This gets more interesting.

Unless the timeline is totally screwed up, I'd guess this begins with the forging of the 3 elvish rings, 7 dwarf rings, 9 rings of men and finally the one ring in some sort of prologue. For example the rings of power were forged almost 2000 years before Elendil and sons set foot in Middle Earth.

So this probably begins with backstory then moves to present day -- being very late Second Age -- when Arnor and Gondor battle the forces of Mordor. We see the three chief cities of Gondor on the map with their original names and the capital in the north, Annuminas, but not the second capital of the north, Fornost. The season probably ends around the last alliance.

Keep in mind how long these damn Numenoreans live so it would not be uncommon from a pure Tolkeinist perspective to have multiple 10+ year jumps forward until something worthwhile happens. Another example: There are over 100 years between Elendil coming to Middle Earth and Isildur taking the ring from Sauron.

Would not be surprised if time spans are shortened since human viewers tend to not like processing extra long lifespans given our own 70-100 year range.

EDIT: The three Hobbit races had not yet migrated over the Misty Mountains yet either so there is no Shire if we believe the map.

Shife said:

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This gets more interesting.

Unless the timeline is totally screwed up, I'd guess this begins with the forging of the 3 elvish rings, 7 dwarf rings, 9 rings of men and finally the one ring in some sort of prologue. For example the rings of power were forged almost 2000 years before Elendil and sons set foot in Middle Earth.

So this probably begins with backstory then moves to present day -- being very late Second Age -- when Arnor and Gondor battle the forces of Mordor. We see the three chief cities of Gondor on the map with their original names and the capital in the north, Annuminas, but not the second capital of the north, Fornost. The season probably ends around the last alliance.

Keep in mind how long these damn Numenoreans live so it would not be uncommon from a pure Tolkeinist perspective to have multiple 10+ year jumps forward until something worthwhile happens. Another example: There are over 100 years between Elendil coming to Middle Earth and Isildur taking the ring from Sauron.

Would not be surprised if time spans are shortened since human viewers tend to not like processing extra long lifespans given our own 70-100 year range.

EDIT: The three Hobbit races had not yet migrated over the Misty Mountains yet either so there is no Shire if we believe the map.

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I have never felt more out-nerded before in my entire life than right now.

I'm just hoping there's a little character known as Tom Bombadil

All the good stuff is contained in:
1. LOTR Appendix A for Numenor, Arnor and Gondor history, 7 clans of dwarves
2. Last two parts of the Simarillion concerning the downfall of Numenor and a short recap of forging the rings to Sauron's ultimate end
3. Unfinished Tales - history of the Wizards and palantiri and I cannot recommend enough the Quest of Erebor chapter that is a much darker account of Gandald's need to get Thorin to defeat Smaug

Much of these writings are essays and they have been edited by Christopher Tolkien. Thankfully he did not go the route of Frank Herbert's son and try to create nearly as much new content as was done to the Dune universe.

I have struggled for years trying to digest the First Age material. At a high level I understand all the battles with Morgoth and the Silmaril and Gondolin, etc etc but that material is not as engaging as The Hobbit or LOTR. Aside from the fall of Gondolin the mythology and creation stuff is not very interesting. To be fair none of this was really in narrative format though, and never intended to be read like a story.

Shife said:

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All the good stuff is contained in:
1. LOTR Appendix A for Numenor, Arnor and Gondor history, 7 clans of dwarves
2. Last two parts of the Simarillion concerning the downfall of Numenor and a short recap of forging the rings to Sauron's ultimate end
3. Unfinished Tales - history of the Wizards and palantiri and I cannot recommend enough the Quest of Erebor chapter that is a much darker account of Gandald's need to get Thorin to defeat Smaug

Much of these writings are essays and they have been edited by Christopher Tolkien. Thankfully he did not go the route of Frank Herbert's son and try to create nearly as much new content as was done to the Dune universe.

I have struggled for years trying to digest the First Age material. At a high level I understand all the battles with Morgoth and the Silmaril and Gondolin, etc etc but that material is not as engaging as The Hobbit or LOTR. Aside from the fall of Gondolin the mythology and creation stuff is not very interesting. To be fair none of this was really in narrative format though, and never intended to be read like a story.

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Ah, yes...of course, of course...

Legal Custodian said:

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hunter2012 said:

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Anyone wanting some background on this should play the Shadow of Mordor games, especially Shadows of War as it gets into the history of the 9 kings and the origin of the Gondorians living in Mordor. Also they're awesome games.

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Will do! Didn't realize those games were set that far back in time. Thought it was more right before the Fellowship following around a random Ranger

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Not to be that guy, but Shadow of Mordor treated the lore and backstory to Lord of the Rings about the same as Harvey Weinstein treated actresses. Other than character and places names, very little can be considered accurate. If you want to learn about where Amazon appears to be setting this show (Second Age)... Shadow of Mordor is not the place to go.

Gameplay was pretty good, though.

Legal Custodian said:

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Good Aggie Hunting said:

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Surprising they released this map so quick after the last one. It's been about 5 days inbetween map releases. Makes me think there will be some type of official announcement soon.

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The gaps have been 3 days, 7 Days, 9 days, and 1 day. It's from the verse:

Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for mortal men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne;
In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.

One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them;
In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.

From the features on each of the maps, It looks as if the Series is going to focus on the Second age, which among other things included the forging of the Great Rings, the 1000 year wars of the Elves and Sauron, downfall of Numenor (basically the Tolkien Atlantis), the creation of the Nazgul, the Founding of Gondor and Arnor (The successor to Numenors), and the Wars of the Last Alliance.

The fan boy is pretty excited, but the Tolkien nut is fairly worried because so much will have to be invented. Characters, Characterizations, Plot points, dialogue... everything.

This show will be 6 seasons of people walking.