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

[Ryujin]

I loed that finale. I did have one quetion though -- I'm no Tolkien expert, but didn't Suaron call himself something else (Annatar or something?) when tricking the elves? Or am I misremembering some half forgotten discussion? Not that it matters, and I suppose that would have given the game away.

Yup, Annatar, Lord of Gifts.

 

[Parmandur]

Is that your take or interview with writers? I assume the later podcast and all.

That's the writers take: the point of all the major plotlines was that the good guys fell flat on their faces, and put the Elven leaders in a corner where the right answer was probably "sail to Valinor and have faith things will work out" but instead they cling to power and use the enemies tactic (make magic rings to forestall the will of the Valar).

 

[Parmandur]

We have established a McGuffin: rings require mithril, and all the currently available supply has been used up. So next season Sauron is going to have to go cap-in-hand to the dwarves to get more. How will he pay for it? With seven rings. Oh yeah, and a balrog. It's quite clever really.

I have an idea they have planned this seasonal structure for the show:

Sesson One: Three Rings
Sesson Two: Seven Rings
Sesson Three: Nine Rings
Sesson Four: One Ring
Sesson Five: The Land of Mordor


Also: LotR: good protagonist on a quest to destroy the Ring, RoP: evil protagonist on a quest to forge the Ring. It's just the sort of mirroring these writers seem to like. They are not going to make the forging of the One Ring easy for Sauron.

I really like their portrayal of Sauron as a hero un his own mind. He wants to save the world!

 

[Parmandur]

Really? I didn't make the connection on that one. It's a line written by Bilbo about Aragorn, and the idea of it originating from a Harfoot song passed down through generations seemed connection enough. How does it tie to Gandalf?

No, it's a line written by Gandalf in the letter he leaves for Frodo in Bree. The moment I heard it here, I knew that they were supplying a backstory for Gandalf's love of Hobbits.

 

[Parmandur]

I loed that finale. I did have one quetion though -- I'm no Tolkien expert, but didn't Suaron call himself something else (Annatar or something?) when tricking the elves? Or am I misremembering some half forgotten discussion? Not that it matters, and I suppose that would have given the game away.

You are right, but I expect either we will hear thst name in future Seasons, or that none fell through the cracks due to complex rights issues with the Simirillion. They nanecheck it in his dialog with Celebrimbor, however, when he talks about his idea being a "gift" ("Anatar = "bringer of gifts")

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

No, it's a line written by Gabdalf in the letter he leaves for Frodo in Bree. The moment I heard it here, I knew thst they were supplying a backstop for Gandalf's love of Hobbits.

Actually @MarkB has it correctly. Bilbo wrote it, Gandalf reused it in his letter.

----
Frodo felt Bilbo stir impatiently at his side. Evidently he was annoyed on his friend’s behalf. Standing suddenly up he burst out:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
The crownless again shall be king.

‘Not very good perhaps, but to the point – if you need more beyond the word of Elrond. If that was worth a journey of a hundred and ten days to hear, you had best listen to it.’ He sat down with a snort.

‘I made that up myself,’ he whispered to Frodo, ‘for the Dunadan, a long time ago when he first told me about himself. I almost wish that my adventures were not over, and that I could go with him when his day comes.’

- The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, Chapter 2, "The Council of Elrond"

 

[Lidgar]

Did I hear correctly that the gems used in the elven rings contained a bit of the essence of the Valar?

If so, could that essence be what protects the elves from the power of the One Ring down the line?

 

[Sepulchrave II]

And, by giving him a personality, rather than just a simple embodiment of evil, I think Lucifer is a better comparison than Satan.

He seems more like Milton's Belial to me.

On th' other side up rose
BELIAL, in act more graceful and humane;
A fairer person lost not Heav'n; he seemd
For dignity compos'd and high exploit:
But all was false and hollow; though his Tongue
Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Maturest Counsels

I'm hoping the actor - who is Australian - drops the Yorkshire accent in his role of Sauron, and goes more RSC. It's grim up North, but Sheffield's not as bad as Mordor.

 

[Zaukrie]

That show is great fantasy. I can't figure out how any fantasy fan doesn't love it.

 

[Zaukrie]

That's the writers take: the point of all the major plotlines was that the good guys fell flat on their faces, and put the Elven leaders in a corner where the right answer was probably "sail to Valinor and have faith things will work out" but instead they cling to power and use the enemies tactic (make magic rings to forestall the will of the Valar).

The right answer was to leave middle earth to Sauron? Nah.... That was the easy path.