Spoilers Rings of Power is back!

[Ibrandul]

And how did they know about Sauron, anyway?

This one, at least, has an obvious answer: Arphy saw it in the bowling ball.

• How Gandalf got his name

In Season 3 Grandelf visits the Mistless Vale and meets a lisping elf who proclaims “Stranger, there’re no mithth ‘round ‘ere”

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Badly choreographed fight scene between Sauron and Galadriel

My wife pointed out that the actress seems to be pregnant (and pretty far along) during the sequence. She's mostly just fighting with her right arm, looks thicker around the middle, and isn't nearly as nimble as she was in the first season.

I suspect next season she will be a much more active combatant once again.

 

[Kaodi]

My wife pointed out that the actress seems to be pregnant (and pretty far along) during the sequence. She's mostly just fighting with her right arm, looks thicker around the middle, and isn't nearly as nimble as she was in the first season.

I suspect next season she will be a much more active combatant once again.

Actually I expect that Galadriel will be focusing on the magic from here on out. I think that is what the "gown" look at the end telegraphs. Fighting Sauron one and one while being partially compromised by him was pretty high tier though.

I am actually a bit sad about Adar. I guess it had to happen at some point for the story to move forward. But his whole arc was a nice diversion from the usual orc MO.

Are we sure that the Dark Wizard is supposed to Saruman? He certainly looks reminiscent of him, but why would Gandalf ever ally with him later if he is so clearly a piece of bantha poodoo? Did he not say he was a servant of Manwe, whereas Saruman was, like Sauron, a servant of Aule?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Are we sure that the Dark Wizard is supposed to Saruman? He certainly looks reminiscent of him, but why would Gandalf ever ally with him later if he is so clearly a piece of bantha poodoo? Did he not say he was a servant of Manwe, whereas Saruman was, like Sauron, a servant of Aule?

Even though the Stranger isn't a Blue Wizard, I'm pretty sure the Dark Wizard is. They're trolling us with him looking so much like Saruman, but he doesn't have the staff from the movie, whereas Gandalf's staff is either exactly the same staff or meant to strongly resemble Gandalf the Grey's stick.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

Are we sure that the Dark Wizard is supposed to Saruman? He certainly looks reminiscent of him, but why would Gandalf ever ally with him later if he is so clearly a piece of bantha poodoo? Did he not say he was a servant of Manwe, whereas Saruman was, like Sauron, a servant of Aule?

Why would you think that a fidelity to lore applies in this case in particular, when it has been ignored in so many others?

In the Alatar/Pallando iteration of the Blue Wizards, it is Oromë who chooses Alatar, and he brings Pallando as a friend. This is the version that places Curunir as a Maia of Aulë.

In the Morinehtar and Rómestámo iteration of the Blue Wizards, which brings them with Glorfindel to Middle-Earth around SA 1600, no particular Vala is associated with their mission.

Even though the Stranger isn't a Blue Wizard, I'm pretty sure the Dark Wizard is. They're trolling us with him looking so much like Saruman, but he doesn't have the staff from the movie, whereas Gandalf's staff is either exactly the same staff or meant to strongly resemble Gandalf the Grey's stick.

Saruman's staff in the movie is designed to evoke Orthanc, and while the show draws heavily on the movies, I don't think it's completely bound by their symbols.

Given that the show can't use any of the names associated with the Blue Wizards - and maybe even the term "Blue Wizard" - because they don't have the rights, I suspect it will be Saruman.

Besides, 'member Saruman? Either that, or they'll just leave him as "The Dark Wizard" or choose some other name.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Why would you think that a fidelity to lore applies in this case in particular, when it has been ignored in so many others?

In the Alatar/Palallando iteration of the Blue Wizards, it is Oromë who chooses Alatar, and he brings Pallando as a friend. This is the version that places Curunir as a Maia of Aulë.

In the Morinehtar and Rómestámo iteration of the Blue Wizards, which brings them with Glorfindel to Middle-Earth around SA 1600, no particular Vala is associated with their mission.



Saruman's staff in the movie is designed to evoke Orthanc, and while the show draws heavily on the movies, I don't think it's completely bound by their symbols.

Given that the show can't use any of the names associated with the Blue Wizards - and maybe even the term "Blue Wizard" - because they don't have the rights, I suspect it will be Saruman.

Besides, 'member Saruman? Either that, or they'll just leave him as "The Dark Wizard" or choose some other name.

They've paid to use names they don't otherwise have the rights to before. I see no reason they couldn't do so for the Blues.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

They've paid to use names they don't otherwise have the rights to before. I see no reason they couldn't do so for the Blues.

Maybe, I guess. But I think they would have already put it out there, if that were the case.

 

[ART!]

Mostly loved this last ep, but that sequence at the end with the elves was so oddly shot or edited, or both. I was confused initially what the mass of elves was looking at toward the end, like something was appearing above them, and then Mrs ART! said "what are they looking at?". So, it wasn't just me. They were looking up at the main characters on the cliff, but the way that was all put together was really odd.

And I 100% expected someone there to say "what is this place" and Elrond to say, dramatically, "I call it...Rivendell."

Also? Disappointed we didn't get more Arondir this season.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Mostly loved this last ep, but that sequence at the end with the elves was so oddly shot or edited, or both. I was confused initially what the mass of elves was looking at toward the end, like something was appearing above them, and then Mrs ART! said "what are they looking at?". So, it wasn't just me. They were looking up at the main characters on the cliff, but the way that was all put together was really odd.

And I 100% expected someone there to say "what is this place" and Elrond to say, dramatically, "I call it...Rivendell."

Also? Disappointed we didn't get more Arondir this season.

Not quite sure why he popped up half-way through the episode completely uninjured either. Cool character though.

 

[The Soloist]

I'm assuming Gil-Galad healed Arondir with the ring.