Rings of Power is Back [+] Appreciation

[Eric V]

One of the things I enjoy the most about this show is Bear McCreary's scores. For my money, his character, race, and location themes are as good as anything in the Jackson et al films. Spent this past week at work listening to the scores for every episode of season 1, and what's available for season 2 thus far.

It's all available on Amazon Prime Music, and most of it is on Spotify. Don't know about Apple Music or whatever it's called.

Yeah, between this, Outlander and BSG I have become quite the McCreary fan!

 

[TheSword]

Yeah, between this, Outlander and BSG I have become quite the McCreary fan!

I didn’t know he did BSG

 

[MarkB]

Yeah, between this, Outlander and BSG I have become quite the McCreary fan!

I know him mostly from the PS4 God of War. I liked that they gave him a cameo in the sequel.

 

[TheSword]

Interesting that the nine rings are the first to be crafted with Sauron’s blood.

 

[Nikosandros]

Interesting that the nine rings are the first to be crafted with Sauron’s blood.

Yes, that's a fascinating idea. It explains why the nine corrupt far more than the seven. Was it simply his blood, or was it mithril corrupted by blood? I'm assuming the former because, IIRC, no one actually brought more mithril, but I'm not sure.

 

[Nikosandros]

Speaking more in general, I agree with other posters that the score is very good. I'm also quite liking it visually.

As I said elsewhere, I feel that the writing has improved a lot in this season and also the acting of some of the characters, but this might actually be a sign of better direction.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Interesting that the nine rings are the first to be crafted with Sauron’s blood.

It's a nice short-hand for the adaptation to show how they were corrupted.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yes, that's a fascinating idea. It would explain why the nine corrupt far more than the seven. Was it simply his blood, or was it mithril corrupted by blood? I'm assuming the former because, IIRC, no one actually brought more mithril, but I'm not sure.

That's my understanding, yes, since Annatar never actually got any mithral from the Dwarves in that last run. The whole thing was basically high level illusion magic.

 

[ART!]

I must say I am loving Celebrimbor. He has gone one a real journey from proud, elegant and dare I say arrogant elf lord to be broken by Sauron, to the rise back up against it.

He had a great line, “truly you are the great deceiver, you even deceive yourself”. I though crippling himself to escape was very noble. I also thought the reveal of the illusion with his workshop destroyed and him unwashed and filthy was well done. Even the mouse and the gem that allowed him to see through the illusion. That is some mirrage arcana shiz right there.

I’m liking him a lot.

Though I’m guessing Sauron holds him now until the great ring is forged.

I wonder about this. I don't know in the lore how long Celebrimbor survives, but I think Sauron and Feanor both trained under [smith Valar whose name I've forgotten], so maybe he doesn't need Celebrimbor for the One.

I was niggling in the other thread about how I disliked that Celebrimbor has no one really close to him who is with him in Eregion and is affected by Sauron's manipulations. I get that Sauron is taking advantage of that lack of support system, but why was it there in the first place? Has the show established that he has self-isolated? I'm just curious if I've missed something. We know he is kind of obsessed with making something "truly great", which Sauron is also playing on, and that could lend itself to isolating, too - although really he should be reaching out to learn even more.

Anyway, he's a fascinating character, I like what the show has done with him, and Charles Edwards has done a great job of playing someone who seems harmless and well-intentioned, but who has had that turned against him.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I wonder about this. I don't know in the lore how long Celebrimbor survives, but I think Sauron and Feanor both trained under [smith Valar whose name I've forgotten], so maybe he doesn't need Celebrimbor for the One.

I was niggling in the other thread about how I disliked that Celebrimbor has no one really close to him who is with him in Eregion and is affected by Sauron's manipulations. I get that Sauron is taking advantage of that lack of support system, but why was it there in the first place? Has the show established that he has self-isolated? I'm just curious if I've missed something. We know he is kind of obsessed with making something "truly great", which Sauron is also playing on, and that could lend itself to isolating, too - although really he should be reaching out to learn even more.

Anyway, he's a fascinating character, I like what the show has done with him, and Charles Edwards has done a great job of playing someone who seems harmless and well-intentioned, but who has had that turned against him.

I know. Happy to spoil if you're interested.