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.

Wikipedia tells me it was an elk, played by a horse named Moose.

Hugely disappointed with the elves in this series - Sauron as an elf Lord is how they should all look. As for Celebrimbor

No...that's so cliched! Celebrimbor is one of the best characters and great casting. I'm already so upset that he will die (and horribly)!

I still think Adar could turn out to be Celeborn. He is such a complex character I don't think he was introduced to the series for 'nothing'. Like Halbrand, I think there's a bigger point to him than just to lead the orc armies. And I think there are hints here and there: in his conversation with Galadriel he says in response to her question: "Why did you come back?" His answer: "I hadn't yet met you."

Also the fact that he wanted children. I think that's surprising for a villain like him. I'm thinking he was married to Galadriel who was so hung up on her mission about Sauron that she hardly had headspace to think of him or children. So off he went to war, was captured, then 'rescued' by Sauron who then turned him into this 'monster' so he couldn't go back to her. Could be reaching here but I definitely think there's more to him than is apparent...

And I always wondered what this betrayal of Sauron's was he keeps referring to? Killing some of the orcs? I think it's more than that. If anything Adar betrayed Sauron.

But all will be revealed tomorrow!

I'm sorry - I just cannot get past Celebrimbor looking like an old bloke - he was younger than Galadriel. Cliche picture fits with book description. I hope Adar isn't Celeborn - it feels like a liberty too far.

I think he looks pretty good for 2,334 years old. I did think he looked a bit hinky, but the acting with Anatar made up for it for me.

Too many hours slaving over a hot forge will do that to an elf.

Something about the Standard Elven Hairstyle (especially Celebrimbor) reminds me of Gordon Ramsay, is that just me?

And I always wondered what this betrayal of Sauron's was he keeps referring to? Killing some of the orcs? I think it's more than that. If anything Adar betrayed Sauron

Adar is a faithful servant of Morgoth and sees Sauron as a traitor and usurper.

This season is marginally less awful than the first, but I can't believe they've commissioned a third already. Corny dialogue, bad acting, miscast actors, enormous plot holes, storyboards that jump around all over the place and completely drop whole plotlines for entire episodes. I'm only watching at this point to see just how awful it can get.

Well that was upsetting.

An uneven finale with quite a lot of cheesy dialogue but I was still riveted.

Liked the Adar redemption scene but very very sad he was killed.

The Sauron/Galadriel boss fight was good as was the final showdown with Sauron and Celebrimbor.

When Adar said “I was know by another name” - I thought Galadriel would say “I thought I recognised you, husband of 1500 years!” So when he was shanked by Grug I was quite pleased.

Numenor is still a bit of a mess, sad we didn’t see the Dwarven army in battle array, Celebrimor died well and we had the world’s least surprising reveal with the Stranger.

I am annoyed at the way they protrayed Galadriel , just standing there waiting to hand over the 9 rings.

The scenes between Sauron and Celebrimbor were great as was Durin's fight with the Balrog and the fall of Numenor looks interesting too, good to see Elendil and Narsil and I liked Bombadil and Gandalf singing at the end.

Overall it was better than season 1 but still a frustrating watch.

Yes! I was internally yelling "run you muppet!"

I really like Sauron's arc, his mask slipping and revealing who he really is is really well portrayed, a reminder that for all his lovely looks and persuasive manner this guy is properly evil! His scene with Celebrimbor was fantastic and I liked his final confrontation with Galadriel too. Charlie Vickers is doing great work here. Hard to compute that he is quite an inexperienced actor!

I think some of the developments were a bit rushed. The scene with Durin Sr and Jr was very moving but it was too sudden and hasty IMO. The balrog scene was impressive but basically lifted from the LOTR movies which was a bit annoying.

I like the Numenor story arc too and agree about the Gandalf/Bombadil singing together - that was nice and quite a good end to that particular (non) 'mystery'.

I was really disappointed that Adar was killed off as I found him one of the most compelling characters in the series and both actors did a great job but his end scene was beautiful.

Sauron absolutely made this season, I loved everything about his play portrayal, and the way he hid his evil has parallels with real life villains.

I could have quite happily just had the whole season on his storyline.

Was bored with the rest of it (barring some Adar and some of the Elf scenes)

I think they missed a trick by not giving is RoP entirely from the pov of Sauron & the ‘bad guys’. Galadriel feels superfluous to the plot now especially as she’s so poorly written in the books that any development feels like fanfiction.

Numenor’s fall is going to be epic though.

I first read LOTR when I was 11 and have probably read it about 15 times sinc? I have a copy of just about everything Tolkien wrote and even understood The Silmarillion (mostly). So I know Tolkien.

But the Rings of Power is making me fighty. I love the visuals, it's beautiful to watch. But the plot is so non cohesive with holes big enough to ride an Oliphant through.

The Istari didn't come to Middle Earth until the start of the Third Age. So why, why, why is Gandalf front and centre in The Rings of Power?

Why has Tom Bombadil been randomly transplanted into the wastes of Rhun?

Why is no mention ever made of Galadriel's DH, Celeborn?

Why do Elrond and Celebrimbor have Disney Prince haircuts?

I just can't give a shit about Isildur. Despite knowing Tolkien lore I have been desperately hoping he will just fucking die now.

Why can't Galadriel move her lips when she speaks? She looks like a ventriloquist trying to <throw> her voice into a glove puppet.

At least Bronwen is dead. Her of the crazed Lucy & Yak dungarees and jaunty headbands.