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

[billd91]

I think the shadow of the boat we see at the end of the second episode is going to be Numenorean.

I hope so. They're the major power of the Second Age. We need to start seeing them.

I'm not sure what you think these biographical details imply about Elrond. The show-writers seem to be leaning into a certain depiction of Elrond as a crafty statesman, and I find it to be unfitting. Elrond is a lore-master and a healer. He established the refuge of Rivendell for his people after the fall of Eregion. None of that says cunning diplomat to me.

No, I'm down with it so far. Elrond isn't just a lore master and healer. He was the herald of the high king - and that probably means he got sent around doing things for Gil-Galad like being sent to Eregion from Lindon. Plus, he becomes the lord of the Noldor remnant in Middle Earth when he leads them and establishes Imladris, and that tells me the people followed him, probably because he was good at leading and statecraft and not just lore and healing. He's definitely a polymath.

 

[Ryujin]

I'm not sure what you think these biographical details imply about Elrond. The show-writers seem to be leaning into a certain depiction of Elrond as a crafty statesman, and I find it to be unfitting. Elrond is a lore-master and a healer. He established the refuge of Rivendell for his people after the fall of Eregion. None of that says cunning diplomat to me.

You're disregarding the possibility of change, due to extremis. We may well see him become the person he is, in later life, through the difficulties that we know are coming.

 

[Hriston]

He’s explicitly stated to hold a political position in an important court at this point in his life. A herald in this context is a political position. A diplomat.

If you find it incongruous to see the young version of a subtle and wise leader who is stated to have been a diplomat under a great old king depicted as a canny diplomat…I think you and I have biases and expectations that are too far apart of further discussion on the topic to be fruitful.

I think you're right about that. I don't think Elrond shouldn't be capable. It's just that we see him maneuvering against Galadriel while at the same time professing friendship, which leans too far into the dishonest politician trope for the conception I have of the character.

 

[reelo]

... they're doing the right thing in convincing her to make the voyage to Valinor - which, it must be noted, isn't just some empty honour, it's a reward that every Elf has spent thousands of years yearning for.

A reward they are technically not able to bestow: Galadriel having been one of the chief actors in the Fëanorian rebellion, after the War of Wrath she is one of the few remaining Noldor in Middle-Earth explicitly bound by the Doom of Mandos and banned from returning to Valinor.

It is only when (In the Lord of the Rings) she prays to Manwë that Frodo might go to Eressëa in her stead, that her ban is lifted, by the Valar themselves!

 

[Nikosandros]

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

Yes Poppy and Nori work for me, but I'm perplexed both by Elrond and especially Galadriel. I get that she's supposed to be extremely intense and driven, but - in the first two episodes, I found her somewhat unconvincing.

 

[Hriston]

You're disregarding the possibility of change, due to extremis. We may well see him become the person he is, in later life, through the difficulties that we know are coming.

Yes, of course. This is standard character development in a prequel. You give the character a flaw they didn't have in the original material and have them overcome it by the end of the prequel to become more like the character we recognize. It's getting pretty tired as a storytelling technique if you ask me.

 

[Hriston]

I hope so. They're the major power of the Second Age. We need to start seeing them.

Agreed, and the fact they haven't been mentioned in any of the exposition is quite odd, as if their existence is a secret to Galadriel and the elves of Middle-earth. I think the show wants it to be a big reveal in the third episode for some reason.

No, I'm down with it so far. Elrond isn't just a lore master and healer. He was the herald of the high king - and that probably means he got sent around doing things for Gil-Galad like being sent to Eregion from Lindon. Plus, he becomes the lord of the Noldor remnant in Middle Earth when he leads them and establishes Imladris, and that tells me the people followed him, probably because he was good at leading and statecraft and not just lore and healing. He's definitely a polymath.

I'd be fine with that depiction. It's the hint of backstabbing that seems off to me.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Even in Tolkien's writing, elves weren't perfect beings incapable of cruelty or pettiness.

That's more of a 2E D&D thing

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It amuses me that, in future, D&D players will be able to point at harfoots as an example of the 3E/4E wandering halfling. The circle is now complete.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You're disregarding the possibility of change, due to extremis. We may well see him become the person he is, in later life, through the difficulties that we know are coming.

I would assume that would be a large part of the fun of writing this series.

"They end up X, but where would they have been three thousand (!) years prior?"