Loved the Episode. Would just like to point out however that when the stranger is dreaming about the staff and he reaches out for it, just before we see the different images, there is maybe one or two frames where the staff is Gandalf’s staff from FOTR.
Gollum: Do you know the Pipeweed Man? Saurquad: The Pipeweed Man? Gollum: The Pipeweed Man. Sarquad: Yes, I know the Pipeweed Man, who lives on Lampwright's Street?
Notice when Sauron's blood first drips into puddle in the cave, there is like one stalagmite. After screen fades to black and comes back to cave, there is more and they are larger, showing a significant passage of time.
@Edmon_Oilers he absolutely did, his new form was named Augustus. Master of proscription lists and slaughtering families because he needed cash to kill more Romans in his civil wars 😊
To be fair, olives can't be eaten directly off the tree. They need to be soaked in brine for a long time beforehand. They are incredibly bitter if they aren't cured first.
My new favorite thing is that we watch with the subtitles on because children and when Gil-Galad goes “Urrrgh!” at Galadriel, the subtitle was [exclaims in Sindarin]
I very much got the impression that Nenya falling at Galadriel's feet implied the rings have wills of their own, to coin the phrase, and intentionally moved upon their desired bearers.
Given that the One Ring has similar behavior tendencies, this would make sense. The One Ring was Sauron's master Ring. You could argue that the others he made were both with intent and a sort of test if what he was after could be done for his Master Ring. It is almost fitting that they have some similar traits.
Also, in a way, they kind of each get the opposite element to who they are. Cirdan-the ship right- gets fire. Galadriel- firey warrior- gets water. Gil Galad- high king of the elves LANDS and keeper of the Tree of Lindon- gets air.
My favorite scene is Sauron with the "Warg" looking creature (i thought it was a wolf at first). To me, it was like a little nod to Sauron being the lord of werewolves and his manipulation of it to kill Waldreg was brilliant.
As far as Adar being offered wine by Sauron, I figured it was a metaphor for Saruon's manipulations. He was stranded and thirsty and Sauron gave him exactly what he wanted so he'd start marching to Sauron's tune.
Not to mention, later in episode 2 the evil Istari mentioned he "gave blood" to the wight-witch that hunted the Stranger in season 1. I am curious if this is Maiar means of altering life.
I don't know why but it would have been cool if Adar offered sauron wine or some sort of other beverage when he had him chained up, just to show the audience that the tables have turned for those two characters.
This really reminds me of an upside-down version of Christ's story. In that narrative, wine represents sacrifice and connection-something meaningful meant to bring people together. But here, when Sauron offers wine to Adar, it feels more like a manipulation. Instead of a gesture of love, it’s a way to trap him and make him dance to Sauron’s tune. It’s like Sauron is taking advantage of Adar’s desperation, offering him exactly what he craves but with a dark twist. While Christ's offering is about upliftment and unity, Sauron’s is all about control. This really highlights how a seemingly kind act can hide sinister motives, showing how power can twist even the most basic connections into something harmful.
I loved how Sauron pledged allegiance to "the Lord of Mordor" and not Adar since Tolkien emphasized the power of oaths. Very lore friendly to keep Sauron compelled cleverly to continue serving himself 😂
Sauron did take a significant time to regain form. this was shown thru the length of (limestone) stalagmites in one scene. i assume that's how they presented the period of time that has passed
@@Tyler_Pifer92 Okay. After surviving getting stabbed a thousand times and then getting killed by an Elf, who is somehow evil, with a spiky crown. Makes sense.
@@FragLord Elves DO age. That's one of the main points of the entire lore. They are immortal in the fact they do not succumb to the passage of time - but their souls get more weary and weak the longer they remain in Middle Earth. That's why Elves yearn to head back to Valinor, and why the Elven Rings helped stay the weariness that they would succumb too. Cirdan has remained in Middle Earth the longest of any Elf in existence. He is as 'old' as they come.
Thought the same thing. But that would really make zero sense, because it is clear in the movies that Saruman was good until a while ago. I am starting to think they are actually going to make the evil wizard and the stranger into the blue wizards. Which would be closer to the source material.
@@JinKazama92 I think he might be one of the blue wizards. Now that I watched the episode. Tolkien does talk about them becoming corrupted and starting their own magic cults in the East. They did arrive on Middle Earth before Gandalf and everything seems to be pointing to our unnamed wizard friends being Gandalf.
20:54 Sauron offering Adar wine is just showing his mastery of manipulation and having people willungly follow him. He offered Adar salvation in that moment & despite his better judgment Adar still took it and "drank the whole thing" thus placing him as Saurons right hand until we see the opening scene and see Adar cares more for the orcs than the grand vision Sauron gas for Middle Earth. Honestly the dialoge between them is fantastic & wish we got more in the first 3
I just started the season, months away from all the hype and all the armchair critics doing their thing. So far I enjoyed it tremendously. As for the black goo-Sauron. IIRC Duran’s Bane was described as a black shapeless slime after reaching the bottom of Kazad-dum, only regaining its original shape after ascending again. Given the Sauron is also a fallen Maiar like any Balrog, it actually makes sense that this is his sort of base shape.
I know this show isn't perfect and alot of people has alot of hate for this show, but it's good to see this community saying positive things, I'm a huge lotr fan and I'm really happy and appreciate the work you put into this channel. Thanks so much sir!
The channel deserves the praise... the show is Mediocre. Unfortunately that's more the rule then the outlier with a lot past stories (IPs) people have loved. They're just being drug out again and again for a few more $s.
@revianneth What a rather insulting comment. I may not be as old Cirdan, however, I have been a fan of Tolkien for 45+ years and have read his books many times over. And I STILL am enjoying The Rings of Power. No, it's not perfect but it gets far more right than it gets wrong. I think you might want to pay a little more attention to the conversation between Elrond and Cirdan. Stop making perfect the enemy of good. And gatekeeping just hurts all fans.
@darrenpierrot323 Gatekeeping is a necessary function of preservation, which is why J.R.R Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien were gatekeepers themselves. Middle-Earth matters to me, not just as a story, but also as a cultural representation via the intentions of Tolkien to construct a myth for the English people. Like Tolkien, I am a Conservative, a Christian, a Traditionalist, and an Englishman. I am not happy that foreign corporations seem to think that this story is merely just a franchise to be easily bastardised and distorted, all to make an allegorical statement or a quick buck to milk from 'brand' recognition. I strongly disagree that this show does far more right than it does wrong, I would go as far as to say that this is a generic fantasy wearing Middle-Earth as a skinsuit which belongs in the bin with the likes of The Acolyte. If you enjoy it, fine, I, however, find it insulting.
Círdan is one fineeee older gentleman. Love the deep dive from the books- I needed it. I missed the Adar actor as his face had a stunning uniqueness, but I agree both actors are up to the task.
I found Círdan's description of the chasm where he planned to drop the rings on a little strange, to the point I thought it had been created in the War of the Powers, not the War of Wrath. He said "in a war long ago" but to Elrond. He could have continued "you know the one, that one that your father helped by bringing the hosts of Valinor over"
Just discovered your videos and they are just fantastic. Frankly, I found the Silmarillion less than compelling as story, for obvious reasons. I like the attempt to reorganize the pieces into something that has better narrative arcs. The brutal honesty of Sauron in season 1 I found masterful. The liar who never lies, and longs to get away from the abuse he suffered under Morgoth. Nice work there. However, there are so many weaknesses with this series, I feel the bile rising again and again, especially at the end of season 2. I really appreciate how you break it down.
It's worth noting that the Season One prologue is in Galadriel's words and she is not a) a reliable narrator or b) aware of the Adar-led uprising that supplants Sauron - she has a very fixed perspective on what happened
Fair. But it also takes away all of the threat of Sauron. They imply he was killed before he could command any armies under his own name. So why did the elves come to fear him so much?
@@Don9872 well The Red Book of Westmarch is a thing, and Hobbits have their own reputation for drinking - so maybe everything we know about the Legendarium is acquired through an intoxicated haze.
@@undisclosed_branding9714 Yes, I agree that this opening coronation did seem at odds with this idea of Sauron as a great danger beyond the end of Morgoth. Not just to the elves but to the orcs he was supposed to be experimenting on to harness the powers of the unseen world. It was a bit like they just wanted to do a cool murder with a crown.
I really appreciate you and everyone else being positive about this show and enjoying it for the gift it is. Eventually the Silmarillion will be allowed to be adapted and this will live as the extra bonus non canon bits of the great adventures we’ve enjoyed.
Great breakdown, i really need this as an added layer of depth to the regular series. To be honest, the dialogue in the show is below par, i can't take it seriously. The fact that Sauron is giving a speech to convince orcs to join his side, it kinda breaks me a little. In the show he comes across as a petulant teenager, but the guy is ancient, he existed before anything on middle earth. Surely he doesnt get beat up by a bunch of orcs, after giving a rather impotent speech about how they need him. Anyway, with that being said, i enjoy the positivity you bring when reviewing the episodes! Especially since it's so incredibly controversial, cant imagine the amount of hate you must receive from the die hard fans. I will keep watching the show, but im definitely coming back here after every episode! Thanks for all the effort you put in writing these, quality content for sure!
That was terrible. He was one of the strongest, fearest being in the Middle-earth. Orcs knew him way before and he shouldn't have to beg them to serve him.
I just pretend it has nothing to do with Tolkien's books and it's a fun watch. Sauron comes off almost like one of Anne Rice's Vampires. Aloof, charming, relatable when he so chooses, and as ruthless as one might imagine an immortal, resentful, "aristocratic rebel" would be, especially when recovering from defeat. That scene where he fed off the small, underground animals (rats, scorpions etc) really did remind me of how Lestat survived his own assassination attempt, draining small swamp creatures. Then "feeding" off the first human to pass by? Very vampiric.
@@mattgilbert7347 I wouldn't mind some changes if it was at least logical. But the plot of this story and dialogues are irrational, naive. For me it is a lazy writing.
Sauron: Some of you may die, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make. I will admit I like the idea of Sauron pitching his leadership to the orcs. Because of the size of Morgoth's legions it can make sense some of them wouldnt bow immediately to him especially after a crushing defeat. It can also explain why not all orc factions are bound to him just yet in the third age.
It's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement. They've accomplished more in 1 episode than in half of the season 1. I also loved the actor they chose to play Cirdan. His charming and playful attitude stands out in a show filled with moody characters. Villains are one of the show's biggest highlights: Adar remains an intriguing character and Charlie Wickers nails the charming deceptive persona of Sauron. Looks promising so far.
@@alejandrofrade325not like he’s talking wonders of the show..any old follower knows Matt’s ways to mock the series in a non basic toxic way just calling it “cancer” or “Tolkien’s works bastardizing” lmao
I took Adar's story literally. He was chained on a dark mountain by Morgoth, perhaps to break down his Elvish strength, then Sauron brought him "wine" that completed his transformation into an Orc. Torment followed by corruption.
I genuinely liked these first 3 episodes so much more than all of last season. It feels like a totally new show, the production just feels higher to me. Nothings ever perfect of course there’s still some issues but these 3 did so well for me that I’m not thinking about the negatives at all. What an intro for this season hope it keeps up!
@@FortniteBlaster2the stupid "who is Sauron" mystery is done with. Galadriel's behaviour is called out. Annatar has turned up. I hated season one, I still have issues but even I admit it's better. Still some stupid bits. Cirdan is a positive.
@@parmavee The beginning was decent, but the acting and even the music is just terribly done. And the CGI for the orc getting pinned against the wall was horrible.
It could be possible that was something never recognized. Perhaps Morgoth in his vanity never officially named Sauron his actual successor and heir apparent. Sure he may have been so militarily, but once the one who gave that order was gone, there was no reason to follow it especially after a crushing defeat.
@@austypebbles i’m treating as fanfic, and actually, it’s not so bad once you detach it from the source material. just treat it as it is. expensive fanfic.
I love the fact that Galadriel isn't instantly forgiven and even her BFF Elrond is still pissed with her by episode 3s end. He's angry at her and he's 100% right to be pissed. It's really entertaining seeing this side of Elrond. I still think he's the "kind as summer" elf we all know and love but he's not letting himself be walked on by her again. He was betrayed and he's showing Galadriel that her actions have a cost and that cost may actually be their friendship. Galadriel having to deal with the consequences of her choices is very much needed. Personally I think he'll forgive her eventually but it'll probably take some huge life changing event or a few centuries for that to happen. Either way, I really like this dynamic change.
Yes! I think there is a difference between being over the top angry and being upset and resisting being walked over. I think this nuance we see in Elrond in S2 was something lacking with Galadriel in similar circumstances in S1.
@@NerdoftheRings I also like that Elrond expresses this anger through sarcasm and sass rather than hate. He's disappointed, frustrated and angry with her, yes but he never gets outright mean to her. I think that's a very good decision on the show's part.
I think that wave that hit Cirdan's boat when he was about to throw the 3 rings overboard into the chasm was the work of Ulmo. He stopped cirdan from throwing the rings over. He knew they needed them.
Really loved the shot of Sauron at Adar's feet. It really highlighted the eye of Sauron and the composition of the nose bridge and eye brow really reminded me of "Sauron's mark"
The scene that shows Galadriel chasing Elrond to grey heaven for me was like siblings fighting for a candy, and elrond didn't want to share, and he was going to tell daddy about, then gets mad and will talk to grandpa.
The black slime is a reference to Gandalf's description of Durin's Bane. "Long time I fell,’ he said at last, slowly, as if thinking back with difficulty. ‘Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned. Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.....Thither I came at last, to the uttermost foundations of stone. He was with me still. His fire was quenched, but now he was a thing of slime, stronger than a strangling snake." (Gandalf, The Two Towers). The Balrog and Sauron are both Maiar.
Gandalf is also a Maia. As are all the other Itsari, possibly Unglianth, and for a while in JRR's mind the eagles were as well. Will we see them depicted as black slime?
@@MiguelParajon-m7v I think black slime is a privilege for fallen Maiar. You first have to prove that you are evil before you are permitted to turn into black slime :)
I imagine Ulmo, Ossë, or Uinen jolted Cirdan's boat when he was about to drop the Rings into the sea. They all directly helped Cirdan in the First Age and still cared about the children of Iluvatar. This was a nudge toward the right decision.
I just can't wrap my head around why if they did that for Cirdan, they couldn't have done something similar for Galadriel when she jumped into the middle of the sea to die, with no apparent plan at all. Like just something visual, some clouds moving, a churning of waves, to contextualise her decision as an act of faith, rather than an act of stupidity.
@@Blisterdude123 in the context of the show... Gal jumping in the water was part of the universe's plan. She was protected tho😅 Just like Ulmo only showed himself when it was needed, in the silmarillion he mostly communicated to Turgon because he knew gondolin was part of a larger plan.
@@Charmedsas1 I get all that, but I'm playing devil's advocate for an audience who 'might' not know that. To people who don't know about that, Galadriel just sat on a boat out into the middle of the sea, and then jumped in apparently with no plan but to swim thousands of miles across an ocean and probably drown. Would it have been hard to just show a flash of 'something', and to show Galadriel register it, and then to suggest, visually, that her decision to jump therefore was not an act of desperation, but faith? A conscious choice? Do you see what I'm getting at? Like they did with Cirdan, and the wave, right as he was about to toss the rings away?
I think there's a touch of the Gollum backstory "cold opening" of Jackson's RotK in this opening sequence for S2. I think that's part of why it really hit the spot for me.
I don't believe the appearance of Sauron in the backstory is a retcon. My take is that Sauron looking big bad and evil is how Galadriel portrays Sauron when she describes him in Season 1. But in Season 2 we see that Sauron is not the obvious looking evil dark lord, but someone who takes the form of who you want to see so that he can play you like a fiddle.
It wasn't the most stupid thing he had done so far 🤣 I am still not sure why he was so keen to go back to southlands / Mordor after they had destroyed him once? Did he miss being a black slime? The only reliable alliance he made while hanging there was with that dog
@@DarksideGmss0513 Sauron was far more than Morgoth in Tolkiens work though. Morgoth was definitely more of a "raw power" let the world burn kind of evil. Sauron was always a long-play tactician.
it is better but not by much. i think you got influenced by the anti-woke dei crying. if all you read about the first season is that its woke and dei garbage that is all you will see on the screen. to me it was a good season setting up things. you know the anti-woke dei crowd hatred was so bad that they ratings bombed the show. you could not have gotten a second season if hollywood and the actors caved in to their hatred.
@@bakotako less than half the people who started watching the first season finished it. Not because of internet hate but because it was utterly lacking in writing quality.
I have only seen this first episode so far of the second series. I liked it. Better story-telling and dialogue than the first series and it still looks gorgeous. The actors were given more to do and showed their talent. An excellent start to the second series. The only downside was the harfoot/stranger plot that still proceeds at a glacial pace.
@@hannibalb8276 But it's boring, slow and predictable. The oxygen gets sucked out of the show for me whenever the Harfoots and the Stranger are on screen, but I am enjoying the rest this time around.
Maybe I was the only one who caught this but Sauron did have an opportunity to taint the Three because as Halbrand he had possession of her blade from Valinor then somehow they "needed" Gold only from Valinor. I do not claim to know the method that may have been used or even that his evil power is in the Three, only pointing out the opportunity was there because he had the knife that was melted down into the cast. And it is no secret that Sauron has power of suggestion into other's minds.
I liked this episode. I love Cirdan! I'm so glad to finally see him on screen. Sauron is the master of manipulation--that's for sure. I love how he pledged to the Lord of Mordor and not to Adar. Great review!
So you don't like professor Tolkien or the actual Lord of the rings. this show is an abomination. It's senseless and the acting is maybe average at best.
You know that Sauron never has power over the Elven rings having had no hand in their manufacture. The Elves take off the rings once they sense the One Ring because they know it means Sauron can sense the Elven rings and their location because his craft was used in making them. Sauron shows up and destroys Eregion exactly because he senses the rings there and demands them as they were made using his craft. The elves do not use the rings again until the One Ring is lost and doing so would not reveal the hidden lands of Rivendell and Lothlorien. The elven rings are no in way corrupting.
while Sauron was not directly involved, even in the books they were made using his techniques. Plus, power can have a corrupting effect even if he isn’t involved and the rings themselves should be questioned because their power of staving off the passage of time is acting in defiance of the way Illuvatar meant things to be (after all, isn’t his “gift to Men” that they die?) and the Valar, since it led to Elves staying in a land meant to be inherited by Men in the end, iirc.
The rings themselves are not corruptive beyond being powerful. However, they’re still bound to the one ring and can be controlled by it, which is why they have to be careful. For now they’re safe until the one ring is forged.
I had to laugh about how Galadriel acquired Nenya in the ROP depiction. She picked it up off the ground after Gil-Galad happened to drop it down the stone stairs after Elrond distracted him. They made it seem entirely accidental. As I recall from the literature, Celebrimbor specifically gave the 3 rings to the highest ranking elves in Middle Earth at the time - Gil-Galad, Galadriel and Círdan. Galadriel was actually older than Gil-Galad and she witnessed the 2-trees in Valinor. In the series so far she's depicted as a hot-headed young adult, which she certainly wasn't by the 2nd Age. Just sayin...
@Minimmalmythicist Its when the different way breaks from reason and common sense and is ultimately worse than the original telling. Why tell a worse story when the better one already exists?
@Minimmalmythicist I'm glad you can. Maybe i'm just annoying, but it frustrates me when stories I really love are changed so dramatically for film, in my eyes I don't even see a point then. Why not just make a new story separate from LOTR if you won't abide by the material? I'm just a bit of a lore elitist I suppose.
@Minimmalmythicist I understand and agree with you, I just simply don't like it as I perceive what they are producing as less compelling story telling. I likely wouldn't care if it was something I enjoyed, i.e. elves arriving at helms deep or aragorn not having his blade until movie three. If the changes help make the story better, or at least increase the cool factor in a compelling yet 'realistic' way i'm on board. But to completely rewrite the forging of the rings, the entire premise, and do it at least so far in a sub par way? Its tough for me to look past. Maybe they will tie it together so well that my initial complaints are fixed. But i kinda doubt it.
Personally with my hatred absolute for tolkien and all his work i very much enjoy this show as it butchers everything he was ahaah hhaaahhahaha its more then just a movie its your culture muhahaha.
I really liked your thoughts about the two wizards, I think it would be really cool having characters not seen before on screen. I also thought that the stranger could have had many of the characteristics of Gandalf: way of speaking, gestures, etc. But he really doesn't, he seems kind of a clean slate, which makes me think they might not follow this as him being Gandalf.
These breakdowns are awesome! I watch an episode and then your breakdown. Episode 3 tomorrow. You are the best! I’m liking season 2 so far! But they have a lot to cram into the final 5 episodes…
Loved the parallels and contrasts between the scene where Gil-Galad demands the rings from Elrond (who refuses and throws them/himself over a precipice into water) and the scene we'll get in the series finale where Elrond demands Isildur throw The Ring over a precipice into lava but Isildur refuses. Elrond does what Isildur won't.
the spell did work there’s no water in the land to bring the tree back to life to sprout it so the tree blew up and gave them bugs unlimited 😊 nourishing
Where the eff is Celeborn? Galadriel out here having romances with sauron, not sure he'd be too happy... sure was convenient that cirdan decided to wear only the fire ring for some reason, and give the other two over, was sure convenient that nenya fell at galadriels feet after elrond shouting NO! haha, really they couldn't think of any idea other than the rings dropping next to her and her deciding it was for her to put on without anyone saying so xD
It's difficult to say what I like more; watching the first episode of season 2 or the immediate episode breakdown afterwards to see if we spotted the same things. 😊
Sauron offering Adar wine while he's chained to the mountain is a reference back to Christianity. Jesus is offered wine twice while he's on the cross, in the process of dying. Both wine offerings are theorized to have deliberate opposite intentions, which makes this move by a duplicitous and ambiguous Sauron quite a well-written choice. The first time it was intended to ease Jesus's pain, thus Sauron could be offering it as a token of peace. The second time Jesus was offered it was sour, almost rancid wine that had almost certainly turned to vinegar. It was a drink Roman soldiers for numerous purposes, including supposed medicinal effects or to be invigorating. It is believed that offering of wine was a way to prologue Jesus's suffering.
It seems like you really liked this episode. When listening to your season 1 review, I heard you talk about things you’d like to see resolved and become less muddled or turn out to be ruses, and I was thinking about how a few of those things were addressed in the new season. Looking forward to listening to the rest of this series and hearing your thoughts on the direction it takes.
As someone who didn't read the books but watch breakdowns of the Lore I didn't really understand Sauron before he was the figure of Darkness we originally know him as from the movies. Glad you clarified for me that Orcs didn't all respect Sauron. Also it makes sense he could be killed by them. He's still on the tier of Gandalf & other Wizards who even if it will be a hard task can still be felled. Also with Morgoth Gone it makes sense infighting would happen. Thanks for the reviews💯
![The Complete History of the Rings of Power [COMPILATION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rsCaXGvMypM/mqdefault.jpg)
What did you think of this ep? Círdan? Sauron's flashback? What do you give the episode 1-10?
I enjoyed the episodes. Feels like a stronger start than the first season. 7.5/10 for me personally and looking forward to more
Loved the Episode. Would just like to point out however that when the stranger is dreaming about the staff and he reaches out for it, just before we see the different images, there is maybe one or two frames where the staff is Gandalf’s staff from FOTR.
It kinda surprised me. For the good.
Episode 1... 5 maybe 4 it got better with each episode!
Sadly, I thought the new season got off to a pretty lame and confused start. I'll watch anyway, but I hoped for a better start for season two.
“Some of you may die, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to make”
-Lord Faraquad Sauron
Literally thought this when I heard his line 😂😂
Lord Sarquad 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Gollum: Do you know the Pipeweed Man?
Saurquad: The Pipeweed Man?
Gollum: The Pipeweed Man.
Sarquad: Yes, I know the Pipeweed Man, who lives on Lampwright's Street?
@@ElGuaje007 Lord Fauron🤣🤣🤣
I literally said this outloud during that scene 😂
Notice when Sauron's blood first drips into puddle in the cave, there is like one stalagmite. After screen fades to black and comes back to cave, there is more and they are larger, showing a significant passage of time.
So Adar is.....immortal then? Make it make sense.
@@andycook7220 Well, he's a corrupted elf, according to in show lore, so that does actually make sense
@@andycook7220Adar is an elf.
@@andycook7220elves have long life, 1000 years or more
@@Seygem Yeah ok - i thought he was some first proto-uruk or ork. that makes the adar part make more sense for sure
watching Sauron slain in a manner like this reminds of a certain salad
You guessed it, Caesar
😂
Et tu, Brute?
caesar didn’t come back in a way that will give children nightmares
@Edmon_Oilers he absolutely did, his new form was named Augustus. Master of proscription lists and slaughtering families because he needed cash to kill more Romans in his civil wars 😊
And ceasar himself plays the dark wizard of the east.
Matt is questioning when Sauron would have found time to go to the East, but uploads multiple videos during a livestream
Touche!
😂😂😂 i was shocked when i got the notification of all 3 episodes breakdowns..i love his content but damn🤣 Matt’s on point🔥
@@NerdoftheRingshow did you do it?🤨
@@Highonskoomahe obviously used a ring of power for this sorcery…
@@Jan_ne I thought I was gonna have to wait maybe a day or 2 but my boy had them ready to go 🫡
“We don’t have food” …. Wearing a crown of olives.
Haha!! I said this in my ep 2 breakdown! I was like...pretty sure those are edible!
@@NerdoftheRingsI haven’t gotten that far yet!! 😂
But seriously, they look pretty appealing especially given the choice of insects or not eating.
To be fair, olives can't be eaten directly off the tree. They need to be soaked in brine for a long time beforehand. They are incredibly bitter if they aren't cured first.
Looked like acorns
They are green acorns
I do love the Cirdan actor he looks the part, and he acts like an ancient Elf somewhat detached from the world
He’s the general from foundation, really good actor
@@pearshaped9116he was also recently in season 2 of Interview with the vampire! He’s amazing in it
so so handsome 😍
Matt Graf is the kind of guy to upload a breakdown right after finishing a watch party in the same night! Dude’s in his Annatar arc fr 🤣
My new favorite thing is that we watch with the subtitles on because children and when Gil-Galad goes “Urrrgh!” at Galadriel, the subtitle was [exclaims in Sindarin]
My wife and I watch everything with subtitles, helps so much actually understanding what people say sometimes
More like Klingon. Never thought I’d hear an Elf make that sound.
According to the BtS interviews he says "Grach"
I very much got the impression that Nenya falling at Galadriel's feet implied the rings have wills of their own, to coin the phrase, and intentionally moved upon their desired bearers.
Given that the One Ring has similar behavior tendencies, this would make sense. The One Ring was Sauron's master Ring. You could argue that the others he made were both with intent and a sort of test if what he was after could be done for his Master Ring. It is almost fitting that they have some similar traits.
@@mythicproductions9154it wouldn't, as One Ring has piece of Sauron inside it, while the 3 do not
Also, in a way, they kind of each get the opposite element to who they are. Cirdan-the ship right- gets fire.
Galadriel- firey warrior- gets water.
Gil Galad- high king of the elves LANDS and keeper of the Tree of Lindon- gets air.
@@absabs129Well not true, Gil Galad got both fire and air in the beginning. So not sure what you are talking about.😂
No, that’s BS. One ring has part of Sauron’s soul, Elven 3 don’t.
My favorite scene is Sauron with the "Warg" looking creature (i thought it was a wolf at first). To me, it was like a little nod to Sauron being the lord of werewolves and his manipulation of it to kill Waldreg was brilliant.
Yea! Thought I was the only one who appreciated that. Wasn’t he also called the hound of Morgoth?
I mean, Wargs are literally just referred to as big wolves for most of The Hobbit (book).
Fingers crossed for a sauron-werewolf fight scene!
@@shanexhallwould love to see it
dont tell me u liked an other scenes besides that one
As far as Adar being offered wine by Sauron, I figured it was a metaphor for Saruon's manipulations. He was stranded and thirsty and Sauron gave him exactly what he wanted so he'd start marching to Sauron's tune.
tbh i assumed it was a metaphor for melkor first taking and corrupting the elves into orcs. adar being like a “1st edition” or something
Not to mention, later in episode 2 the evil Istari mentioned he "gave blood" to the wight-witch that hunted the Stranger in season 1. I am curious if this is Maiar means of altering life.
Yeah when I watched the show I thought he said that he had given Adar blood as well to corrupt him and turn him into the half orc.
I don't know why but it would have been cool if Adar offered sauron wine or some sort of other beverage when he had him chained up, just to show the audience that the tables have turned for those two characters.
This really reminds me of an upside-down version of Christ's story. In that narrative, wine represents sacrifice and connection-something meaningful meant to bring people together. But here, when Sauron offers wine to Adar, it feels more like a manipulation. Instead of a gesture of love, it’s a way to trap him and make him dance to Sauron’s tune.
It’s like Sauron is taking advantage of Adar’s desperation, offering him exactly what he craves but with a dark twist. While Christ's offering is about upliftment and unity, Sauron’s is all about control. This really highlights how a seemingly kind act can hide sinister motives, showing how power can twist even the most basic connections into something harmful.
I loved how Sauron pledged allegiance to "the Lord of Mordor" and not Adar since Tolkien emphasized the power of oaths. Very lore friendly to keep Sauron compelled cleverly to continue serving himself 😂
and very dumb of Adar to let that go
Lore friendly? What lore?
you guys dont hate the whole dynamic there? sauron acting like he needs to play adars betch
@@vellronSauron’s thing was that he was a deceiver. It’s well within his character to swear an oath (to himself) to misdirect Adar.
This little detail has been well done.
Sauron did take a significant time to regain form. this was shown thru the length of (limestone) stalagmites in one scene. i assume that's how they presented the period of time that has passed
After getting killed by an Elf, who is somehow evil, with some spikes? Makes sense.
@@Donut-fr7isDid you miss the part where the orcs stabbed him a thousand times?
@@Tyler_Pifer92 Okay. After surviving getting stabbed a thousand times and then getting killed by an Elf, who is somehow evil, with a spiky crown. Makes sense.
@@Donut-fr7is He stabbed him with the crown before the orcs went to town on him.
@@Donut-fr7is makes more sense than vanishing spontaneously from a finger wound
I have to say that the casting for Cirdan was excellent. I believe that he’s a very old, knowing and wise elf in Ben’s performance.
You can make someone sound old and wise without them having grey hair. Gray hair makes no sense for elves
@@Cremlindor he's described as grey in the books.
@@FragLord Elves DO age. That's one of the main points of the entire lore. They are immortal in the fact they do not succumb to the passage of time - but their souls get more weary and weak the longer they remain in Middle Earth. That's why Elves yearn to head back to Valinor, and why the Elven Rings helped stay the weariness that they would succumb too.
Cirdan has remained in Middle Earth the longest of any Elf in existence. He is as 'old' as they come.
@@Cremlindorfrom ROTK: “Very tall he was, and his beard was long, and he was grey and old”
@@FragLordcirdan is described as old. gray and bearded
Gil-Galad: This decision is above your pay grade. Also Gil-Galad: Gets advice for every decision from Elrond and Galadriel.
It’s so tremendously stupid
20:06 I'd like to think here that it was Ulmo changing Cirdan's mind
YES! 🤘 I was about to write this myself, but wanted to see if anybody did so before me. Really surprised that Matt hasn't mentioned it 🤔
That was my interpretation as well.
For sure
It has to be, right? That wave was very convenient, and the fact that they name-dropped Manwë, to me, hints to Valar intervention
They've been name dropping the valar since since season one. Its not anything new. @@tydli
The other wizard sure looks a lot like a younger version of Saruman.
Thought the same thing. But that would really make zero sense, because it is clear in the movies that Saruman was good until a while ago.
I am starting to think they are actually going to make the evil wizard and the stranger into the blue wizards. Which would be closer to the source material.
Saruman was Asian? lol
@@JinKazama92 I think he might be one of the blue wizards. Now that I watched the episode. Tolkien does talk about them becoming corrupted and starting their own magic cults in the East. They did arrive on Middle Earth before Gandalf and everything seems to be pointing to our unnamed wizard friends being Gandalf.
Maybe the witch king ?
@@CesarLeonThe rings aren’t made yet bro 😬 I would love to see any of the ring wraiths before they turned into wraiths though
This channel could write a review of the journey of the Titanic in amazing detail without ever mentioning the ship sinking.
There’s a word for that: Disingenuous
And this particular ship is definitely sinking.
20:54 Sauron offering Adar wine is just showing his mastery of manipulation and having people willungly follow him. He offered Adar salvation in that moment & despite his better judgment Adar still took it and "drank the whole thing" thus placing him as Saurons right hand until we see the opening scene and see Adar cares more for the orcs than the grand vision Sauron gas for Middle Earth. Honestly the dialoge between them is fantastic & wish we got more in the first 3
I just started the season, months away from all the hype and all the armchair critics doing their thing. So far I enjoyed it tremendously.
As for the black goo-Sauron. IIRC Duran’s Bane was described as a black shapeless slime after reaching the bottom of Kazad-dum, only regaining its original shape after ascending again. Given the Sauron is also a fallen Maiar like any Balrog, it actually makes sense that this is his sort of base shape.
I know this show isn't perfect and alot of people has alot of hate for this show, but it's good to see this community saying positive things, I'm a huge lotr fan and I'm really happy and appreciate the work you put into this channel. Thanks so much sir!
The channel deserves the praise... the show is Mediocre. Unfortunately that's more the rule then the outlier with a lot past stories (IPs) people have loved. They're just being drug out again and again for a few more $s.
@Shoelessjoe78 Mediocre is too kind. I would say that this show is downright insulting, and should only ever be met with scorn and spit.
You’re a huge fan of Lord of the rings and like this show? Clearly you’ve seen the movies, and not read the books.
@revianneth
What a rather insulting comment. I may not be as old Cirdan, however, I have been a fan of Tolkien for 45+ years and have read his books many times over. And I STILL am enjoying The Rings of Power. No, it's not perfect but it gets far more right than it gets wrong. I think you might want to pay a little more attention to the conversation between Elrond and Cirdan. Stop making perfect the enemy of good. And gatekeeping just hurts all fans.
@darrenpierrot323 Gatekeeping is a necessary function of preservation, which is why J.R.R Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien were gatekeepers themselves. Middle-Earth matters to me, not just as a story, but also as a cultural representation via the intentions of Tolkien to construct a myth for the English people. Like Tolkien, I am a Conservative, a Christian, a Traditionalist, and an Englishman.
I am not happy that foreign corporations seem to think that this story is merely just a franchise to be easily bastardised and distorted, all to make an allegorical statement or a quick buck to milk from 'brand' recognition. I strongly disagree that this show does far more right than it does wrong, I would go as far as to say that this is a generic fantasy wearing Middle-Earth as a skinsuit which belongs in the bin with the likes of The Acolyte.
If you enjoy it, fine, I, however, find it insulting.
Círdan is one fineeee older gentleman.
Love the deep dive from the books- I needed it.
I missed the Adar actor as his face had a stunning uniqueness, but I agree both actors are up to the task.
I found Círdan's description of the chasm where he planned to drop the rings on a little strange, to the point I thought it had been created in the War of the Powers, not the War of Wrath. He said "in a war long ago" but to Elrond. He could have continued "you know the one, that one that your father helped by bringing the hosts of Valinor over"
I also think it refers to the War of the Powers.
Just discovered your videos and they are just fantastic. Frankly, I found the Silmarillion less than compelling as story, for obvious reasons. I like the attempt to reorganize the pieces into something that has better narrative arcs. The brutal honesty of Sauron in season 1 I found masterful. The liar who never lies, and longs to get away from the abuse he suffered under Morgoth. Nice work there. However, there are so many weaknesses with this series, I feel the bile rising again and again, especially at the end of season 2. I really appreciate how you break it down.
Fantastic review! The best recap + commentary of RoP I’ve found online👍👍thanks!
The arrival of Annatar/Sauron in the furnace was EPIC! Amazing scene!!
I may be in minority but season 2 so far is wayyyyyy better than 1
I suspect you are not in the minority.
How could that be the minority?
@@trilobite2500 take a look at some of the subreddits.
At least episode 1 was mostly great.
@@cacogenicistno.. he definetly is
It's worth noting that the Season One prologue is in Galadriel's words and she is not a) a reliable narrator or b) aware of the Adar-led uprising that supplants Sauron - she has a very fixed perspective on what happened
I agree it was just her imagination of the place
Fair. But it also takes away all of the threat of Sauron. They imply he was killed before he could command any armies under his own name. So why did the elves come to fear him so much?
@@quirkyjoeAnimated Perhaps this whole series is Galadriel in the third age on too much elven wine recounting the events completely wrong?
@@Don9872 well The Red Book of Westmarch is a thing, and Hobbits have their own reputation for drinking - so maybe everything we know about the Legendarium is acquired through an intoxicated haze.
@@undisclosed_branding9714 Yes, I agree that this opening coronation did seem at odds with this idea of Sauron as a great danger beyond the end of Morgoth. Not just to the elves but to the orcs he was supposed to be experimenting on to harness the powers of the unseen world. It was a bit like they just wanted to do a cool murder with a crown.
I really appreciate you and everyone else being positive about this show and enjoying it for the gift it is. Eventually the Silmarillion will be allowed to be adapted and this will live as the extra bonus non canon bits of the great adventures we’ve enjoyed.
Great breakdown, i really need this as an added layer of depth to the regular series. To be honest, the dialogue in the show is below par, i can't take it seriously. The fact that Sauron is giving a speech to convince orcs to join his side, it kinda breaks me a little. In the show he comes across as a petulant teenager, but the guy is ancient, he existed before anything on middle earth. Surely he doesnt get beat up by a bunch of orcs, after giving a rather impotent speech about how they need him.
Anyway, with that being said, i enjoy the positivity you bring when reviewing the episodes! Especially since it's so incredibly controversial, cant imagine the amount of hate you must receive from the die hard fans. I will keep watching the show, but im definitely coming back here after every episode! Thanks for all the effort you put in writing these, quality content for sure!
“I always enjoy a nice tree”. Spoken like a true a Tolkien scholar. Very “Hobbit” on you, kind sir.
It _is_ an exceptionally nice tree.
I wish the entire show would stay with Sauron/Halbrand…that whole plot is so interesting, the opening scene of the season was great.
He's the protagonist of this season
That was terrible. He was one of the strongest, fearest being in the Middle-earth. Orcs knew him way before and he shouldn't have to beg them to serve him.
I just pretend it has nothing to do with Tolkien's books and it's a fun watch.
Sauron comes off almost like one of Anne Rice's Vampires. Aloof, charming, relatable when he so chooses, and as ruthless as one might imagine an immortal, resentful, "aristocratic rebel" would be, especially when recovering from defeat.
That scene where he fed off the small, underground animals (rats, scorpions etc) really did remind me of how Lestat survived his own assassination attempt, draining small swamp creatures.
Then "feeding" off the first human to pass by? Very vampiric.
@@mattgilbert7347 I wouldn't mind some changes if it was at least logical. But the plot of this story and dialogues are irrational, naive. For me it is a lazy writing.
@@mattgilbert7347 and Sauron created vampires, so it's a nice touch
Sauron: Some of you may die, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.
I will admit I like the idea of Sauron pitching his leadership to the orcs. Because of the size of Morgoth's legions it can make sense some of them wouldnt bow immediately to him especially after a crushing defeat. It can also explain why not all orc factions are bound to him just yet in the third age.
doesn’t adar have the same thing, though?
@@monicad99 Adar treats the orcs with actual respect and "love"
@@ultronemperor3525 “love,” indeed.
But Sauron is one of Morgoth's highest ranking lieutenants, no? I can't see him pitching anything to orcs. They're fodder.
He appeared as someone truly incompetent and indolent, I liked it
After every ep i come and watch your review just too make sure im understanding things correctly 💯
Pledging allegiance to the “lord of Mordor” at Adar’s boot was a nice touch. 👌
Elrond jumping off the waterfall showed his commitment to his morals. It also foreshadows Isildurs failure all those years later.
I said it for the whole scene: He´s gonna do a Fugitive
It's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement. They've accomplished more in 1 episode than in half of the season 1. I also loved the actor they chose to play Cirdan. His charming and playful attitude stands out in a show filled with moody characters. Villains are one of the show's biggest highlights: Adar remains an intriguing character and Charlie Wickers nails the charming deceptive persona of Sauron. Looks promising so far.
Not even a few hours after the stream and bro already pumped out a whole ass break down, dam that was fast
Yeah, I wonder how he did that...not like Amazon would send him anything
@@alejandrofrade325 bingo!
@@alejandrofrade325
you people are so weird
@@alejandrofrade325not like he’s talking wonders of the show..any old follower knows Matt’s ways to mock the series in a non basic toxic way just calling it “cancer” or “Tolkien’s works bastardizing” lmao
Dude I'm grateful you're making these vids, just wanted to say thanks
I’m blown away by Benjamin’s Walkers performance of Gil-Galad’s song, majestic and ethereal! 10/10
I liked the wave hitting the boat. I’d like to think that was Ulmo’s influence.
Idk, but imo they fumbled Gil-galad so hard.
In my head cannon he is noble, very kind and not so arrogant and cold.
True thank Eru they didn’t fumble Galadriel
Yes!
I took Adar's story literally. He was chained on a dark mountain by Morgoth, perhaps to break down his Elvish strength, then Sauron brought him "wine" that completed his transformation into an Orc. Torment followed by corruption.
I really enjoy your content, your fair reviews and your love of the lore. One of my favorite channels is yours, rock on!
Thank you so much! Looking forward to many more great conversations about Tolkien to come!
You’re the only channel I’ll be listening to for breakdowns. I’m expecting firm but fair 👍
I genuinely liked these first 3 episodes so much more than all of last season. It feels like a totally new show, the production just feels higher to me. Nothings ever perfect of course there’s still some issues but these 3 did so well for me that I’m not thinking about the negatives at all. What an intro for this season hope it keeps up!
Name one thing that's different
Yeah, this season is actually watchable, unlike season 1
@@FortniteBlaster2the stupid "who is Sauron" mystery is done with. Galadriel's behaviour is called out. Annatar has turned up.
I hated season one, I still have issues but even I admit it's better. Still some stupid bits. Cirdan is a positive.
@@parmavee The beginning was decent, but the acting and even the music is just terribly done. And the CGI for the orc getting pinned against the wall was horrible.
@@parmavee"annatar has turned up" after the creation of the elven rings... With a wig.. Not recognisable to people who knew him before.
Seeing Cirdan is so so ancient just imagine a being who was created in cuivienen it just blows your mind…
Would the orcs not have already known Sauron? He was Morgoths main lieutenant for centuries.
It could be possible that was something never recognized. Perhaps Morgoth in his vanity never officially named Sauron his actual successor and heir apparent. Sure he may have been so militarily, but once the one who gave that order was gone, there was no reason to follow it especially after a crushing defeat.
@derikc24 orcs know him. Sauron was the one that bolstered Melkor's armies while he was imprisoned in Mandos.
shut up, women power! diversity is our strength! Making sense is toxic masculinity
The orcs already know him he was morgoth right hand this show is pure fanfiction
@@austypebbles i’m treating as fanfic, and actually, it’s not so bad once you detach it from the source material. just treat it as it is. expensive fanfic.
I love the dichotomy of the language you use to call out the bad writing vs a channel that just reviews media in general.
Love your insight and breakdowns. No blind hate only honest critique. Thank you!
I love the fact that Galadriel isn't instantly forgiven and even her BFF Elrond is still pissed with her by episode 3s end. He's angry at her and he's 100% right to be pissed. It's really entertaining seeing this side of Elrond. I still think he's the "kind as summer" elf we all know and love but he's not letting himself be walked on by her again. He was betrayed and he's showing Galadriel that her actions have a cost and that cost may actually be their friendship. Galadriel having to deal with the consequences of her choices is very much needed. Personally I think he'll forgive her eventually but it'll probably take some huge life changing event or a few centuries for that to happen. Either way, I really like this dynamic change.
Yes! I think there is a difference between being over the top angry and being upset and resisting being walked over. I think this nuance we see in Elrond in S2 was something lacking with Galadriel in similar circumstances in S1.
@@NerdoftheRings I also like that Elrond expresses this anger through sarcasm and sass rather than hate. He's disappointed, frustrated and angry with her, yes but he never gets outright mean to her. I think that's a very good decision on the show's part.
I wonder what her husband thinks about the whole ordeal.
@@MaxSoininenwell he's missing somewhere 😅
This episode is already better then half of the season one episodes
I think that wave that hit Cirdan's boat when he was about to throw the 3 rings overboard into the chasm was the work of Ulmo. He stopped cirdan from throwing the rings over. He knew they needed them.
Really loved the shot of Sauron at Adar's feet. It really highlighted the eye of Sauron and the composition of the nose bridge and eye brow really reminded me of "Sauron's mark"
The Sauron prologue / transition from slime to human pacing and audio felt very 'There will be blood'. Loved it.
Yeah it was also my fav thing about the first three episodes
The scene that shows Galadriel chasing Elrond to grey heaven for me was like siblings fighting for a candy, and elrond didn't want to share, and he was going to tell daddy about, then gets mad and will talk to grandpa.
This episode felt like a step in the right direction after a weak first season. Cirdan was certainly a highlight.
Yo! This episode and yo recap were dope as hell.! Ty very much pal. You got a new sub on this one.
I'm only two episodes in but already really enjoying the tone and writing and just everything really... I'm hooked now
Certainly seems more promising than last season.
I also like Ben Daniels' Cirdan. Chill dude.
The black slime is a reference to Gandalf's description of Durin's Bane. "Long time I fell,’ he said at last, slowly, as if thinking back with difficulty. ‘Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned. Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.....Thither I came at last, to the uttermost foundations of stone. He was with me still. His fire was quenched, but now he was a thing of slime, stronger than a strangling snake." (Gandalf, The Two Towers). The Balrog and Sauron are both Maiar.
Gandalf is also a Maia. As are all the other Itsari, possibly Unglianth, and for a while in JRR's mind the eagles were as well. Will we see them depicted as black slime?
I feel like you're giving the showrunners too much credit. They probably just watched Venom and decided that black slime is cool.
Google black goo phenomenon. Many biblical undertones in LOTR
@@MiguelParajon-m7v Who is Unglianth? Never heard of them before
@@MiguelParajon-m7v I think black slime is a privilege for fallen Maiar. You first have to prove that you are evil before you are permitted to turn into black slime :)
Whatever happened to Galadriel being the only one that isn't deceived by Sauron? Lame
I imagine Ulmo, Ossë, or Uinen jolted Cirdan's boat when he was about to drop the Rings into the sea. They all directly helped Cirdan in the First Age and still cared about the children of Iluvatar. This was a nudge toward the right decision.
one of the best episode breakdowns I have seen. Kudos! and more please :) Thank you.
Was I wrong or did Ulmo's influence appeared briefly when Cirdan was about to drop the rings in the sea 🤔🤔
I swear I saw the water move magically 🤨🤨
Not sure how else to interpret that.
@@cacogenicist I only said that because NoR didn't mention it, that's all 🤷🏾♀️
I just can't wrap my head around why if they did that for Cirdan, they couldn't have done something similar for Galadriel when she jumped into the middle of the sea to die, with no apparent plan at all. Like just something visual, some clouds moving, a churning of waves, to contextualise her decision as an act of faith, rather than an act of stupidity.
@@Blisterdude123 in the context of the show... Gal jumping in the water was part of the universe's plan. She was protected tho😅
Just like Ulmo only showed himself when it was needed, in the silmarillion he mostly communicated to Turgon because he knew gondolin was part of a larger plan.
@@Charmedsas1 I get all that, but I'm playing devil's advocate for an audience who 'might' not know that. To people who don't know about that, Galadriel just sat on a boat out into the middle of the sea, and then jumped in apparently with no plan but to swim thousands of miles across an ocean and probably drown.
Would it have been hard to just show a flash of 'something', and to show Galadriel register it, and then to suggest, visually, that her decision to jump therefore was not an act of desperation, but faith? A conscious choice? Do you see what I'm getting at? Like they did with Cirdan, and the wave, right as he was about to toss the rings away?
I think there's a touch of the Gollum backstory "cold opening" of Jackson's RotK in this opening sequence for S2. I think that's part of why it really hit the spot for me.
I don't believe the appearance of Sauron in the backstory is a retcon. My take is that Sauron looking big bad and evil is how Galadriel portrays Sauron when she describes him in Season 1. But in Season 2 we see that Sauron is not the obvious looking evil dark lord, but someone who takes the form of who you want to see so that he can play you like a fiddle.
Agreed, the season 2 intro is more from saurons perspective and season 1 was from galadriels perspective
I mean he just like Morgoth was a deceiver. So it would make sense
Then he was stupid for choosing a fair form for the orcs
It wasn't the most stupid thing he had done so far 🤣 I am still not sure why he was so keen to go back to southlands / Mordor after they had destroyed him once? Did he miss being a black slime? The only reliable alliance he made while hanging there was with that dog
@@DarksideGmss0513 Sauron was far more than Morgoth in Tolkiens work though. Morgoth was definitely more of a "raw power" let the world burn kind of evil. Sauron was always a long-play tactician.
"Admittedly, I am not a High King" 😂. You are to me, Matt!
I loved this season. I can’t wait for season 3 rings of power!
Charlie Vickers' Sauron is astonishing.
He's honestly doing such a good job.. the manipulation at work is 🔥
Galadriel looks like the teenager of the group when she is the noblest of the elves and the sister of the greatest lord of the noldor..
Bravo for getting this out so quick
Glad to be back to rings of power breakdowns!
Great recap Loved the first 15 minutes beginning. It was awesome 🎉
So far: MASSIVE improvement compared to season 1. I really enjoyed these three episodes.
it is better but not by much. i think you got influenced by the anti-woke dei crying. if all you read about the first season is that its woke and dei garbage that is all you will see on the screen. to me it was a good season setting up things. you know the anti-woke dei crowd hatred was so bad that they ratings bombed the show. you could not have gotten a second season if hollywood and the actors caved in to their hatred.
@@bakotako less than half the people who started watching the first season finished it. Not because of internet hate but because it was utterly lacking in writing quality.
@@Don9872 how do you know that? naw they finished it so they can keep hate posting to reaffirm their anti-woke dei views
@@bakotakoWhy are you assuming that it's hatred?
@@TurinTurambar98 humour me
I have only seen this first episode so far of the second series. I liked it. Better story-telling and dialogue than the first series and it still looks gorgeous. The actors were given more to do and showed their talent. An excellent start to the second series.
The only downside was the harfoot/stranger plot that still proceeds at a glacial pace.
The stranger plot finally gets going by the end of episode 3
@@hannibalb8276 But it's boring, slow and predictable. The oxygen gets sucked out of the show for me whenever the Harfoots and the Stranger are on screen, but I am enjoying the rest this time around.
Maybe I was the only one who caught this but Sauron did have an opportunity to taint the Three because as Halbrand he had possession of her blade from Valinor then somehow they "needed" Gold only from Valinor.
I do not claim to know the method that may have been used or even that his evil power is in the Three, only pointing out the opportunity was there because he had the knife that was melted down into the cast.
And it is no secret that Sauron has power of suggestion into other's minds.
Dunno if I'm just missing it in your links, but where can I find the art at 1:48???
I enjoy watching the "moral compass" spinning in all directions. Thanks for sharing.
I liked this episode. I love Cirdan! I'm so glad to finally see him on screen. Sauron is the master of manipulation--that's for sure. I love how he pledged to the Lord of Mordor and not to Adar. Great review!
So you don't like professor Tolkien or the actual Lord of the rings. this show is an abomination. It's senseless and the acting is maybe average at best.
@@WayneBraackdude stop it. Its possible to like it as a whole. Its not either or.
@@WayneBraackyou are so sad
@@WayneBraack Nonsense and I bet I am more a Tolkien purist than you will ever be.
@@WayneBraackI stopped expecting it to be wholly accurate to Tolkien after the last season. Makes it far more enjoyable.
You know that Sauron never has power over the Elven rings having had no hand in their manufacture. The Elves take off the rings once they sense the One Ring because they know it means Sauron can sense the Elven rings and their location because his craft was used in making them. Sauron shows up and destroys Eregion exactly because he senses the rings there and demands them as they were made using his craft. The elves do not use the rings again until the One Ring is lost and doing so would not reveal the hidden lands of Rivendell and Lothlorien. The elven rings are no in way corrupting.
while Sauron was not directly involved, even in the books they were made using his techniques.
Plus, power can have a corrupting effect even if he isn’t involved and the rings themselves should be questioned because their power of staving off the passage of time is acting in defiance of the way Illuvatar meant things to be (after all, isn’t his “gift to Men” that they die?) and the Valar, since it led to Elves staying in a land meant to be inherited by Men in the end, iirc.
The rings themselves are not corruptive beyond being powerful. However, they’re still bound to the one ring and can be controlled by it, which is why they have to be careful. For now they’re safe until the one ring is forged.
I had to laugh about how Galadriel acquired Nenya in the ROP depiction. She picked it up off the ground after Gil-Galad happened to drop it down the stone stairs after Elrond distracted him. They made it seem entirely accidental. As I recall from the literature, Celebrimbor specifically gave the 3 rings to the highest ranking elves in Middle Earth at the time - Gil-Galad, Galadriel and Círdan. Galadriel was actually older than Gil-Galad and she witnessed the 2-trees in Valinor. In the series so far she's depicted as a hot-headed young adult, which she certainly wasn't by the 2nd Age. Just sayin...
@Minimmalmythicist Its when the different way breaks from reason and common sense and is ultimately worse than the original telling. Why tell a worse story when the better one already exists?
@Minimmalmythicist I'm glad you can. Maybe i'm just annoying, but it frustrates me when stories I really love are changed so dramatically for film, in my eyes I don't even see a point then. Why not just make a new story separate from LOTR if you won't abide by the material? I'm just a bit of a lore elitist I suppose.
@Minimmalmythicist I understand and agree with you, I just simply don't like it as I perceive what they are producing as less compelling story telling. I likely wouldn't care if it was something I enjoyed, i.e. elves arriving at helms deep or aragorn not having his blade until movie three. If the changes help make the story better, or at least increase the cool factor in a compelling yet 'realistic' way i'm on board. But to completely rewrite the forging of the rings, the entire premise, and do it at least so far in a sub par way? Its tough for me to look past. Maybe they will tie it together so well that my initial complaints are fixed. But i kinda doubt it.
Personally with my hatred absolute for tolkien and all his work i very much enjoy this show as it butchers everything he was ahaah hhaaahhahaha its more then just a movie its your culture muhahaha.
15:08 Elrond: “’Ey, look at me, I’m a troll!”
Excellent insights as always! Glad I had the notion to come check this out before heading over to Episode 2.
I really liked your thoughts about the two wizards, I think it would be really cool having characters not seen before on screen. I also thought that the stranger could have had many of the characteristics of Gandalf: way of speaking, gestures, etc. But he really doesn't, he seems kind of a clean slate, which makes me think they might not follow this as him being Gandalf.
After watching the first 3 episodes, I just wanna say Charlie Vicker does such an amazing job playing a pure evil manipulator!
Sauron is coming across far more menacing and manipulative which is good
These breakdowns are awesome! I watch an episode and then your breakdown. Episode 3 tomorrow. You are the best! I’m liking season 2 so far! But they have a lot to cram into the final 5 episodes…
Loved the parallels and contrasts between the scene where Gil-Galad demands the rings from Elrond (who refuses and throws them/himself over a precipice into water) and the scene we'll get in the series finale where Elrond demands Isildur throw The Ring over a precipice into lava but Isildur refuses. Elrond does what Isildur won't.
Galadriel: Obey your king!!! Elrond: You literally haven't obeyed him once. What terrible writing.
So far, season 2 is much better than season 1, imo.
No, its much worse, which is quite the feat
@@criticalfocuschannel Liar.
the spell did work there’s no water in the land to bring the tree back to life to sprout it so the tree blew up and gave them bugs unlimited 😊 nourishing
Where the eff is Celeborn? Galadriel out here having romances with sauron, not sure he'd be too happy... sure was convenient that cirdan decided to wear only the fire ring for some reason, and give the other two over, was sure convenient that nenya fell at galadriels feet after elrond shouting NO! haha, really they couldn't think of any idea other than the rings dropping next to her and her deciding it was for her to put on without anyone saying so xD
thank you for the breakdown. I was totally lost after watching this episode.
It's difficult to say what I like more; watching the first episode of season 2 or the immediate episode breakdown afterwards to see if we spotted the same things. 😊
“Don’t forget to check out my breakdowns after each episode.” Same, friend: I too have been breaking down after each episode
The way Sauron snatched and ditched the old man and let him drown was pure evil. Like wtf dude... The man has been nothing but nice to you
Sauron IS pure evil.
Yeah, it was great 😁
But didnt he warn him right before?
@@klausdappersjen950 He basically said grab something solid and when the dude got crushed he was like thanks for the necklace pouch dude. Toodles
Evil people going to evil.
Sauron offering Adar wine while he's chained to the mountain is a reference back to Christianity. Jesus is offered wine twice while he's on the cross, in the process of dying. Both wine offerings are theorized to have deliberate opposite intentions, which makes this move by a duplicitous and ambiguous Sauron quite a well-written choice.
The first time it was intended to ease Jesus's pain, thus Sauron could be offering it as a token of peace.
The second time Jesus was offered it was sour, almost rancid wine that had almost certainly turned to vinegar. It was a drink Roman soldiers for numerous purposes, including supposed medicinal effects or to be invigorating. It is believed that offering of wine was a way to prologue Jesus's suffering.
@@jimstell92 wasn't it vinegar?
@@LordBalin The second offering is sometimes recounted as vinegar, sometimes recounted as soured wine. Soe.times recounted as both.
It seems like you really liked this episode. When listening to your season 1 review, I heard you talk about things you’d like to see resolved and become less muddled or turn out to be ruses, and I was thinking about how a few of those things were addressed in the new season. Looking forward to listening to the rest of this series and hearing your thoughts on the direction it takes.
As someone who didn't read the books but watch breakdowns of the Lore I didn't really understand Sauron before he was the figure of Darkness we originally know him as from the movies. Glad you clarified for me that Orcs didn't all respect Sauron. Also it makes sense he could be killed by them. He's still on the tier of Gandalf & other Wizards who even if it will be a hard task can still be felled. Also with Morgoth Gone it makes sense infighting would happen. Thanks for the reviews💯