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

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

####ing Annatar. He's not that charming.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

That wasn’t Mithril he handed over right, it was his blood?

No it probably was Mithril, he just had way more time to "pour his malice" into it. The Mithril that went into the Dwarven rings he only had in his hand for a few brief moments.



The Mithril for the human rings he has way more time to work with.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Just to make sure I have the characters right, Isildur's dad....he eventually becomes King of Gondor, yes? To line up with the opening of The Fellowship of the Ring and eventually gets smited by Sauron before Isildur picks up his broken sword?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Just to make sure I have the characters right, Isildur's dad....he eventually becomes King of Gondor, yes? To line up with the opening of The Fellowship of the Ring and eventually gets smited by Sauron before Isildur picks up his broken sword?

Yes. The war at the beginning of fellowship was the end of the 2nd age.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Nm

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

Thoroughly enjoying season 2 thus far. Can't believe I almost passed because of some online early reviews saying it was boring.

I have felt that season 2 has been much better in terms of storytelling. I think their big problem is just that they have went off canon for so many things that die hard fans just won't let them off the hook. So they continue to complain loudly. But as a random fantasy story I think this would be pretty good TV.

Aside from the stranger arc. At this point I wonder if the series would be better without it. I was actually reading an article that said no matter who the stranger ends up being, they have already screwed it up. If it is Gandalf fans will be like, 'no sh#t' and be totally unsurprised and unimpressed. If it ends up not being Gandalf fans will feel alienated that they were led to believe it was him with so many clues.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by dobbles

Aside from the stranger arc. At this point I wonder if the series would be better without it. I was actually reading an article that said no matter who the stranger ends up being, they have already screwed it up.

Yeah, with the time spent on it, there better be an encounter between the Stranger and Sauron next season since Sauron should be going to Rhun to give out a ring or two.

[FireGilbert]

Epic episode! Was getting lots of Helms Deep vibes with a big subversion of my expectations. Helped to have the entire episode focused on the main storyline.

One thing I wish they did better, that seems to be a problem is a lot of modern action scenes, was the lack of context about where everything is happening. Elrond just kept popping up randomly where ever the plot needed him. Could have used a long overhead shot to show the position of the Uruk and Elven armies.

[dammage79]

Season finale is going to be beastly.

Balrogs vs Dwarves. The Wizard. Nuff said.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Dude. This series has ratcheted up in intensity and stakes very quickly.

The fight happening at night was to detriment of the grandeur of it I felt, as the above poster mentioned you couldn't discern where things were happening or the movements of each army in relation to one another. They needed more overheads like the first charge.

Minor gripes though as the dramatic elements of the episode won out. There were a few sudden turns that had me yelling at the TV to put it lightly lol.

I'm a little shocked that the show has come this far from where it started.

My body is ready for the Balrog.

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by dobbles

I have felt that season 2 has been much better in terms of storytelling. I think their big problem is just that they have went off canon for so many things that die hard fans just won't let them off the hook. So they continue to complain loudly. But as a random fantasy story I think this would be pretty good TV.

Aside from the stranger arc. At this point I wonder if the series would be better without it. I was actually reading an article that said no matter who the stranger ends up being, they have already screwed it up. If it is Gandalf fans will be like, 'no sh#t' and be totally unsurprised and unimpressed. If it ends up not being Gandalf fans will feel alienated that they were led to believe it was him with so many clues.

Unfortunately, sometimes writers have to make creative decisions that flow better for television. Even if the diehards will be upset.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Dude. This series has ratcheted up in intensity and stakes very quickly.

The fight happening at night was to detriment of the grandeur of it I felt, as the above poster mentioned you couldn't discern where things were happening or the movements of each army in relation to one another. They needed more overheads like the first charge.

Minor gripes though as the dramatic elements of the episode won out. There were a few sudden turns that had me yelling at the TV to put it lightly lol.

I'm a little shocked that the show has come this far from where it started.

My body is ready for the Balrog.

These episodes are at least making the huge budget make sense.

Loved the episode. My only minor gripe was:

Spoiler!

how Sauron made the guards kill each other by turning his hand? Up to that point his control was based upon manipulation and illusion, which seemed a lot more creative. Him having outright control of the guards was dumb.

I really like how they pulled off Sauron manipulating Calebrimbor into acting crazy, and then everyone believing he was crazy and following Sauron. That was great. But then he just turns his hand and the guards kill each other? Kind of killed the idea of Sauron being a master manipulator. They could have been a lot more creative with that.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I too liked the manipulator/deceiver aspect being Sauron's strength. It actually made him both more frightening and infuriating.

Spoiler!

MCU character abilities make it seem like the mental puppeteering was just child's play for him and he could have accomplished what he wanted through brute force and magical abilities at any point.

Would be better if he bested them in a fair fight. Could've even taken a cut along the way to make things more interesting.

It's not a big deal as long as they don't milk those abilities to make him seem untouchable... at least not until he's forged the one ring.

I think, in the end, us nitpicking is a good sign as it shows they're taking bold strides with the show. This is better than being bored like we were for S1.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by blankall

These episodes are at least making the huge budget make sense.

Loved the episode. My only minor gripe was:

Spoiler!

how Sauron made the guards kill each other by turning his hand? Up to that point his control was based upon manipulation and illusion, which seemed a lot more creative. Him having outright control of the guards was dumb.

I really like how they pulled off Sauron manipulating Calebrimbor into acting crazy, and then everyone believing he was crazy and following Sauron. That was great. But then he just turns his hand and the guards kill each other? Kind of killed the idea of Sauron being a master manipulator. They could have been a lot more creative with that.

Yeah, felt a bit out of place as we've never seen him use powers like that, but don’t forget—he’s a gifted Maiar. He maxed out manipulation and craftsmanship, and was already like level 89 in sorcery before the rings gave him a massive multiplier

[dammage79]

I mean technically, what Sauron did when surrounded was manipulation.

[TKB]

Been a fantastic season, can’t wait for the season finale.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

That wasn’t Mithril he handed over right, it was his blood?

Well, turns out your were 100% correct on this!

[direwolf]

I really enjoyed the latest episode. This season has been fantastic.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Yep, the entire 2nd season has been fantastic but the last 2 episodes in particular. They really knocked those ones out of the park.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Yep, the entire 2nd season has been fantastic but the last 2 episodes in particular. They really knocked those ones out of the park.

Jackson caliber episodes.