Just except this is a bad fanfiction instead of tip toeing around. Most fans are claiming that these channels about Middle Earth are either afraid to criticize the series because they're shills or trying to gain more subscribers by glossing it over. At least Men of the West saying it is trash.
Editado. ¿Tras la forja de los 3, Sauron con forma seductora hará recelar y envidiar a los enanos y humanos de los anillos élficos para que acepten los 7 y 9, manipularlos y enfrentarlos así a los elfos, tanto numenor como los enanos en parte odian a los elfos? ¿Ar-Pharazôn será el Rey Brujo, muriendo antes en cuerpo en Valinor siendo un espíritu condenado a vagar y luego a la nada del vacio sin ser parte del todo con Eru por siempre, de hay la relación en Angmar con los numenoreanos negros... antes controlado por Sauron en parte por uno de los 9 y el único, junto a sus mentiras y falsas promesas de poder, grandeza e inmortalidad? ¿el Istar/Maiar ya sea Gandalf y/o mago azul en el este dará lugar a la aparición de 4 de las familias enanas y sus reyes, así como otros elfos y reinos humanos?¿También aparecerán las entwives y entchilds en el este?¿Veremos a valar y maiar, Tom Bombadil y Baya de Oro... o será Eru?
Want me to do a video on my thoughts on the entire season? This season was very much a mixed bag for me. Lots of lessons I hope this show learns going into Season 2...
@@KennyMcGavin right… not like the entire audience didn’t hear it and immediately clue in on halbrand because of it… lmfao keep thinking it was a great clue, in reality it was kinda lazy and ruined the Sauron reveal
@@Matt67012 I literally just called it "little bit of foreshadowing", nothing special or nothing great. I was mostly complimenting the man for remembering the line. But keep running around on the internet implying to people that they are stupid if it helps you sleep at night. What a trooper to our society!
@@KennyMcGavin dude, it was the most obvious reveal in the history of television, and that’s honestly not hyperbole. It really wasn’t as subtle a clue as the writers probably envisioned. It was amateurishly obvious..
It's incredible how they are literally taking inspiration from one of the biggests disasters in modern cinema, and then are still baffled when It backfires A SECOND TIME. Don't matter how much I try to let go of Star Wars, The Last Jedi keep following me wherever I go.
@@bigbangrafa8435 At least this was entertaining to watch. The Last Jedi left me with a bad taste in my mouth after the first viewing. It only got worse from there.
Most people bashing this show are disingenious grifters who were hoping to cash in engagement by using the show as a culture war talking point. They saw female leads and dark skinned elves and probably hoped it could be the next Last Jedi for them. It's annoying as hell.
@@squaeman_2644 Gladly he's dead and does not have to see this. I mean, he would have even ripped the Jackson movies to shreds. Imagine what he would have done to these guys here.
Halbrand being killed in the eruption and then being taken over by Sauron sounds cool, but I think that the bloodlust when confronted with "Addar" and the line: " Do you remember what you did to me" shortly after Addar states he killed Sauron shows that he already is Sauron at this point in time.
Agreed. Also doesn't make sense that a legit human Halbrand would have been claiming to be the heir of the Southlands throne before the eruption if the last king died without an heir 1,000 years ago. In hindsight there are some things that don't make a lot sense in terms of how Halbrand/Sauron has acted up to this point (e.g. being stuck on a raft in the ocean with random humans, saving Galadriel and Elendil, etc.) but nevertheless I think we have to assume he was Sauron the entire time.
Especially since Adar, of course, has no clue who he is - since he didn't have that face at the time. Neither Adar nor Sauron *actually* lie at any point.
You forgot to mention an important point: that Galadriel forces Elrond to silence, when he asks what happended between Galadriel and Halbrand, using his promise to trust her.
@@Maoreomi and not one of Celebrimbor's assistants, let alone Galadriel and Elrond, noticed and found highly suspicious that the greatest elven smith ever suddenly became dumb and clueless ?
Galadriel: "Lord Celebrimbor, you made a fourth ring...?" Celebrimbor: "Yes. It's name is Nunya" Galadriel: "...what..." Celebrimbor: "NUNYA BUSINESS!" Galadriel: 😑 🤪
I think the main evidence for the stranger being Gandalf is thematic - it means that the shows three major storylines were following Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf - the three eventual bearers of the Elvish rings.
Thanks for the review. I will say this, this show has made me more of a Tolkien fan. Has caused me to go back to all the books and watch your videos to remind myself where they got it right and where they got it wrong. And rereading all of Tolkien’s works with this in mind has shown me again how amazing Tolkien’s world is. So, regardless of what I’ve thought of the show, like you, ups and downs, it did have the effect of making me more of a Tolkien fan which I didn’t think was possible. Ha!
Charlie Wickers has said in a fresh interview that they will go back to what happened to his character before that raft in season 2. That possibly also goes back to him being in Eregion as someone else already before returning there as Halbrand.
I feel like the melting down of the dagger could also be symbolic for Galadriel shedding her warrior self and begin evolving into the powerful and wise Galadriel that we know.
@@amandalogan89 She was never the warrior type, the only time she ever really fought with anyone was the first kinslaying, where she fought to protect her kin on her mother's side. She was always as powerful as we see her in the movies, and she never desired to fight at all.
The melting down of Finrod's dagger is her letting go of her grief finally or maybe symbolically sharing the burden with two other ring bearers instead of carrying her grief (dagger) alone. As for Galadriel shedding her warrior self.. she already did that when she gave her sword to Theo earlier. Though we still have 4 more seasons and we'll see if the show makers have the temptation to put her in warrior mode again.
The plot with Halbrand with Celebrimbor should have happened over several episodes: they could have wasted less time in Numenor and given him much longer experimenting with Lesser Rings of Power.
@@SwivelHippie I've heard it wasn't much of a Surprise to most people anyway. I think the Intrigue would have been interesting. Anyway, which one is my favourite character, pray tell?
@@SwivelHippie I didn't see it coming till Halbrand suddenly rediscovered his previously undisclosed talent for Smithing and said 'Gift', so I appreciated the Twist. But this is what brought Game of Thrones down: sacrificing important plot points for Ooooo Shocking Reveal. There could have been a Shock Reveal earlier, then a different sort of Dramatic Tension, where we know what he's up to, but we're hoping the main characters find out before it's too late. Imagine if they had made 16 Rings of Power thinking they would give the mortal races a fresh start, only to reach the Terrible Realisation that they may have been playing into Sauron's hands and by having a hand in making them he may have a way of controlling them. THAT's when they know they have to make the Elven Rings away from Sauron. Now, they'll have to do some Mind Control schtick, OR a Harry Potter 4 Barty Crouch schtick, where Celebrimbor is locked up somewhere whilst Sauron disguises as him. Or makes the 16 Rings separately, which totally breaks Canon.
I love how they reduced the slow, centuries long, brilliant, and methodical manipulation of the elves by Sauron into what feels like a shoehorned weekend getaway where Sauron says a few mumbo jumbo magic things and then the rings are suddenly done. 🤦♂🤦♂Seriously, what a missed opportunity in my opinion. The dramatic irony of his manipulation, and the intricate way it was pulled off, should have been the main focus of this show, instead of a 30-minute subplot in the season finale. But that's just my opinion. It's ok if you like the show BTW. My family loves it and I cheer them on! This just my own personal perspective and nobody has to agree with it. Opinions are just opinions. :)
I agree mate. It was just terrible! One awful, feebly structured badly written nonsense 'idea' after another. Could have been an epic, sweeping tale with finely drawn intricate characters-but no we got one of the most overblown, overrated, badly made 'audience friendly' weakly plotted series in TV history. It's like it was written by 12 year old boys for 12 year old girls. Even the episode titles-Alloyed for example. Dear God, it's so thinly drawn and naff and over simplistic. So disappointed and upsetting.
It's not just your opinion, it was factually of lower quality in writing, acting, costume design and casting than what we expected. The disregard for the lore and obsession with woke politics to the point of it taking presidence over the actual script is shocking and Tolkien fans deserved better. And even the underlying theme in Tolkiens work of good vs evil, with those two concepts being clearly defined the rop sought to make those concepts grey and hazy. I found the whole debacle actually quite offensive as someone who is a fan. It was a lazy attempt and a straight up cash grab I think. But what did we expect, Amazons main talent is parcel deliveries after all, not high quality entertainment, that's there side hustle. Some people may like it for sure, and I have no problem with that. But having read the books and watched PJ's trilogy the rop is impossible for me to enjoy. And honestly, even for those who haven't the dialogue and poor script writing with clear contradictions from one scene to another makes me wonder if this is made for an audience who are quite happy to switch off mentally when watching. And I don't say that to be rude to anyone, there are films and series's I have watched where I do the same, it's like junk food entertainment. But I never claim those pieces of entertainment to be anything other than what they are. Whereas some defender's of this show do just that. Some opinions hold more weight than others, they are not completely relative. And the opinion that this show is of far lower quality than what we were expecting is valid.
You're right for most of it, but I actually don't think it's okay to like this show. It is vandalism, it is objectively bad, it is brain rot, it is an assault on the very soul of western civilization, it is unforgivable nonsense and no developing mind should be exposed to it, and no person should support the corporation that spawned this mindless abortion. It is the weapon of the enemy, a glittering, empty trifle that will distort the mind and corrupt our expectations for quality and the legacy of Tolkien. It is no less than the worst thing that's ever happened to entertainment and mythology. But that's just my opinion.
I like how "they don't have the rights to the Silmarillion" is used as a catch-all argument to excuse literally everything this show did in breaking the lore. If they have aliens invade Middle Earth in season 2, the shills and apologists will probably still claim "well, they don't have the rights to the Silmarillion and Tolkien never said aliens didn't happen, so this is perfectly acceptable."
I was disappointed by Halbrand being Sauron, but 1) Charlie Vickers really sold it, and 2) Vickers did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter which provided some helpful back story (and S2 hints) around this choice. I did have my suspicions when I heard the soundtrack - Bear doesn't make mistakes, and the similarity between the "Sauron" and "Halbrand" tracks was undeniable. I would have loved to see a longer Halbrand arc that started heroic to crash down into tragedy (Witch King or King of the Dead), but alas.
I wanted the same thing with Halbrand having a reverse-Aragorn arc, starting out well-intentioned before descending into evil, but like you said he did a great job selling it so I’m starting to be more ok with it.
I definitely would have preferred for Halbrand not to be Sauron, but with the performance he gave he won me over almost immediately. This is clearly not following the events from the books, so the changes stopped bothering me a few episodes ago.
Charlie Vickers did a really great job. Fun facts: In order to get into his character more, for four days he hiked the area the Mount Doom scene was shot, he read The Silmarillion, Tolkien's letters, and Morgoth's Ring. "I think they have a cosmic connection [Halbrand and Galadriel], but I don’t think it’s necessarily in his mind a king and a queen-like, husband and wife-kind of situation. I think it’s more, I can use you to get what I want and intact my designs faster because ultimately I think he would have ended up ruling by himself whether she joined him or not. And when she says ‘no’ on the raft, it angers him. But it’s not the end of the world for him I think." -Charlie Vickers interviewed by "Deadline"
Everyone seems to forget the initial reason for Morgoth and Sauron's actions. They are not bent on destruction. But to rule and create life. They wanted to be Eru Ilúvatar. But even the Valar of which Morgoth was 1 are not capable of creating life. They can twist life and distort it. But not create it. Aulë the creation god of the dwarves also created the dwarves but life was given to them by Eru.
I’m hoping it’s a blue wizard and he meets up with the other one in the east. In the books the blue wizards complete their mission in the second age but then get sent back in the third (I think with their memory wiped) and get corrupted. I could def see them making this wizard Gandalf for fan service and then wiping his memory before he’s sent out again in the third age which would be lame
@@Nikblaster1980 They were lying. They said that to get more people to watch it. If they had said "It's a new generic fantasy with a ropey script written by halfwits, but where a lot of things have names stolen from Lord of the Rings" they would have had trouble getting viewing figures.
They don't care about the real story but about getting fame for themselves. 175 million and we get 3d printinted moob armor. The commander of the armies afraid to do battle scenes needing therapy, and no bearded dwarves?
Charlie Vickers hinted in an interview with the New York Times that the Annatar stuff is coming next season. So I think they're changing the order in which the rings were forged, and we'll see Sauron back in Eregion next season helping with the Seven and the Nine.
But why was the order changed to begin with? What purpose did Sauron's brief presence in Numenor serve? The plot feels aimless at times and, though this final episode was rather good, it wraps up a story that doesn't make a lot of sense.
@@karlpoppins Sauron is there to foreshadow his eventual corruption of Numenor-- that's why they had the scene of him manipulating Ar-Pharazon in the jail. I'm not sure why they changed the order of the forging, but I'm guessing it has to do with setting up Celebrimbor's deception next season.
@@karlpoppins I think the idea of crafting the 3 to keep alive the Elves makes sense to casual viewers, and now knowing the fact that Sauron is still alive and presumably growing in power, they could make the remaining 16 to strengthen the rest of the free peoples of ME, with Annatar appearing to help suggest it to Celebrimbor and increasing his blind ambition and corruption. This could segue into distrust in Annatar by Galadriel (she's been burned by someone she didn't know and trusted already) and Elrond/Gil-Galad (same situation). If this is indeed the route they take, I think the book nerd in me would be mostly satisfied. I think the plotline of Galadriel in Numenor doesn't make a whole lot of sense from a bird's eye perspective, outside of spurring the break between the faithful and King's men
@@leton98609 It's also "weird", that Sauron readily surrenders to Numenor and lets them take him prisoner to a place where he *should* think the last "high men" live that can withstand his corruption dwell in the Silmarillion. I don't like Galadriel being there with him, but him being there in the first place basically "incognito" and checking the state of things and see how far Numenor has already fallen, that might later convice him to surrender or even "let" his armies desert on purpose to appear weak to Ar-Pharazon does indeed add some credible detail to the existing lore.
@@nikeaddict55 Yet that break in Numenor is spurred by Sauron himself, when he is captured by Numenor in ME. That's when Numenor should have come in play and not from the very beginning of the story. The story already works as it was written, and all Amazon had to do was fill in the gaps with details and new supporting characters. I feel like it's more difficult to do what they're doing, i.e. to change the plot radically while maintaining only a few central points, and their (partial) failure is a natural result of that process. That all being said, this series is certainly not irredeemable.
If Sauron was there b/c he had just escaped Valinor then it actually makes a ton of sense. The crazier thing is that they both meet up with some random sailors.
Sauron never went back to Valinor. After the War of Wrath he hid in the east. I guess he'd been sailing Sundering Sea waiting for Galadriel to jump off the ship.
@@KetanVatsalya After he got "killed" by Adar he probably lost his confidence and bailed with those Southlanders to go West, then bumped into Galadriel and changed his mind 🤷🏻♂️
Interesting tidbit: Tolkien's magnum opus was started by writing and experimentation, but when he decides the attempt to complete it, he builds a map. He builds a map to get all the journeys travel and episodes into a context that made sense. Now when we talk about stars that indicate a location (Meteor Man's stars we find are in the East, in Rhun), it doesn't make sense in our terms on a round planet. Stars in the East of our world would eventually be in another part (West or East) of the planet as it rotates and the axis changes, like Scorpio and Orion, do in my neck of the woods. But if the world was flat, as we are led to believe before Numenor tries to take the lands of Valinor, it makes perfect sense. I don't know if the writers of the Rings of Power are that smart, but "hmmmmmm." :)
I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about the Stranger being heavily implied to be Gandalf, but I wanna say I think the casting was perfect. So many of his mannerisms, the kindness in his eyes, even line delivery(especially in this last ep where he was saying actual sentences lmao) had a very Ian McKellen feel to it. Really made me smile
Definitely mixed feelings but the actor did a wonderful job with not at all much dialogue! His mannerisms and the emotions in his eyes alone conveys so much! I hope we see more of him and Nori.
I actually really like this origin for Gandalf, though I'm hoping they explain why he rode a comet to Middle-Earth. (Perhaps an argument in Valinor of some kind?) He could still end up at the Grey Havens after Saruman... just by sailing from the East instead. (Since the world would be round by that point.) And since he would have only met the Hobbits in MIddle-Earth, it would seem like accurate history so far as the Silmarillion is concerned.
I tried rewatching ep 7 because I fell asleep the first time. Well, I fell asleep again, in the middle of the day. That's happened so many times with this show that I can't imagine attempting to watch the whole thing again
Love how Tolkien's jotted down ideas over the course of his life when he was writing during War up to near the end of his life, is finally seeing the light of day!!!! This show is incredible!!!! Such honor to his other ideas he had, that we are now seeing put up on the screen. Done very well.
Celebrimbor almost gave me chills when he was staring "into nothing", talking about will and flesh and power of the unseen world. He seemed almost like being taken by a spell, a spell that the One Ring used to have in Peter Jackson's movies. I thought that was really cool!
I assume what that was really about is something to be revisited in season 2. They left it open how Celebrimbor got his grand forge idea and how Halbrand ended up on that raft. These two will probably be parts of the same story that will also tie to the conflict between Sauron and Adar.
I liked when Gil-Galad called Sauron "the low man". Boy if only he knew! Love or hate the Halbrand reveal, Charlie Vickers has done a bang up job on the series. I am curious how much longer he will be able to hold this current form.
It wasn’t really a reveal… The show was so badly written, you could see him being Sauron from a mile away. This dude’s acting skills are absolutely wasted on this series.
@@JayJay5244 It is a common feel-good trick in the entertainment industry to spell things out clearly enough for people to figure out the "twist" well before it is nominally "revealed". Some of the audience just needs to feel like they are cleverer than those making the show.
@@akikolehmainen88 No it’s just bad writing… This isn’t even done well and quite frankly insults your intelligence. I’ve seen better reveals where you can’t tell anything until it happens.
@14:18 when Halbrand suggests coaxing the metals together it made think of Soldering copper pipes together with 95/5 tin and antimony! As a Plumbing Apprentice, this scene really spoke to me!! ❤
I agreed. I finished watching the entire season and I’m quiet disappointed they did and several change. At this point they should call this Games of Thrones The Ring of Power
I like how they made the distinction between adventure and journey. It makes the phrase “an unexpected journey” an unexpected personal journey for bilbo. One that happens within him during the adventure.
Much like Peter Jackson’s movies, the show is strongest when it sticks closer to Tolkien. It is weaker when it strays. That being said, I found Halbrand’s play for Galadriel immensely satisfying because that’s exactly how he would have done it.
A full review of the season would be a good follow up. This was by far the best episode of season one. Too bad they could not have paced the other seven episodes better so they would have had time to actually do many of the things we all wanted to see.
Season 2 would benefit from a few flashbacks of "Annatar" visiting Eregion prior to the events of the first season, where Sauron laid the groundwork for the creation of the 16.
I don't think they were created prior to the Three. The idea of forging rings instead of crown or other insignia was pitched in this episode. This is also too important for the show itself to just omit creation of the rings
@@Morcorco That's a good point about the change from a crown to rings. It's just puzzling why they decided to flip the order of creation, and a shame if it was purely for the big Halbrand reveal. The writers have dug themselves into a hole trying to figure out where and who creates th 9 and 7, and if Sauron has to steal them from the elves. Maybe they just skip all that, have Sauron make them, and gift them in season 2.
@@MorcorcoWell, in Tolkien, the lesser rings were created before the Three greater rings. That made logical sense. In this show, their story frequently doesn't make sense.
@@mikem9001 Yeah, that was the thought behind my original comment. It's all a mess. Love the tone and look of the show overall, but they have work to do on the story.
My first impression is that they are reversing the order of creation of the rings. Celebrimbor at the end of this episode did not look like he was going to leave-be. I’m not sure we’ve seen the last of his collab with Sauron/Halbrand.
So what would Halbrand/Sauron's plan have been if Galadriel left him in Numenor? He said he wanted to stay there and work as a smith, but was that part of his original plan? Or did he know that would push Galadriel to get him to leave even more? Or would he just have worked as a smith and live low simple life?
My thought was that he'd stay and work on manipulating the people, edging himself into a position of trust at his own pace and eventually convincing then to help him take back the southlands. I think Galadrial pushing him to do it just sped up that plan a bit and (until proven otherwise) my own headcanon is that he was reluctant to do so without building that foundation of trust first. But hey, when an elf gives you lemons
The show does nothing. It basically went like "playing fill in the blanks with audience". Just assume anything bcs we are bad at writing but we won't admit.
It's impressive how I've already watched some reviews of the season finale and nobody talks about how, in the scene where the rings are finally done and Elrond comes with the scroll, we almost can see in the faces of Celebrimbor, Galadriel and Elrond, the malice of sauron acting. For me, this was the most subtle and sophisticated part.
Out of all the LOTR channels and all the knowledge and opinions being passed around NOTR speaks on this as if sharing information in Tolkiens world itself. Not with absolute judgment but sharing knowledge and values for others to do what they will with. Namárië hanta hantanyel
Vickers commented that Sauron wasn't going to share power with Galadriel. He wanted to compromise her or marginalize her. Looks like Galadriel and Elrond are going to bolster their psychic defenses now that they realized how vulnerable they are. It will be nice to see her show the psychic powers she has in the LOTR.
So galadriel is just a dumb karen simping over sauron throughout the whole season. She has such a hard on for him that she even makes him king. Lol. WTF. And the only reason sauron becomes evil is coz galadriel rejects his advances. Bahaha. What garbage.
She never needed a ring to give her the psychic powers she had in the books, the only thing the rings ever did for the elves was slow the effects of time in their realms, besides that the rings only ever respectively gave the powers of fire and kindling the inspiration of resisting evil, water and concealment against evil, and air and healing from evil. Galadriel had always had strong psychic prowess, with her powers not being limited to elves and lesser beings, but to be able to look into the minds of the Ainur as well. Elrond does get an upgrade because his ring is the greatest of the three, but not in the matters of bolstering the mind.
@@Eowyn3Pride Vickers said in a new interview that there was never any romance between the two, he wasn't even aware of any until Morfydd told him some fans were shipping Galadriel and Sauron. I think his performance showed this, their bond was always more of a platonic one over shared experiences etc, Sauron does not have the hots for Galadriel. He sees her power and potential.
@Cyril Lyric compared to the likes of acting in LOTR yes, but when compared to the acting of ROP, halbrands acting was pretty good, not only that but only he amongst few other characters actually feel like they belong to middle earth. i think while his character obviously wasnt perfectly written, that he did a good job with what he had. the rest of the acting besides elronds, durins, and elendils can screw itself, utter horseshit. (especially the harfoots)
I love the little wordplay and funny references that you make during the video. The Ask Jeeves option for the Elven archivist, "to rule the world side by side" with a single frame flash of Kylo Ren and the best one; the Nazgals.
I’m hoping maybe Annatar was already whispering in Celebrimbor’s ear prior to start of the show, and then shifted to taking the form of Halbrand to influence Numenor, then stumbled into Galadriel and shifted his focus noticing he could speed up his agenda. Really hoping that plot hole gets filled because it’s so unbelievable that Gil-galad would be so hell bent on them fading so quickly. Even when he asks Elrond to tell the tale of the Balrog and the Elf, Elrond looked at him like ‘you actually take this childrens story as truth?’. If they can fill that plot hole and make the Stranger a Blue Wizard, I’ll be much happier with season 1.
Just want to thank you for ur channel ive never been good at reading I struggle with autisim but ive always been super intrested about the early ages. your channel has helped me understand everything and for that im super thankful! The show has been fun to watch its wild seeing how differnt it is but still enjoyable
What parts of the show were fun to watch? I couldn’t make it through the 3rd episode and it doesn’t seem to have improved at all since then. edit: IN MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION. Since apparently that wasn't obvious to the lovely people replying below.
If you want to learn more about Tolkien's early ages/the Silmarillion then I highly suggest Voice of Geekdom, who is creating a chapter by chapter summary of Tolkien's work.
You're very generous suggesting that there could be more going on behind the scenes. I think the only thing going on in that writers' room is figuring out how to do callbacks to the film trilogy while "tricking" ppl who have read Tolkien. Solid review though. I'm just salty
I think this is Sauron's first meeting with Celebrimbor. Next time he will become Anatar and continue to work with him to create the other 16 rings. While Galadriel would still be busy chasing clues to where Sauron is. Meteor man is highly implied as Gandalf but i think this is an earlier version and not yet the Wizard that we know of. I believe he will return to Valinor to bring other Wizards to Middle Earth in the 3rd Age.
I think you are quite right. There is also the chance that Halbrand was mistaken as to being Sauron. The Stranger was confused and thought he was bad. Dude could very well end up as The Witch King. He was obsessed with staying in Numenor and the race of The Witch King was Numenorean. Witch King was a Numenorean nobleman with a lineage to be a king. Lots of fun speculation which is really what makes a show interesting.
Mistaken as to being Sauron? You really believe that? That's even dumber. He is Sauron and now that galadriel knows that it makes no sense that he'd be able to come back, even in his other form, as it would be very suspicious that another stranger turns up suggesting to make more rings, just like Halbrand
Don't worry I think they're working backwards on the show also I think Calibrimbor is way too curious and ambitious to not be tricked by Sauron again and they'll continue working on the other rings of power in secret
I think it would be really cool to see you breakdown the Peter Jackson films like you do with these episodes. I’d love to see you connect everything together, explain where the films deviate and why you think it was done Love your work!! Thanks 😊
I agree that would be awesome and i like how this guy explains things. I also agree with him on most everything he says so im sure it would be entertaining.
What do you want to know? Which aspect of the movies/books are you thinking of? Because they're all relatively easy explained. Folks here can help you.
There are two big things I have appreciated about your reviews. (1) You have been very balanced in your evaluation, not just relying upon the lore from the books but also looking at how the story is being told and, perhaps most importantly, taking an honest and open-minded look at what new elements the series could tell to give details and breathe life into the story that are *not* in the books. (2) You haven't been grandstanding in your titles and thumbnails. To be perfectly honest, I have put half a dozen channels on my "do not recommend" list simply because the creators were doing their best to outdo each other on how much they hated the series. It just seemed a crass grab at likes and subs. Thanks for the honest, balanced, intelligent commentary.
6:27 “the key that unlocked the dam” might also be a callback to the events in episode 6 that created mount doom. Also a foreshadowing for Halbrand being Sauron.
The first thing Halbrand says is “Looks can be deceiving” and they just hammer it down the whole season. By the time he’s “revealed” it is so obvious. Galadriel is the Dark Lord in this show. She makes Sauron.
I’ve never read the books either. The show writers blatantly foreshadow this throughout the season. That deep fake in the beginning of the final episode was laughable. Those women should have known that the Stanger wasn’t Sauron. If the show knew the history, that they wrote themselves in this series, those women would have known that that wasn’t Sauron.
A season break down would be awesome! Side note I really appreciate all the back story videos, and All the content you have put out there. I am big fan of the LORT universe, but not having read all the books it's easy to get lost in story development with this new series rings of power. So thank you, and appreciate ya.
In the official podcast, the showrunners suggest Earien, having seen the vision in the Palantir, would figure that Miriel has sent their people to war on the basis of only a vision, and this would make her angry. They also say they wanted the conflict of Numenor to play out within that family, so this would set her against Elendil, taking sides with the Kings Men against the Faithful.
The showrunners haven't a clue. They should have stuck with Tolkien's original story instead of trying to create their own. Then they wouldn't have needed to change things illogically over the episodes, such as Numenoreans having no interest in Middle Earth, then suddenly they have settlements there, or Galadriel never mentioning her husband, then suddenly admitting his existence.
@@josephwhalen9301 the writers actually have a lot of rights and can even briefly show things from the Silmarillion. Besides, Celeborns existence is not in the Silmarillion only...
I think the other rings and the Annatar story line are still to come. I think they’re setting this up as Sauron in Halbrand form is catching his first glimpse of what the elves are up to, and is going to come back as Annatar to help the elves “save the other races” with the 7 and the 9.
@@Doubleojai Yep. And I am going to assume the she and Elrond (who she might have to fess up to - he was holding that genealogy scroll) will leave Eregion at some point, maybe to take the rings to Gil-Galad. Annatar can arrive after they have gone and no one will be the wiser. Perhaps one of them returning to Eregion will then cause Annatar to flee. And he'll go to Mordor and craft The One.
Not only cuz of the moth but also at the end when he says to always follow your flair.. same thing Gandalf said in the moria when they didnt know which path to go! ;)
It can't be Gandalf, it's well known he came by ship to middle earth in the 3rd age, where he got Narya from Cirdan. Plus he never traveled in the east, the stranger has to be one of the blue wizards, they came in the 2nd at the behest of the valar around 1600 S.A., and were active in the east.
@@yoslo6832 I absolutely agree, they can do that, but all the clues so far lean towards the blue wizard, of course they speak similarly to Gandalf, they're of the same order, sent for similar purpose. I'm holding out hope that they give us this little Easter egg as a nod to the book fans.
There are lots of reddit threads still welcoming more of these cut-and-pastes from other reddit threads. This meme is kind of over for the rest of the world.
I’d love to watch a full season review! I personally really enjoyed the finale but I also know that I welcomed this series with open arms and was very willing to overlook the “less than great” parts.
Halbrand touched the mithril ore and Galadriel’s dagger. So the materials used for three elven rings are already touched by him, corrupted and tainted by Sauron (whereas in the books the three rings were the only ones he didn’t have a hand in making). So those rings are already failures. I wonder how the writers will get around that.
they will ignore that plot hole. just like they ignoired 20 plot holes in season 1 ;) but look at the comments here. everyone is amazed by this show. idk if 70% of these comments are bot comments bcuz NOTR is paid by amazon (since he is the only one interviewing ppl who made the show) or ppl are this naive and brainless
@@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it Guess what, mate, maybe everyone doesn't share your opinion? Its a minor plot hole at best. These items were not forged into anything at the point Halbrand/Sauron touched them. Maybe also tainting them at that point would have been detected. And maybe mithril cannot be tainted (I seem to remember it was only mentioned in connection with the Elven Rings, the only pure ones). I've noticed from being a Star Wars fan that pretty much any time something departs from what the purists consider canon, you get a lot of bleating about plot holes, while they're completely ignored otherwise. Since a lot of people don't like Amazon, they were predisposed to dislike the series from the start. I don't like Bezos either, but I tried to keep an open mind, and was pleasantly surprised, for the most part. I don't think he personally scripted it.
am i seeing this correctly that sauron knew the secret exchange of galadriel and her brother regarding the touching of the darkness by invading her mind but galadriel then tries to validate elrond by asking him about a shared memory?
Unless I'm misremembering, she had told Sauron at least some of what her brother told her while trying to encourage "Halbrand", so that's how he knew, not by reading her mind. All he could do was regurgitate memories he knew something about already. The thing she asks Elrond, though, was something she hadn't shared with Sauron.
@@captainfrank5962 told him when? This is sauron entering her mind and playing them tricks....why would galadriel tell a stranger such personal things?
Yes, it was a few episodes earlier. I don't recall the context now, but she was encouraging Halbrand to get his act together after he said he had done evil in the past.
I love how Galadriel's forging of her dagger into rings of power symbolizes her change of character from a "kill them" to the wiser "protect us" version we see in Jackson's films.
Just dawned on me that the mystics said the stranger was the “other” Maybe the stranger is one of the blue wizards, and the mystics have already run into the other blue wizard, who also ended up heading east
You’re overthinking it. They ain’t doing the blue wizards. They’re sticking to stuff viewers will know and connect to. The Gandalf thing is really beautiful to watch so far. It would lose all of its emotional depth if it turned out to be some random other wizard.
It is fair advise to stop watching something you dislike, in fact is common sense as far as emotional coherence and intelectual honesty is concerned! I am a bit fed up with this rip off viral effect against artistic licence and arguments ad authority popping like mushrooms, it has become a meme and a cliché of pseudo intellectuals showing up as connoisseurs of Tolkien or whatever is being debated by the hour...I wonder how that would go if one asked them to expand on Tolkien Philosophy...sadly I am willing to bet not a drop of Wisdom or Perception would show any vital signs of life under such genius brains...we have now a new wave of wanna be critics not creatives which consists by the shear numbers of the web of a downgrade of what pity criticism was already in past generations...an exercise in showing knowledge but never wisdom! There is nothing worse then mediocrity criticising creativity, even if, granted, some of that license has to tick some boxes to get to all target markets! I have had enough with zealots!
"I gotta admit, that would be kind of a clever and interesting twist if Sauron posed as different people throughout the season, but I honestly haven't had much evidence the show is that clever" is SUCH a good and defining line to this show as a whole haha
Was not too high on Halbrand being Sauron at all, but Charlie Vickers completely convinced me. Excited for what they can do next season with some better pacing and more established characters.
Same! When it was revealed with Celebrimbor I was pretty unhappy with it, but that scene with Galadriel was such a phenomenal performance that I'm much more optimistic for the future
"Coaxed together" Technically there are lots of alloys that should be tempered or even fused at certain temperatures otherwise you can strain the material or achieved another alloy entirely. So pressure and heat is considered when treating metals and refining ores. Aluminium for example is separated from the bauxite through an electrolysis process, because you cant refine it with heat.
Kel is what? Thousands of years old? A master blacksmith/metalworker and it just now dawns on him that being too aggressive with metals can create stress fractures. Perhaps that wasn’t the best choice of dialogue.
@@FilmAcolyteReturns I agree but you have to take some things into consideration: 1, very little time to come with a metaphysical-smithing solution, three months aint it?; 2, just a little piece of ore to experiment and go through trial and error; 3, they don't know a thing about mithril except it can harness this supernatural power to maintain elves in ME, and purify corruption, which is created by the show but is still a reason. It could be better but it is plausible.
When meteor man sent the sorceresses back to the shadows, they literally turned into moths. The kind Gandalf has a habit of whispering to. How can it not be Gandalf. His affinity with fire, his relationship with hobbits, his grey appearance, all the quotes, etc. The whole journey is for one, adventure is with friends quote can literally be a reference to all the adventures with groups he's been in throughout both LOTR and The Hobbit trilogy. Like, oh I don't know, the FELLOWSHIP of the ring? Edit: Grammar
See for me, the cloak he wears, his hair, his beard, the actor in character resembles Ian McKellen, he even copies some of Ian McKellen's speech patterns and mannerisms tells me he's Gandalf... that's before all the obvious hints in the show, the moths, the callbacks in his dialogue, his relationship with the Harfoots pretty much explaining his fondness for Hobbits...I mean he's just so obviously Gandalf 🤣
It is gandalf but they don't have rights to him hence why noones named him anything yet, there's no way it isn't gandalf with the references about smells, the moths, etc, but you never know with this show..probs end up being saruman lol
@@Stonecrow99 They have the rights for Gandalf. Amazon bought the rights for the Trilogy and the hobbit. They then decided to do a 2nd age story ( something they don't own the rights for) 😂
I get that some love the Harfoot storyline, and a Blue Wizard story countering Sauron's influence in the east would be great, but it felt so disconnected from everything else that I could have done without it in exchange for spending more time developing the other plots/characters. Like in this episode, rushing the forging of the three rings but dragging out Nori's goodbyes just felt backwards. Reminds me of when Tolkien was first asked for a sequel to the Hobbit, he offered the Silmarillion, but the publisher said, "We want more Hobbits!" Makes me wonder if Amazon execs did the same with the showrunners (if I'm allowed a tiny bit of so-called "crit-fic").
I agree but I guess since this is gonna be like seasons, they’re taking their time. I honestly think it’s kind of cool a lot of the main characters haven’t met yet. Leaves more room to explore in later seasons
I loved Nori's goodbye. The deliberate pacing (slow) on moments like these is what I really enjoy about the show, in direct contrast to the quicker pace of so many other series/movies. It's what I hope they keep. I am a bit surprised that Tolkien nerds aren't enjoying this moment - it feels very Tolkien. Starting new adventures, choosing new paths, saying goodbye ... these are critical moments throughout the Hobbit and LotR books. I really enjoyed the pause here to let the relationship between Nori and wizard grow considerably.
Amazon: "it's impossible to know if Tolkien would like our show or not" Tolkien: "I despise allegory and want my characters as they are" Amazon: "impossible to know"
Tolkien probably wouldn't like the changes to the lore made by the show but where do you see allegory in what Amazon is doing? Tolkien might object but not for that reason.
@@Pixis1 I never said if I did or didn't see any allegory in the show. I just quoted what Tolkien said about not wanting his works to be changed or used in allegory. Allegory as a fictionalized work made to represent real world issues or truths in order to convey meaning. But maybe watch the show and observe whether or not there are any examples of allegory within it.
@@vanjradius6921 I have watched the show and I didn't see anything allegorical. Are you referring to the diverse casting? Having non-white actors isn't any more allegorical than having white ones. If the show was trying to convey a message about the characters of color being oppressed or subjected to racism, that would be an allegory of a real world issue. Characters of color just existing in a story doesn't really seem like allegory to me. It's a departure from Tolkien's work, yes, but not an allegory. I'm not sure if that's what you meant so apologies if I'm off base.
@@Pixis1 I did not say that there were allegories within it or not. But there appear to be possible ones such as Galadreale wearing armor and welding a sword (which is inaccurate to Tolkiens works) And then killing the troll in 10 seconds that had previously decimated her group of "elite" male elves to show that she is a "strong woman" because a Strong woman to Amazon has to mean physically strong. Also a black elf ruling over a group of white humans for the sins of their past seems like a potential allegory as well. Especially since the writers said "it is only fitting that we make a LoTR series that depicts the world we live in and its problems. Of course we don't know if these are allegories for certain because they have not been officially confirmed by Amazon but it appears to be more likely than not.
I've definitely had a mixed reaction to this show. I've enjoyed some aspects and been disappointed or puzzled by others. I assume the other Rings of Power will be forged next season (though this is backwards, as they were supposed to come before the Three Rings of the elves). Hopefully, we will see Sauron assume another form and tempt Celebrimbor to continue his work. Not sure if Amazon can use the name "Annatar" but I hope we get to see Sauron in a different form at least. I really hope Halbrand's handful of suggestions aren't his only contribution to the making of the Rings. That said, if they do go that direction, it will make the elves look pretty dumb since Galadriel already knows Halbrand is Sauron. Maybe she'll be away on a different mission and Sauron will tempt Celebrimbor alone. Galadriel didn't actually reveal Halbrand was Sauron, as she didn't want to be blamed for saving his life. Either way, I'm pretty disappointed by the change to the Eregion plotline. This was one of the most developed of the Second Age stories and I was looking forward to it. I guess Amazon is limited by the material they have the rights to. As for the mystics, I assume they are Umaiar, fallen Maiar spirits that were lured to evil by Morgoth. I do wish we had gotten clarification on that though.
It makes kinda sense the Elves craft their rings first and then either are made to craft the others or do it for "reasons". Never got why such an arrogant race would do anything for anyone but themselves.
@@Pixis1 Of course they're not all arrogant "we're so above it all" pricks. Elrond isn't. But some are. Kinda like a race of mostly Rees-Mogg's on steriods ;)
I also think the show was a mixed bag of equal proportion in every aspect, from the cinematography to acting, dialogue, costume design, etc. I thought the whole coincidence of Sauron being on the see just waiting for Galadriel was stupid. But I comfort myself thinking that Sauron could have been anyone at any time, so maybe he was visiting Numenor on vacation or attended some conference just when Galadriel showed up, and then took Halbrand's appearance. But when did Galadriel save Sauron's life ? I think I missed that part.
@@scratchy996 I hope we get some answers about why Sauron was on that raft. My theory is that he tried to sail back to Valinor but was denied entry. Galadriel saved his life when he was wounded after the battle in the Southlands. She took him to Eregion to be healed by the Elves.
The workshop/forging of the rings was my favorite part. The set piece, jewels and the actual forge were perfection. I could’ve watched that for an entire episode or at least in place of the longest goodbye in the history of middle earth.
20:40 I'm like 90% certain that they're teasing really hard the idea that the stranger is Gandalf to see how the audience reacts to it. Depending on audience reactions to it they'll pivot to him either being one of the Blues or stick with him being Gandalf.
They will have to make something up. Sauron at this time had no interest in the dwarves (not least because mithril is not some life-saving magical substance in Tolkien's mythos). However, when Sauron's armies invaded Eregion, tortured and killed Celebrimbor, and seized the lesser rings of power, they were attacked in the rear by armies of Dwarves and Elves coming out of Moria. That gave enough breathing space for Elrond's forces to rescue Celebrimbor and other survivors and retreat north. After that, Sauron hated the dwarves as well. He made sure to give lesser rings to all the dwarf tribes later.
it was when he came down the steps into the workshop for the first time i could tell. he was completely changed. his walk, his physical mannerisms, the way he spoke it was all different. more assured. more comfortable. more confident.
@The Rotten💯 Same dude. I've heard about the leaks a couple of weeks before the premiere and was honestly quite shocked that every single one of them turned out true. I am curious when the plot of season 2 will leak.
@@k_a_y_l_e_e I knew it when he got his prison tattoo and started throwing gang signs. I still think Galadriel should have been Sauron, though. Subverted expectations.
I think they could do a 'Sauron as Annatar' story next season. Sauron tries to make the one ring but keeps failing, decides to go back to the Elves so changes his appearance. So they don't have to change actor they can do a 'Quantum leap' thing with a mirror scene to show Annatar as other see him. Annatar proposes they make rings for the dwarves as a gift to help restore the friendship (later leading to the The Doors of Durin being made). Annatar could also face off against the Balrog as a potential rival to be Morgoth's successor, Sauron wants mithril so doesn't want a Balrog disrupting the supply.
Except they cannot call him Annatar. That's not in the LOTR and Hobbit books, and anything exclusively found in the Silmarillion (such as the name Annatar) is out of bounds. They would have to use another name.
thats awful, thats the kind of writing i expect the rings of power writers to do, just stick to lore man, they already fucked it up, lets just move to the war of the elves and sauro and get done with this bs lol
Those are two different people, halbrand is not Annotar. Not to mention Sauron had absolutely no knowledge of the oven Rings until he put his on. Amazon's just trying to create their own version and it's actually kind of sad. They don't have the rights to the silmarillion therefore they should have just left it alone for now until they got the rights.
@@costwalt Tolkein didn't write about Halbrand at all and Elves often have different names for people. What makes you say that they are different? And Sauron as Annatar did influence Calebrimbor into making the rings. What are you on about? The only major change here is that Sauron took the form of Annatar after regaining control of Mordor to corrupt the elves. He went to Eregion after being rebuffed by Gil Galad and Galadriel.
In terms of “good guy Sauron” I think he believes he’s healing the world, by taking away there free will. He does not believe he is evil he believes he is healing them
Like every single tyrant...they think they know better then everyone, they would make the best choices for everyone and they are "enlightned"...and they deserve to lead, they see it as right. It's clinically known as Delusion of grandeur and narcissism. To think that Tolkien knew how to describe, criticise and write such human tropes before they became defined scientifically/clinically, is just a nod to the genius of the man. Throughout history many great books had this type of hidden, implied and elequantl metaphores criticism of politics and times rulers, I cite: one & thousand nights/ Kalila and Dimna as one of the masterpieces of such endevours.
I liked that they took that angle with him. He believes he is atoning for the sins he committed under Morgoth but has spent far too long under his Shadow to remember how to work with other beings without submitting their wills to his own so that the “healing” could be carried out efficiently. This must be especially tempting if all these beings are ‘lesser’ than himself.
@@zibilacoste5 I don't believe fleshing out his motivations is a humanisation (because order to the extent Sauron desires cannot be human), and in fact, I think that it was executed very poorly in the show because they added the completely unneccessary Galadriel romance thing, which never was part of Sauron's motivations at all. What I'm saying is that I'm glad more people are acknowledging the fact that in the Silmarillion, Tolkien's letters and the History of Middle-earth (among others), Sauron actually made the Rings with the desire to rebuild Middle-earth after the devastation brought upon by Morgoth. Yes, Sauron is a satanic character because he was a follower of Melkor and Melkor is essentially the Lucifer of Tolkien's Legendarium, but that doesn't mean he cannot have rationalizations or justifications (even if they are only excuses) for his evil actions.
![The History of Sauron [COMPILATION] | Tolkien Explained](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8IqAN1Of70k/mqdefault.jpg)
For my Spanish speaking friends, this breakdown is now live over on Nerd of the Rings Español: ruclips.net/video/J3cqizL3Tis/видео.html
Just except this is a bad fanfiction instead of tip toeing around. Most fans are claiming that these channels about Middle Earth are either afraid to criticize the series because they're shills or trying to gain more subscribers by glossing it over. At least Men of the West saying it is trash.
Editado. ¿Tras la forja de los 3, Sauron con forma seductora hará recelar y envidiar a los enanos y humanos de los anillos élficos para que acepten los 7 y 9, manipularlos y enfrentarlos así a los elfos, tanto numenor como los enanos en parte odian a los elfos? ¿Ar-Pharazôn será el Rey Brujo, muriendo antes en cuerpo en Valinor siendo un espíritu condenado a vagar y luego a la nada del vacio sin ser parte del todo con Eru por siempre, de hay la relación en Angmar con los numenoreanos negros... antes controlado por Sauron en parte por uno de los 9 y el único, junto a sus mentiras y falsas promesas de poder, grandeza e inmortalidad? ¿el Istar/Maiar ya sea Gandalf y/o mago azul en el este dará lugar a la aparición de 4 de las familias enanas y sus reyes, así como otros elfos y reinos humanos?¿También aparecerán las entwives y entchilds en el este?¿Veremos a valar y maiar, Tom Bombadil y Baya de Oro... o será Eru?
This is the worst show ever created in the history of vomit inducing horrible shows of all time.
Kai is better for spanish speakers he is 100% honest at least.
That’s pretty cool your doing it in Spanish.
Want me to do a video on my thoughts on the entire season? This season was very much a mixed bag for me. Lots of lessons I hope this show learns going into Season 2...
yes
Yes please!
Yes please
Yes please!
That would be great.
Halbrand done what every man couldn’t.. he simply walked into Mordor!
But there wasn't any evil there that does not sleep, yet. After Sauron is back in home, there is no way that one does simply walk into Mordor.
One does not simply walk into Mordor
Classic 😂..
The best comment prize goes to you Sire.🏆
@Nerd Of The Rings pin OP's comment please📌🙏🏼
Gilgalad did say to Elrond he foresaw if Galadriel kept searching, she might have inadvertently kept alive the very evil she sought to defeat.
Nice little bit of foreshadowing there honestly. Nice find!
damn this is spot on.
@@KennyMcGavin right… not like the entire audience didn’t hear it and immediately clue in on halbrand because of it… lmfao keep thinking it was a great clue, in reality it was kinda lazy and ruined the Sauron reveal
@@Matt67012 I literally just called it "little bit of foreshadowing", nothing special or nothing great.
I was mostly complimenting the man for remembering the line.
But keep running around on the internet implying to people that they are stupid if it helps you sleep at night. What a trooper to our society!
@@KennyMcGavin dude, it was the most obvious reveal in the history of television, and that’s honestly not hyperbole. It really wasn’t as subtle a clue as the writers probably envisioned. It was amateurishly obvious..
Nazgals was absolute, understated, comedic gold (or…mithril lol)
How can ring wraiths exists before the rings?
@@workingman9019 NOTR was just joking. I thought it was just a slip up until I read this comment 😂
Exactly what I was gonna comment too 11:45
Mithril Grace Jones!
Coworker friend of mine called them Tarfoots
That 100-millisecond cut to Kylo Ren was a stroke of genius!
Timestamp?
@@SolarpunkEnjoyer 16m35s (not sure how to put a link..)
16:38
It's incredible how they are literally taking inspiration from one of the biggests disasters in modern cinema, and then are still baffled when It backfires A SECOND TIME. Don't matter how much I try to let go of Star Wars, The Last Jedi keep following me wherever I go.
@@bigbangrafa8435 At least this was entertaining to watch. The Last Jedi left me with a bad taste in my mouth after the first viewing. It only got worse from there.
That Naz-gals joke made me chuckle heartily
Eminem is better !
Naz-gals!!!🤣🤣🤣🧟♀️🧟♀️🧟♀️
@@smexdmx6680 Feminem 😁😁
@@lrbrugby lol, my bad, my bad Feminem* 😂😂😂
Sounds like a stripper/burlesque troupe.
"And now from Nasty Nashville: the Naz-Gals with their new single: "There is a tempest in me".
Probably he's the only RUclipsR in the whole youtube community who know the lore and still not continuously bashing the ROP.
Most people bashing this show are disingenious grifters who were hoping to cash in engagement by using the show as a culture war talking point. They saw female leads and dark skinned elves and probably hoped it could be the next Last Jedi for them. It's annoying as hell.
"A mixed bag" is the nicest thing ive heard someone say about this series
Agreed, its the most accurate way to describe the episode
a mixed bag of at least two different kinds of dogsh*t
It’s an accurate statement
man i so appreciate the fact that you review things fairly but also sprinkle actual Tolkien lore when recapping whats happening on the show
Thank you, Thank you #NerdoftheRings !
Lol this show has turned the Tolkien aspect into a where's waldo? Where's the Tolkien?
@@squaeman_2644 Gladly he's dead and does not have to see this. I mean, he would have even ripped the Jackson movies to shreds. Imagine what he would have done to these guys here.
Fairly? LOL, guy is a paid for reviewer. Like saying there is nothing wrong with oil, arms and pharma lobbyists paying off politicians.
@@Wulfrygg Christopher Tolkien being dead is the reason why this show even exists
Halbrand being killed in the eruption and then being taken over by Sauron sounds cool, but I think that the bloodlust when confronted with "Addar" and the line: " Do you remember what you did to me" shortly after Addar states he killed Sauron shows that he already is Sauron at this point in time.
Agreed. Also doesn't make sense that a legit human Halbrand would have been claiming to be the heir of the Southlands throne before the eruption if the last king died without an heir 1,000 years ago. In hindsight there are some things that don't make a lot sense in terms of how Halbrand/Sauron has acted up to this point (e.g. being stuck on a raft in the ocean with random humans, saving Galadriel and Elendil, etc.) but nevertheless I think we have to assume he was Sauron the entire time.
Especially since Adar, of course, has no clue who he is - since he didn't have that face at the time.
Neither Adar nor Sauron *actually* lie at any point.
@@Neverender6 Yeah that debunks that theory
Agreed, also these showrunners seem to prefer the hatchet and heavy hammer for their plots rather than the delicate tools of a master craftsman
Yeah adder will be getting the sack soon I think.
A full season review would be awesome.
You forgot to mention an important point: that Galadriel forces Elrond to silence, when he asks what happended between Galadriel and Halbrand, using his promise to trust her.
That quick flash of Kylo Ren… priceless 😂
Was wondering if anyone else saw that lol
@@cowboywayne35 I did
@@tolkiendil4806 And my Axe! :)
Ah that's what it was lol.
Thought I was tripping
Yes, Celebreimbor, the master smith, who didn’t know about making alloys…
Celebrimbor the Noob. This show is such a parody of Tolkien's characters.
Don’t underestimate Sauron’s influence on him
@@Maoreomi you mean Sauron was able to make Celebrimbor roll back to the level of a smith apprentice just like that and no one around him noticed ?
@@deceiver444 Sauron influence the mind
So yeah, why not
If he can corrupt, why can’t he reduce its capabilities for a while?
@@Maoreomi and not one of Celebrimbor's assistants, let alone Galadriel and Elrond, noticed and found highly suspicious that the greatest elven smith ever suddenly became dumb and clueless ?
Galadriel: "Lord Celebrimbor, you made a fourth ring...?"
Celebrimbor: "Yes. It's name is Nunya"
Galadriel: "...what..."
Celebrimbor: "NUNYA BUSINESS!"
Galadriel: 😑
🤪
This would save the series.
This is canon for me LMAO
😂😂😂 this is now canon !
I make that joke every time Galadriel shows the ring to Frodo in Fellowship. Lmao. Absolute classic.
And later he gives it to a ranger named Talion
I think the main evidence for the stranger being Gandalf is thematic - it means that the shows three major storylines were following Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf - the three eventual bearers of the Elvish rings.
This sounds so good I'm almost sure the creators didn't think of it.
Also it would explain why Gandalf adores the Hobbits. They saved his life, future and helped him transition into his new life in Middle Earth.,
Gandalf wasn't even in middle earth in the second age....
@@placeholdername3818 never happened
@@weseethetruth158 Amazon might decide to change that since they've altered so much already. Maybe it's a Blue Wizard.
Thanks for the review. I will say this, this show has made me more of a Tolkien fan. Has caused me to go back to all the books and watch your videos to remind myself where they got it right and where they got it wrong. And rereading all of Tolkien’s works with this in mind has shown me again how amazing Tolkien’s world is. So, regardless of what I’ve thought of the show, like you, ups and downs, it did have the effect of making me more of a Tolkien fan which I didn’t think was possible. Ha!
Charlie Wickers has said in a fresh interview that they will go back to what happened to his character before that raft in season 2. That possibly also goes back to him being in Eregion as someone else already before returning there as Halbrand.
He also mentioned Annatar by name and said "can't wait"
Galadrial says, in this episode, to Halbrand that him and Celebrimbor "seem quite familiar"
Obviously a reference to them have meeting before
@@Kimberlyk12 no it’s not. It’s a reference to how closely halbrand and celebrimbor were working.
So it's possible that he has already influenced Celebrimbor and the other smiths with his Annatar alter ego...
ooo I hope so as 1 episode there doesn't seem like enough time to build trust with elves and plot .
I feel like the melting down of the dagger could also be symbolic for Galadriel shedding her warrior self and begin evolving into the powerful and wise Galadriel that we know.
She was 5,000 years old in this timeline. Nothing make sense.
I like this interpretation too. Her coming to terms with there being other ways to protect her people than direct violence.
@@amandalogan89 She was never the warrior type, the only time she ever really fought with anyone was the first kinslaying, where she fought to protect her kin on her mother's side. She was always as powerful as we see her in the movies, and she never desired to fight at all.
The melting down of Finrod's dagger is her letting go of her grief finally or maybe symbolically sharing the burden with two other ring bearers instead of carrying her grief (dagger) alone. As for Galadriel shedding her warrior self.. she already did that when she gave her sword to Theo earlier. Though we still have 4 more seasons and we'll see if the show makers have the temptation to put her in warrior mode again.
@@teddyjackson1902 cry about it nerd
The plot with Halbrand with Celebrimbor should have happened over several episodes: they could have wasted less time in Numenor and given him much longer experimenting with Lesser Rings of Power.
but the surprise would have been spoiled. Dont be mad because your fave character is a doosh
@@SwivelHippie I've heard it wasn't much of a Surprise to most people anyway. I think the Intrigue would have been interesting.
Anyway, which one is my favourite character, pray tell?
@@rustyk4645 Just saying, I didn't see it coming, as a NORMAL casual fan. If you saw it coming then you deserve the ONE ring.
@@SwivelHippie It was a leak. People go to twitter and come out big brain geniuses who called it on his first entrance
@@SwivelHippie I didn't see it coming till Halbrand suddenly rediscovered his previously undisclosed talent for Smithing and said 'Gift', so I appreciated the Twist. But this is what brought Game of Thrones down: sacrificing important plot points for Ooooo Shocking Reveal. There could have been a Shock Reveal earlier, then a different sort of Dramatic Tension, where we know what he's up to, but we're hoping the main characters find out before it's too late.
Imagine if they had made 16 Rings of Power thinking they would give the mortal races a fresh start, only to reach the Terrible Realisation that they may have been playing into Sauron's hands and by having a hand in making them he may have a way of controlling them.
THAT's when they know they have to make the Elven Rings away from Sauron.
Now, they'll have to do some Mind Control schtick, OR a Harry Potter 4 Barty Crouch schtick, where Celebrimbor is locked up somewhere whilst Sauron disguises as him. Or makes the 16 Rings separately, which totally breaks Canon.
I was just thinking the whole “ruling together side by side” sounded familiar. Then Kylo Ren showed up and I choked up laughing. Brilliant editing!
Its definitely intended one
Loved it!
Defo a Star Wars vibe to the show.
Boromir: “One does not simply walk into Mordor”
Halbrand: 😏
Well that's Sauron technically... So doesn't really count.
I love how they reduced the slow, centuries long, brilliant, and methodical manipulation of the elves by Sauron into what feels like a shoehorned weekend getaway where Sauron says a few mumbo jumbo magic things and then the rings are suddenly done. 🤦♂🤦♂Seriously, what a missed opportunity in my opinion. The dramatic irony of his manipulation, and the intricate way it was pulled off, should have been the main focus of this show, instead of a 30-minute subplot in the season finale. But that's just my opinion. It's ok if you like the show BTW. My family loves it and I cheer them on! This just my own personal perspective and nobody has to agree with it. Opinions are just opinions. :)
I just want the writers to step their game up. They seem to dismiss all criticism in recent interviews. Not a great sign for S2.
@@austingoyne3039 I totally understand. A complete disregard of all criticism isn't good for anyone. Here's to hoping that tune changes!
I agree mate. It was just terrible! One awful, feebly structured badly written nonsense 'idea' after another. Could have been an epic, sweeping tale with finely drawn intricate characters-but no we got one of the most overblown, overrated, badly made 'audience friendly' weakly plotted series in TV history. It's like it was written by 12 year old boys for 12 year old girls. Even the episode titles-Alloyed for example. Dear God, it's so thinly drawn and naff and over simplistic. So disappointed and upsetting.
It's not just your opinion, it was factually of lower quality in writing, acting, costume design and casting than what we expected. The disregard for the lore and obsession with woke politics to the point of it taking presidence over the actual script is shocking and Tolkien fans deserved better. And even the underlying theme in Tolkiens work of good vs evil, with those two concepts being clearly defined the rop sought to make those concepts grey and hazy. I found the whole debacle actually quite offensive as someone who is a fan. It was a lazy attempt and a straight up cash grab I think.
But what did we expect, Amazons main talent is parcel deliveries after all, not high quality entertainment, that's there side hustle. Some people may like it for sure, and I have no problem with that. But having read the books and watched PJ's trilogy the rop is impossible for me to enjoy. And honestly, even for those who haven't the dialogue and poor script writing with clear contradictions from one scene to another makes me wonder if this is made for an audience who are quite happy to switch off mentally when watching. And I don't say that to be rude to anyone, there are films and series's I have watched where I do the same, it's like junk food entertainment. But I never claim those pieces of entertainment to be anything other than what they are. Whereas some defender's of this show do just that.
Some opinions hold more weight than others, they are not completely relative. And the opinion that this show is of far lower quality than what we were expecting is valid.
You're right for most of it, but I actually don't think it's okay to like this show. It is vandalism, it is objectively bad, it is brain rot, it is an assault on the very soul of western civilization, it is unforgivable nonsense and no developing mind should be exposed to it, and no person should support the corporation that spawned this mindless abortion. It is the weapon of the enemy, a glittering, empty trifle that will distort the mind and corrupt our expectations for quality and the legacy of Tolkien. It is no less than the worst thing that's ever happened to entertainment and mythology.
But that's just my opinion.
For those wondering why Halbrand replaced Annatar, it's because Amazon does not have the rights to Silmarillion.
It's just as well and a relief they don't have the rights to the Silmarillion.
I like how "they don't have the rights to the Silmarillion" is used as a catch-all argument to excuse literally everything this show did in breaking the lore. If they have aliens invade Middle Earth in season 2, the shills and apologists will probably still claim "well, they don't have the rights to the Silmarillion and Tolkien never said aliens didn't happen, so this is perfectly acceptable."
@@frankvandorp2059 I think changing a name and full on turning this into Star Wars is a tad different. 😂
But I catch your meaning lolol.
How much would THAT cost, another billion dollars. Well, Bezos has got it, when he's not chartering rockets to mars or whatever. That guy...Jeez.
@Shaleen Sharma The showrunners themselves said it was because they felt the Annatar twist wouldn't work. Don't spread lies for them please.
I was disappointed by Halbrand being Sauron, but 1) Charlie Vickers really sold it, and 2) Vickers did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter which provided some helpful back story (and S2 hints) around this choice. I did have my suspicions when I heard the soundtrack - Bear doesn't make mistakes, and the similarity between the "Sauron" and "Halbrand" tracks was undeniable. I would have loved to see a longer Halbrand arc that started heroic to crash down into tragedy (Witch King or King of the Dead), but alas.
Link to the article for us lazy people?
I wanted the same thing with Halbrand having a reverse-Aragorn arc, starting out well-intentioned before descending into evil, but like you said he did a great job selling it so I’m starting to be more ok with it.
While I didn't deny him possibly being Sauron, I think being the oath breakers would have fitted quite well.
It would have been nice if that "helpful back story" had actually made it into the script of the show.
I definitely would have preferred for Halbrand not to be Sauron, but with the performance he gave he won me over almost immediately. This is clearly not following the events from the books, so the changes stopped bothering me a few episodes ago.
Charlie Vickers did a really great job. Fun facts: In order to get into his character more, for four days he hiked the area the Mount Doom scene was shot, he read The Silmarillion, Tolkien's letters, and Morgoth's Ring. "I think they have a cosmic connection [Halbrand and Galadriel], but I don’t think it’s necessarily in his mind a king and a queen-like, husband and wife-kind of situation. I think it’s more, I can use you to get what I want and intact my designs faster because ultimately I think he would have ended up ruling by himself whether she joined him or not. And when she says ‘no’ on the raft, it angers him. But it’s not the end of the world for him I think." -Charlie Vickers interviewed by "Deadline"
I think you're exactly correct here. I had the same thought and expressed it in a comment above somewhere.
He was awful, imho.
@@aurex8937 I think giving his performance 1 or 5 stars is more reactionary than anything. He had good moments, and some not so great moments.
Everyone seems to forget the initial reason for Morgoth and Sauron's actions. They are not bent on destruction. But to rule and create life. They wanted to be Eru Ilúvatar. But even the Valar of which Morgoth was 1 are not capable of creating life. They can twist life and distort it. But not create it. Aulë the creation god of the dwarves also created the dwarves but life was given to them by Eru.
There is only one lord of the ring, and he does not share power
If the season takes place in the second age wouldn't it be going heavily against the timeline if the stranger is Gandalf?
I’m hoping it’s a blue wizard and he meets up with the other one in the east. In the books the blue wizards complete their mission in the second age but then get sent back in the third (I think with their memory wiped) and get corrupted. I could def see them making this wizard Gandalf for fan service and then wiping his memory before he’s sent out again in the third age which would be lame
The whole show already "goes heavily against the timeline". ROP makes no sense in terms of what Tolkien originally wrote.
Why bring even up the lore? The show is not faithful to the lore nor does it want to be.
@@raskolnikov6443 WDYM ? The writers literally said they wanted to be faithful whilst actually doing the exact opposite
@@Nikblaster1980 They were lying. They said that to get more people to watch it. If they had said "It's a new generic fantasy with a ropey script written by halfwits, but where a lot of things have names stolen from Lord of the Rings" they would have had trouble getting viewing figures.
15:23 so in other words the writers were saying “what we’re doing is wrong, we know it’s wrong, but we’re gonna do it anyway”
They don't care about the real story but about getting fame for themselves. 175 million and we get 3d printinted moob armor. The commander of the armies afraid to do battle scenes needing therapy, and no bearded dwarves?
Charlie Vickers hinted in an interview with the New York Times that the Annatar stuff is coming next season. So I think they're changing the order in which the rings were forged, and we'll see Sauron back in Eregion next season helping with the Seven and the Nine.
But why was the order changed to begin with? What purpose did Sauron's brief presence in Numenor serve? The plot feels aimless at times and, though this final episode was rather good, it wraps up a story that doesn't make a lot of sense.
@@karlpoppins Sauron is there to foreshadow his eventual corruption of Numenor-- that's why they had the scene of him manipulating Ar-Pharazon in the jail. I'm not sure why they changed the order of the forging, but I'm guessing it has to do with setting up Celebrimbor's deception next season.
@@karlpoppins I think the idea of crafting the 3 to keep alive the Elves makes sense to casual viewers, and now knowing the fact that Sauron is still alive and presumably growing in power, they could make the remaining 16 to strengthen the rest of the free peoples of ME, with Annatar appearing to help suggest it to Celebrimbor and increasing his blind ambition and corruption. This could segue into distrust in Annatar by Galadriel (she's been burned by someone she didn't know and trusted already) and Elrond/Gil-Galad (same situation). If this is indeed the route they take, I think the book nerd in me would be mostly satisfied.
I think the plotline of Galadriel in Numenor doesn't make a whole lot of sense from a bird's eye perspective, outside of spurring the break between the faithful and King's men
@@leton98609 It's also "weird", that Sauron readily surrenders to Numenor and lets them take him prisoner to a place where he *should* think the last "high men" live that can withstand his corruption dwell in the Silmarillion.
I don't like Galadriel being there with him, but him being there in the first place basically "incognito" and checking the state of things and see how far Numenor has already fallen, that might later convice him to surrender or even "let" his armies desert on purpose to appear weak to Ar-Pharazon does indeed add some credible detail to the existing lore.
@@nikeaddict55 Yet that break in Numenor is spurred by Sauron himself, when he is captured by Numenor in ME. That's when Numenor should have come in play and not from the very beginning of the story. The story already works as it was written, and all Amazon had to do was fill in the gaps with details and new supporting characters. I feel like it's more difficult to do what they're doing, i.e. to change the plot radically while maintaining only a few central points, and their (partial) failure is a natural result of that process. That all being said, this series is certainly not irredeemable.
I'd love to have some Blue Wizard lore. There's so little and there's so much they could do.
Shame its Gandalf then
@@lukesdewhurst why mention Rhûn so much then? I think they've let it open who he is
@@jeffreyjeffrey1935 do they even have the rights to using Gandlalf's name? That could be why the make it so unclear
The stranger’s eyes looked very blue at 30:49 when he used the mystic’s staff
Bruh they trash lol
I think it's crazy how a Galadriel decides not go to Valinor and jump in the water and she immediately meets Sauron! Lol
If Sauron was there b/c he had just escaped Valinor then it actually makes a ton of sense. The crazier thing is that they both meet up with some random sailors.
Sauron never went back to Valinor. After the War of Wrath he hid in the east.
I guess he'd been sailing Sundering Sea waiting for Galadriel to jump off the ship.
@@KetanVatsalya Most likely.
She spent millenia looking for him, and after she jumps off the ship, he just catches her, crazy indeed
@@KetanVatsalya After he got "killed" by Adar he probably lost his confidence and bailed with those Southlanders to go West, then bumped into Galadriel and changed his mind 🤷🏻♂️
Interesting tidbit: Tolkien's magnum opus was started by writing and experimentation, but when he decides the attempt to complete it, he builds a map. He builds a map to get all the journeys travel and episodes into a context that made sense. Now when we talk about stars that indicate a location (Meteor Man's stars we find are in the East, in Rhun), it doesn't make sense in our terms on a round planet. Stars in the East of our world would eventually be in another part (West or East) of the planet as it rotates and the axis changes, like Scorpio and Orion, do in my neck of the woods. But if the world was flat, as we are led to believe before Numenor tries to take the lands of Valinor, it makes perfect sense. I don't know if the writers of the Rings of Power are that smart, but "hmmmmmm." :)
Great call. That was deliberate.
Nothing about this makes sense
"One does not simply walk into Mordor."
Halbrand: "Hold my rings."
One Ring to Rule them all.
Naz-Gals line 10/10 would laugh again 🤣
🏆
I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about the Stranger being heavily implied to be Gandalf, but I wanna say I think the casting was perfect. So many of his mannerisms, the kindness in his eyes, even line delivery(especially in this last ep where he was saying actual sentences lmao) had a very Ian McKellen feel to it. Really made me smile
I have to agree, I'm looking forward to seeing his dynamic with the hobbits descendants
When in doubt, always follow your nose!!!😁❤🍻🧙♂️
Definitely mixed feelings but the actor did a wonderful job with not at all much dialogue! His mannerisms and the emotions in his eyes alone conveys so much! I hope we see more of him and Nori.
They should have left the entire things out of it. No Stranger. No Halflings. It was nothing but filler for time.
I actually really like this origin for Gandalf, though I'm hoping they explain why he rode a comet to Middle-Earth. (Perhaps an argument in Valinor of some kind?)
He could still end up at the Grey Havens after Saruman... just by sailing from the East instead. (Since the world would be round by that point.) And since he would have only met the Hobbits in MIddle-Earth, it would seem like accurate history so far as the Silmarillion is concerned.
the fact that you're going to rewatch this show more than once is an impressive feat all on it's own.
I tried rewatching ep 7 because I fell asleep the first time. Well, I fell asleep again, in the middle of the day. That's happened so many times with this show that I can't imagine attempting to watch the whole thing again
Some would not deem it wise
Love how Tolkien's jotted down ideas over the course of his life when he was writing during War up to near the end of his life, is finally seeing the light of day!!!!
This show is incredible!!!!
Such honor to his other ideas he had, that we are now seeing put up on the screen. Done very well.
If I rewatch it(I don't think so) will be only to find the blops and failures as the night/day ride of Numenoreans with the sun in their back.
ROP memes will outlast ROP.
Celebrimbor almost gave me chills when he was staring "into nothing", talking about will and flesh and power of the unseen world. He seemed almost like being taken by a spell, a spell that the One Ring used to have in Peter Jackson's movies. I thought that was really cool!
I thought that was so dumb… There was no reason for him to say that stuff unless Halbrand told him so
I assume what that was really about is something to be revisited in season 2. They left it open how Celebrimbor got his grand forge idea and how Halbrand ended up on that raft. These two will probably be parts of the same story that will also tie to the conflict between Sauron and Adar.
@@JayJay5244 i think you are dumb if you don’t take in account that Sauron already visited celebrimbor earlier and poisoned the tree
He's being seduced by Halbrand because Celebrimbor is at the cusp of making something on par with Fëanor.
A Bilbo moment if you will.....
I liked when Gil-Galad called Sauron "the low man". Boy if only he knew! Love or hate the Halbrand reveal, Charlie Vickers has done a bang up job on the series. I am curious how much longer he will be able to hold this current form.
It wasn’t really a reveal… The show was so badly written, you could see him being Sauron from a mile away. This dude’s acting skills are absolutely wasted on this series.
I didn't believe earlier that Charlie Wickers could convincingly play Sauron but I was wrong about that.
@@donpula6349 It wouldn’t have made much sense for Gil-Galad to call him that: he didn’t know Halbrand was Sauron.
@@JayJay5244 It is a common feel-good trick in the entertainment industry to spell things out clearly enough for people to figure out the "twist" well before it is nominally "revealed". Some of the audience just needs to feel like they are cleverer than those making the show.
@@akikolehmainen88 No it’s just bad writing… This isn’t even done well and quite frankly insults your intelligence. I’ve seen better reveals where you can’t tell anything until it happens.
@14:18 when Halbrand suggests coaxing the metals together it made think of Soldering copper pipes together with 95/5 tin and antimony!
As a Plumbing Apprentice, this scene really spoke to me!! ❤
Your channel is more entertaining than any episode of the rings of power
I agreed. I finished watching the entire season and I’m quiet disappointed they did and several change. At this point they should call this Games of Thrones The Ring of Power
m.ruclips.net/video/1Uv9SQSJ8R8/видео.html
I like how they made the distinction between adventure and journey. It makes the phrase “an unexpected journey” an unexpected personal journey for bilbo. One that happens within him during the adventure.
Journey just means, literally "a day's travel".
I love this!
There is nothing about the word adventure that prevents someone from having an adventure on their own as well.
Shut up
Much like Peter Jackson’s movies, the show is strongest when it sticks closer to Tolkien. It is weaker when it strays. That being said, I found Halbrand’s play for Galadriel immensely satisfying because that’s exactly how he would have done it.
I liked the shapeshifting effect too. Like she was wearing a cloak of the other person. The magic is one thing they’ve actually done really well with
Oh thank god, it’s finally over.
A full review of the season would be a good follow up. This was by far the best episode of season one. Too bad they could not have paced the other seven episodes better so they would have had time to actually do many of the things we all wanted to see.
Season 2 would benefit from a few flashbacks of "Annatar" visiting Eregion prior to the events of the first season, where Sauron laid the groundwork for the creation of the 16.
I don't think they were created prior to the Three. The idea of forging rings instead of crown or other insignia was pitched in this episode. This is also too important for the show itself to just omit creation of the rings
@@Morcorco That's a good point about the change from a crown to rings. It's just puzzling why they decided to flip the order of creation, and a shame if it was purely for the big Halbrand reveal.
The writers have dug themselves into a hole trying to figure out where and who creates th 9 and 7, and if Sauron has to steal them from the elves. Maybe they just skip all that, have Sauron make them, and gift them in season 2.
@@MorcorcoWell, in Tolkien, the lesser rings were created before the Three greater rings. That made logical sense. In this show, their story frequently doesn't make sense.
@@mikem9001 Yeah, that was the thought behind my original comment. It's all a mess. Love the tone and look of the show overall, but they have work to do on the story.
I still thinking that Halbrand is saving something interesting in that damn little bag, maybe the other rings?
My first impression is that they are reversing the order of creation of the rings. Celebrimbor at the end of this episode did not look like he was going to leave-be. I’m not sure we’ve seen the last of his collab with Sauron/Halbrand.
So what would Halbrand/Sauron's plan have been if Galadriel left him in Numenor? He said he wanted to stay there and work as a smith, but was that part of his original plan? Or did he know that would push Galadriel to get him to leave even more? Or would he just have worked as a smith and live low simple life?
My thought was that he'd stay and work on manipulating the people, edging himself into a position of trust at his own pace and eventually convincing then to help him take back the southlands. I think Galadrial pushing him to do it just sped up that plan a bit and (until proven otherwise) my own headcanon is that he was reluctant to do so without building that foundation of trust first. But hey, when an elf gives you lemons
The show does nothing. It basically went like "playing fill in the blanks with audience". Just assume anything bcs we are bad at writing but we won't admit.
That quick Kylo Ren joke was perfect, idk how many people caught that 😂
Please explain it to someone who didn’t catch it 😭😭😭
@@JustSomeBodisOpinion 16:39 you’ll see Ben Solo 😂
@@PuluRolla ohmygooooooood hahahhahahahaahahahahha
@@PuluRolla Not only is it Ben, its the scene in Snokes throne room where he asks Rey to join him.
Lol
It's impressive how I've already watched some reviews of the season finale and nobody talks about how, in the scene where the rings are finally done and Elrond comes with the scroll, we almost can see in the faces of Celebrimbor, Galadriel and Elrond, the malice of sauron acting.
For me, this was the most subtle and sophisticated part.
Out of all the LOTR channels and all the knowledge and opinions being passed around NOTR speaks on this as if sharing information in Tolkiens world itself. Not with absolute judgment but sharing knowledge and values for others to do what they will with. Namárië hanta hantanyel
Vickers commented that Sauron wasn't going to share power with Galadriel. He wanted to compromise her or marginalize her. Looks like Galadriel and Elrond are going to bolster their psychic defenses now that they realized how vulnerable they are. It will be nice to see her show the psychic powers she has in the LOTR.
Sauron just wanted a trophy wife...😳
So galadriel is just a dumb karen simping over sauron throughout the whole season. She has such a hard on for him that she even makes him king. Lol. WTF. And the only reason sauron becomes evil is coz galadriel rejects his advances. Bahaha. What garbage.
She never needed a ring to give her the psychic powers she had in the books, the only thing the rings ever did for the elves was slow the effects of time in their realms, besides that the rings only ever respectively gave the powers of fire and kindling the inspiration of resisting evil, water and concealment against evil, and air and healing from evil. Galadriel had always had strong psychic prowess, with her powers not being limited to elves and lesser beings, but to be able to look into the minds of the Ainur as well. Elrond does get an upgrade because his ring is the greatest of the three, but not in the matters of bolstering the mind.
She was always a "witch" lmao
@@Eowyn3Pride Vickers said in a new interview that there was never any romance between the two, he wasn't even aware of any until Morfydd told him some fans were shipping Galadriel and Sauron. I think his performance showed this, their bond was always more of a platonic one over shared experiences etc, Sauron does not have the hots for Galadriel. He sees her power and potential.
Having watched the whole season I gotta say I enjoy more your breakdown videos than the actual show.
Charlie Vickers is a big discovery. I absolutely loved his performance and it saved this season for me.
There's at least a few decent actors in this show and he's definitely one of them.
@Cyril Lyric compared to the likes of acting in LOTR yes, but when compared to the acting of ROP, halbrands acting was pretty good, not only that but only he amongst few other characters actually feel like they belong to middle earth. i think while his character obviously wasnt perfectly written, that he did a good job with what he had.
the rest of the acting besides elronds, durins, and elendils can screw itself, utter horseshit. (especially the harfoots)
I love the little wordplay and funny references that you make during the video. The Ask Jeeves option for the Elven archivist, "to rule the world side by side" with a single frame flash of Kylo Ren and the best one; the Nazgals.
I love that you've used Kylo Ren as a reference to "rule the world, side by side"! :D
Thanks for clearing that up. I was trying to figure out who that was.
I’m hoping maybe Annatar was already whispering in Celebrimbor’s ear prior to start of the show, and then shifted to taking the form of Halbrand to influence Numenor, then stumbled into Galadriel and shifted his focus noticing he could speed up his agenda. Really hoping that plot hole gets filled because it’s so unbelievable that Gil-galad would be so hell bent on them fading so quickly. Even when he asks Elrond to tell the tale of the Balrog and the Elf, Elrond looked at him like ‘you actually take this childrens story as truth?’. If they can fill that plot hole and make the Stranger a Blue Wizard, I’ll be much happier with season 1.
Hundred percent!
Preach, brother. This bullshit by Gil-galad was really incredible even for the low bar the writers had set by then.
They won’t. We all know this.
They cannot use the name Annatar though. That's out of their licensing rights with the Tolkien Estate.
they cant fix that, its too late
Just want to thank you for ur channel ive never been good at reading I struggle with autisim but ive always been super intrested about the early ages. your channel has helped me understand everything and for that im super thankful! The show has been fun to watch its wild seeing how differnt it is but still enjoyable
What parts of the show were fun to watch? I couldn’t make it through the 3rd episode and it doesn’t seem to have improved at all since then.
edit: IN MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION. Since apparently that wasn't obvious to the lovely people replying below.
Whoa. You couldn’t make it through the 3rd episode, but here you are commenting about the 8th episode. Lol.
@@paulwilliams667 Just because you didn't enjoy it, doesn't mean he can't enjoy it.
@@paulwilliams667 Not all people like the same things, he doesn't have to prove to you why he liked it and you didn't. Just don't watch it
If you want to learn more about Tolkien's early ages/the Silmarillion then I highly suggest Voice of Geekdom, who is creating a chapter by chapter summary of Tolkien's work.
You're very generous suggesting that there could be more going on behind the scenes. I think the only thing going on in that writers' room is figuring out how to do callbacks to the film trilogy while "tricking" ppl who have read Tolkien. Solid review though. I'm just salty
I think this is Sauron's first meeting with Celebrimbor. Next time he will become Anatar and continue to work with him to create the other 16 rings. While Galadriel would still be busy chasing clues to where Sauron is. Meteor man is highly implied as Gandalf but i think this is an earlier version and not yet the Wizard that we know of. I believe he will return to Valinor to bring other Wizards to Middle Earth in the 3rd Age.
Very well said
@@RepEvox "I hAvE rUN ouT oF StEaM ReAdiNg cOMmEnTs LiKe tHeSe" 🤓
I think you are quite right. There is also the chance that Halbrand was mistaken as to being Sauron. The Stranger was confused and thought he was bad. Dude could very well end up as The Witch King. He was obsessed with staying in Numenor and the race of The Witch King was Numenorean. Witch King was a Numenorean nobleman with a lineage to be a king. Lots of fun speculation which is really what makes a show interesting.
Mistaken as to being Sauron? You really believe that? That's even dumber. He is Sauron and now that galadriel knows that it makes no sense that he'd be able to come back, even in his other form, as it would be very suspicious that another stranger turns up suggesting to make more rings, just like Halbrand
forget about annatar, this is amazon.
I wish we could've seen more of annatar and the forging of the lesser rings of power. I hope we'll see more of that in the next season
We have Annatar for the others rings, for tempting the nazgul and destroying Númenor from inside. There is still a hope.
@@Kynokefalos there's still hope that they cancel the show
@@Kynokefalos how? You can’t have annatar since Sauron is halbrand.
@@edwardrichtofen8530 good thing Sauron is a shapeshifter
Don't worry I think they're working backwards on the show also I think Calibrimbor is way too curious and ambitious to not be tricked by Sauron again and they'll continue working on the other rings of power in secret
I think it would be really cool to see you breakdown the Peter Jackson films like you do with these episodes. I’d love to see you connect everything together, explain where the films deviate and why you think it was done
Love your work!! Thanks 😊
Seconded 👍
They Need to sponsor first lol
Lets gooo
I agree that would be awesome and i like how this guy explains things. I also agree with him on most everything he says so im sure it would be entertaining.
What do you want to know? Which aspect of the movies/books are you thinking of? Because they're all relatively easy explained. Folks here can help you.
There are two big things I have appreciated about your reviews. (1) You have been very balanced in your evaluation, not just relying upon the lore from the books but also looking at how the story is being told and, perhaps most importantly, taking an honest and open-minded look at what new elements the series could tell to give details and breathe life into the story that are *not* in the books. (2) You haven't been grandstanding in your titles and thumbnails. To be perfectly honest, I have put half a dozen channels on my "do not recommend" list simply because the creators were doing their best to outdo each other on how much they hated the series. It just seemed a crass grab at likes and subs. Thanks for the honest, balanced, intelligent commentary.
Definitely interested in a full review reflecting back on the entire season 1. Love the channel. Really, really well done.
If you start reflecting on it from the beginning you'll find hundreds of continuity issues and will realize that the story doesn't make any sense.
6:27 “the key that unlocked the dam” might also be a callback to the events in episode 6 that created mount doom. Also a foreshadowing for Halbrand being Sauron.
The first thing Halbrand says is “Looks can be deceiving” and they just hammer it down the whole season. By the time he’s “revealed” it is so obvious. Galadriel is the Dark Lord in this show. She makes Sauron.
@@waldo8791 I never read the books and it was a surprise for me. No one told me Sauron was sexy!
I’ve never read the books either. The show writers blatantly foreshadow this throughout the season. That deep fake in the beginning of the final episode was laughable. Those women should have known that the Stanger wasn’t Sauron. If the show knew the history, that they wrote themselves in this series, those women would have known that that wasn’t Sauron.
A season break down would be awesome! Side note I really appreciate all the back story videos, and All the content you have put out there. I am big fan of the LORT universe, but not having read all the books it's easy to get lost in story development with this new series rings of power. So thank you, and appreciate ya.
I’ve just rewatched the series and I enjoyed it so much more on my second viewing.
In the official podcast, the showrunners suggest Earien, having seen the vision in the Palantir, would figure that Miriel has sent their people to war on the basis of only a vision, and this would make her angry. They also say they wanted the conflict of Numenor to play out within that family, so this would set her against Elendil, taking sides with the Kings Men against the Faithful.
The showrunners haven't a clue. They should have stuck with Tolkien's original story instead of trying to create their own. Then they wouldn't have needed to change things illogically over the episodes, such as Numenoreans having no interest in Middle Earth, then suddenly they have settlements there, or Galadriel never mentioning her husband, then suddenly admitting his existence.
@@mikem9001 you act like the show runners have the rights to do that 😢
@@josephwhalen9301 the writers actually have a lot of rights and can even briefly show things from the Silmarillion. Besides, Celeborns existence is not in the Silmarillion only...
@@josephwhalen9301 They do. Most of the weird changes they have made were not forced on them.
@@mikem9001 the hoops some jump through to justify the writing on this show is astounding
I think the other rings and the Annatar story line are still to come. I think they’re setting this up as Sauron in Halbrand form is catching his first glimpse of what the elves are up to, and is going to come back as Annatar to help the elves “save the other races” with the 7 and the 9.
Yes, If you pay attention Galadriel never told them he was Sauron she just said "Halbrand is gone"
@@Doubleojai Yep. And I am going to assume the she and Elrond (who she might have to fess up to - he was holding that genealogy scroll) will leave Eregion at some point, maybe to take the rings to Gil-Galad. Annatar can arrive after they have gone and no one will be the wiser.
Perhaps one of them returning to Eregion will then cause Annatar to flee. And he'll go to Mordor and craft The One.
@@nooneatall8072 bro they don't have the rights to annatar. He's not mentioned i nthe appendices. Stop hyping yourself what you saw is what you get.
@@RespectTheSourceMaterial bro they can put him in S2
The visual of the large moth when he defeats the mystics further cements him as Gandalf I think 🤔
Exactly what I thought when I saw the moth
Not only cuz of the moth but also at the end when he says to always follow your flair.. same thing Gandalf said in the moria when they didnt know which path to go! ;)
It can't be Gandalf, it's well known he came by ship to middle earth in the 3rd age, where he got Narya from Cirdan. Plus he never traveled in the east, the stranger has to be one of the blue wizards, they came in the 2nd at the behest of the valar around 1600 S.A., and were active in the east.
@@robinbrundage404 they can change it. As much as it would make people mad
@@yoslo6832 I absolutely agree, they can do that, but all the clues so far lean towards the blue wizard, of course they speak similarly to Gandalf, they're of the same order, sent for similar purpose. I'm holding out hope that they give us this little Easter egg as a nod to the book fans.
excellent series. it does it's own thing in a nice way. Love it and can't wait to see how season 2 goes!
The best part of the series is when Galadriel Spartan Kicks Elrond and screams "THIS! IS! MORDOR!"
The best part is the credits at the end
@@skylanh4319 I hated the tune though for the one ring to rule them all
I liked the after credit scene where GilGalad tells Galadriel: "i'm going to tell you about the avengers initiative"
She may as well do-utter tripe, supposedly written by professionals. Horror show of a series.
There are lots of reddit threads still welcoming more of these cut-and-pastes from other reddit threads. This meme is kind of over for the rest of the world.
Full season breakdown please! Loved this!
I’d love to watch a full season review! I personally really enjoyed the finale but I also know that I welcomed this series with open arms and was very willing to overlook the “less than great” parts.
Halbrand touched the mithril ore and Galadriel’s dagger. So the materials used for three elven rings are already touched by him, corrupted and tainted by Sauron (whereas in the books the three rings were the only ones he didn’t have a hand in making). So those rings are already failures. I wonder how the writers will get around that.
they will ignore that plot hole. just like they ignoired 20 plot holes in season 1 ;) but look at the comments here. everyone is amazed by this show. idk if 70% of these comments are bot comments bcuz NOTR is paid by amazon (since he is the only one interviewing ppl who made the show) or ppl are this naive and brainless
@@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it Guess what, mate, maybe everyone doesn't share your opinion?
Its a minor plot hole at best. These items were not forged into anything at the point Halbrand/Sauron touched them. Maybe also tainting them at that point would have been detected. And maybe mithril cannot be tainted (I seem to remember it was only mentioned in connection with the Elven Rings, the only pure ones).
I've noticed from being a Star Wars fan that pretty much any time something departs from what the purists consider canon, you get a lot of bleating about plot holes, while they're completely ignored otherwise. Since a lot of people don't like Amazon, they were predisposed to dislike the series from the start. I don't like Bezos either, but I tried to keep an open mind, and was pleasantly surprised, for the most part. I don't think he personally scripted it.
am i seeing this correctly that sauron knew the secret exchange of galadriel and her brother regarding the touching of the darkness by invading her mind but galadriel then tries to validate elrond by asking him about a shared memory?
Unless I'm misremembering, she had told Sauron at least some of what her brother told her while trying to encourage "Halbrand", so that's how he knew, not by reading her mind. All he could do was regurgitate memories he knew something about already. The thing she asks Elrond, though, was something she hadn't shared with Sauron.
@@captainfrank5962 told him when? This is sauron entering her mind and playing them tricks....why would galadriel tell a stranger such personal things?
Didn’t she say it in the forge? When she was trying to manipulate him while apologizing?
Yes, it was a few episodes earlier. I don't recall the context now, but she was encouraging Halbrand to get his act together after he said he had done evil in the past.
@@muskulor Perhaps Sauron learned this from Finrod himself, whom he tortured both in the Silmarillion and in the show version?
I love how Galadriel's forging of her dagger into rings of power symbolizes her change of character from a "kill them" to the wiser "protect us" version we see in Jackson's films.
Just dawned on me that the mystics said the stranger was the “other”
Maybe the stranger is one of the blue wizards, and the mystics have already run into the other blue wizard, who also ended up heading east
You’re overthinking it. They ain’t doing the blue wizards. They’re sticking to stuff viewers will know and connect to. The Gandalf thing is really beautiful to watch so far. It would lose all of its emotional depth if it turned out to be some random other wizard.
Maybe saruman?
@@schwarzkopfG It Gandald, HE sais the exact same sentence in LOTR.
@@michaelgagne7242 In the early episode during his muddled state, the name *_"Mithrandir"_* could be heard being whispered.
Probably cause they mistook him for sauron and they realized he wasn't.
It is fair advise to stop watching something you dislike, in fact is common sense as far as emotional coherence and intelectual honesty is concerned!
I am a bit fed up with this rip off viral effect against artistic licence and arguments ad authority popping like mushrooms, it has become a meme and a cliché of pseudo intellectuals showing up as connoisseurs of Tolkien or whatever is being debated by the hour...I wonder how that would go if one asked them to expand on Tolkien Philosophy...sadly I am willing to bet not a drop of Wisdom or Perception would show any vital signs of life under such genius brains...we have now a new wave of wanna be critics not creatives which consists by the shear numbers of the web of a downgrade of what pity criticism was already in past generations...an exercise in showing knowledge but never wisdom! There is nothing worse then mediocrity criticising creativity, even if, granted, some of that license has to tick some boxes to get to all target markets! I have had enough with zealots!
"I gotta admit, that would be kind of a clever and interesting twist if Sauron posed as different people throughout the season, but I honestly haven't had much evidence the show is that clever" is SUCH a good and defining line to this show as a whole haha
Was not too high on Halbrand being Sauron at all, but Charlie Vickers completely convinced me. Excited for what they can do next season with some better pacing and more established characters.
Same! When it was revealed with Celebrimbor I was pretty unhappy with it, but that scene with Galadriel was such a phenomenal performance that I'm much more optimistic for the future
"Coaxed together"
Technically there are lots of alloys that should be tempered or even fused at certain temperatures otherwise you can strain the material or achieved another alloy entirely. So pressure and heat is considered when treating metals and refining ores. Aluminium for example is separated from the bauxite through an electrolysis process, because you cant refine it with heat.
by coaxed they mean just toss the rock into molten metal and stir ...this show is fckn garbage
I love how no one was injured when the place exploded and there was heavy iron shrapnel.
Kel is what? Thousands of years old? A master blacksmith/metalworker and it just now dawns on him that being too aggressive with metals can create stress fractures. Perhaps that wasn’t the best choice of dialogue.
@@FilmAcolyteReturns I agree but you have to take some things into consideration: 1, very little time to come with a metaphysical-smithing solution, three months aint it?; 2, just a little piece of ore to experiment and go through trial and error; 3, they don't know a thing about mithril except it can harness this supernatural power to maintain elves in ME, and purify corruption, which is created by the show but is still a reason. It could be better but it is plausible.
Definitely in need of a full season 1 review!
It's trash, don't watch.
When meteor man sent the sorceresses back to the shadows, they literally turned into moths. The kind Gandalf has a habit of whispering to. How can it not be Gandalf. His affinity with fire, his relationship with hobbits, his grey appearance, all the quotes, etc. The whole journey is for one, adventure is with friends quote can literally be a reference to all the adventures with groups he's been in throughout both LOTR and The Hobbit trilogy. Like, oh I don't know, the FELLOWSHIP of the ring?
Edit: Grammar
See for me, the cloak he wears, his hair, his beard, the actor in character resembles Ian McKellen, he even copies some of Ian McKellen's speech patterns and mannerisms tells me he's Gandalf... that's before all the obvious hints in the show, the moths, the callbacks in his dialogue, his relationship with the Harfoots pretty much explaining his fondness for Hobbits...I mean he's just so obviously Gandalf 🤣
It is gandalf but they don't have rights to him hence why noones named him anything yet, there's no way it isn't gandalf with the references about smells, the moths, etc, but you never know with this show..probs end up being saruman lol
He is also Gandalf for me... They wouldn't care about portraying s blue wizard... they have such a little storyline anyway
The biggest clue was the "following your nose/air has a sweet smell to it" clanger at the end.
@@Stonecrow99 They have the rights for Gandalf. Amazon bought the rights for the Trilogy and the hobbit. They then decided to do a 2nd age story ( something they don't own the rights for) 😂
I get that some love the Harfoot storyline, and a Blue Wizard story countering Sauron's influence in the east would be great, but it felt so disconnected from everything else that I could have done without it in exchange for spending more time developing the other plots/characters. Like in this episode, rushing the forging of the three rings but dragging out Nori's goodbyes just felt backwards. Reminds me of when Tolkien was first asked for a sequel to the Hobbit, he offered the Silmarillion, but the publisher said, "We want more Hobbits!" Makes me wonder if Amazon execs did the same with the showrunners (if I'm allowed a tiny bit of so-called "crit-fic").
Yeah I was expecting it to come together in some way in the last (or 2) episode, but didn't at all... Or at least cross paths or something.
I agree but I guess since this is gonna be like seasons, they’re taking their time. I honestly think it’s kind of cool a lot of the main characters haven’t met yet. Leaves more room to explore in later seasons
@@CalebCheek the show is horrific so far. What makes you think they will do a good job in the future?
You speak truth.
I loved Nori's goodbye. The deliberate pacing (slow) on moments like these is what I really enjoy about the show, in direct contrast to the quicker pace of so many other series/movies. It's what I hope they keep. I am a bit surprised that Tolkien nerds aren't enjoying this moment - it feels very Tolkien. Starting new adventures, choosing new paths, saying goodbye ... these are critical moments throughout the Hobbit and LotR books. I really enjoyed the pause here to let the relationship between Nori and wizard grow considerably.
Amazon: "it's impossible to know if Tolkien would like our show or not"
Tolkien: "I despise allegory and want my characters as they are"
Amazon: "impossible to know"
Tolkien probably wouldn't like the changes to the lore made by the show but where do you see allegory in what Amazon is doing? Tolkien might object but not for that reason.
@@Pixis1 I never said if I did or didn't see any allegory in the show. I just quoted what Tolkien said about not wanting his works to be changed or used in allegory.
Allegory as a fictionalized work made to represent real world issues or truths in order to convey meaning. But maybe watch the show and observe whether or not there are any examples of allegory within it.
@@vanjradius6921 I have watched the show and I didn't see anything allegorical. Are you referring to the diverse casting? Having non-white actors isn't any more allegorical than having white ones. If the show was trying to convey a message about the characters of color being oppressed or subjected to racism, that would be an allegory of a real world issue. Characters of color just existing in a story doesn't really seem like allegory to me. It's a departure from Tolkien's work, yes, but not an allegory. I'm not sure if that's what you meant so apologies if I'm off base.
@@vanjradius6921 seriously, what allegory? Lots of legit routes to take when criticizing this show so why choose this one?
@@Pixis1 I did not say that there were allegories within it or not. But there appear to be possible ones such as Galadreale wearing armor and welding a sword (which is inaccurate to Tolkiens works) And then killing the troll in 10 seconds that had previously decimated her group of "elite" male elves to show that she is a "strong woman" because a Strong woman to Amazon has to mean physically strong. Also a black elf ruling over a group of white humans for the sins of their past seems like a potential allegory as well. Especially since the writers said "it is only fitting that we make a LoTR series that depicts the world we live in and its problems. Of course we don't know if these are allegories for certain because they have not been officially confirmed by Amazon but it appears to be more likely than not.
One of the most unsatisfying shows I've ever seen
I've definitely had a mixed reaction to this show. I've enjoyed some aspects and been disappointed or puzzled by others. I assume the other Rings of Power will be forged next season (though this is backwards, as they were supposed to come before the Three Rings of the elves). Hopefully, we will see Sauron assume another form and tempt Celebrimbor to continue his work. Not sure if Amazon can use the name "Annatar" but I hope we get to see Sauron in a different form at least. I really hope Halbrand's handful of suggestions aren't his only contribution to the making of the Rings.
That said, if they do go that direction, it will make the elves look pretty dumb since Galadriel already knows Halbrand is Sauron. Maybe she'll be away on a different mission and Sauron will tempt Celebrimbor alone. Galadriel didn't actually reveal Halbrand was Sauron, as she didn't want to be blamed for saving his life. Either way, I'm pretty disappointed by the change to the Eregion plotline. This was one of the most developed of the Second Age stories and I was looking forward to it. I guess Amazon is limited by the material they have the rights to.
As for the mystics, I assume they are Umaiar, fallen Maiar spirits that were lured to evil by Morgoth. I do wish we had gotten clarification on that though.
It makes kinda sense the Elves craft their rings first and then either are made to craft the others or do it for "reasons". Never got why such an arrogant race would do anything for anyone but themselves.
@@peterpain6625 Hey, not all Elves are arrogant! That sounds like Dwarvish propaganda to me! ;)
@@Pixis1 Of course they're not all arrogant "we're so above it all" pricks. Elrond isn't. But some are. Kinda like a race of mostly Rees-Mogg's on steriods ;)
I also think the show was a mixed bag of equal proportion in every aspect, from the cinematography to acting, dialogue, costume design, etc.
I thought the whole coincidence of Sauron being on the see just waiting for Galadriel was stupid.
But I comfort myself thinking that Sauron could have been anyone at any time, so maybe he was visiting Numenor on vacation or attended some conference just when Galadriel showed up, and then took Halbrand's appearance.
But when did Galadriel save Sauron's life ? I think I missed that part.
@@scratchy996 I hope we get some answers about why Sauron was on that raft. My theory is that he tried to sail back to Valinor but was denied entry.
Galadriel saved his life when he was wounded after the battle in the Southlands. She took him to Eregion to be healed by the Elves.
The workshop/forging of the rings was my favorite part. The set piece, jewels and the actual forge were perfection. I could’ve watched that for an entire episode or at least in place of the longest goodbye in the history of middle earth.
oh the anvils were super beautiful
i want one of those for my blacksmith workshop xD
The jewels went from uncut rocks to finely cut and polished stones
@@lilguyy72 are u gonna cry about it or
@@lilguyy72 they vaguely show workers filing and doing things in the in the montage
@@D3koFX I guess, .or....whatever that might be.
20:40 I'm like 90% certain that they're teasing really hard the idea that the stranger is Gandalf to see how the audience reacts to it. Depending on audience reactions to it they'll pivot to him either being one of the Blues or stick with him being Gandalf.
Agree, and I think it was a good idea to leave this undetermined for the time being
Yeah i absolutely agree
@@David95111 No, it's a terrible idea because its purpose isn't narrative-driven but instead aimed towards viewer retention.
@@karlpoppins agreed!
@@karlpoppins
Without the viewer’s attention, this very expensive series will not live to season 3.
So…. It should be a bit of both.
if mithril is the key to making the rings of power, i hope to see some sauron - durin interaction for the dwarven rings next season!
They will have to make something up. Sauron at this time had no interest in the dwarves (not least because mithril is not some life-saving magical substance in Tolkien's mythos). However, when Sauron's armies invaded Eregion, tortured and killed Celebrimbor, and seized the lesser rings of power, they were attacked in the rear by armies of Dwarves and Elves coming out of Moria. That gave enough breathing space for Elrond's forces to rescue Celebrimbor and other survivors and retreat north. After that, Sauron hated the dwarves as well. He made sure to give lesser rings to all the dwarf tribes later.
Actually as soon as Halbrand started to talk about his knowledge of forging i knew he was Sauron
Episode 5 you can see his drivers license if you zoom in and slow down during a scuffle he had. Says Sauron Bigglesworth. That's when I found out.
you could have known just by the fact that hes the only character who had some mystery to their origins in the season.
it was when he came down the steps into the workshop for the first time i could tell. he was completely changed. his walk, his physical mannerisms, the way he spoke it was all different. more assured. more comfortable. more confident.
@The Rotten💯 Same dude. I've heard about the leaks a couple of weeks before the premiere and was honestly quite shocked that every single one of them turned out true. I am curious when the plot of season 2 will leak.
@@k_a_y_l_e_e I knew it when he got his prison tattoo and started throwing gang signs. I still think Galadriel should have been Sauron, though. Subverted expectations.
Please do a full season breakdown! I’d love to hear your opinion on the acting, cast, and story writing
He won't as Amazon has paid him to support the show
The moth that appears, when the stranger deals with the nazgals, pretty much closes the case on that being Gandalf.
It is Gandalf. There are too many signs of it. He's the grey pilgrim.
Why? Because he whispered to one moth in a movie taking place ages later?
@@kindlin Yes, on at least 3 occasions. And no one else is portrayed as having a thing with moths. It's a giveaway
@@corwinmay 3 times? Or are you including the hobbit movies? I haven't watched them...
@kindlin Yes, including the Hobbit.. you think it's a stretch for me to draw this conclusion?
I think they could do a 'Sauron as Annatar' story next season. Sauron tries to make the one ring but keeps failing, decides to go back to the Elves so changes his appearance. So they don't have to change actor they can do a 'Quantum leap' thing with a mirror scene to show Annatar as other see him. Annatar proposes they make rings for the dwarves as a gift to help restore the friendship (later leading to the The Doors of Durin being made). Annatar could also face off against the Balrog as a potential rival to be Morgoth's successor, Sauron wants mithril so doesn't want a Balrog disrupting the supply.
Ya that would be cool. And towards the end of the season he could be discovered and have his shapesgifting (autocorrect hah) ability broken.
Idk if they have the rights to that
There is no way this would ever happen lol but would be cool
Except they cannot call him Annatar. That's not in the LOTR and Hobbit books, and anything exclusively found in the Silmarillion (such as the name Annatar) is out of bounds. They would have to use another name.
thats awful, thats the kind of writing i expect the rings of power writers to do, just stick to lore man, they already fucked it up, lets just move to the war of the elves and sauro and get done with this bs lol
That quick cut to Kylo Ren was some fantastic editing.
Coulda done with out him kissing Galadriel though-no chemistry.
@@nagamata - What a good thing that never happened, then. =)
I'm happy to have Middle Earth on TV. I just wish it was done better.
There's the trilogy if you want something done better on your tv screen
"You will always remember this as the day you almost caught Halbrand Annatar Sauron."
Those are two different people, halbrand is not Annotar.
Not to mention Sauron had absolutely no knowledge of the oven Rings until he put his on. Amazon's just trying to create their own version and it's actually kind of sad. They don't have the rights to the silmarillion therefore they should have just left it alone for now until they got the rights.
@@costwalt Tolkein didn't write about Halbrand at all and Elves often have different names for people. What makes you say that they are different?
And Sauron as Annatar did influence Calebrimbor into making the rings. What are you on about?
The only major change here is that Sauron took the form of Annatar after regaining control of Mordor to corrupt the elves. He went to Eregion after being rebuffed by Gil Galad and Galadriel.
Jack Sparrow will be proud. ❤
In terms of “good guy Sauron” I think he believes he’s healing the world, by taking away there free will. He does not believe he is evil he believes he is healing them
Like every single tyrant...they think they know better then everyone, they would make the best choices for everyone and they are "enlightned"...and they deserve to lead, they see it as right.
It's clinically known as Delusion of grandeur and narcissism.
To think that Tolkien knew how to describe, criticise and write such human tropes before they became defined scientifically/clinically, is just a nod to the genius of the man.
Throughout history many great books had this type of hidden, implied and elequantl metaphores criticism of politics and times rulers,
I cite: one & thousand nights/ Kalila and Dimna as one of the masterpieces of such endevours.
I liked that they took that angle with him. He believes he is atoning for the sins he committed under Morgoth but has spent far too long under his Shadow to remember how to work with other beings without submitting their wills to his own so that the “healing” could be carried out efficiently. This must be especially tempting if all these beings are ‘lesser’ than himself.
@@zibilacoste5 everyone’s the hero of there own story both in the books and in the show Saurons goal is order
🤔I intepreted that as more of his deception to Galadriel. His lies to try and turn her. Thats why he got so petty when she rejected him.
@@zibilacoste5 I don't believe fleshing out his motivations is a humanisation (because order to the extent Sauron desires cannot be human), and in fact, I think that it was executed very poorly in the show because they added the completely unneccessary Galadriel romance thing, which never was part of Sauron's motivations at all. What I'm saying is that I'm glad more people are acknowledging the fact that in the Silmarillion, Tolkien's letters and the History of Middle-earth (among others), Sauron actually made the Rings with the desire to rebuild Middle-earth after the devastation brought upon by Morgoth. Yes, Sauron is a satanic character because he was a follower of Melkor and Melkor is essentially the Lucifer of Tolkien's Legendarium, but that doesn't mean he cannot have rationalizations or justifications (even if they are only excuses) for his evil actions.