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shallownessThe Rings of Power - 2.1 Elven Kings Under The Sky
I finally got round to starting to watch this, and, okay, I know there are valid plot reasons for it, but so much was set in the literal dark that…well, if they want me to be hazy on what happened then (or should I revert to audio description?), then, fine. And that is my strongest feeling about this episode.
We had a really long ‘previously on’ that still skipped the dwarves and most of the Arondir/Bronwen-Theo and Numenorian stuff. And then we started with this Age’s version of Sauron’s origin story. Was another actor playing him in the encounter with Adar? As they’ve recast Adar, that was a shame in terms of making me care from the outset. Anyway, we got to learn why Sauron has beef with Adar, and then there was plenty to snark about as he slowly turned from tar to a giant slug made of tar to the Sauron we knew and lusted after (via offscreen violence). Some interaction with a kind-hearted northerner who tried to dangle redemption at Sauron followed, but that didn’t go well, before he met Galadriel in season 1. Also, if the Leviathan turned away in fear from him (that’s what I inferred from the literally murky underwater scene), all that stuff about Galadriel saving him is undercut.
Cut to Galadriel chasing Elrond, both wearing gorgeous blue cloaks, and I almost wished I’d rewatched the final episode because I wasn’t sure if their motivations tracked. Galadriel wanted to use the three rings, Elrond was worried about Sauron’s influence on them and wanted to destroy them. He was also angry with her for with-holding information. Gil-galad agreed with Galadriel, and also was desperate as the Elven light was all but going out. Elrond ran – and ended up going to Cirdan (I was delighted that they cast Ben Daniels.)
I didn’t buy how Elrond convinced Cirdan to agree to destroying the rings – something to do with his father, which might be the writers trading off lore I don’t remember, OR LAZY WRITING. And because it was another night scene, I’m hazy on what changed his mind while he was sailing for the Middle Earth sea waste dispenser.
Mmm, Halbrand in chains. Excuse me. I didn’t mind watching Sauron pretending to be Halbrand, ‘king of the southlands’, while having a secret plan to pay back Recast!Adar, or using the dark tongue* to get the warg to kill the annoying human (who I think was annoying all of last season too?) He got Adar to release him and let him get back to Celebrimbor. Adar is clearly not a lawyer or that bright for not noticing that Halbrand’s vow of allegiance had more holes in it that a net. Admittedly, he was suspicious enough to tail him, but, still.
There was a coda where Lindon’s messenger had not reached Celebrimbor before Halbrand did, gaining entry so that they could make more rings together! Never forget that this show is really about jewellery-making.
I like the talkier (more Gandalf-esque) version of the Stranger, but the subplot with him and Nori being lost didn’t do much more than re-establish their characters. Of course the person following them was Poppy (not the intriguing character in the mask), because even if you gender flip them and make them Oirish Travellers, Sam always follows Frodo. The walking song working as a kind of map felt trite, but they got to Rhun.
And the three rings slipped on to elven fingers (I got a thrill from the fact that Galadriel is the only one to wear hers for keeps) and lo, there was light (THANK GOODNESS!) The Elves would not abandon Middle Earth for a while yet! (I wonder if they check whether the actors playing Elves can sing automatically before casting them?) Elrond ran off from this (the trailer for the rest of the season suggests that he’s still suspicious of Sauron’s influence.)
This…does not leave me on tenterhooks to find out what happens next, though I am a bit curious to see how they do Tom Bombadil. I don’t mind evil!Sauron’s plans with added revenge spice, although I’m not convinced that the route they’ve taken with him works. I like the Stranger’s dynamic with the proto hobbits, although the recovery of his memory is probably going to be a frustrating process with some random detours. The Elves are hit and miss, and I daresay Theo and Isildur are going to turn up and be annoying boys into men at some point. But it’s still pretty in the few well-lit scenes!
It'll slip into the rotation of shows I’m watching currently.
*that’s another thing, when the Elves started talking Elvish (sorry, I’m the kind of loser who doesn’t know my Quenya from my Sindarin, do I get points for knowing their names, though?), it just made me think WHY are the Elves using the common tongue when talking together?
I finally got round to starting to watch this, and, okay, I know there are valid plot reasons for it, but so much was set in the literal dark that…well, if they want me to be hazy on what happened then (or should I revert to audio description?), then, fine. And that is my strongest feeling about this episode.
We had a really long ‘previously on’ that still skipped the dwarves and most of the Arondir/Bronwen-Theo and Numenorian stuff. And then we started with this Age’s version of Sauron’s origin story. Was another actor playing him in the encounter with Adar? As they’ve recast Adar, that was a shame in terms of making me care from the outset. Anyway, we got to learn why Sauron has beef with Adar, and then there was plenty to snark about as he slowly turned from tar to a giant slug made of tar to the Sauron we knew and lusted after (via offscreen violence). Some interaction with a kind-hearted northerner who tried to dangle redemption at Sauron followed, but that didn’t go well, before he met Galadriel in season 1. Also, if the Leviathan turned away in fear from him (that’s what I inferred from the literally murky underwater scene), all that stuff about Galadriel saving him is undercut.
Cut to Galadriel chasing Elrond, both wearing gorgeous blue cloaks, and I almost wished I’d rewatched the final episode because I wasn’t sure if their motivations tracked. Galadriel wanted to use the three rings, Elrond was worried about Sauron’s influence on them and wanted to destroy them. He was also angry with her for with-holding information. Gil-galad agreed with Galadriel, and also was desperate as the Elven light was all but going out. Elrond ran – and ended up going to Cirdan (I was delighted that they cast Ben Daniels.)
I didn’t buy how Elrond convinced Cirdan to agree to destroying the rings – something to do with his father, which might be the writers trading off lore I don’t remember, OR LAZY WRITING. And because it was another night scene, I’m hazy on what changed his mind while he was sailing for the Middle Earth sea waste dispenser.
Mmm, Halbrand in chains. Excuse me. I didn’t mind watching Sauron pretending to be Halbrand, ‘king of the southlands’, while having a secret plan to pay back Recast!Adar, or using the dark tongue* to get the warg to kill the annoying human (who I think was annoying all of last season too?) He got Adar to release him and let him get back to Celebrimbor. Adar is clearly not a lawyer or that bright for not noticing that Halbrand’s vow of allegiance had more holes in it that a net. Admittedly, he was suspicious enough to tail him, but, still.
There was a coda where Lindon’s messenger had not reached Celebrimbor before Halbrand did, gaining entry so that they could make more rings together! Never forget that this show is really about jewellery-making.
I like the talkier (more Gandalf-esque) version of the Stranger, but the subplot with him and Nori being lost didn’t do much more than re-establish their characters. Of course the person following them was Poppy (not the intriguing character in the mask), because even if you gender flip them and make them Oirish Travellers, Sam always follows Frodo. The walking song working as a kind of map felt trite, but they got to Rhun.
And the three rings slipped on to elven fingers (I got a thrill from the fact that Galadriel is the only one to wear hers for keeps) and lo, there was light (THANK GOODNESS!) The Elves would not abandon Middle Earth for a while yet! (I wonder if they check whether the actors playing Elves can sing automatically before casting them?) Elrond ran off from this (the trailer for the rest of the season suggests that he’s still suspicious of Sauron’s influence.)
This…does not leave me on tenterhooks to find out what happens next, though I am a bit curious to see how they do Tom Bombadil. I don’t mind evil!Sauron’s plans with added revenge spice, although I’m not convinced that the route they’ve taken with him works. I like the Stranger’s dynamic with the proto hobbits, although the recovery of his memory is probably going to be a frustrating process with some random detours. The Elves are hit and miss, and I daresay Theo and Isildur are going to turn up and be annoying boys into men at some point. But it’s still pretty in the few well-lit scenes!
It'll slip into the rotation of shows I’m watching currently.
*that’s another thing, when the Elves started talking Elvish (sorry, I’m the kind of loser who doesn’t know my Quenya from my Sindarin, do I get points for knowing their names, though?), it just made me think WHY are the Elves using the common tongue when talking together?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 02:25 pm (UTC)For me, I find the Harfoots annoying (though I do like Poppy but Nori irks me for some reason) and Elrond continuously arguing against the use of the rings also bothers me a lot. I do think the Stranger is Gandalf and Tom Bombadil is interesting. I can't remember how he's described in the books but so far I'm fine with him.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 07:52 am (UTC)Elrond continuously arguing against the use of the rings also bothers me a lot.
Yes, they haven't really developed his reasons for this very well. To me, it just felt like an extension of pique with Galadriel and having been played by Sauron, and a lot like they were creating conflict for conflict's sake.
I mainly associate Tom Bombadil with singing, which just goes to show how long it is since I read the LOTR books too.