The 1st season had some great moments, unfortunately there were too many slow moments that didn't add to the story, and should have been cut. The last episode was how the whole season should have been, it finally felt like the plot is moving forward. Season 2 should be awesome!
Now that his Halbrand cover is blown and Sauron is now revealed to Galadriel. Sauron will now shape shift into Annatar. I think the order of ring creation follows the verse, 3 Rings for the Elven Kings, then 7 for the dwarves and then 9 for mortal men and then the Last ring is the one Ring.
@@thetraveler4513 Stranger says: "When in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, always follow your nose". This is almost an exact copy of an iconic Gandalf line from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: "If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose". So ...
He can't be Gandalf as Gandalf comes to the middle earth later after the ring war. He is one of the blue wizards and he cant be Saruman his appearance doesn't match
Another clue about Hallbrand's identity I have not seen many people point out, is that in the tabern in Numenor, when the smiths ask him by which name should they refer to him, he says 'it depends on how close we are'. Then, after beating the sh*t out of them, he tells them 'call me Hallbrand'. Which implies Hallbrand is a name he uses with people he doesn't trust, hinting at the true nature of his relationship with Galadriel
Honestly I wasn’t suspicious until Galadriel figured out he wasn’t a king. I decided fully he must be Sauron when he said “I have been known by many names”.
Another hint The Stranger is Gandalf is the symbol the stars make on the parchment paper looks extremely similar to the symbol he drew on Bilbo's door with his staff.
With Halbrand being Sauron it always brings me back to that line Frodo mentions in the Fellowship movie that an enemy would look fairer but feel fouler. I feel like Halbrand had too many red flags just in the types of things he said but overall looked like a "nice" guy.
@@benfits8768 When Aragorn helps them evade the ring-wraiths at Bree, he leads them to Rivendell, but Sam is suspicious of "Strider." Frodo goes "I think the enemy would look fairer, and feel fouler." ruclips.net/video/e4er8Edq2Go/видео.html
I think the strongest evidence that points to the stranger being gandalf is the fact that gandalf had a strong connection to the hobbits and now we know why: it was the proto hobbits - harfoots that helped him out when he first arrived
I thought the same. And explains his extraordinary faith in such important quest in The Hobbit and LotR when they are known to be anything but adventurous
True it's quite compatible if you treat it as fanfiction.. Nice idea. In the a tune in with the actual lore of the rings Gandalf comes way later to help with the Sauron problem after it's already established as a problem, together with the 4 other Istari.
Thank you for a fair video. So many Lord of the Rings RUclipsrs decided they would hate Rings of Power months before it would come out and, being unable to get past their own opinions give entirely bias, hate-filled reviews. I can see you've given it an honest go and I really appreciate being able to watch a positive review.
Another clue to Halbrand being Sauron, in ep. 8 after the battle, the people yelled Hail, Halbrand, king of the Southlands, and now that it’s Mordor, he sure is.
It was obvious but the scene that really really confirmed for me that he was Sauron was when Galadriel is taking him to Elven Kingdom, I just know what's about to happen there.
I can't wait for season 2. I loved this series. I was correct about the stranger all along - I never believed he was Sauron. I still think he is Gandalf.
The talk of Galadriel's "light" in the finale was not backed up by showing her light in the first 7 episodes. I wish, rather than simply portraying her as a valiant sword fighter, they portrayed her as one who had some magical powers related to the use of light. Perhaps lighting the dark fortress in the first episode, lighting the darkness of Mordor in the seventh episode, or some other similar scene.
One of the big issues of the show. Yes, they should really stuck to the book description of her beeing adept at magic. Instead they made her more "villian male"...stronger than all the men in her entourage (as if, lol, magic would have been more believable), egoistic, childish, stubborn, proud, ruthless.....compared to her, Halbrand looked like a holy man. Difficult now to pull of the "evil Sauron good Galadriel" trope in the last epsiode, when neither protagonist reflected those characteristics beforehand in a noticable way.
It really had the tone and pacing of the extended 3 hour each cuts of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Not for everyone, but I found it very watchable. Not surprised by the Sauron reveal but really loved how it was executed. The writing for Sauron's character was amazing. Really going to miss seeing it every week. 9 out of ten rings for the 1st season.
The pace was even slower than the extended cuts. Seems nothing happens until episode 6. The way they cut up the stories was pretty annoying too. Think it’s a mistake a lot Of shows do that all the “reveals” need to happen in the finale. A lot of time wasting in the harfoot story. They should’ve shortened it and wrapped up that storyline by episode 7.
and this is why galadriel had so much beef with sauron. my girl was betrayed badly. sauron being a red flag since day 1 but who could tell her when it was her who gave him the noble and nice titles lol I love PAIN.
Just to correct you, Narya (the Ring of Fire) was given to Cirdan by Gil-galad and it was Cirdan who gave it to Gandalf. Gil-galad wore Vilya, which was then given to Elrond.
Just finished watching the last episode of this first season last night and it turns out the character whose arc I am now most interested in is precisely Sauron's! Gandalf comes second and Elrond comes third, far behind the other two. Unfortunately, I'm not that bothered what happens to all the other characters.
well that would technically be true for all maiar who are not turned to evil. It woul more be a reference to Gandalf's Ring which is the third elven ring of power.
the flame imperishable erus all powerful weapon is the secret fire. I want to see eru and the other vainur on the big screen. Tulkas vs morgoth would be sweet.
In J.R.R. Tolkien's (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age) it is told that aside from Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast, there were "others of the Istari who went into the east of Middle-earth, and do not come into these tales." Tolkien also writes in (Unfinished Tales) that the two Wizards were sent to the East whose names were "Alatar" and "Pallando". Alatar was a Maia of the Vala Oromë who chose him to go to Middle-earth. Alatar asked his friend Pallando to join him on his mission later. In (Unfinished Tales), Tolkien wrote that the five Istari came to Middle-earth together in TA 1000. However, in (The Peoples of Middle-earth), they are said to have arrived in the Second Age, around the year SA 1600, the time of the forging of the One Ring. Their mission was directed at weakening Sauron's forces in the eastern and southern parts of Middle-earth, whereas the other Istari were focused on the west. Could this possibly be Alatar? Or perhaps your right and writers are just doing what they wish now.
This is a solid theory, as a child of Orome would make sense with his tree abilities. I do still think it’s Saruman though, he spent some time in the East. He looks and talks like Saruman. And Saruman was “the other” (think of the Aesthetics line) one of Aule’s creation, the other being Sauron… Saruman is the Other
@@boatymcboatface666 the producers know plenty, but Tolkien estate only gave them access to the lord of the rings and the appendix. They can not use any of the other works unless mentioned in LOTR or the Appendix which is why things are changed, or different. Blame Tolkien Estate for the inaccuracies.
@@kenziefonnesbeck99 then that just proves that this whole series is a travesty and should never had been made! No wonder those of us that love and respect Toliken's creation, despise this bs.
A shame they didn't get access to the Simeralls...The writers are just doing whatever they want. Understanding that Hollywood process there's too many cooks in the kitchen. They could have at least borrowed Jackson's wig mistress.The Elven hair is way off in Brylcream land
Most of people criticizing the show simply don't understand the process of creating a new tv-show based on old books. Simple as that. Of course some things have to be adapted, changed, simplified. Some new things need to be done otherwise it is boring.
On episode three (30 min mark) Halbrand begs the blacksmith to give him work and even offered his service for free because he wants to start anew life in Numenor. This scene for me confirms that Sauron is definitely running away from darkness and just wants a chance to redeem himself, why would they even film that scene if it is not relevant. I've rewatched the whole show with the knowledge of Halbrand as Sauron , The redemption story actually fits perfectly. Also episode 8 (45 min mark) while Galadriel and Sauron talking on the raft, look closely at sauron's eye it becomes watery and evetually tears fell down, that I think he is telling the truth.
@@joeyschinner4981 Yes in the books. Its already given, everybody knows that already and it just so predictable what will happen next if thats the case. Wouldn't be interesting if they go for an original redemption story instead not limited to the tolkien legendarium, that way they can keep the viewers guessing what happens next purist and casual fans alike.
@@lowelotilano Yes, they could go for him still having a redemtion agenda with forces of good and evil fighting inside of him, and finallly after wearing the one ring for a while he ends up more on the evil side. But I find it difficult to pick up on that since he seemed pretty evil at the end of the finale. Him leaving Galadriel alive could be a sign of the goodness/redemtion agenda still being alive in him though.🤔
@@fred4977 Or alternatively, him leaving Galadriel alive could be a sign that he still wants her for his queen. I don't think we've seen the last of that plot line yet.
I’m wondering how the the dwarves and mens rings will be created? Whether or not Sauron will have to take on an elf form to help celebrimbor make them?
@@nickgreen4731 yeah this is what i'm expecting as well. Annatar but probably under a different name since Amazon doesn't have the rights to Annatar (big thanks to Chris Tolkien making this show a fuckton harder to make than it should've been)
I think the Dwarves will make their own rings. They're good craftsmen, they have the mithril, they just need Sauron to show them. The Elves now have the Three, so they don't need the mithril anymore, and Sauron will convince the Dwarves they'll be behind the times and eventually subservient to the Elves if they don't keep up. Sauron will probably craft the Nine rings of Men himself. Plenty of Men showed they were perfectly willing to be ruled by Sauron, and the Southlanders went nuts when they got Halbrand/Sauron. They'll probably be perfectly happy to take the rings offered by Sauron when he tells them they'll need them to keep up with the Dwarves, Elves, and keep them safe from enemies like Adar. The eruption of Mount Doom will be too fresh on the minds of Men, they'll take the power when it's offered to them by their "king".
No one going to talk about how he says "‘From the shadows you came. To shadow, I bid you return"? Gandalf said somewhat the same lines against forces of evil when he fought the Balrog in LOTR " Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass". He seems all too familiar with enemies that hail from the shadow. You are welcome.
@Dean Mitchell Very true. Though Gandalf is the only one that really makes a reference about the evils he has encountered in his lifetime. All I know is that.. they botched the show from the moment they decided to make this into a show
I've always associated Gandalf with Hobbits. It would make me emotional if the Istar is actually Gandalf. I love the idea that this proto-Gandalf character came to ME as a powerful but blank vasal and the Harfoots imprinted their own kind of goodness/wisdom/sensibilities on him.
He is Gandalf. In the first movie of the lord of the rings Gandalf tells Frodo that when in doubt, follow your nose (what you smell) which is the same exact thing he says to Nori.
SO MANY SUPPOSED READERS OF THE LORE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE LOOP HOLES LEFT BY TOLKIEN ARE BEING WRITTEN NOW. none of the movies follow the books . Legolas was not in the hobbit , Aragon had an entire army of his people with him when he made the battle of Palenor fields in ROTK. Saurumon didnt die in the two towers. Just enjoy the fact we get to see.....
Okay everyone has missed a symbol drawn on a log by the meteor Man. He is trying to show or tell Nori who he is and he drew the same exact symbol that Gandalf used in The Hobbit to put on Bilbo's door to market for the dwarves to find. When meteor Man is drawing on the log right before nori's dad breaks his but you can see the symbol it's like a backwards F. So meteor Man and Gandalf are the only two people I've seen use that symbol and timelines don't mean anything so it's probably Gandalf.
The first season was quite a mixed bag in my opinion from ok to really quite bad in terms of dialogue and story . There were a couple of episodes that were really quite good in my opinion . I liked the final episode but what is lacking for me is the lack of magic . The whole point about the forged rings their powers are magical basically by enchantments. Sauron was trained as a Smith by the maiaar and he was also a sorcerer , so when he forged the one ring at mount doom , sauron put all his malice and evil into the ring by sorcery , his soul was in this ring which is what made the one ring so powerful that is could control the others . That is why when sauron had his finger cut off with the ring by ilsildur it destroyed saurons physical form . In the rings of power the three eleven rings we see forged in a physical sense in that the ores and mithril which is not lore gives the rings it's powerful properties which is not true . So hopefully in the second series they will bring in tolkiens magic into the series .
Now that his Halbrand cover is blown and Sauron is now revealed to Galadriel. Sauron will now shape shift into Annatar. I think the order of ring creation follows the verse, 3 Rings for the Elven Kings, then 7 for the dwarves and then 9 for mortal men and then the Last ring is the one Ring.
Which makes no sense because in the lore the 3 Rings were actually made last. The 3 were the most powerful, in part because Celembrimbor and his group had perfected and developed great skill while forging the other rings. So if the 3 are made first and are the most powerful, why would they need Annatars help in forging weaker rings?
I think the next season will be a flash back... Of Annatar anad Celebrimbor forging the other rings then gets killed by adar and assumes the form of Halbrand.... then coming back to Eregion to finish what he started.... also when he was in Annatars fair form he poisoned the tree and started spreading the rumors of the elves fading and using the urban legend of mithrill to force their hand some how.
Sauron/Halbrand will likely form an alliance with Durin IV, who is becoming estranged from his father King Durin III, to gain access to the mithril in Khazad-Dum (and eventually the awakening of the Balrog which will be Durin's downfall). Durin IV will exchange mithril in return for Sauron showing them how to craft their 7 rings of power. There could be several hooks to this - one being Sauron telling the Dwarves that the Elves no longer need their mithril because they've crafted the Three, and the Dwarves will need to keep up lest they be eclipsed by the Elves and their newfound power. Sauron would then also be able to make the Nine rings to be given to Men. Judging by the reaction of the Southlanders to Halbrand, men are desperate to have a strong king to follow and probably wouldn't hesitate to take the Nine rings to help put them more on par with the powers of the elves and dwarves, and to "protect" them from foes like Adar. We also know that many Men in the Southlands were happy to remain loyal to Sauron. I wouldn't be surprised if Waldreg turns on Adar when he meets Sauron/Halbrand, and Waldreg ends up becoming one of the Nine. I also wouldn't be surprised if Adar eventually becomes the Mouth of Sauron - his tongue is silky enough, he's not quite orc and not quite elf, he fits the bill in many ways. Interesting that Galadriel doesn't reveal that Halbrand is Sauron to Celebrimbor and Elrond. In the books, Celebrimbor eventually discovers what Sauron is planning with the One and somehow enchants the Three so that they'll remain hidden. The Nine become the Ringwraiths and the Seven dwarf rings are either collected by Sauron or destroyed by dragons. Ar-Pharazon is known to be the last king of Numenor. We know from the literature that Sauron somehow convinces Ar-Pharazon that he should attack the Undying Lands and take immortality for themselves... which results in the massive cataclysm that destroys Numenor. Elendil and the Faithful will remain loyal to Queen Miriel, and they'll be spared from Numenor's destruction. Elendil will be made king at some point by Miriel, and will establish the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. They will eventually form the Last Alliance with the Elves to fight Sauron and the One. I don't know where they're going with the Gandalf thing. Nothing in the books, to my knowledge, suggests Gandalf was living in the second age at all. We know he says the third age was his age, so I'm not sure where they're going with this. All I can think of is the Blue Wizards are once referenced to be somewhere in the far east. I can only speculate the wizards are going to meet up and eventually form the White Council.
And I really would enjoy seeing the Blue Wizards brought in to the story line in next season. It seems likely due to the direction that Gandalf and Nori set off in.
The twist meaning how Sauron uses deception and division and greed and paranoia to get the dwarves and men to create rings to compete for power with each other. I can see that happening. Great insights here.
@@naturefleur2062 You're probably right, considering the Blue Wizards are the only unexplored wizard characters in the lore (at least on screen). If Gandalf is around, surely we'll meet Saruman and Radagast at some point too.
I think Elrond was going to tell Galadriel, but you see that he spots the rings before he is about to. He loosens his grip on the scrolls and stays silent, the power of the rings ‘gifted’ by Sauron. Either clever directing or I’m inferring too much :)
I'm confused about what Sauron did prior to the show. Why was he a known evil already? Why'd he want Elven Rings made? How exactly do the rings keep that rot away? What was the rot?
So basically in the war Galadriel mentions in the beginning, they weren't mainly against Sauron, but Morgoth. Think of Sauron as like a Lucifer figure, he was a "angel" (or something close to it, Lord of the RIngs version) who fell from grace and worked with Morgoth against Elven forces in their big war when they got to Middle Earth, so he's a known evil because he was basically Morgoth's corrupted angel second in command. When Morgoth was defeated Sauron got away. Sauron didn't actually want the Eleven Rings made! He wanted to create the Ring (like THE ring, that one) because, like it's stated in the main series, that ring would make him uber powerful. So on the next parts honestly I'm not too knowledgable because the show diverges from book canon for it. The Elven Rings, in short, are Good. They give the Elves power, and as it shows in the lord of the rings trilogy, the elves were the only race to be able to control that power and have restraint. I think the rot is akin to the slow dying the elves experienced in Lord of the Rings, where when they get too far from their homeland they begin to die out, so the rings keep away the rot because it returned the power back to them.
I just finished watching Two Towers before watching this final episode, and noticed something in Two Towers about when Gandalf comes back as Gandalf the white. He says “I fell through space and time, and each day was a lifetime of man…” or something of the like. He comes back being like “oh yeah they used to call me Gandalf.” Maybe in some weird way, when he fell through “time” he lived a bunch of lives on middle earth possibly including the strangers life, in order to be brought back and to better understand the enemy? I don’t know, timey wimey stuff but still very cool!!
From what I remember from the lore, Maiars (for example Sauron or Gandalf) could take different forms in Arda (the Earth), since bodies were not more than temporary husks to them. Gandalf had been sent from the spiritual world to the Middle-earth with a certain task (as a counterweight to Sauron), so when his husk (Gandalf the Grey) has been destroyed and his spirit had been freed, it got intercepted by more powerful beings (probably by Valars) who decided that he's still needed and he's worthy of being sent to the Middle-earth again. It all has happened in the spiritual world, in which the phenomena of time loses its sense, thus the sense of millennia passed that Gandalf had. Also just a quick note - RoP is a fucking disgrace to the human race and the darkest page of 21th century cinematography.
My theory is that The Stranger/Meteor Man is Gandalf but just not the one we are used to. This would be a Gandalf that is learning what's happening in Middle Earth and studying the situation there. I feel he will return to Valinor and come back to Middle Earth again as a wizard with the other 4 in the 3rd Age.
As we have seen with rings of power you can have any theory you want and it makes it canon when you say it. Fuck your theories and fuck this show. i kinda liked it until this season finale. When this hobo/gandalf said follow your nose i kinda lost it.
I have the same feeling But, what if the Story continue 's and the stranger is not Gandalf but One of the Blue Wizards that would be a big surprise. There are so many people who are negative about this series just give it a chance.....
The first season went over the mechanism of how sauron would control the others via the bridging of the seen and unseen realms. This mechanism will be used in the rings. Then it showed how sauron gifted technology to make this bridging amplified by using circular pattern like ring or circlet crown. Finally it shows the spirit of sauron and his deception that will be imparted into the One ring that will control them all. The first season covered a lot about the rings of power if you dont focus on materiall ringss
I assumed the Stranger is Gandolf because it would make sense that he would come to visit the hobbits later in life after they helped him in the second age (in Rings of Power).
Here is another clue for why the stranger could be Gandalf: The Mystics say that the fire is bending on his will. Combined with his lightblow from the staff it reminded me of one scene in LotR 1. Remember, when Gandalf fought Balrog on the bridge in Moria and what he said to him? That's exactly the same thing we got told in this episode.
Except Gandalf wasn't alive at that point of time. Series plays in the second age. Gandalf first showed up in the third age, so roundabout 1.000 years later. But considering, that the Nazgul were human kings that got corrupted by the rings they were wearing, it also makes no sense at all to have them stalking around the woods looking like female Eminem before the rings even existed. So nothing in the show has anything to do with what Tolkien wrote.
@@endlessstudent3512 Exactly that. I would have said otherwise that he wasn't just know at the second Age as Gandalf and over the time he becomes him. We'll see what the producers will fabricate here in the future
@@dannywild8838 but if they reley on the books. the first one who arrive wasnt gandalf it was saruman. curumo(Curunir)((Saruman)) was the first of them not Olorin(mithrandir.(Gandalf))
@@MrEasterrabbit I thought the other part was just a piece of rock? I dont really think the Mithril will make a big difference as Sauron pours his soul into the ring
With respect to the experts here, as I have not read the supporting lit for the books, I find it interesting that Gandalf did not get burnt in Moria when fighting the Balrog, which puzzled me at the time. His arrival in the fire in the meteor thing, again, not burnt. Another possible tell that the stranger is in fact Gandalf? And a Gandalf trying to figure himself out at that, and gain control of powers he already has, a language he already knows, like it was all instinctive.... faked me out though, Tom Bombadil was mentioned a few times in speculation as the stranger and the whole thing with the apples was odd. The writers seem to be having a blast with all this teasing us on. I liked the series but it did not grow on me well and its a bit graphic for my taste, wound up binge watching it till 3 am one night. Looking forward to a rewatch. Personally for me there are too many parallels indicating that the stranger is Gandalf. Characters are deepening as we go on, we are seeing more sides and more inner conflict, this is a sleeper show that is growing and I hope they take it all the way through and it gets a fan base. Lot of extremely good actors in this show including supporting roles. Must have been amazing for them to be in it.
I read the books sooo long ago but, I think they are both from the same original beings/spirit so hence, he can take it pretty much (=) something to that affect,
It is a long time since I read the Silmarillion, but I thought Sauron went to Numenor and was the cause of the tidal wave which destroyed it. But why follow a great plot by a great writer when you can screw it up with second rate thinking and writing.
I love your summaries. Always nice to hear your voice and thoughts on shows and movies. I will watch your videos whether I’m interested in the topic/ movie/show or not. Thanks for all the quality work.
The actor playing Sauron/Halbrand, as well as the showrunners, in recent interviews following the premier have commented and name dropped Annator, saying that while Season 1 had to have mystery and exposition, they understood the fans were expecting a certain storyline to happen, and they said that Season 2 is where that will be explored
Okay... How will the other rings be made? since the last of pure gold (gold from Valinor), galadriels dagger has been melted and it was the only thing that could me melted with mithril?
Okay the stranger is probably Gandalf. But I am still hopeful of it being Saruman. Being that he was sent by the Valar to challenge Sauron would bring it together. An yes in the end he was a power hungry villain. But he was not always. An going back this far could explain a lot of his fondness of Gandalf. Perhaps sees a version of his younger self? An maybe Saruman an the harfoots have less than a great goodbye. Would explain his lack of trust or interest in hobbits.
I don’t know maybe it’s me but I felt like Sauron didn’t star as a bad guy, and I felt that he really cared about Galadriel even thou he had a misconception of between healing and rulling. Maybe be it’s the ring which later makes his master completely evil
@TheTribal Kid yes you are right, he never lied to Galadriel, she assumed because those assumptions helped her get what she wanted, that was going back to middle earth. I think that Sauron would have been content to remain in Numenor at least for a time.
No Sauron is a bad person. The word you have to use is "manipulate" . It's better to have strong companions than a dead enemy. He manipulated the Elves to create the Three rings. Needed to blend in to see what was on the other side and see how he get the ring to rule them all.
@@annikaki8305 maybe, but personally I want to believe that no every part or every person is evil, evil is made no born, and we all have capacity for good, so he must have some too right?
the question is how were the dwarves and humans able to create their rings of power? where they created at the same time the elves created theirs? or did halbrand visit them after helping celebrimbor? or galadriel didn't expect that halbrand will also do the same with the other races and didn't bother to alert them? but if they were created at the same time, does that mean sauron split himself, created illusions, or asked his servants to infiltrate/act like what he did?
I think it's funny that everybody is like 'im rooting for Sauron at this point' or 'he is so much more likeable than xyz'. Well yes?! That's actually the point and it does show that the series did a good job after all. Read the Silmarillion guys. He was fair, beautiful, charming, smart, convincing, deceitful and manipulating with words of kindness and wisdom while many Elves (of middle earth, not Valinor) were fighting, proud, selfish and even cruel in that age... I really liked the show.
Watching this will make the fellowship of the rings,the two towers,and the return of the kings more meaningful and interesting even though it already was
It really doesn't because it's not canon, the characters and their background don't follow tolkiens work, so they don't relate to the developed characters in the lord of the rings trilogy.
Weather your a Canon only person, or not, I really enjoyed this season being a bit out of wack. There used to be a thing called creative license when adapting novels to shows and movies, that no one really gave a rip about except for the critics. Honestly if they stuck to just Canon I don't think it would be able to be as interesting for a TV show. I liked it and am looking forward to next season. Great pick for the actress that plays Galadriel.
I loved the first season and I'm glad I never read the books so I went into it with clear eyes. I sort of guessed early on that the stranger would be Gandalf and his quote at the end of the season really solidifies that for me. I would have never have guessed that Halbrand would have been Sauron. I can't wait for season 2, although i hope they don't rush it and make it as good as season 1.
Man. This channel is the only time in ten years on RUclips I repeatedly checked to see if a video was dropped over and over and over lol. I love LOTR and even tho I’m not sold on this series I’m still in love with it because it’s LOTR. Thank you sir for your effort in what you do.
6:25 Gil Galad gives his ring to Elrond way later in the story, Cirdan gives his ring to Gandalf upon his arrival by ''boat'' into middle earth. Also Anàrion? Last seen in middle earth? I don't remember that, i thought he was in the west of Numenôr?
It seems to me that they've retconned it so that the rings are forged in the order they're mentioned in the song. I expect Sauron might give the rings as payment for the mythril used to make them and then have his great success with corrupting the kings of men before getting yoinked back to Numenor and getting everyone wet.
I must say that I was pretty shocked from the ending that Halbrand is the evil Sauron, just because I invested too much on their feelings for each other and I was hoping they would become lovers. But ultimately this is much more interesting, it shows that nothing is really black or white because even her that she represents the light takes sometimes dark decisions or has dark thoughts and the opposite, even he had some positive energy around her and has actually felt things for her (maybe even love) that a completely darkened heart would never feel. That made the show’s dynamic amazing for me and the show has really some powerful story to build upon (in my opinion at least).
For what it is, I love the show. I hope enough people agree that it doesn't end up getting canceled before it's 5 seasons are over. I haven't read the books, as my attention span for reading isn't great, but I do wish it tied itself to them a bit better, just so that it would follow the events that lead to the movies directly. The movies with Elijah Wood are probably my favorite movies of all time. I do think the show is very well done and scripted, though. I love the relationship between Elrond and Lord Duran. A friendship as strong as the mithril itself. I can't wait to see the next season!
@@brav0wing And thats your personal opinion..i also think this is a really good show..yes it doesnt really adhere to the books but who cares..its a breath of fresh air and trust me it will last the full 5 seasons coz of all love it is getting..but hey a hater like you wont understand that lmao..so yeah keep on hating and being miserable lol..
It’s saruman! Saruman spent time in the East. The Aesthetic says, “he is the other” referring to Aule’s other associated maiar, saruman. He’s also the first Istari to arrive after the blue wizards. I also think the blue wizards were in episode 1 walking East with the elk antlers…
It's not. Why would they let 'saruman' use the exact same line as Gandalf in LOTR if not refering to Gandalf.. that would be crazy. 'When in doubt, always follow your nose”
@@jannn6692 they could set up Saruman saying that to a freshly arrived Gandalf in season 4 or 5… they want you to think it’s Gandalf is all I’m saying.
Let him say the exact same words as Gandalf and then it wouldn't be Gandalf would be such a strange decision to make for the writers, would't make sense at all.
@@jannn6692 when did this series make much sense in terms of timeline etc anyway... gandalf doesn't arrive until the third age to middle earth so it's a bit distorted regardless
Guys, the stranger is using the same line from LOTR 'When in doubt, always follow your nose” you really think they 're going to let him say that if it wasn't Gandalf..
@@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305 Gandalf also famously mentions of kindness and other simple things in life while talking with Galadriel in FOTR. Probably referring to the ways of Hobbits.
4 месяца назад
The video was enlightening, congratulations. There was just one small issue: at the end, the sound of the music resembled the sound of an electric drill. I live in an apartment and started looking around, trying to find the source of the noise 🤣🤣🤣
Didn't Gandalf have a mentor? Honestly, I just want to see more wizards. This was the only episode that I really enjoyed even though I saw the reveals coming. I wanted to see Sauron manipulate the elves more in person. I hope that the writers and producers take the fan's feedback seriously and make changes for season 2.
@@Amarmister93 talk about pace, have you watched HOTD, omg they have jumped so much through time and left so much out. Its definitely not GOTs quality. I like rings of power much better. This is a good show, it’s good to see the beginning of all things. Liked your comment tho
I hope, now that Gandalf is going off to Rhûn, that we'll see the blue wizards show up next season, and then have the big 3 come to M.E. as described in the books.
Remember Gandalf went through a color change, starting as Gandalf the grey then becoming Gandalf the White. What if Gandalf and Saruman started as the blue wizards and explored the far east. They returned to Valinor after their exploration. They were then sent back as the wizards we know.
At least in the book its saurons magic that makes the rings preserve the elves so when sauron finally gets defeated the elves have to leave middle earth
they imbue into the 3 elven rings the power to preserve the elves outside of Valinor, they're not rings meant to do "visual" magic but full of symbolism, like it usually is with magic in Tolkien's universe. The same with the one ring, it's not meant to make Sauron superman, but moderately control everyone into his allegiance.
Regarding Halbrand as Sauron and clues... at 4:32 there is a closeup of Halbrand in a rage, I believe I see his eyes very "Sauron-Like" even if not the color of fire... That tipped it off for me.
Sauron only considered redemption at the end of the First Age, but he ultimately refused it. He never even considered trying to redeem himself after that. So for this show to suggest that he is trying to redeem himself at this time, during the Second Age, is yet another bastardization by this show of the things Tolkien wrote and believed concerning his writings.
The stranger is Gandalf. Halbrand is Sauron. Is it really that difficult? And if you had gone beyond the LOTR books into the unfinished works of Tolkien then you would know all this.
I totally enjoyed this show. I guess I was really open minded, naive and looking for a different middle earth than the one on my head. Kudos to everybody that predicted Halbrand to be Sauron, I did not see it coming but enjoyed the reveal before Galadriel. Somehow, I def liked the dialogue, the lore, the connections, the soundtrack and more importantly the production value. Hopefully, they learn from all the criticism they experience this season and go on a more popular and mainstream direction. As the only human being on planet Earth who likes this Galadriel and have thoroughly enjoyed each episode from beginning to end, I expect the second the season is completely different, so that it appeals to a wider audience and also it really captures people's imagination.
Sorry you enjoyed the scripting of this show? Seriously was a travesty! Absolutely nothing remotely approaching Tolkien! Whole thing is a complete travesty. Generic fantasy with few names from Tolkien thrown in to give it some connection. Some of the visuals were awesome! Seeing Khazad-dûm and Numenor was wicked as! I want to know what happened to Celeborn, Galadriel husband and Celebrain, their daughter born circa 300 in 2nd age.
I love lord of the rings and just binged the show and I enjoyed it as well. It might not be Tolkien but as you said the production value was amazing and the old elven and dwarvish cities were awesome to see.
What i don't understand is, in the lore wiki it says durin and all the dwarves get slain by the balrog that was awoken in one of the episodes, and remains in the mines til fellowship of the ring
![The History of Sauron [COMPILATION] | Tolkien Explained](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8IqAN1Of70k/mqdefault.jpg)
💍What did you think of the first season? 💍
Check out my other Rings of Power video here: ruclips.net/p/PLY9KJ1cFVs7ibSyrt28Qt0ZtTpb738ptQ
The 1st season had some great moments, unfortunately there were too many slow moments that didn't add to the story, and should have been cut.
The last episode was how the whole season should have been, it finally felt like the plot is moving forward. Season 2 should be awesome!
9/10
Now that his Halbrand cover is blown and Sauron is now revealed to Galadriel. Sauron will now shape shift into Annatar. I think the order of ring creation follows the verse, 3 Rings for the Elven Kings, then 7 for the dwarves and then 9 for mortal men and then the Last ring is the one Ring.
There are so many things to cheer for but man, when they drop the ball they drop the ball HARD. See you in Season 2.
the mystics are Wights
The most obvious hint that the Stranger is Gandalf ...
Who else would send a Hobbit into an life threatening adventure?
Potentially in “spirit” the Gandalf we know (in hobbit and LOTR) is only 300 years old.
@@thetraveler4513 could be 🤔
@@thetraveler4513 Stranger says: "When in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, always follow your nose". This is almost an exact copy of an iconic Gandalf line from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: "If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose". So ...
@@НиколайПетков-е8д Yeah, that explains a lot.
He can't be Gandalf as Gandalf comes to the middle earth later after the ring war. He is one of the blue wizards and he cant be Saruman his appearance doesn't match
i am just here to say that halbrand had no right looking this good in the end
RIGHT?!
Ikr😂
I volunteer as tribute! ❤
@@MrChampJC hahaha
LOL!!! OMG Yes!
Also Isildur's horse apparently does not think he is dead.
Another clue about Hallbrand's identity I have not seen many people point out, is that in the tabern in Numenor, when the smiths ask him by which name should they refer to him, he says 'it depends on how close we are'. Then, after beating the sh*t out of them, he tells them 'call me Hallbrand'. Which implies Hallbrand is a name he uses with people he doesn't trust, hinting at the true nature of his relationship with Galadriel
He is also mopping to spread the dust instead of cleaning the dust. The scene where halbrand and galadriel talking at night at smith place
Maybe you are looking too deep into it, but thats a great way to look at it about
Honestly I wasn’t suspicious until Galadriel figured out he wasn’t a king. I decided fully he must be Sauron when he said “I have been known by many names”.
Think you're putting more thought into it than the writers did
Dude don’t listen to these dumb asses saying ur “looking too deep” it makes sense writers have gone further than this for a hint.
Another hint The Stranger is Gandalf is the symbol the stars make on the parchment paper looks extremely similar to the symbol he drew on Bilbo's door with his staff.
With Halbrand being Sauron it always brings me back to that line Frodo mentions in the Fellowship movie that an enemy would look fairer but feel fouler. I feel like Halbrand had too many red flags just in the types of things he said but overall looked like a "nice" guy.
He looks nice, because he IS a nice guy and he deserves a chance 😌
@@JusticiaD He's defo more nice then Galadriel, thats for sure.
When dose Frodo say that ?
@@benfits8768 When Aragorn helps them evade the ring-wraiths at Bree, he leads them to Rivendell, but Sam is suspicious of "Strider." Frodo goes "I think the enemy would look fairer, and feel fouler." ruclips.net/video/e4er8Edq2Go/видео.html
Merry* is suspicious
I think the strongest evidence that points to the stranger being gandalf is the fact that gandalf had a strong connection to the hobbits and now we know why: it was the proto hobbits - harfoots that helped him out when he first arrived
I thought the same. And explains his extraordinary faith in such important quest in The Hobbit and LotR when they are known to be anything but adventurous
Same I agree, this explains why Gandalf was keep telling the dwarves they needed a hobbit with them (on the hobbit movie). 😊
And plus he said he is a wizard...so that definitely make him Gandolf the grey as he is grey as well....
@Jurgen van Gestel yeah but gandalf has a strong connection with nature as well. As seen with the ENTs in the two towers.
True it's quite compatible if you treat it as fanfiction.. Nice idea.
In the a tune in with the actual lore of the rings Gandalf comes way later to help with the Sauron problem after it's already established as a problem, together with the 4 other Istari.
“I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
~Gandalf
Nori telling him it’s what we do that defines us… Gandalf - what we do with the time that is given to us
One of my favorite quotes
Show is woke trash.
@@ibashcommunists6847 Why waste your energy on it then?
@@jackhughes7637 why waste energy on my post then??
Thank you for a fair video. So many Lord of the Rings RUclipsrs decided they would hate Rings of Power months before it would come out and, being unable to get past their own opinions give entirely bias, hate-filled reviews. I can see you've given it an honest go and I really appreciate being able to watch a positive review.
Another clue to Halbrand being Sauron, in ep. 8 after the battle, the people yelled Hail, Halbrand, king of the Southlands, and now that it’s Mordor, he sure is.
For me the tell was when he said to galadreal “ bind it to my very being “
When he talked about controlling others by playing onto their fears, in the Numenor jail cell was a big sign for me.
It was obvious but the scene that really really confirmed for me that he was Sauron was when Galadriel is taking him to Elven Kingdom, I just know what's about to happen there.
@@Materva_ I don’t think you finished the show
@@Materva_ guess u didnt watch rhe last episode to the full lol
I'm just happy to be in this world again. It's not perfect, but I'm enjoying it.
I can't wait for season 2. I loved this series. I was correct about the stranger all along - I never believed he was Sauron. I still think he is Gandalf.
I think he’s Gandalf too, even the way he starts talking once he gets more of his mind back was very Gandalfish
God I thought it was mostly shite
If only they did not drag Tolkien's work into it.
100% he’s Gandalf - ‘always follow your nose’
Dear god, there’s going to be a second season. FFS
The talk of Galadriel's "light" in the finale was not backed up by showing her light in the first 7 episodes. I wish, rather than simply portraying her as a valiant sword fighter, they portrayed her as one who had some magical powers related to the use of light. Perhaps lighting the dark fortress in the first episode, lighting the darkness of Mordor in the seventh episode, or some other similar scene.
The writers may be intentionally saving that for next season
One of the big issues of the show. Yes, they should really stuck to the book description of her beeing adept at magic. Instead they made her more "villian male"...stronger than all the men in her entourage (as if, lol, magic would have been more believable), egoistic, childish, stubborn, proud, ruthless.....compared to her, Halbrand looked like a holy man. Difficult now to pull of the "evil Sauron good Galadriel" trope in the last epsiode, when neither protagonist reflected those characteristics beforehand in a noticable way.
@@ianlord7912 that’s most likely what they are doing.
Yeah, cus she was the strongest Non-Istari magic wielder
Probably emerges after she gets the ring I would think.
It really had the tone and pacing of the extended 3 hour each cuts of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Not for everyone, but I found it very watchable. Not surprised by the Sauron reveal but really loved how it was executed. The writing for Sauron's character was amazing. Really going to miss seeing it every week.
9 out of ten rings for the 1st season.
The pace was even slower than the extended cuts. Seems nothing happens until episode 6. The way they cut up the stories was pretty annoying too. Think it’s a mistake a lot
Of shows do that all the “reveals” need to happen in the finale. A lot of time wasting in the harfoot story. They should’ve shortened it and wrapped up that storyline by episode 7.
So did I. Enjoyed it. Loved it.
I liked it too, compared to most other people. Would give 7,5 rings though, still plenty room for improvement!
and this is why galadriel had so much beef with sauron. my girl was betrayed badly. sauron being a red flag since day 1 but who could tell her when it was her who gave him the noble and nice titles lol I love PAIN.
Just to correct you, Narya (the Ring of Fire) was given to Cirdan by Gil-galad and it was Cirdan who gave it to Gandalf. Gil-galad wore Vilya, which was then given to Elrond.
Jesus Christ
@@nadiahrose2187 Wrong book. No Jesus here.
@@nadiahrose2187 Jesus Christ Indeed.
NERD
Just to correct you, the ring of fire is my ass hole after a spicy curry
Just finished watching the last episode of this first season last night and it turns out the character whose arc I am now most interested in is precisely Sauron's! Gandalf comes second and Elrond comes third, far behind the other two. Unfortunately, I'm not that bothered what happens to all the other characters.
There’s also the reoccurring theme of fire whenever the episodes involve “Gandalf” and as we all know Gandalf is a Servant of the Secret Fire.
well that would technically be true for all maiar who are not turned to evil. It woul more be a reference to Gandalf's Ring which is the third elven ring of power.
the flame imperishable erus all powerful weapon is the secret fire. I want to see eru and the other vainur on the big screen. Tulkas vs morgoth would be sweet.
@@obsidian7644 Tulkas, not Tarkus?
@@moriscondo5511 yes thanks for the spell check
In J.R.R. Tolkien's (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age) it is told that aside from Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast, there were "others of the Istari who went into the east of Middle-earth, and do not come into these tales." Tolkien also writes in (Unfinished Tales) that the two Wizards were sent to the East whose names were "Alatar" and "Pallando". Alatar was a Maia of the Vala Oromë who chose him to go to Middle-earth. Alatar asked his friend Pallando to join him on his mission later.
In (Unfinished Tales), Tolkien wrote that the five Istari came to Middle-earth together in TA 1000.
However, in (The Peoples of Middle-earth), they are said to have arrived in the Second Age, around the year SA 1600, the time of the forging of the One Ring.
Their mission was directed at weakening Sauron's forces in the eastern and southern parts of Middle-earth, whereas the other Istari were focused on the west.
Could this possibly be Alatar? Or perhaps your right and writers are just doing what they wish now.
This is a solid theory, as a child of Orome would make sense with his tree abilities. I do still think it’s Saruman though, he spent some time in the East. He looks and talks like Saruman. And Saruman was “the other” (think of the Aesthetics line) one of Aule’s creation, the other being Sauron… Saruman is the Other
Thank you! Finally a person who is more familiar with Tolkien lore than the producers of this abysmal series.
@@boatymcboatface666 the producers know plenty, but Tolkien estate only gave them access to the lord of the rings and the appendix. They can not use any of the other works unless mentioned in LOTR or the Appendix which is why things are changed, or different. Blame Tolkien Estate for the inaccuracies.
@@kenziefonnesbeck99 then that just proves that this whole series is a travesty and should never had been made! No wonder those of us that love and respect Toliken's creation, despise this bs.
A shame they didn't get access to the Simeralls...The writers are just doing whatever they want. Understanding that Hollywood process there's too many cooks in the kitchen. They could have at least borrowed Jackson's wig mistress.The Elven hair is way off in Brylcream land
The king of numinor thought Alicint was Rhaenyra, I don't know why, but something about that seems familiar...
😂😂😂 Nice catch.
Omg😝
Saroman? was a great wizard before he was corrupted.
Most of people criticizing the show simply don't understand the process of creating a new tv-show based on old books. Simple as that. Of course some things have to be adapted, changed, simplified. Some new things need to be done otherwise it is boring.
On episode three (30 min mark) Halbrand begs the blacksmith to give him work and even offered his service for free because he wants to start anew life in Numenor. This scene for me confirms that Sauron is definitely running away from darkness and just wants a chance to redeem himself, why would they even film that scene if it is not relevant. I've rewatched the whole show with the knowledge of Halbrand as Sauron , The redemption story actually fits perfectly. Also episode 8 (45 min mark) while Galadriel and Sauron talking on the raft, look closely at sauron's eye it becomes watery and evetually tears fell down, that I think he is telling the truth.
Sauron is literally known as the great deceiver. So it would be hard to prove.
@@joeyschinner4981 Yes in the books. Its already given, everybody knows that already and it just so predictable what will happen next if thats the case. Wouldn't be interesting if they go for an original redemption story instead not limited to the tolkien legendarium, that way they can keep the viewers guessing what happens next purist and casual fans alike.
@@lowelotilano Yes, they could go for him still having a redemtion agenda with forces of good and evil fighting inside of him, and finallly after wearing the one ring for a while he ends up more on the evil side. But I find it difficult to pick up on that since he seemed pretty evil at the end of the finale. Him leaving Galadriel alive could be a sign of the goodness/redemtion agenda still being alive in him though.🤔
@Lowel Otilano - Then clearly you do not know wtf you are talking about.
@@fred4977 Or alternatively, him leaving Galadriel alive could be a sign that he still wants her for his queen. I don't think we've seen the last of that plot line yet.
I’m wondering how the the dwarves and mens rings will be created? Whether or not Sauron will have to take on an elf form to help celebrimbor make them?
I think 'Halbrand' will return to see Celebrimbor, who will let him in (not knowing he is Sauron).
@@nickgreen4731 yeah this is what i'm expecting as well. Annatar but probably under a different name since Amazon doesn't have the rights to Annatar (big thanks to Chris Tolkien making this show a fuckton harder to make than it should've been)
@@josh29221 then clearly should not have been made! It's a complete dumpster fire 🔥
@@nickgreen4731 how could he not know, now "Galadriel" knows and Elrond suspects something not right? This whole series is a mockery of Tolkien.
I think the Dwarves will make their own rings. They're good craftsmen, they have the mithril, they just need Sauron to show them. The Elves now have the Three, so they don't need the mithril anymore, and Sauron will convince the Dwarves they'll be behind the times and eventually subservient to the Elves if they don't keep up.
Sauron will probably craft the Nine rings of Men himself. Plenty of Men showed they were perfectly willing to be ruled by Sauron, and the Southlanders went nuts when they got Halbrand/Sauron. They'll probably be perfectly happy to take the rings offered by Sauron when he tells them they'll need them to keep up with the Dwarves, Elves, and keep them safe from enemies like Adar. The eruption of Mount Doom will be too fresh on the minds of Men, they'll take the power when it's offered to them by their "king".
No one going to talk about how he says "‘From the shadows you came. To shadow, I bid you return"? Gandalf said somewhat the same lines against forces of evil when he fought the Balrog in LOTR " Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass". He seems all too familiar with enemies that hail from the shadow. You are welcome.
I caught that immediately!
@Dean Mitchell Very true. Though Gandalf is the only one that really makes a reference about the evils he has encountered in his lifetime. All I know is that.. they botched the show from the moment they decided to make this into a show
I've always associated Gandalf with Hobbits. It would make me emotional if the Istar is actually Gandalf. I love the idea that this proto-Gandalf character came to ME as a powerful but blank vasal and the Harfoots imprinted their own kind of goodness/wisdom/sensibilities on him.
He is Gandalf. In the first movie of the lord of the rings Gandalf tells Frodo that when in doubt, follow your nose (what you smell) which is the same exact thing he says to Nori.
So when does the blue wizards come ? 😂😂4th age ?
I think that's why in the lord of rings and the hobbit series he shows great affinity towards them
SO MANY SUPPOSED READERS OF THE LORE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE LOOP HOLES LEFT BY TOLKIEN ARE BEING WRITTEN NOW. none of the movies follow the books . Legolas was not in the hobbit , Aragon had an entire army of his people with him when he made the battle of Palenor fields in ROTK.
Saurumon didnt die in the two towers. Just enjoy the fact we get to see.....
Fantastic first season can’t wait for the rest
Okay everyone has missed a symbol drawn on a log by the meteor Man. He is trying to show or tell Nori who he is and he drew the same exact symbol that Gandalf used in The Hobbit to put on Bilbo's door to market for the dwarves to find. When meteor Man is drawing on the log right before nori's dad breaks his but you can see the symbol it's like a backwards F. So meteor Man and Gandalf are the only two people I've seen use that symbol and timelines don't mean anything so it's probably Gandalf.
Bingo. Also the same constellation he was trying to form with the fireflies and embers was on the staff. And the fact Gandolf was a fire wizard.
the problem is the showrunners said they are exploring a wizard that has not been seen much of.
That "destroy it" had me weak 🤣🤣🤣
The first season was quite a mixed bag in my opinion from ok to really quite bad in terms of dialogue and story . There were a couple of episodes that were really quite good in my opinion . I liked the final episode but what is lacking for me is the lack of magic . The whole point about the forged rings their powers are magical basically by enchantments. Sauron was trained as a Smith by the maiaar and he was also a sorcerer , so when he forged the one ring at mount doom , sauron put all his malice and evil into the ring by sorcery , his soul was in this ring which is what made the one ring so powerful that is could control the others . That is why when sauron had his finger cut off with the ring by ilsildur it destroyed saurons physical form . In the rings of power the three eleven rings we see forged in a physical sense in that the ores and mithril which is not lore gives the rings it's powerful properties which is not true . So hopefully in the second series they will bring in tolkiens magic into the series .
2:45 “He’s Sauron” “Why do you say that?” “Cause he’s hot” 😂
"Prompting many viewers to question Saurons identity". Literally nobody thought it was anyone but Halbrand
Now that his Halbrand cover is blown and Sauron is now revealed to Galadriel. Sauron will now shape shift into Annatar. I think the order of ring creation follows the verse, 3 Rings for the Elven Kings, then 7 for the dwarves and then 9 for mortal men and then the Last ring is the one Ring.
Which makes no sense because in the lore the 3 Rings were actually made last. The 3 were the most powerful, in part because Celembrimbor and his group had perfected and developed great skill while forging the other rings. So if the 3 are made first and are the most powerful, why would they need Annatars help in forging weaker rings?
I think the next season will be a flash back... Of Annatar anad Celebrimbor forging the other rings then gets killed by adar and assumes the form of Halbrand.... then coming back to Eregion to finish what he started.... also when he was in Annatars fair form he poisoned the tree and started spreading the rumors of the elves fading and using the urban legend of mithrill to force their hand some how.
Sauron/Halbrand will likely form an alliance with Durin IV, who is becoming estranged from his father King Durin III, to gain access to the mithril in Khazad-Dum (and eventually the awakening of the Balrog which will be Durin's downfall). Durin IV will exchange mithril in return for Sauron showing them how to craft their 7 rings of power. There could be several hooks to this - one being Sauron telling the Dwarves that the Elves no longer need their mithril because they've crafted the Three, and the Dwarves will need to keep up lest they be eclipsed by the Elves and their newfound power.
Sauron would then also be able to make the Nine rings to be given to Men. Judging by the reaction of the Southlanders to Halbrand, men are desperate to have a strong king to follow and probably wouldn't hesitate to take the Nine rings to help put them more on par with the powers of the elves and dwarves, and to "protect" them from foes like Adar. We also know that many Men in the Southlands were happy to remain loyal to Sauron. I wouldn't be surprised if Waldreg turns on Adar when he meets Sauron/Halbrand, and Waldreg ends up becoming one of the Nine. I also wouldn't be surprised if Adar eventually becomes the Mouth of Sauron - his tongue is silky enough, he's not quite orc and not quite elf, he fits the bill in many ways.
Interesting that Galadriel doesn't reveal that Halbrand is Sauron to Celebrimbor and Elrond. In the books, Celebrimbor eventually discovers what Sauron is planning with the One and somehow enchants the Three so that they'll remain hidden. The Nine become the Ringwraiths and the Seven dwarf rings are either collected by Sauron or destroyed by dragons.
Ar-Pharazon is known to be the last king of Numenor. We know from the literature that Sauron somehow convinces Ar-Pharazon that he should attack the Undying Lands and take immortality for themselves... which results in the massive cataclysm that destroys Numenor. Elendil and the Faithful will remain loyal to Queen Miriel, and they'll be spared from Numenor's destruction. Elendil will be made king at some point by Miriel, and will establish the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. They will eventually form the Last Alliance with the Elves to fight Sauron and the One.
I don't know where they're going with the Gandalf thing. Nothing in the books, to my knowledge, suggests Gandalf was living in the second age at all. We know he says the third age was his age, so I'm not sure where they're going with this. All I can think of is the Blue Wizards are once referenced to be somewhere in the far east. I can only speculate the wizards are going to meet up and eventually form the White Council.
Ah, I could see this twist happen. It will be interesting to see if it does play out that way.
And I really would enjoy seeing the Blue Wizards brought in to the story line in next season. It seems likely due to the direction that Gandalf and Nori set off in.
The twist meaning how Sauron uses deception and division and greed and paranoia to get the dwarves and men to create rings to compete for power with each other. I can see that happening. Great insights here.
@@naturefleur2062 You're probably right, considering the Blue Wizards are the only unexplored wizard characters in the lore (at least on screen). If Gandalf is around, surely we'll meet Saruman and Radagast at some point too.
I think Elrond was going to tell Galadriel, but you see that he spots the rings before he is about to. He loosens his grip on the scrolls and stays silent, the power of the rings ‘gifted’ by Sauron. Either clever directing or I’m inferring too much :)
I will believe the Stranger is Gandalf when he rolls a blunt with the Harfoots
I'm confused about what Sauron did prior to the show. Why was he a known evil already? Why'd he want Elven Rings made? How exactly do the rings keep that rot away? What was the rot?
So basically in the war Galadriel mentions in the beginning, they weren't mainly against Sauron, but Morgoth. Think of Sauron as like a Lucifer figure, he was a "angel" (or something close to it, Lord of the RIngs version) who fell from grace and worked with Morgoth against Elven forces in their big war when they got to Middle Earth, so he's a known evil because he was basically Morgoth's corrupted angel second in command. When Morgoth was defeated Sauron got away.
Sauron didn't actually want the Eleven Rings made! He wanted to create the Ring (like THE ring, that one) because, like it's stated in the main series, that ring would make him uber powerful.
So on the next parts honestly I'm not too knowledgable because the show diverges from book canon for it. The Elven Rings, in short, are Good. They give the Elves power, and as it shows in the lord of the rings trilogy, the elves were the only race to be able to control that power and have restraint. I think the rot is akin to the slow dying the elves experienced in Lord of the Rings, where when they get too far from their homeland they begin to die out, so the rings keep away the rot because it returned the power back to them.
This is the best free software Ive seen. Respect.
I just finished watching Two Towers before watching this final episode, and noticed something in Two Towers about when Gandalf comes back as Gandalf the white. He says “I fell through space and time, and each day was a lifetime of man…” or something of the like. He comes back being like “oh yeah they used to call me Gandalf.” Maybe in some weird way, when he fell through “time” he lived a bunch of lives on middle earth possibly including the strangers life, in order to be brought back and to better understand the enemy? I don’t know, timey wimey stuff but still very cool!!
From what I remember from the lore, Maiars (for example Sauron or Gandalf) could take different forms in Arda (the Earth), since bodies were not more than temporary husks to them. Gandalf had been sent from the spiritual world to the Middle-earth with a certain task (as a counterweight to Sauron), so when his husk (Gandalf the Grey) has been destroyed and his spirit had been freed, it got intercepted by more powerful beings (probably by Valars) who decided that he's still needed and he's worthy of being sent to the Middle-earth again. It all has happened in the spiritual world, in which the phenomena of time loses its sense, thus the sense of millennia passed that Gandalf had.
Also just a quick note - RoP is a fucking disgrace to the human race and the darkest page of 21th century cinematography.
My theory is that The Stranger/Meteor Man is Gandalf but just not the one we are used to. This would be a Gandalf that is learning what's happening in Middle Earth and studying the situation there. I feel he will return to Valinor and come back to Middle Earth again as a wizard with the other 4 in the 3rd Age.
As we have seen with rings of power you can have any theory you want and it makes it canon when you say it. Fuck your theories and fuck this show. i kinda liked it until this season finale. When this hobo/gandalf said follow your nose i kinda lost it.
@@oxxal7357 i understand that you may not like it or disagree with my theory but who gives you the right to insult me?
I have the same feeling But, what if the Story continue 's and the stranger is not Gandalf but One of the Blue Wizards that would be a big surprise. There are so many people who are negative about this series just give it a chance.....
@@mohammadidris5774 he didn’t insult you at all, snowflake. Not one single insult directed towards you. He was only complaining about the show.
@@andres8900 people are negative because it sucks. People have given it a chance, hence the reason they are negative.
boom i think we need season 2 fast 👀👀
The first season went over the mechanism of how sauron would control the others via the bridging of the seen and unseen realms. This mechanism will be used in the rings. Then it showed how sauron gifted technology to make this bridging amplified by using circular pattern like ring or circlet crown. Finally it shows the spirit of sauron and his deception that will be imparted into the One ring that will control them all. The first season covered a lot about the rings of power if you dont focus on materiall ringss
🤣🤦♂️
Best season ending ever. Epic. Can't wait for the other seasons.
I assumed the Stranger is Gandolf because it would make sense that he would come to visit the hobbits later in life after they helped him in the second age (in Rings of Power).
Here is another clue for why the stranger could be Gandalf:
The Mystics say that the fire is bending on his will. Combined with his lightblow from the staff it reminded me of one scene in LotR 1.
Remember, when Gandalf fought Balrog on the bridge in Moria and what he said to him? That's exactly the same thing we got told in this episode.
Gandalf had the ring of Fire during that time.
@@oakpope ohh, I didn't knew that 😁
Except Gandalf wasn't alive at that point of time. Series plays in the second age. Gandalf first showed up in the third age, so roundabout 1.000 years later. But considering, that the Nazgul were human kings that got corrupted by the rings they were wearing, it also makes no sense at all to have them stalking around the woods looking like female Eminem before the rings even existed. So nothing in the show has anything to do with what Tolkien wrote.
@@endlessstudent3512 Exactly that. I would have said otherwise that he wasn't just know at the second Age as Gandalf and over the time he becomes him. We'll see what the producers will fabricate here in the future
@@dannywild8838 but if they reley on the books. the first one who arrive wasnt gandalf it was saruman. curumo(Curunir)((Saruman)) was the first of them not Olorin(mithrandir.(Gandalf))
I think sauron stole the mithril to forge the one ring. Seen at 18:45 in the last episode
No they put it in the three elven rings
@@Daniel-gf5cr Only the big chunk
@@MrEasterrabbit I thought the other part was just a piece of rock? I dont really think the Mithril will make a big difference as Sauron pours his soul into the ring
sauron has one of the most menacing and coolest look for a villain in all of fiction
With respect to the experts here, as I have not read the supporting lit for the books, I find it interesting that Gandalf did not get burnt in Moria when fighting the Balrog, which puzzled me at the time. His arrival in the fire in the meteor thing, again, not burnt. Another possible tell that the stranger is in fact Gandalf? And a Gandalf trying to figure himself out at that, and gain control of powers he already has, a language he already knows, like it was all instinctive.... faked me out though, Tom Bombadil was mentioned a few times in speculation as the stranger and the whole thing with the apples was odd. The writers seem to be having a blast with all this teasing us on.
I liked the series but it did not grow on me well and its a bit graphic for my taste, wound up binge watching it till 3 am one night. Looking forward to a rewatch.
Personally for me there are too many parallels indicating that the stranger is Gandalf. Characters are deepening as we go on, we are seeing more sides and more inner conflict, this is a sleeper show that is growing and I hope they take it all the way through and it gets a fan base.
Lot of extremely good actors in this show including supporting roles. Must have been amazing for them to be in it.
I read the books sooo long ago but, I think they are both from the same original beings/spirit so hence, he can take it pretty much (=) something to that affect,
Maybe Gandalf is a Targaryen? 🔥🐉
🥸
I wonder if Miriel will become corrupted and become the Mouth of Sauron
Show was fire man can not wait for season 2
Alert...Paid for commentator.
It is a long time since I read the Silmarillion, but I thought Sauron went to Numenor and was the cause of the tidal wave which destroyed it. But why follow a great plot by a great writer when you can screw it up with second rate thinking and writing.
I love your summaries. Always nice to hear your voice and thoughts on shows and movies. I will watch your videos whether I’m interested in the topic/ movie/show or not. Thanks for all the quality work.
Dreadful and patronising videos in my view.
@@Robert-tl2vg That is your view.
Honestly, i really love it
The actor playing Sauron/Halbrand, as well as the showrunners, in recent interviews following the premier have commented and name dropped Annator, saying that while Season 1 had to have mystery and exposition, they understood the fans were expecting a certain storyline to happen, and they said that Season 2 is where that will be explored
He looks so sad in the end..ah there is nothing but fire and ashes. That's why he wanted to stay in Numenor
The Palantíri can in Númenor can only show one thing - The fall of Númenor. So we can assume that Eärien now knows.
Okay... How will the other rings be made? since the last of pure gold (gold from Valinor), galadriels dagger has been melted and it was the only thing that could me melted with mithril?
He is Gandalf. Remember When in doubt always follow your nose.
I thought that too
I can't believe why no one's mentioning this lol. It's clearly Gandalf
And his love for the small folk.
Okay the stranger is probably Gandalf. But I am still hopeful of it being Saruman. Being that he was sent by the Valar to challenge Sauron would bring it together. An yes in the end he was a power hungry villain. But he was not always. An going back this far could explain a lot of his fondness of Gandalf. Perhaps sees a version of his younger self? An maybe Saruman an the harfoots have less than a great goodbye. Would explain his lack of trust or interest in hobbits.
I don’t know maybe it’s me but I felt like Sauron didn’t star as a bad guy, and I felt that he really cared about Galadriel even thou he had a misconception of between healing and rulling. Maybe be it’s the ring which later makes his master completely evil
@TheTribal Kid yes you are right, he never lied to Galadriel, she assumed because those assumptions helped her get what she wanted, that was going back to middle earth. I think that Sauron would have been content to remain in Numenor at least for a time.
I think maybe he is so good at manipulating that nobody realized that he has his own plans behind his sad masquerade.
No Sauron is a bad person. The word you have to use is "manipulate" . It's better to have strong companions than a dead enemy.
He manipulated the Elves to create the Three rings. Needed to blend in to see what was on the other side and see how he get the ring to rule them all.
@@annikaki8305 maybe, but personally I want to believe that no every part or every person is evil, evil is made no born, and we all have capacity for good, so he must have some too right?
@@PsyQoBoy yeah maybe but I really like the idea that he is not all bad that would make the story more complex. A villain that is likeable 😅
the question is how were the dwarves and humans able to create their rings of power? where they created at the same time the elves created theirs? or did halbrand visit them after helping celebrimbor? or galadriel didn't expect that halbrand will also do the same with the other races and didn't bother to alert them? but if they were created at the same time, does that mean sauron split himself, created illusions, or asked his servants to infiltrate/act like what he did?
I think it's funny that everybody is like 'im rooting for Sauron at this point' or 'he is so much more likeable than xyz'. Well yes?! That's actually the point and it does show that the series did a good job after all. Read the Silmarillion guys. He was fair, beautiful, charming, smart, convincing, deceitful and manipulating with words of kindness and wisdom while many Elves (of middle earth, not Valinor) were fighting, proud, selfish and even cruel in that age... I really liked the show.
Sauron didnt need mithril to forge the one ring. And only Galadriel’s ring was forged with mithril, contrary to what rop shows
So the young wizards will get together and learn their craft. What a story idea
Watching this will make the fellowship of the rings,the two towers,and the return of the kings more meaningful and interesting even though it already was
It really doesn't because it's not canon, the characters and their background don't follow tolkiens work, so they don't relate to the developed characters in the lord of the rings trilogy.
‘Stranger’ is freaking Gandalf. He said the thing about how ‘the nose knows’ or something. That’s a Gandalf saying.
There are people still defending this show? Wow...Americans, their standard of quality sure have fallen drastically... o_O
short and perfect i love this video really explains a lot that i messed thanks so much
Nori stated the mystics called him by Gandalf's Mair name "Olórin" in the season finale. Although she mispronounced it, it confirms he is Gandalf.
Weather your a Canon only person, or not, I really enjoyed this season being a bit out of wack. There used to be a thing called creative license when adapting novels to shows and movies, that no one really gave a rip about except for the critics. Honestly if they stuck to just Canon I don't think it would be able to be as interesting for a TV show. I liked it and am looking forward to next season. Great pick for the actress that plays Galadriel.
Nothing in the show is canon, so it's silly to compare it to the book timeline. It's its own show, just based on Tolkien's work
We enjoyed it.
I loved the first season and I'm glad I never read the books so I went into it with clear eyes. I sort of guessed early on that the stranger would be Gandalf and his quote at the end of the season really solidifies that for me. I would have never have guessed that Halbrand would have been Sauron. I can't wait for season 2, although i hope they don't rush it and make it as good as season 1.
I too really enjoyed this season. I’m excited to see what happens in the future.
@@Surgelitex Its back with first 3 eps of season 2 in case you didnt know
How are the rings connected to Sauron? Like what did Sauron do, mix in his essence or something?
Man. This channel is the only time in ten years on RUclips I repeatedly checked to see if a video was dropped over and over and over lol.
I love LOTR and even tho I’m not sold on this series I’m still in love with it because it’s LOTR.
Thank you sir for your effort in what you do.
6:25 Gil Galad gives his ring to Elrond way later in the story, Cirdan gives his ring to Gandalf upon his arrival by ''boat'' into middle earth.
Also Anàrion? Last seen in middle earth? I don't remember that, i thought he was in the west of Numenôr?
The timeline is all messed up. Elendil was only born about 1 millenia after the forging of the rings.
the problem is the writers don't have to get around anything because Tolkien's lore means nothing to them so there's nothing to get around.
We heard a lot of negative comments and almost didn’t watch the show before it started, but we loved it.
It seems to me that they've retconned it so that the rings are forged in the order they're mentioned in the song.
I expect Sauron might give the rings as payment for the mythril used to make them and then have his great success with corrupting the kings of men before getting yoinked back to Numenor and getting everyone wet.
I must say that I was pretty shocked from the ending that Halbrand is the evil Sauron, just because I invested too much on their feelings for each other and I was hoping they would become lovers. But ultimately this is much more interesting, it shows that nothing is really black or white because even her that she represents the light takes sometimes dark decisions or has dark thoughts and the opposite, even he had some positive energy around her and has actually felt things for her (maybe even love) that a completely darkened heart would never feel.
That made the show’s dynamic amazing for me and the show has really some powerful story to build upon (in my opinion at least).
For what it is, I love the show. I hope enough people agree that it doesn't end up getting canceled before it's 5 seasons are over. I haven't read the books, as my attention span for reading isn't great, but I do wish it tied itself to them a bit better, just so that it would follow the events that lead to the movies directly. The movies with Elijah Wood are probably my favorite movies of all time. I do think the show is very well done and scripted, though. I love the relationship between Elrond and Lord Duran. A friendship as strong as the mithril itself. I can't wait to see the next season!
Your "attention span for reading isn't great". It seems that your attention span for watching isn't great either.
This show is absolute trash.
@@brav0wing And thats your personal opinion..i also think this is a really good show..yes it doesnt really adhere to the books but who cares..its a breath of fresh air and trust me it will last the full 5 seasons coz of all love it is getting..but hey a hater like you wont understand that lmao..so yeah keep on hating and being miserable lol..
You’re in the minority if you think this show is good
7:31 “what is and was and will be” is in sync with the animation of the palantir 😂 Great review with awesome background info from the books! 💯
It’s saruman! Saruman spent time in the East. The Aesthetic says, “he is the other” referring to Aule’s other associated maiar, saruman. He’s also the first Istari to arrive after the blue wizards. I also think the blue wizards were in episode 1 walking East with the elk antlers…
So glad someone has said it and I'm surprised no one has as much... it has to be saruman
It's not. Why would they let 'saruman' use the exact same line as Gandalf in LOTR if not refering to Gandalf.. that would be crazy. 'When in doubt, always follow your nose”
@@jannn6692 they could set up Saruman saying that to a freshly arrived Gandalf in season 4 or 5… they want you to think it’s Gandalf is all I’m saying.
Let him say the exact same words as Gandalf and then it wouldn't be Gandalf would be such a strange decision to make for the writers, would't make sense at all.
@@jannn6692 when did this series make much sense in terms of timeline etc anyway... gandalf doesn't arrive until the third age to middle earth so it's a bit distorted regardless
I have a theory. Season two is going to be called "Cancelled".
Guys, the stranger is using the same line from LOTR 'When in doubt, always follow your nose” you really think they 're going to let him say that if it wasn't Gandalf..
gandalf also likes halflings the most.. Hairfoots are haflings.. They protected him.. this explains why he likes them
@@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305 Gandalf also famously mentions of kindness and other simple things in life while talking with Galadriel in FOTR. Probably referring to the ways of Hobbits.
The video was enlightening, congratulations. There was just one small issue: at the end, the sound of the music resembled the sound of an electric drill. I live in an apartment and started looking around, trying to find the source of the noise 🤣🤣🤣
Didn't Gandalf have a mentor? Honestly, I just want to see more wizards. This was the only episode that I really enjoyed even though I saw the reveals coming. I wanted to see Sauron manipulate the elves more in person. I hope that the writers and producers take the fan's feedback seriously and make changes for season 2.
I also really liked this episode, the pacing of the show is the only REAL problem I have with the show
@@Amarmister93 talk about pace, have you watched HOTD, omg they have jumped so much through time and left so much out. Its definitely not GOTs quality. I like rings of power much better. This is a good show, it’s good to see the beginning of all things. Liked your comment tho
@@barbaraowen45 HOTD is better than Game of Thrones. Better writing, better directing, better acting.
@@barbaraowen45 this is not the beginning of all things it’s an insult to Tolkien to say it is
I hope, now that Gandalf is going off to Rhûn, that we'll see the blue wizards show up next season, and then have the big 3 come to M.E. as described in the books.
8:27 it's not Easledoor, it's ISILDUUUR. :p
Remember Gandalf went through a color change, starting as Gandalf the grey then becoming Gandalf the White. What if Gandalf and Saruman started as the blue wizards and explored the far east. They returned to Valinor after their exploration. They were then sent back as the wizards we know.
that‘s at least not canon, the blue wizards seemed to have existed besides Saruman and Gandalf
Pretty clear in the canon there are 5 Istari
Can someone explain how that tiny ring of mithril is supposed to have the same effecr on the tree as a large quantity?
At least in the book its saurons magic that makes the rings preserve the elves so when sauron finally gets defeated the elves have to leave middle earth
they imbue into the 3 elven rings the power to preserve the elves outside of Valinor, they're not rings meant to do "visual" magic but full of symbolism, like it usually is with magic in Tolkien's universe. The same with the one ring, it's not meant to make Sauron superman, but moderately control everyone into his allegiance.
Someone who did not fear Sauron was Tom Bombadil, who did not even interfere in the conflict, and was probably more powerful than Sauron.
Regarding Halbrand as Sauron and clues... at 4:32 there is a closeup of Halbrand in a rage, I believe I see his eyes very "Sauron-Like" even if not the color of fire... That tipped it off for me.
Sauron only considered redemption at the end of the First Age, but he ultimately refused it. He never even considered trying to redeem himself after that. So for this show to suggest that he is trying to redeem himself at this time, during the Second Age, is yet another bastardization by this show of the things Tolkien wrote and believed concerning his writings.
House of the dragon= Chess
Rings of power= Checkers
Checkers has logic.
This show is devoid of it.
@@rachelleintexas338 thats very true haha
The stranger is Gandalf. Halbrand is Sauron. Is it really that difficult? And if you had gone beyond the LOTR books into the unfinished works of Tolkien then you would know all this.
Love the show and I thought this last episode was fantastic. So many great scenes, but that scene with Halbrand and Galadriel was superb.
I totally enjoyed this show. I guess I was really open minded, naive and looking for a different middle earth than the one on my head. Kudos to everybody that predicted Halbrand to be Sauron, I did not see it coming but enjoyed the reveal before Galadriel. Somehow, I def liked the dialogue, the lore, the connections, the soundtrack and more importantly the production value. Hopefully, they learn from all the criticism they experience this season and go on a more popular and mainstream direction. As the only human being on planet Earth who likes this Galadriel and have thoroughly enjoyed each episode from beginning to end, I expect the second the season is completely different, so that it appeals to a wider audience and also it really captures people's imagination.
Sorry you enjoyed the scripting of this show? Seriously was a travesty! Absolutely nothing remotely approaching Tolkien! Whole thing is a complete travesty. Generic fantasy with few names from Tolkien thrown in to give it some connection. Some of the visuals were awesome! Seeing Khazad-dûm and Numenor was wicked as! I want to know what happened to Celeborn, Galadriel husband and Celebrain, their daughter born circa 300 in 2nd age.
It's okay to enjoy the show and you're not alone. The disappointed folks are just noisier, lol.
I don't really like this Galadriel BUT I like to watch characters development. And that's what I can see here.
I love lord of the rings and just binged the show and I enjoyed it as well. It might not be Tolkien but as you said the production value was amazing and the old elven and dwarvish cities were awesome to see.
What i don't understand is, in the lore wiki it says durin and all the dwarves get slain by the balrog that was awoken in one of the episodes, and remains in the mines til fellowship of the ring