Television The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

I've gone from enjoying this more in the early episodes vs HotD (it's production value/ visuals etc being a big part of that) to being far more interested in the characters/ story of HotD.

The only really likeable/ interesting characters for me are Arondir and the dwarves (at least at the moment) and the only part of the show that I'm actually enjoying is the stuff in the mines.

I'd go as far as to say that it's boring for the majority of the episode (and downright irritating at times).

Hopefully it picks up soon but it's getting to the point where I'm not sure I'll actually care when something interesting finally happens.
 
I'm finding it enjoyable enough to have watched all 4 eps. The dialogue is what makes it feel so "not-LOTR" to me.
This is where I'm at. It's been good enough to not make me dislike watching it. It could be better though with better writers.
 
Why does this thread read like the Match Day thread most of the time?
 
Think ill be staying far far away from this then.


It is better in almost every single conceivable way than Wheel of Time.

I'm not saying it's amazing - it has flaws, with the writing and acting for Galadriel probably being the main one, but it's not nearly as bad as is being made out.
 
It is better in almost every single conceivable way than Wheel of Time.

I'm not saying it's amazing - it has flaws, with the writing and acting for Galadriel probably being the main one, but it's not nearly as bad as is being made out.
I wouldn’t say it’s her acting - it’s the writing and what they’ve done to her character.
 
It is better in almost every single conceivable way than Wheel of Time.

I'm not saying it's amazing - it has flaws, with the writing and acting for Galadriel probably being the main one, but it's not nearly as bad as is being made out.
Agree with that although hopefully they are doing a hothead to wise arc.
 
I wouldn’t say it’s her acting - it’s the writing and what they’ve done to her character.

You could be right. I just can't shake that image of her smiling on the back of the horse.

I've woken up in cold sweats just thinking about it twice since.
 
He isn't. Sauron was fair of form in the second age. Adar is very likely to be
Maeglin and his dagger is the giveaway.

Yeah, I was thinking it was weird that Adar
wasn’t easier on the eye, if he were to be Sauron[/spoiler
 
You could be right. I just can't shake that image of her smiling on the back of the horse.

I've woken up in cold sweats just thinking about it twice since.

maxresdefault.jpg
 
I am rather enjoying it. It’s plenty watchable without being anything special. Maybe that’s why it’s disappointing to people who are massive LotR fans.
 
She was though... Tolkien fans who cry about this version of Galadriel obviously did not read enough Tolkien.


Doesn't even change the way how one dimensional her character is in the series and looking often angry, almost constipated, acting more like typical human with overly imposing delivery for majority of her lines.

Precise issue is that she clearly wasn't all about hit & smash and it works detrimental to her high elvish nature. She had also strong thing for magic and philosophy and was mentored by Melian of same angelic race as Gandalf.

Definition of strong woman not always comes from biceps, she was just as wise and balanced as Elrond who btw was twice a warrior, but Elrond clearly doesn't have to act sassy in every scene to prove his point. Thankfully his character has a right balance enough to carry this show with Durin for a while.
 
Yeah, I was thinking it was weird that Adar
wasn’t easier on the eye, if he were to be Sauron[/spoiler

He's not Sauron but I don't think the future Sauron has even entered the stage. I saw a pic of this bloke with long light coloured hair, I suspect he'll be Sauron.

There's so much info on Tolkien's universe even for a clueless viewer like me and most of it is utterly boring. I'm not surprised folk are struggling with this show. That said, I still like it.
 
He's not Sauron but I don't think the future Sauron has even entered the stage. I saw a pic of this bloke with long light coloured hair, I suspect he'll be Sauron.

There's so much info on Tolkien's universe even for a clueless viewer like me and most of it is utterly boring. I'm not surprised folk are struggling with this show. That said, I still like it.

I'm enjoying it now I just treat it as pretty fan fiction. That said I really think it's so bleeding obvious that Sauron is
Halbrand
that I'm amazed it's even being debated.

The fact the Numenoreans are about to attack the southlands means that whole timeline has moved up and Sauron is about to be taken to Numenor in chains anyway to seduce Pharazon. It makes much more plot sense if he's already there.
 
Last edited:
I'm enjoying it now I just treat it as pretty fan fiction. That said I really think it's so bleeding obvious that Sauron is
Halbrand
that I'm amazed it's even being debated.

The fact the Numenoreans are about to attack the southlands means that whole timeline has moved up and Sauron is about to be taken to Numenor in chains anyway to seduce Pharazon. It makes much more plot sense if he's already there.

my money is still on the Witch King. Galadriel stating he is one of the "lost kings" of the southlands seems more obvious than him being Sauron.
 
I'm enjoying it now I just treat it as pretty fan fiction. That said I really think it's so bleeding obvious that Sauron is
Halbrand
that I'm amazed it's even being debated.

The fact the Numenoreans are about to attack the southlands means that whole timeline has moved up and Sauron is about to be taken to Numenor in chains anyway to seduce Pharazon. It makes much more plot sense if he's already there.


Yeah but I thought Pharazon (?)captured and brought him to Numenor?
 
Yeah but I thought Pharazon (?)captured and brought him to Numenor?

He did but as they are apparently about to invade Middle Earth next week and ? still isn't on deck you have to assume it's gonna be set up different. I wouldn't be surprised if the real
Halbrand/Kingof the South
appears before long.
 
I'm a huge LOTR nerd and I'm really enjoying the show. The main issue I find is the portrayal of Galadriel right now, but with 46 hours of footage there's plenty of time for her to grow and develop into the Galadriel we have in the films. To be fair, she's been out in the wilds chasing Saurons farts for the past 500 odd years, so no wonder she's a bit cranky. But she does need to find a bit of charm and warmth from somewhere, hopefully that will come with the bond of friendship through Tar-Míriel and Elendil.

I like the slow pace though, providing detail and depth to each race. They aren't just using the common stereotypes for each race and just pushing full steam ahead with the plot like most tv shows. I can imagine that would be boring to some people mind, but I enjoy the world building. I like the concept that the dwarf cave in wasn't just an accident but a warning from the Gods to not go further. There's been a lot of discussion about Gods so far in the first 4 episodes and in this episode in particular. Ill omens linking the Dwarves and Numenors together.
 
The first three eps were decent enough and it got significantly better in the latest one so I'm hopeful it will keep improving in the second half of the series. The CGI for the warg though, that was just horrific and inexcusable for a £400M show.
 
Ep 4 was by far the best one yet. I just wish Galadriel would smile once in a while. Proper miserable. And I dont mean that horryfing riding on a horse smile she put on. That was scary.
 
He did but as they are apparently about to invade Middle Earth next week and ? still isn't on deck you have to assume it's gonna be set up different. I wouldn't be surprised if the real
Halbrand/Kingof the South
appears before long.

So he stays in Numenor and when Pharazon comes back from Middle Earth, he starts weaving his magic on the Numenorians?
 
I'm a huge LOTR nerd and I'm really enjoying the show. The main issue I find is the portrayal of Galadriel right now, but with 46 hours of footage there's plenty of time for her to grow and develop into the Galadriel we have in the films. To be fair, she's been out in the wilds chasing Saurons farts for the past 500 odd years, so no wonder she's a bit cranky. But she does need to find a bit of charm and warmth from somewhere, hopefully that will come with the bond of friendship through Tar-Míriel and Elendil.

I like the slow pace though, providing detail and depth to each race. They aren't just using the common stereotypes for each race and just pushing full steam ahead with the plot like most tv shows. I can imagine that would be boring to some people mind, but I enjoy the world building. I like the concept that the dwarf cave in wasn't just an accident but a warning from the Gods to not go further. There's been a lot of discussion about Gods so far in the first 4 episodes and in this episode in particular. Ill omens linking the Dwarves and Numenors together.

Absolutely this, she's comparatively young compared to her appearance in LOTR so I don't understand why people expect her to be the same person? There's so much time for her to mellow out and be less hasty.
 
Galadriel looks like she looks because she is pretty much singlehandedly raising awareness that evil is alive and getting stronger, soon to consume whole middle earth, but no one takes her seriously.

Imagine asking poor Greta Thumberg to smile more, when no serious steps to fight evil has been taken, despite her efforts to raise awareness.

Once the evil has been defeated, maybe she will smile again?
 
Galadriel looks like she looks because she is pretty much singlehandedly raising awareness that evil is alive and getting stronger, soon to consume whole middle earth, but no one takes her seriously.

Imagine asking poor Greta Thumberg to smile more, when no serious steps to fight evil has been taken, despite her efforts to raise awareness.

Once the evil has been defeated, maybe she will smile again?
:lol:

I love this thread.
 
So he stays in Numenor and when Pharazon comes back from Middle Earth, he starts weaving his magic on the Numenorians?

He will probably kill the Regent who has been established as a benign character and help Pharazon take the throne. I don't think the writers can afford to be too labrynthine in their plotting so plot efficiency will take precedence over everything else I should think.
 
I'm a huge LOTR nerd

there's plenty of time for her to grow and develop into the Galadriel we have in the films

I don't want to sound like a gatekeeper but the films aren't the gold standard for Tolkien nerds, the books are. And in the books Galdriel is already a Queen and a mother from early in the second age. This is fan fiction modern TV trope Galadriel and should be enjoyed as such. Tolkien might have recognised small elements of her as First Age Galdriel but I feel sure he would have considered this show overall as an atrocity.
 
I'm enjoying it now I just treat it as pretty fan fiction. That said I really think it's so bleeding obvious that Sauron is
Halbrand
that I'm amazed it's even being debated.

The fact the Numenoreans are about to attack the southlands means that whole timeline has moved up and Sauron is about to be taken to Numenor in chains anyway to seduce Pharazon. It makes much more plot sense if he's already there.
Dunno how are they going to frame the fall of numenor? In the books its because they raised the strongest fleet in history to attack the Valar and eru intervened.