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

[Zardnaar]

I need to rewatch episode 3 as I fell asleep. Not due to the show was just really shattered.

Dwarven Scotti's accent thing was around in 90's afaik predating Jackson's LOTR movies.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Dwarven Scotti's accent thing was around in 90's afaik predating Jackson's LOTR movies.

This. I was trying to trace it back to it's root. It's tricky, but I think it's D&D. The earliest written evidence of Scots-speaking dwarves I can find is in Darkwalker on Moonshae, the first Forgotten Realms novel (1987). However, I seem to remember images of kilted ginger dwarves (which could be considered a racist stereotype) associated with Warhammer, also in the mid-late 80s. I have no datable evidence for that though.

 

[Zardnaar]

This. I was trying to trace it back to it's root. It's tricky, but I think it's D&D. The earliest written evidence of Scots-speaking dwarves I can find is in Darkwalker on Moonshae, the first Forgotten Realms novel (1987). However, I seem to remember images of kilted ginger dwarves (which could be considered a racist stereotype) associated with Warhammer, also in the mid-late 80s. I have no datable evidence for that though.

D&D Scottish Dwarves were in novels at least.

 

[Maxperson]

Finally watched the episode. They're almost trying too hard to make us think Halbrand is Sauron. (His one skill, other than brooding: metal work.)

Two skills. Honeyed words. He's really good at persuading people.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They're almost trying too hard to make us think Halbrand is Sauron.

I think they are trying really hard to make us think several characters could be Sauron. Which is why I plumped for the sword. Agatha Christie style misdirection.

 

[reelo]

I've seen a compelling argument for the fact that Halbrand being evil is a red herring, and his people becoming the ancestors to what will later become the Rohirrim.

Exhibit A: His early promo posters. He will probably forge that horse-head sword himself.

Exhibit B: His name is Rohirric. Halbrand means "strong-sword" in Old English, the language that Tolkien used to represent the language of Rohan. Remember the character Erkenbrand ("precious-sword") from the Two Towers novel (his role was given to Éomer in the films).

Exhibit C: We've seen Halbrand on horseback a couple times in the trailers and he does seem like a good rider. He's also clearly talented at blacksmithing (NOT silversmithing), an important skill in Rohan's culture (armor, weapons, horseshoes, etc).

Exhibit D: Composer Bear McCreary chose to use the Norwegian hardanger fiddle as the primary instrument to represent Halbrand. This is an unusual instrument and has been used in only a few cinematic scores before now, the most notable being The Lord of the Rings films where composer Howard Shore used the hardanger fiddle to represent Rohan and its people. Halbrand has a musical connection to Rohan.

While those are compelling arguments, Tolkien has stated that the ancestors of the Rohirrim lived in the (upper) Vales of the Anduin, and are more akin to the Dalemen and the Beornings. They are so-called "Middle Men" that are neither counted among the Edain, nor were ever in league with Morgoth in the First Age.

Maybe the writers will have Halbrand's kin be exiled from what is about to become Mordor, and move up the Anduin to mingle with, or become, the ancestors of the aforementioned people. Who knows.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The name Halbrand is Saxon. Pretty much all the non-numenorian humans we have met have Saxon names.

 

[Zardnaar]

The name Halbrand is Saxon. Pretty much all the non-numenorian humans we have met have Saxon names.

Fantasy Germans and Scots.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Fantasy Germans and Scots.

No, they are very deliberately and systematically Saxon. It's not a case of random fantasy name generator. I'm pretty sure the writers are sufficiently Tolkien-fans that their choice of names is significant. Halbrand means "half-edged [sword]".

 

[Zardnaar]

No, they are very deliberately and systematically Saxon. It's not a case of random fantasy name generator. I'm pretty sure the writers are sufficiently Tolkien-fans that their choice of names is significant. Halbrand means "half-edged [sword]".

Bad joke Saxons originated in Germany. Saxony even. Proto Germans?