The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime)

[Azure]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

If the could squeeze a quarter billion out of the limited amount they licensed to Amazon, I imagine the estate will be raking in another billion + in future for remaining rights if this show is a success.

While true, the problem is that the writers literally are not allowed to use something they don't have the rights too.

Which means they cannot talk about the Kinslaying, or even reference Beleriand on a map or talk about the War of Wrath.

Sauron, who is going to be a major character, played a major part of the War of Wrath and Middle East being destroyed, and Elrond was around during the Kinslaying, which would explain his 'I have seen my share' comment, even though the writers can't actually talk about what he has seen.

I personally don't think it'll take away from the show, but the purists are being disingenuous by not admitting that it is not Amazon's fault they have massive restrictions to work with.

[CroFlames]

It’s really too bad the Estate didn’t sell the rights to Silmarillion content, but they did to the appendices that reference Silmarillion content heavily.

Again I’m a purist, but it’s time Estate guys. This #### was written 100 years ago. Let it go, sell it for a gazillion dollars and let new creative people take it to the next level.

There is some serious good TV to be had if you tell the story of Turin Turambar or Beren and Luthien.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It’s really too bad the Estate didn’t sell the rights to Silmarillion content, but they did to the appendices that reference Silmarillion content heavily.

Again I’m a purist, but it’s time Estate guys. This #### was written 100 years ago. Let it go, sell it for a gazillion dollars and let new creative people take it to the next level.

There is some serious good TV to be had if you tell the story of Turin Turambar or Beren and Luthien.

1. I have no idea WTF this even is.

2. Screw that! Just plagiarize the hell out of it! They've had 100 years of exclusivity, just go to town!

"Now Galadriel can fly. What're you going to do about it? Dwarves smell like Cinnamon Buns. Fight me!"

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Locke

1. I have no idea WTF this even is.

2. Screw that! Just plagiarize the hell out of it! They've had 100 years of exclusivity, just go to town!

"Now Galadriel can fly. What're you going to do about it? Dwarves smell like Cinnamon Buns. Fight me!"

Turin is a crazy ass story of a guy who’s family is cursed by Morgoth (OG dark lord) and he gets into all sorts of hilarious shenanigans including accidentally murdering his best friend, having his parents brutally dying, unknowingly has sex with his sister and kills a dragon, you know, that old chestnut.

Beren and Luthien are a love story of a man and elf and he sacrifices all to win the Lady. Loses his hand in the process. But wins a Silmarillion.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Turin is a crazy ass story of a guy who’s family is cursed by Morgoth (OG dark lord) and he gets into all sorts of hilarious shenanigans including accidentally murdering his best friend, having his parents brutally dying, unknowingly has sex with his sister and kills a dragon, you know, that old chestnut.

Beren and Luthien are a love story of a man and elf and he sacrifices all to win the Lady. Loses his hand in the process. But wins a Silmarillion.

Indeed. These things.

[CroFlames]

Check out the book Children of Hurin. Deals with all this subject matter it’s pretty good.

Bonus if you do the audiobook it’s performed by none other than Sir Christopher Lee.

I could literally listen to that man read the dictionary.

[Wastedyouth]

Went in with low expectations, came away incredibly bored and underwhelmed.

[octothorp]

The only lore-breaking thing that I find actually problematic is dropping an Istari down in the middle of the second age, which suggests the Valar are already taking the threat of Sauron really seriously, which IMO defeats the main thematic point of the second age, of Elves and Men using their combined strengths to defeat a major enemy without the assistance of the Valar.

Beyond that, I'm pretty satisfied with the series so far. Like indes said, I'm just happy to be back in Middle Earth, and IMO they got the feel of it pretty right, which is the most important thing.

Also, regarding Galadriel swimming across the ocean, she definitely didn't. She would likely know that the isle of Numenor isn't far from where she abandoned the elvish boat (one could see Tol Eressea, the first island off the shore of Valinor, from the top of Numenor). Swimming in that direction was easily her best chance of rescue, whether it's reaching Numenor herself or getting found by a Numenorian boat. If anything it's less plausible that a ragtag group of humans from the southlands were able to sail a ship so far to the west.

[CroFlames]

Do we know it's an Istari?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Do we know it's an Istari?

My first thought seeing how he acted was that it is Radagast.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by octothorp

The only lore-breaking thing that I find actually problematic is dropping an Istari down in the middle of the second age, which suggests the Valar are already taking the threat of Sauron really seriously, which IMO defeats the main thematic point of the second age, of Elves and Men using their combined strengths to defeat a major enemy without the assistance of the Valar.

Beyond that, I'm pretty satisfied with the series so far. Like indes said, I'm just happy to be back in Middle Earth, and IMO they got the feel of it pretty right, which is the most important thing.

Also, regarding Galadriel swimming across the ocean, she definitely didn't. She would likely know that the isle of Numenor isn't far from where she abandoned the elvish boat (one could see Tol Eressea, the first island off the shore of Valinor, from the top of Numenor). Swimming in that direction was easily her best chance of rescue, whether it's reaching Numenor herself or getting found by a Numenorian boat. If anything it's less plausible that a ragtag group of humans from the southlands were able to sail a ship so far to the west.

Were the Blue Wizards not involved with fighting Sauron in the second age? I know not a lot is said about them, but I'm pretty sure Tolkien made mention to that specific point.

But valid point.

Your take on her swimming to Numenor is interesting as well. In the second age she was over 5000 years old already, and likely would have been very familiar with that area. Also, Numenor would have had a massive amount of ship traffic, so it does make sense that she would have been found.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Azure

Were the Blue Wizards not involved with fighting Sauron in the second age? I know not a lot is said about them, but I'm pretty sure Tolkien made mention to that specific point.

But valid point.

Your take on her swimming to Numenor is interesting as well. In the second age she was over 5000 years old already, and likely would have been very familiar with that area. Also, Numenor would have had a massive amount of ship traffic, so it does make sense that she would have been found.

Maybe I’m wrong about it, but I thought all of the Istari arrived early in the third age as a defense against Sauron ever regaining his former power and influence.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Maybe I’m wrong about it, but I thought all of the Istari arrived early in the third age as a defense against Sauron ever regaining his former power and influence.

I read at some point Tolkien ret-conned the blue wizards as arriving during the 2nd age, the rest came in the 3rd.

[Azure]

Their task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to stir up rebellion ... and after his first fall to search out his hiding (in which they failed) and to cause [?dissension and disarray] among the dark East ... They must have had very great influence on the history of the Second Age and Third Age in weakening and disarraying the forces of East ... who would both in the Second Age and Third Age otherwise have ... outnumbered the West. —"Last Writings", The Peoples of Middle-earth

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Blue_Wizards

Personally I think the it is one of the Blue Wizards. Mostly because Tolkien didn't develop their storyline at all, and therefore the writers have a lot of freedom.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

My first thought seeing how he acted was that it is Radagast.

Are you just speculating, or are these book spoilers? Because if the latter, shut the #### up.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Are you just speculating, or are these book spoilers? Because if the latter, shut the #### up.

Came to mind from what was shown in the Hobbit with him. But ya, I was waiting for that turnabout!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Lol. I think the blackout period on spoilers for material that old has passed anyways. Especially when this is such a loose adaptation. But it did make me laugh a little.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Are you just speculating, or are these book spoilers? Because if the latter, shut the #### up.

I was initially thinking..."Can there even be Spoilers?"

[N-E-B]

It’s far too early to write the entire series off. So far I’d give it about a 6/10. I’ll ride out the first season, as only 2 episodes in it’s unfair to judge the entire thing so far.

[dammage79]

Waiting for the episode.3 drop so I can consume 3 hours straight of it. Like the good lord intended.