocock The wicked witch of the west sent the message "surrender dorothy" not knowing exactly where in muchkinland city she was. She wanted dorothy to surrender herself or, have someone surrender her against her will - either works, extremely competent of a witch flying by the seat of her broom. And her writers. Here, Adar is doing what, intended for whom, and for what reason? Not a good way to get an answer and isnt asking for anything specifically, he just wants to scare the elves? Do tolkeins elves get scared, particularly the elder ones who walked among the valar? From a birds eye view, this production presents Tolkeins second age as though Alfred the great defeated napoleon at waterloo, and Einstein invented the printing press. Making a chop suey in which isildur is running around before the rings are a twinkle in creepy uncle celebrimbor's eye speaks for itself. Representing numenor's 1500 year colonization and spread across the continent with two ships containing 300 horses galloping to a particular spot in a land the size of Iowa- come on, now, your suspension of belief must have a limit, I was out of this story in the first ten minutes when baby galadriel was presented as a violent little snit. Still following it through reports like yours since I've had these stories in the back of my head for over 40 years and feel I have a vested interest even if this is unwatchable, so thank you for that.

Ugh I know 😂 I had already built out a thumbnail template for the series and I was super annoyed with how this title basically turned my thumbnail into the “Does he Know?” Meme 😂 The only silver lining is that if you clicked on it because of that, maybe it’s coincidentally gave me a better, more engaging thumbnail lol.

I think there may have been a line in the season one finale where he promised her an army if she joined him. I can’t remember though. And yeah, I think that Adars children will play a role in his downfall, mainly Glûg since they’re building him up as a character who struggles with Adars plan. I don’t think they’ll kill him though, just betray him. I think Sauron will be the one to ultimately kill Adar in the finale. Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for always stopping by to watch! I appreciate it!

You heard me say I don’t condone hate speech and from that decided the video will be bad? Man, what kind of videos are you watching?

@@aidanpocock no I could tell that you were a wimp

@@jbiswastedoh dear, I’m devastated

Sauron: "We must make these rings. They will make Middle Earth great again. Very simple, we must... make... Middle Earth great again. It's failing now. If you don't work with me, Cerebrimbor, everything will fall apart, everyone will die. It will be. Hell. On Middle Earth. And I am the only one who can save you."

You were right all along 😂😂

@aidanpocock on a similar note imagine how emotionally damaged Mirdania would be to catch the attention of a (supposed) emissary of the valar only to be used as a side piece and dropped for someone considered better looking than her

I personally don’t have a problem with the way he looks. I think the actor portraying him is doing an excellent job at making me care about his story, and for me that’s all I can ask for. Though, I don’t know we’ve had any indication that he’s weak, and I’m hoping the end of the season will give us an opportunity to see his true strength

Ive heard about this theory! In fact I talk about it a bit at 13:20 in the video! I personally would love it if they went that route, but I’m really unconvinced they will. It seems increasingly obvious they’re going for the Gandalf nostalgia bait tactic

And now I rest

It really was an incredible experience! And they sent me custom dice to commemorate it! I'll definitely treasure the memory for the rest of my life!

They really did execute it perfectly

They really are going through it hahaha Though I agree, I’m hoping the strangers story gets more interesting this week

I thought the difference in apparent stakes (the lights are too dim) was funny by comparison haha

That sucks I really liked bronwynn story alot she was one of my personal favorites of season 1

Ah ok, thank you for letting me know. I was trying to figure out why but I saw a few different accounts. If that is indeed the case then that is devastating. The amount of toxicity, hate, and abuse these actors suffered last season is inexcusable. Disliking a show is one thing, but sending death threats or barraging an actor and their families with an unending spew of racist remarks is so pathetic and disgusting.

@@aidanpocock Ismael Cruz-Cordova went through hell as a result of this

It’s always funny to me how much people harp on RoP for being un-tolkien and the reasoning they give being it’s too boring, or it spends way too much time focusing on characters and dialogue than on action scenes. And I agree with you, that feels more Tolkien to me.

Based.

Thank you! I’m always happy to find more positive and open minded people here. I look forward to covering the season and discussing it with everyone!