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

[Rabulias]

In which case he would have a high fever, which would make him unable to ride a horse.

I doubt that he would be unable to ride. It might make it more difficult, but certainly not impossible, unless the fever is very high.

 

[Hriston]

I think they just wandered into the wrong story.

"Middle Earth? Bugger, we thought this was Scotland!" [Exit in search of a blasted heath].

Yup, I've actually been suppressing the urge to refer to them as the "Weird Sisters", and I think the comparison to Macbeth is apt in that their statement is on the form of a prediction. Thus, their purpose seems to be to reveal the true identity of the person they're following.

 

[Hriston]

Our initial assumption is that the Forge is intended to be used to make the Rings, but in light of later episodes isn't it more likely that its intended usage is to work mithril?

I don't think so. Celebrimbor keeps talking about "power" as he does in the season finale trailer when he says, "We are on the cusp of crafting a new kind of power."

 

[Hriston]

They mentioned that the wound has "turned sour", aka its infected. Apparently elves have anti-biotics

I don't know much about infected wounds, but I just thought it was odd that Halbrand looks like he's on his deathbed and Galadriel's proposed solution is to make a journey on horseback of over 1,300 miles to Lindon. Now, I suppose if the only way to stop the infection is to get help from the elves that it makes sense to ride, and perhaps they will head to Eregion instead, which there's a scene in the new trailer of two riders approaching, and which would only be a journey of maybe 800 miles.

 

[Hriston]

It's my understanding that the Eye is only a kind of metaphysical manifestation of Sauron, which is perceived by the Wise, or those who wear rings in the right circumstances (on Amon Hen, in Mordor etc.), or when facilitated by some other magic - such as a palantir, the Mirror of Galadriel etc. It is also his symbol, of course.

I agree with you that there is a metaphysical Eye described in the books, but many people cite this passage (bolding mine) from Book Six of the LotR as support for the idea that there was also a physical Eye atop Sauron's tower that could in some way be identified with his will:

Far off the shadows of Sauron hung; but torn by some gust of wind out of the world, or else moved by some great disquiet within, the mantling clouds swirled, and for a moment drew aside; and then he saw, rising black, blacker and darker than the vast shades amid which it stood, the cruel pinnacles and iron crown of the topmost tower of Barad-dûr. One moment only it stared out, but as from some great window immeasurably high there stabbed northward a flame of red, the flicker of a piercing Eye; and then the shadows were furled again and the terrible vision was removed.​

That is why I said it's debatable, although I agree with you. I think what is seen in this passage is more of a beacon or a search light than an actual eye.

It seems that Sauron spent the first part of the Third Age forming a corporeal body. Deprived of the ring, this took much longer than after the downfall of Numenor. By the end of the Third Age, he seems to have had a body, though. According to Gollum, who was personally interrogated by Sauron, "there are four fingers on the Black Hand," suggesting his physical form was now maimed (c.f Morgoth's wounds dealt by Fingolfin). Denethor tells Pippin "He will not come save only to triumph over me when all is won."

It's equally possible that Gollum's "black hand" is a metaphysical hand just as the Eye is metaphysical.

Appendices, LotR


Appendices, LotR

Of The Rings of Power and the Third Age, Silmarillion

The interpretation of these passages depends on what is meant by "taking shape" and "growing" which isn't entirely clear. It could mean that his power is manifesting and growing in the world through political alliances and the like.

In Letter 246 Tolkien describes Sauron's physical appearance in the Third Age.

This passage is different and is, I think, the best evidence for Sauron taking a physical humanoid form in the Third Age, although it suffers from having a lesser degree of canonicity.

 

[Hriston]

Of course there is this quote from the Silmarillion which speaks of the Eye of Sauron being a thing in the last days of the Second Age following the Downfall of Númenor:

But Sauron was not of mortal flesh, and though he was robbed now of that shape in which had wrought so great an evil, so that he could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men, yet his spirit arose out of the deep and passed as a shadow and a black wind over the sea, and came back to Middle-earth and to Mordor that was his home. There he took up again his great Ring in Barad-dur, and dwelt there, dark and silent, until he wrought himself a new guise, an image of malice and hatred made visible; and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure.​

 

[Sepulchrave II]

Of course there is this quote from the Silmarillion which speaks of the Eye of Sauron being a thing in the last days of the Second Age following the Downfall of Númenor:

But Sauron was not of mortal flesh, and though he was robbed now of that shape in which had wrought so great an evil, so that he could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men, yet his spirit arose out of the deep and passed as a shadow and a black wind over the sea, and came back to Middle-earth and to Mordor that was his home. There he took up again his great Ring in Barad-dur, and dwelt there, dark and silent, until he wrought himself a new guise, an image of malice and hatred made visible; and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure.​

That's fair. I suspect that this ambiguity from Tolkien is also intentional; he emphasizes the supernatural aspects of Sauron: his ability to act at a great distance; dominate minds; control the snows of Caradhras (possibly); cause Orodruin to erupt; blanket the lands with darkness etc. In that sense, the Eye is also a cipher for Sauron's capacity to effect his power; to assert his will upon the world.

I think the reason that we never see a fully reified Sauron, and that this (physical form) is only ever alluded to, is precisely to convey this mysterious, tremendous power which is beyond the ability of mortals to grasp.

 

[Ryujin]

That's fair. I suspect that this ambiguity from Tolkien is also intentional; he emphasizes the supernatural aspects of Sauron: his ability to act at a great distance; dominate minds; control the snows of Caradhras (possibly); cause Orodruin to erupt; blanket the lands with darkness etc. In that sense, the Eye is also a cipher for Sauron's capacity to effect his power; to assert his will upon the world.

I think the reason that we never see a fully reified Sauron, and that this (physical form) is only ever alluded to, is precisely to convey this mysterious, tremendous power which is beyond the ability of mortals to grasp.

In the series, however, that would appear to be his physical form at the 51 second mark of the season finale trailer.

Remember, The Silmarillion and any materials beyond LOTR and its appendices aren't usable in the series.

 

[reelo]

I don't know much about infected wounds, but I just thought it was odd that Halbrand looks like he's on his deathbed and Galadriel's proposed solution is to make a journey on horseback of over 1,300 miles to Lindon. Now, I suppose if the only way to stop the infection is to get help from the elves that it makes sense to ride, and perhaps they will head to Eregion instead, which there's a scene in the new trailer of two riders approaching, and which would only be a journey of maybe 800 miles.

Yeah, it'll be like GoT where 800 (or even 1,3k) miles of travel will take a couple days at best. [emoji19][emoji19][emoji19]

 

[Stalker0]

I don't know much about infected wounds, but I just thought it was odd that Halbrand looks like he's on his deathbed and Galadriel's proposed solution is to make a journey on horseback of over 1,300 miles to Lindon. Now, I suppose if the only way to stop the infection is to get help from the elves that it makes sense to ride, and perhaps they will head to Eregion instead, which there's a scene in the new trailer of two riders approaching, and which would only be a journey of maybe 800 miles.

And when we are talking riding 800 miles....or death....I think most people would suck it up and make the attempt

I'm sure Halbrand will be near death by the time he makes it of course, it will be a "test" of sorts for him.