Organized Rambling: RoP–Episode Two & Episode Three

Last we spoke, or last I posted, and you read, I perhaps delved deeper into the first episode of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power than intended. Not that I mind being detailed and long-winded, but I had planned to cover more ground than I managed to.

So far, you’ve heard about the pilot episode. Now, you shall revel in my pearls of wisdom regarding the second and third season installments. I hope you indulge in a read-through anyway–even if we don’t completely see eye-to-eye on this latest addition to the TU (Tolkien Universe).

Once again: THUS FOLLOWS MASSIVE SPOILERS BELOW. Don’t read on if you’re not caught up through episode three. But, if you’re not watching and merely feeling voyeuristic, by all means, sally forth.

Episode Two – “Adrift”

Episode one left us with Galadriel, literally and figuratively, jumping ship; Elrond meeting Celebrimbor, elven prince and master metalsmith; Nori following a shooting star and finding a “giant” stranger; and Arondir exploring a mysterious underground network of cobweb-ridden tunnels.

In “Adrift,” Galadriel strives to survive on the open sea with a secretive wanderer; Elrond receives a lackluster welcome from an old dwarven friend; Nori’s new friend is incapable of communicating but bears striking similarities to a member of the Istari, and enemies overpower Arondir during his subterranean exploration.

The second episode felt like a bridging episode, moving us from the first to the third. This is neither good nor bad; it just is. All shows possess episodes whose purpose is to get from point A to point B. With it being so early in the season, we’re still in the set-up/explanation phase, which is why my rule of thumb for casting judgment on a show is to watch three episodes first. And on that note, let’s examine this bridging episode beyond its synopsis.

Mirroring the OG Trilogy

Dialogue

Once again, I was drawn to dialogue parallels. Toward the episode’s beginning, young Elrond is amazed by Fëanor’s hammer that forged the Silmarils. His reaction to the relic is very similar to Boromir’s response to pulling the One Ring from the snow in the Misty Mountains after poor Frodo takes a tumble.

Elrond: “Strange, isn’t it? How one object could be responsible for creating so much beauty and so much pain.”

Boromir: “Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing? So small a thing.”

I’ll allow you to judge the closeness of quote.

Then, a bit later, Elrond mimics another line from The Fellowship of the Ring. Outside the doors of Moria, he is explaining what the kingdom under the mountains–Durin’s realm–is like to Celebrimbor, and he describes their feasts as including “tables filled with salted pork and enough malt beer to fill the Anduin.” Ring any bells?

Fast-forward to 0:34 to hear Gimli’s quote.

Indeed, if you’re as nerdy as I am, it must.

In FotR, Gandalf manages to recall the Elvish word for friend, thus opening the hidden entrance into Moria. The fellowship enters while Gimli regales them with his description of his cousin’s home: “Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves. Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone.”

A line-lift? Not precisely. Similar in intent and topic, along with location–yes, spot on, in that regard.

And, Galadriel’s current companion, Halbrand, echoes, once again, a line of Boromir’s from FotR.

https://l-o-t-r.tumblr.com/post/42304233129/gondor-has-no-king-gondor-needs-no-king

Halbrand: “My people have no king.”

Boromir: “Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king.”

Sure, Halbrand is referring to the Southlands, aka pre-Mordor, and Boromir is speaking of his homeland, but the lines’ sentiments are the same–there are peoples without rulers.

Now, I am unsure whether the writers lifted lines and paraphrased Boromir as much as they have (see previous post) because:

they want to make fans giddy with recognition and connection;
they are lazy like a lot of writers I’ve come across in recent years;
or they just felt Boromir had some badass lines they wanted to tweak and repurpose.

Without any insight or being a fly on the wall, I’m going to assume the first or second item was the reason–giddiness or laziness. And, I suppose it all depends on how cynical one feels during the viewing. I prefer the latter option because I love Boromir, but I’m no scriptwriter determining dialogue.

Behavior

**Thanks, https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Durin’s_Folk**

The friendship between Elrond and Durin–whom you may recall from The Hobbit as Thorin’s ancestor–is reminiscent of Legolas and Gimli’s. Elves and dwarves have a tumultuous history, and those who attempt friendship deal with highs and lows and the prejudice of their people. Theirs is a back-and-forth, bantering type of friendship, and we first see them engage in a match-up that is a bit less friendly than Legolas and Gimli’s headcount competition at Helm’s Deep. All friendships are unique, right?

Then, the silent stranger Nori is looking out for happens to do something very Gandalf-esque. At one point, he whispers to fireflies as Mithrandir whispered to moths in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films. Nothing definitive has been conveyed about the character, but I have my suspicions.

Main Vexation

If you disliked the hobbits in the original film trilogy, then, in my opinion, you won’t like the harfoots. They are over-the-top innocent and naive, and their attempts at comic relief don’t do it for me. Moreover, their ignorance creates narrow minds within their fear-motivated migrational community, which is sometimes burdensome to witness.

And again, I find it strange how much Arondir is like Grey Worm. It’s just odd. But, maybe no one else sees it.

Also, I think Theo is a bringer of evil. And I don’t like to pass judgment or appear prejudiced, but to paraphrase an early-on and intolerant Gimli: “Never trust a half-elf!” In all honesty, there’s something about this kid that I don’t like, and it truly has nothing to do with him being half-elf or otherwise.

Favorite Aspects

Positive notes are numerous: seeing different realms of Middle-earth, i.e., a functional and thriving Moria; witnessing other sides of beloved characters from a developmental perspective; seeing female dwarves, aside from skeletal remains and brief glimpses from The Hobbit trilogy; and whether you agree or not with this portrayal of Galadriel, it is pretty cool experiencing her powerful badassness in action before her more serene and reserved days of the Third Age.

Again, referencing The Hobbit trilogy, we did have the opportunity to see Galadriel wield her magic alongside Elrond and Saurman while facing the Necromancer and his minions. Still, the RoP Galadriel’s style is more physical and less about her powers.

I also immensely love the line: “Where there is love, it is never truly dark,” courtesy of our future high elven lord Elrond. It is a line fitting for their times in Middle-earth, as it fits our current times on Earth.

Episode Three – “Adar”

We’re now in the final stretch of making an educated judgment call on The Rings of Power.

In episode three, Arondir is an orc captive; Galadriel is rescued at sea by none other than Elendil, a man of Númenor and the future king of Gondor; and Nori’s secret stranger makes himself known to the harfoot community.