Brian Earl Spilner said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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So, onto show discussion - what are the current betting odds on the ID of the stranger? Is this our Sauron?

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My predictions would be:

1. A blue wizard
2. Balrog
3. New character
4. Gandalf
5. Sauron (But this one just doesn't make much sense to me as Sauron should still physically exist.)

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I've heard some people theorize it's Tom Bombadil. I don't think so.

I like the blue wizard thought. That is what I would put my money on right now.

Beat40 said:

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Brian Earl Spilner said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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So, onto show discussion - what are the current betting odds on the ID of the stranger? Is this our Sauron?

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My predictions would be:

1. A blue wizard
2. Balrog
3. New character
4. Gandalf
5. Sauron (But this one just doesn't make much sense to me as Sauron should still physically exist.)

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I've heard some people theorize it's Tom Bombadil. I don't think so.

I like the blue wizard thought. That is what I would put my money on right now.

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Would love to see Tom Bombadil in this series, but probably just a cameo if the harfoots start moving west and run into him that way.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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Brian, since I just caught up yesterday, who are your favorite 2-3 characters so far?

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Galadriel (Her being a warrior just didn't bug me all that much.)
Elrond
Durin's wife

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My favorite characters so far are:

- Galadriel - am with you Brian, I like the warrior and warrior spirit coupled with following a duty through to the end. Even better when they're right and others who lead them try to downplay it.
- Durin

I like Nori just because she reminds me of Pippen, but I wouldn't call her a favorite character yet.

Legal Custodian said:

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Beat40 said:

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Brian Earl Spilner said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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So, onto show discussion - what are the current betting odds on the ID of the stranger? Is this our Sauron?

---

My predictions would be:

1. A blue wizard
2. Balrog
3. New character
4. Gandalf
5. Sauron (But this one just doesn't make much sense to me as Sauron should still physically exist.)

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I've heard some people theorize it's Tom Bombadil. I don't think so.

I like the blue wizard thought. That is what I would put my money on right now.

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Would love to see Tom Bombadil in this series, but probably just a cameo if the harfoots start moving west and run into him that way.

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Man, I would love to see an onscreen representation of Tom someday!

Did not noticed the ents

I really think they're setting it up for it to be Gandalf, which I get that it's a familiar and beloved characters who would be fun to see, but that would be a bit annoying from a canon perspective. The five were sent after the war of the ring right? 3rd age? It would be fun to see Tom, but I think he's ancient and been in Middle Earth for longer than most (my favorita Bombadil theory is that he's the embodiment of the song sung by the Valar). Honestly don't know who the meteor man can be based on canon so it's most likely going to break it and be Gandalf, which could be fun to see, just will need to reconcile it in my head and ignore it!

Also, did anyone watch Screencrush's breakdown? He referenced some of Tolkien's writings where he called her a commander and in the Amazon trope. I would love to read all that if anyone can help me pinpoint it!

Enjoying the show, the canonical elves are my least favorite points so far (outside Elrond and Durin's friendship) because I already had a bias of how I thought they should look and appear from what I read. However, it's still fun to see Middle Earth again and see other's interpretations and stories.

The case for Sauron:

https://www.cbr.com/lotr-rings-of-power-sauron-meteor-man-prime-video/

Quote:

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. . .
Because of the power that he displayed in the first two episodes, all signs point to Meteor Man being some kind of Ainur (Valar or Maia). Some fans think that he could be Tilion -- the Maia who took the sole remaining flower from Telperion into the sky and became guardian of the moon. Other fans think that he could be an Istari. Given the time period, Gandalf doesn't really make sense, but theoretically, he could be one of the Blue Wizards. Finally, a lot of fans believe that Meteor Man will actually be Sauron.

Before the series premiere, any of those options would have made sense. However, after watching "A Shadow of the Past" and "Adrift," it's pretty obvious that Meteor Man is Sauron. Amazon didn't outright say it, but there were definitely some clues that pointed toward Meteor Man being the series' ultimate villain.

The first clue came when Meteor Man uttered his first words: "Mana r." In Quenya that means, "What is heat/sun/fire?" In Sindarin, "Mana" can also mean "power." Obviously, Meteor Man must have been referencing his flaming fall from the sky, but Sauron automatically conjures images of Mount Doom and fire and evil. That's a bit of a loose connection, but the next hint that the series dropped is more convincing.

Early in "A Shadow of the Past," Galadriel's company found one of Morgoth's hidden outposts in the Forodwaith. There, they made it clear that the place was so evil that their torches couldn't produce any heat. So, when Nori mentioned that Meteor Man's meteor fire wasn't hot, it was pretty obvious that something nefarious was going on. Of course, all of this is technically speculation, but taking those clues into account, it looks like Meteor Man will probably be Sauron. Only he is evil enough that a meteor's fire can't touch him.

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I'd still be surprised if they rewarded Nori's kindness with it turning out that she helped the Dark Lord.

I agree, but it also struck me as odd that all the fireflies died.

Didn't they arrive together though? I'm hoping you can do the legwork for finding the answer

Orome said:

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Didn't they arrive together though? I'm hoping you can do the legwork for finding the answer

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Towards the end of his life Tolkien returned to the issue of the other two Wizards. In a brief outline he noted that the two Wizards were sent to Middle-earth in the Second Age and were destined to disrupt the work of Sauron in the East:

Therefore Tolkien dramatically altered his conception of the two Wizards. They no longer arrived in Middle-earth along with Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast in c. T.A. 1000. Instead they arrived much earlier, at roughly the same time as Glorfindel in c. S.A. 1600. Whilst Glorfindel was tasked with aiding Elrond with the war in Eriador, the Wizards were destined to journey to the East and South. Instead of mentioning that they drifted from their mission, Tolkien points out that they played a decisive role in the downfall of Sauron at the end of both the Second Age and the Third Age. They became known as Morinehtar and Rmestmo, Darkness-slayer and East-helper, and were successful in preventing the forces of the East and South from outnumbering those of the Free peoples in the West

Thanks! So he never specified how they arrived and if they arrived together when he changed their background.

Orome said:

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Thanks! So he never specified how they arrived and if they arrived together when he changed their background.

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It's more that he changed their background. In The Silmarilion, the Istari are written as though they all came together.

Has there been discussion about what was in the chest (the secret the Dwarves have apparently)? I'm assuming it's Mithril.

Nenya (one of the three rings created by Celebrimbor without Sauron) was supposedly made from Mithril. Also, note that Nenya will eventually be given to Galadriel. The other name for Nenya? The Ring of Water. So maybe a little foreshadowing with her little swim in the ocean...

I'm assuming it's Mithril also...

This is so much better than the GOT prequel it's ridiculous.

javajaws said:

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Has there been discussion about what was in the chest (the secret the Dwarves have apparently)? I'm assuming it's Mithril.

Nenya (one of the three rings created by Celebrimbor without Sauron) was supposedly made from Mithril. Also, note that Nenya will eventually be given to Galadriel. The other name for Nenya? The Ring of Water. So maybe a little foreshadowing with her little swim in the ocean...

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I assumed it was the arkenstone. Didnt durin dig it up?

cbr said:

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javajaws said:

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Has there been discussion about what was in the chest (the secret the Dwarves have apparently)? I'm assuming it's Mithril.

Nenya (one of the three rings created by Celebrimbor without Sauron) was supposedly made from Mithril. Also, note that Nenya will eventually be given to Galadriel. The other name for Nenya? The Ring of Water. So maybe a little foreshadowing with her little swim in the ocean...

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I assumed it was the arkenstone. Didnt durin dig it up?

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The Arkenstone was found under the Lonely Mountain, so I don't think it was Durin.

I like to repost this every once in a while just cause it's so ****ing awesome. Check it out of you haven't. Especially if you like metal music.

What day does the new episode drop?

This has been a lot of fun.

I've watched the movies (twice I think?) and never read any books, so you guys are nerding out too much for me. I can already tell that this thread is going to be very difficult for me to follow….. I don't even recognize some of the names in print.

This and She-Hulk are currently my wife and my favorite shows to watch.

Man, I didn't realize this thread was going on until today. Was wondering why there wasn't more discussion over in the other thread.

Some quick thoughts no one cares about or asked for (some of them may be on the other LOTR thread):

1. Galadriel is fine, I have no problem with the actress. I do not love the direction they took with her, mainly the singular obsession to find Sauron. The show seems to want to portray her as somewhat young or naive - i.e. only discovering what her brother really meant a thousand years ago, right before she decides to dive off the boat.

and by the way...why even contrive that nonsense? Everyone knew she wasn't going to the West, but you thought you needed that suspense? As a result, you have her lost at sea for an entire episode. Lame

I also got a weird vibe when the boat was about to enter the "veil" of the West. The music, or lighting, or something gave it kind of a weird feeling. Like they were trying to show it as something you didn't want to do, or it was a trick of Sauron's or something. It was strange.

2. Don't think Metroid is Sauron. Even though there were some moments showing him as dangerous, I think if it was Sauron it would have been pure 100% evil, not grandpa with amnesia.

3. I also agree most of the elves aren't working for me. I like the Elrond actor, but not his mannerisms. I'll get over it, though. Arondir is cool and I can't wait to see him wreck so muhfuggin orcs.

I loved the dwarves, especially the kids running around with those giant helmets. I'm guessing they have mithril in the box. Should be fun to see how the interact with Celebrimbor from here. (A random wiki rabbit hole led me to the info that the door to Moria was crafted by Celebrimbor and a dwarven artisan, and they were friends...so looks like a little change for the show between Durin and Elrond. Maybe that's info from a source to which Amazon doesn't have the rights)

all in all, I can't help but enjoy this show. I love the setting, I love the backdrop for the story, and all that. I like the old Hobbit shaman more than the rest of them.

On your point about her being lost at sea…I wonder who the guy and his people are.

Wonder if they are Numenorians.

He said he was from the southern lands...could be from that town that was burning and empty

Numenoreans are definitely who is picking them up, though

Bird Poo said:

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What day does the new episode drop?

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Believe 3am ET on fridays.

redline248 said:

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He said he was from the southern lands...could be from that town that was burning and empty

Numenoreans are definitely who is picking them up, though

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Thanks. I missed that. Yes, I agree, Numenoreans will pick them up.

Beat40 said:

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Bird Poo said:

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What day does the new episode drop?

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Believe 3am ET on fridays.

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Luckily it's 12 AM ET.

Claude! said:

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cbr said:

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javajaws said:

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Has there been discussion about what was in the chest (the secret the Dwarves have apparently)? I'm assuming it's Mithril.

Nenya (one of the three rings created by Celebrimbor without Sauron) was supposedly made from Mithril. Also, note that Nenya will eventually be given to Galadriel. The other name for Nenya? The Ring of Water. So maybe a little foreshadowing with her little swim in the ocean...

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I assumed it was the arkenstone. Didnt durin dig it up?

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The Arkenstone was found under the Lonely Mountain, so I don't think it was Durin.

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Oh, yep. Wrong mountain.

MIthril definitely makes more sense because it makes the dwarves suddenly both a potential ally and a potential threat. Just 15 minutes with the dwarves makes me realize how much more I love them than any of the other races in the show. I hope they stick to the idea of them being able to resist the One RIng because that is just really badass.

Beat40 said:

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On your point about her being lost at sea…I wonder who the guy and his people are.

Wonder if they are Numenorians.

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Someone says he's Elendil

DallasTeleAg said:

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Here was an opportunity to show us a remote land we've never seen before. If you wanted different races, here was your chance. Give us an entire race of people who live out there. I love the idea that the Elves do not trust these people because of what their ancestors did. It is just like the Elves to be slow to trust a people they themselves spent centuries fighting.


I'm sure the reason everyone in the Southlands isn't brown or black is because the writers didn't want to imply that all the darkskin peoples aligned with our big evil guy. But you can easily write a story where they are coerced or are driven into forced service to Sauron.

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Your ideal Tolkien portrayal, should it involve non-whites, is one where said non-whites are relegated to their own corner of the world and are, at best, coerced slaves of evil?

Genuinely curious here. Would you fairly expect any non-white fans of Tolkien's work to be happy about that? If, as you might fairly point out, that no one deserves to be happy about a fictional work, as it is a portrayal of the author's own choosing and invention, and represents a particular cultural mythology, should we stop beating around the bush and just admit that the world building and non-white races in Tolkien's world carry racist connotations about their analogues in the real world? Are we saying that only people of a specific race can truly belong to a culture without seeming unrealistic?

This isn't a gotcha. I'm not trying to get you to admit you're a racist or anything. Just curious.