The Rings of Power S2

[CaveMum]

I can’t see another thread on this. Is anyone else watching?

We’ve watched all 3 episodes that dropped last week so waiting on the next one.

I’m not a Tolkien aficionado so have no idea how true it is being to the appendices, etc but I’m enjoying it all the same and it’s nice to see the little nods to the films in terms of production values.

I'm enjoying it; the scenery is lovely.

I can't remember the names of all the characters (the Elves all have names like Elifondil or Elifondir) but Prime X-ray helps.

It does! Also helps hugely when DH has one of his “where have I seen that actor/actress before?” moments!

Whats it on, i want to watch this

Amazon Prime.

I'm watching loved the books and the films and enjoying this too, love the music, scenery and the story. so many characters can't remember there names either!

I love having more LotR in the style of Peter Jackson's trilogy (visuals, music) especially given how dull the Hobbit trilogy was but I think a 2 year gap was too long. I'm struggling to remember what everyone's storyline was and where we left them, especially in episode 3 with all the different kings/captains/cities/settlements of Men. Even having watched a recap.

Watched the latest episode last night. I’m enjoying trying to guess who characters are before we’re given their actual name.

I’m still debating whether they are trying to double bluff us with the identity of The Stranger - they’re either dropping some massive hints or doing it to throw us off the scent!

Loving this series, as noted the scenery and set up is great.

I'm going with the obvious but I wouldn't put it past them to reveal it's, er, the other one.

That’s my inclination too. When they introduced the Dark Wizard (Ciaran Hinds) I did wonder if they were trying to throw us off the scent by making us think HE is “the other one”, even though the timescales would be off with The Other One starting out as a good guy and going bad later.

Do we need a spoiler type thread where we can discuss the theories openly without spoiling it for others?!

Maybe unless we just go

BEWARE SPOILERS

I will say I was a bit gutted that Bronwyn (?) died. I thought she'd survived at the end of S1.

SPOILERS and light theorising.

I’m enjoying it, although still find the Harfoots annoying!

Poor Theo, losing Bronwyn. I’m glad that he and Arondir reconciled. He’s clearly developing into the leader of the Southlanders in Pelargir and I think quite possibly destined for a ring and becoming a Nazgûl. I think it would make sense with the introduction of the character and his arc so far, but sad nevertheless. It will be interesting to see who does become the Nazgûl, as they’ve always been such a dark, scary presence in LotR to me. I think knowing the characters and story to who they were before will be quite impactful (well to me anyway 😂). Any other thought on who the Nazgûl may be?

I’m interested to see what will happen with Isildur and whether he will get back to Numenor. Obviously, we know what the books say but struggling to work out how he will return without any of the ships. Maybe Elendil will realise he didn’t do a particularly great job of checking he was dead and go back, although think he and Meriel are going to be pretty constrained by Pharazon soon enough.

I think the Stranger must be who he seems, just seems too much like the character not to be. But who knows!

I thought I read that the actress playing Bronwen decided she didn’t want to come back so they killed her off. Shame because they changed the actor playing Adar without a fuss.

Yes she did, I think she's essentially quit acting.

They may have to speed it up as the plan was 5 seasons but it's had very low viewership for s2 apparently.

It looks nice, I am a fan of the lore, so that's cool, but I feel no emotional connection with the characters, and the stranger mystery is annoying rather than engaging.

I didn't like it at first when I started watching two years ago and gave up a bit into the second episode, but started again this summer ahead of the new season and I think the bad reviews are not fair. I think it's actually very good, but there's a lot going on and much that you will miss if you don't know the story, as I didn't, not having read the Silmarillion.

But it improves on second watching and finding out a bit more about the story and characters. There's a lot of stuff that makes much more sense and is more satisfying/poignant when you understand what's going on. For example I was a bit at a loss as to what's going on with all these different characters having high drama in Numenor but it's all important and there's a really good and tragic storyline coming up about all of that.

I still find the Harfoots a bit annoying but the Galadriel/Sauron relationship is gripping and the way they've portrayed Sauron is really effective. There are many charming, irresistible manipulators who turn out to be users, narcissists and tyrants in real life!

And the other characters and their stories like Adar and Celebrimbor are really well portrayed. Or Elrond who is one of my favourite characters, the moral backbone of the story and the actor is just brilliant. And on second watching the beginning with child Galadriel is really moving and the things her brother says to her are important to the story.

I think the LOTR films were more simple in a way, there was a quest to destroy the ring and defeat Sauron and that was it, so it was easier to follow. And in the movies Sauron was just this monster whereas here he is much more insidious, making him more interesting and believable as a baddie! If you give RoP a chance and pay attention I think it's worth it! And it's a stunning watch with great performances all round!

The actor playing Sauron is brilliant. I was really deeply invested in his friendship with Galadriel and they had such great chemistry. It explains so well why she's such an enigma by the time we get to Fellowship.

The Harfoots have always made me uncomfortable just because it feels like a sad story in the making as The Stranger will long, long outlive them. We know they're not around in the following ages (assume they settle and become Hobbits) so they're some of the few characters who are long dead by The Hobbit.

I also missed what I think is a bit of romantic tension between Elrond and Galadriel in the beginning which may also explain why they are so much at odds when she is deceived/seduced by Sauron.

I think they’ve got to be related to be ancestor’s of the Hobbits.

I’m guessing that Nori is an ancestor of Merry as the surnames are similar-ish (Brandyfoot and Brandybuck) <clutches straws>

Plus Poppy is a Proudfoot and there are definitely Proudfoot’s (Proudfeet!) in the Shire as there are some at Bilbo’s 111st party.

That’s my theory anyway!

I've watched the first three, we'll return to the series when there's another batch of episodes (meanwhile we've started on Foundation so it may be a while!)

I'm enjoying RoP though in episode 3 I couldn't believe Celebrimbor didn't realise he was being played. And is it just me who thinks the High King would look more comfortable in a sharp suit and a corner office? I'm probably being unfair.

BEWARE SPOILERS AND SPECULATION

Same. It's visually gorgeous, and I'm enjoying seeing the civilisations of Middle Earth earlier in their development, but I'm finding the pace a bit inconsistent. Long spells of not much happening and then sudden bursts of action where I lose track of what's going on. I loved the films - the story moved along at a reasonable clip and they were full of likeable characters, but I can't really find anyone to care about much in this. I had high hopes for Halbrand. A silver-tongued rogue is easy to root for, but...well. Gone off him a bit. Tom Bombadil is fun but I'm guessing he'll just be a side character like he was in the book. Durin and Disa seem to have a bit more character than most so I'll keep watching for them. Hoping for the Stranger thing to be resolved soon though because it's getting tedious. (And my money is on him and the Ciaran Hinds character being the Blue Wizards that Gandalf couldn't remember the names of.)

ALSO SPECULATION

@HearMeSnore it's definitely growing on me. Ar-Pharazon's eyebrows acting chops are doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the Numenor scenes. I'm enjoying the Celebrimbor / Annatar bits, the dwarves are OK, but the Stranger and the cutesy hobbits, along with Adar are not doing much for me.

I'm hoping that the Stranger is s blue wizard, but it seems blindingly obvious all the hobbits are going to the Shire, which makes it more likely the Stranger is the big G.

I find it a more enjoyable watch alongside Charlie Hopkinson's very funny deep fake channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieHopkinson

I was watching His Dark Materials the other day with DD (she’s just read the books) and had a chuckle when I saw Galadriel as one of Mrs Coulter’s minions!

I'm afraid she suited that role better. She just doesn't seem like someone who is going to grow up to be the Galadriel of later times, whereas Elrond is more credible.

I can only imagine the Second Age MN threads about this... there's no mention of Galadriel's long-standing DH, Celeborn, at all in the show.