"the lord of the rings: the rings of power" is out on amazon

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RPD

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
5,046
549
126
Actually, any chance Ancalagon makes an apparence? Cuz that battle happens, I'm 100% in. But I don't have any feel for time frames of that battle and when this series are in relation to each other... knowing my luck not close.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,211
28,916
136
Actually, any chance Ancalagon makes an apparence? Cuz that battle happens, I'm 100% in. But I don't have any feel for time frames of that battle and when this series are in relation to each other... knowing my luck not close.
Only if they do a flashback to the first age.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
23,082
21,203
136
1. I find these orcs scarier than even the LOTR movies. They obviously look authentic but also seem smarter and harder to kill.
2. The scene with the two Numenorean ships was really cool. Really established them as master seafarers. And they obviously looked great.
3. Loved the figures carved into the cliffs. Really shows how monuments like the Argonath in particular are a cultural tradition.
4. I'm really wondering if they'll try to make Halbrand Sauron. Last week I was convinced the Stranger was Sauron though so I'm probably wrong about both.
5. Knowing Miriel is of the Faithful, I'm hoping the way she's interacting with Galadriel is just an act.

I read a theory that the Stranger could be a Blue Wizard.
 

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,582
2,817
136
1. I find these orcs scarier than even the LOTR movies. They obviously look authentic but also seem smarter and harder to kill.
2. The scene with the two Numenorean ships was really cool. Really established them as master seafarers. And they obviously looked great.
3. Loved the figures carved into the cliffs. Really shows how monuments like the Argonath in particular are a cultural tradition.
4. I'm really wondering if they'll try to make Halbrand Sauron. Last week I was convinced the Stranger was Sauron though so I'm probably wrong about both.
5. Knowing Miriel is of the Faithful, I'm hoping the way she's interacting with Galadriel is just an act.

I believe one of the Tolkien themes was that the "present" is just a lesser reflection of the past. In that sense, the orcs of the Third Age would be lesser than those of the Second Age just as Men and Elves and Dwarves are lesser.

I figure they're setting up Numenor for a "Black Numenoreans" storyline. It doesn't mesh with the timeline of the Second Age what with the ages of Elendil and Isildur but it's probably too 'attractive' of a story for them to leave out.

The figure was, to me, clearly Gandalf even in Episode 2. I know that doesn't coincide with the official timeline but technically the showrunners don't have access to the official timeline since it's in unlicensed material. But the whole thing pretty much matches up with his love of hobbits, being sent back to fight Sauron, etc.

In all they've got to move a bunch of stuff around since the Second Age lasted so long. If they stuck to a more accurate timeline then the time jumps would be unbearable.

Also, the actress who plays Galadriel really reminds me of a young Jodie Foster. Small mouth, thin lips, nose bridge, eye spacing. Just an observation.
 
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MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
23,082
21,203
136
I believe one of the Tolkien themes was that the "present" is just a lesser reflection of the past. In that sense, the orcs of the Third Age would be lesser than those of the Second Age just as Men and Elves and Dwarves are lesser.

I figure they're setting up Numenor for a "Black Numenoreans" storyline. It doesn't mesh with the timeline of the Second Age what with the ages of Elendil and Isildur but it's probably too 'attractive' of a story for them to leave out.

The figure was, to me, clearly Gandalf even in Episode 2. I know that doesn't coincide with the official timeline but technically the showrunners don't have access to the official timeline since it's in unlicensed material. But the whole thing pretty much matches up with his love of hobbits, being sent back to fight Sauron, etc.

In all they've got to move a bunch of stuff around since the Second Age lasted so long. If they stuck to a more accurate timeline then the time jumps would be unbearable.

Also, the actress who plays Galadriel really reminds me of a young Jodie Foster. Small mouth, thin lips, nose bridge, eye spacing. Just an observation.

I thought the Stranger was likely to be Gandalf from meeting him more in episode 2 - from his physical features and more, but from reading a bit more on the lore, Gandalf is not spoken of until the third age - him and Saruman were created from spiritual beings. But what I also read is that the Blue Wizards are mentioned in the second age, so who knows how much they want to stray from the lore on that one.
 

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,582
2,817
136
Wanted to add: I wouldn't be surprised if the writers tried to drop an Easter egg that Nori is a distant ancestor of Bilbo and Frodo. They seem to be alluding to it with the comments about the Harfoots needing to follow the rules and traditions and Nori being a rule breaker.
 

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,635
3,509
136
I read a theory that the Stranger could be a Blue Wizard.

I'm leaning toward this a little, with him waking up in the fiery eye being a red herring. The dead fireflies still bug me a little.

Now to figure out who Adar is. Definitely a human looking form, so could be a man or maiar. Could be a Black Numenorean, since they were colonizing Middle Earth before the downfall of Numenor.
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
15,285
13,581
146
4. I'm really wondering if they'll try to make Halbrand Sauron. Last week I was convinced the Stranger was Sauron though so I'm probably wrong about both.
Can't be. Sauron's already known to ME at this point. It's gotta be Gandalf, Saruman, or Radagast (or very unlikely, one of the two blue wizards).
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
15,285
13,581
146
Wanted to add: I wouldn't be surprised if the writers tried to drop an Easter egg that Nori is a distant ancestor of Bilbo and Frodo. They seem to be alluding to it with the comments about the Harfoots needing to follow the rules and traditions and Nori being a rule breaker.
I was noodling about this as well. Harfoots could be the ancient ancestors that eventually settle in the west and become the river folk/hobbits. A group of nomadic shorties constantly moving under the radar being pushed out of mordor/wherever they are in the southlands leading up to the end of the second age and settling out west without anyone noticing sounds on brand for both harfoots and hobbits.
 

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,582
2,817
136
Oh, they're 100% the hobbits' nomadic ancestors. The show isn't perfectly clear on this point but they're not in the Southlands, it's easy to miss on the map if you're not familiar. They're actually west of the area that will become the Shire, in lands that will be destroyed along with the fall of Numenor.

Also just realized that episode 3 was the first that got a bit gory. Not on the level of The Boys or House of the Dragon but just enough to seem out of place to viewers only familiar with the Hobbit and LotR movies.
 
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brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,419
5,852
136
i will say though, that galadriel seems to be acting a bit rashly for someone who is somewhere between 5000 and 25000 years old

but perhaps elves mature more slowly than humans
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
15,285
13,581
146
Oh, they're 100% the hobbits' nomadic ancestors. The show isn't perfectly clear on this point but they're not in the Southlands, it's easy to miss on the map if you're not familiar. They're actually west of the area that will become the Shire, in lands that will be destroyed along with the fall of Numenor.
I didn't realize that, where was that stated?
i will say though, that galadriel seems to be acting a bit rashly for someone who is somewhere between 5000 and 25000 years old
Do remember that at the end of her life (which spanned longer than almost everything living) she basically coinflipped on becoming Sauron 2.0.
 

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,582
2,817
136
I didn't realize that, where was that stated?

Do remember that at the end of her life (which spanned longer than almost everything living) she basically coinflipped on becoming Sauron 2.0.
It wasn't stated anywhere but I believe in Episode 1 the map showed their location the first time they were featured in the story.
 
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MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
23,082
21,203
136
It wasn't stated anywhere but I believe in Episode 1 the map showed their location the first time they were featured in the story.
I read an interview with the showrunners and they confirmed the Harfoots are predecessors to hobbits. They said the hobbits weren't really in the second age but they wanted to fit something in there like them because what's Lord of the Rings without some hobbit influence. So those are pre hobbits
 
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MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
23,082
21,203
136
Loved episode 3. The pacing was better, the story lines are developing well. Definitely building up and I hope it's great. It's still trending up.
 
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IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,211
28,916
136
I don't have a Prime video membership. Being the cheapskate that I am, my best bet would be to wait until all of season 1 is released and then join for a month, binge watch the series, and then drop the membership before the month is out, correct?
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
23,082
21,203
136
I don't have a Prime video membership. Being the cheapskate that I am, my best bet would be to wait until all of season 1 is released and then join for a month, binge watch the series, and then drop the membership before the month is out, correct?
It's as simple as that

Not sure if they're doing free first week trials for newcomers though. Binge it in a week if so.
 
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Pohemi

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
9,456
12,989
146
I don't have a Prime video membership. Being the cheapskate that I am, my best bet would be to wait until all of season 1 is released and then join for a month, binge watch the series, and then drop the membership before the month is out, correct?
That's what I'd suggest. I always have Prime, but that is the method I use with Netflix and Paramount+. I'll run out of things I'm interested in watching, and I'll just drop the sub for a few months until there's enough new content to justify renewing the sub again.

Maybe look for other content available on Prime video to fill out that month, so you're not renewing JUST to watch The Rings of Power.
 
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purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,024
5,905
126
Didn't realize there would be so many spoilers in here from you guys. We get it - you all have read the books and know the lore. But some of us haven't and are just watching the TV show. All of the stuff you all are spoiling may never be gotten to in the show but it also may so yeah, thanks for that. I

will probably just avoid this thread if I continue to watch the show. After 3 episodes, I still feel pretty "meh" about the whole thing. Thankfully it's only 8 eps so I'll probably at least watch the whole first season since it's only 5 more.
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
15,285
13,581
146
Didn't realize there would be so many spoilers in here from you guys. We get it - you all have read the books and know the lore. But some of us haven't and are just watching the TV show. All of the stuff you all are spoiling may never be gotten to in the show but it also may so yeah, thanks for that. I

will probably just avoid this thread if I continue to watch the show. After 3 episodes, I still feel pretty "meh" about the whole thing. Thankfully it's only 8 eps so I'll probably at least watch the whole first season since it's only 5 more.
What spoilers exactly? Sauron dies at the end btw.
 
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