[+] The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - SPOILERS ALLOWED

[Hriston]

Mostly for Elf names, I think.

I was actually surprised when they mentioned the silmarils, although still no mention that the war they keep talking about was actually fought to reclaim them.

 

[Arilyn]

I'm enjoying Poppy and Nori. A new Merry and Pippin. I'm not sure about Elrond. He has some big shoes to fill.

Nori is my favourite so far. I remind myself that there is a vast number of years between tv Elrond and Elrond from "The Lord of the Rings." He shouldn't have the same presence. This slightly more awkward one makes sense.

 

[Aeson]

Am I wrong for wanting to kick the half-elf kid into the fiery depths of Mount Doom?

 

[Mercurius]

Someone on the last page said "better than I feared, not as good as I hoped." I've only watched the first episode, but that's how I feel so far.

I don't like the depiction of elves, though. I was immediately put off by the opening scene in which the elvish came across as Celtic human brats, just in nicer clothes. I just don't see Tolkien's elves, even children, behaving in such a way. This was compounded by Elrond writing...a political speech for Gil-galad? That, again, was quite incongruous with Tolkien's depiction of elves, for whom Art (capital A) was a way of life - the most basic mode of being. One would think that such very human frailties--as a king needing a speech-writer--would not be applicable, especially to a thousands-of-years old Elvish high king.

Meaning, the elves are far too human. They come across as idealized Celts, at best. And given the centrality of elves to Tolkien and this series, this is disappointing.

I also felt it was quite boring. I'm not one to need lots of action, and in some sense prefer non-action scenes even to fantasy tales, but the dialogue was tedious and the acting mediocre, for the most part.

Now the good: Impressive visuals, for the most part. And...well, I'll wait for the second episode.

 

[Davies]

Interesting call-forward from Elrond's conversation with Galadriel to the one he will much later have with Arwen.

As to the elf children in that first scene ... innocence is not the positive that it once was. It can also be an unawareness of how one can hurt, or be hurt. The scene also sets up Galadriel's darker side in a way that the Helkaraxe (which can't be used) could have done.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Poppy and Nori are reminding me quite a bit of Sam and Frodo, actually, which I don't think is an accident.

Elrond on the other hand is completely wrong. For the record, I was not at all fond of his depiction in the films either, but even that was somewhat preferable. He's a lore-master and herald of Gil-galad. This unflattering depiction reduces him, to use Galadriel's word, to a politician, and a smarmy one at that.

Herald means politician.

 

[MarkB]

Someone on the last page said "better than I feared, not as good as I hoped." I've only watched the first episode, but that's how I feel so far.

I don't like the depiction of elves, though. I was immediately put off by the opening scene in which the elvish came across as Celtic human brats, just in nicer clothes. I just don't see Tolkien's elves, even children, behaving in such a way. This was compounded by Elrond writing...a political speech for Gil-galad? That, again, was quite incongruous with Tolkien's depiction of elves, for whom Art (capital A) was a way of life - the most basic mode of being. One would think that such very human frailties--as a king needing a speech-writer--would not be applicable, especially to a thousands-of-years old Elvish high king.

Meaning, the elves are far too human. They come across as idealized Celts, at best. And given the centrality of elves to Tolkien and this series, this is disappointing.

I also felt it was quite boring. I'm not one to need lots of action, and in some sense prefer non-action scenes even to fantasy tales, but the dialogue was tedious and the acting mediocre, for the most part.

Now the good: Impressive visuals, for the most part. And...well, I'll wait for the second episode.

Even in Tolkien's writing, elves weren't perfect beings incapable of cruelty or pettiness. Look at the dwarves' interactions with the elves of Mirkwood in The Hobbit.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

7/10 good effort but needs improvement.

It did feel a bit awkward at times, and I would have also preferred a little more unearthliness and Faerie in the elves. Hopefully the actors will grow into their roles. I’m also hoping they avoid too much Wuxia in the combat, but recognise that this is kind of par for the course in 2022.

 

[Hriston]

Herald means politician.

her·ald
/ˈherəld/
HISTORICAL
an official employed to oversee state ceremony, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings, and to make proclamations, carry ceremonial messages, and oversee tournaments.

pol·i·ti·cian
/ˌpäləˈtiSHən/
a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office.
"a local politician"

• US
  a person who acts in a manipulative and devious way, typically to gain advancement within an organization.

Not the same.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

her·ald
/ˈherəld/
HISTORICAL
an official employed to oversee state ceremony, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings, and to make proclamations, carry ceremonial messages, and oversee tournaments.

pol·i·ti·cian
/ˌpäləˈtiSHən/
a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office.
"a local politician"

• US
  a person who acts in a manipulative and devious way, typically to gain advancement within an organization.

Not the same.

It helps if you know the full meaning, rather than just read the first thing that pops up on an online dictionary. A herald, as used by Tolkien, is the representative of a ruler. It's almost the same as an ambassador, apart from a herald represents an individual, rather than a nation.

And an ambassador is a professional politician.

Another example, as used by Tolkien, is the Mouth of Sauron, who is Sauron's Herald.

All the stuff about heraldry evolved later, in the medieval period. But Tolkien was a Saxon scholar, not a medievalist.