A Tolkien Nerd's Rings of Power Recap Ep. 4: Leaping Galadriel, Snooping Elrond

Welcome to my Episode 4 recap of The Rings of Power from the point of view of an newbie Tolkien scholar. There will probably be SPOILERS as I focus on how Amazon’s $1 billion showcase differs from the originals, how it’s influenced by Tolkien’s extra obscure writings (History of MIddle Earth) and idle musings about Prince Imrahil – you already know you’ve performed it.

Episode 4, entitled “The Great Wave” brings collectively loads of key developments within the Southlands (Arondir/Bronwyn/Adar), Eregion (Elrond/Durin) and Númenor (Galadriel and the remainder) plotlines. The latter remains to be the principle one, so let’s cowl the opposite two first.

Down south, Arondir is introduced earlier than Adar, the chief of the Orcs who’re razing these lands – is it Sauron, as Galadriel fears? Another false lead. It seems he’s…an Elf! A very creepy Elf with a scarred face and a cryptic demeanor, as performed very nicely by Joseph Mawle.

But how can this be? Were Elves on Sauron’s facet? Well, they by no means went to struggle for him. However, there have been undoubtedly very, very unhealthy Elves. For those that learn The Silmarillion, or like spoilers, the names Ëol and Maeglin will ring a bell…or simply Feanor and his wretched sons. As I discussed in Part One, there’s something in Elvish historical past known as “The Kinslaying” and it’s simply as unhealthy because it sounds.

The elf closest to being a Morgoth ally is Maeglin, a determine from The SIlmarillion who betrayed town of Gondolin to Morgoth in alternate for the promise of energy and the girl he was in love with, his cousin Idril. It didn’t fairly go as deliberate.

In addition, Elves had been enslaved and tortured by Morgoth, and that Sauron did the identical is just not unreasonable. These Elves had been broken for all times by this trauma, however they by no means swore allegiance to Morgoth/Sauron, destroying themselves as an alternative.

So the concept an Elf would ally with Sauron is unlikely…however not inconceivable. And we don’t truly know that Adar (‘Father’ in Sindarin) is teaming with the Dark Lord. However he does drop all types of mysterious dialog in convo with Arondir. Stuff like “I am not a god…yet,” and reminiscing about his days again in Beleriand, alongside the river Sirion, the place Arondir was born. Beleriand was destroyed after the Great War on the finish of the First Age so this makes each Elves fairly outdated in human years.

Now (SPOILERS!!!!) fan theories are that Adar is Maeglin, which does tie issues up properly and is logical given Adar’s scars and Beleriand origins. I like this concept aside from the truth that (as soon as once more) The ROP showrunners DON’T HAVE RIGHTS TO THE SILMARILLION. As we’ve seen many instances, as an alternative they do issues which might be kinda much like concepts from The Silmarillion, however we’re unsure the place all of them find yourself simply but.

A related fan idea is that Adar may very well be Maglor, one of Feanor’s seven sons, who suffers a tragic however ambiguous destiny in The Silmarillion. (There are solely two varieties of fates in The Silmarillion, tragic, or ambiguously tragic.)

Adar is unquestionably an intriguing character and his creepy ache/consolation hate management with the Orcs is within the grand custom of memorable villains, so extra to return. Also within the spirit of villains, Adar let’s Arondir free to go inform the villagers again in Ostirith to give up. Classic monologuing; let a mighty warrior of the Elves free so he can defeat you ultimately. Not sensible, Maeglinadarglor.

Returning to the village varied stuff occurs. They are low on meals so Theo goes on a provide run, like Glenn within the early days of The Walking Dead, and will get trapped by a zombie/Orc however escapes because of the well timed return of Arondir and mother. Really this half was uninteresting to me (though the Orcs stay creepy) however it did reveal that Adar seeks the Morgul blade that Theo is concealing, and that it may well flip into an precise blade. As this storyline ended, Theo revealed that he owned it to Bronwyn and Arondir and anxious appears had been exchanged as ominous music performed. I’ve obtained a nasty feeling about this.

MEANWHILE, over in Eregion/Khazad-Dûm, Elrond and Celebrimbor (or ‘Brim to his friends) are kicking back. This was by far my favorite plotline of this episode since it hewed to actual Tolkien lore. ‘Brim and Elrond talk about Elrond’s father, Earendil, who Celebrimbor knew again within the olden days. Earendil is one of the one characters in The Silmarillion to have a non tragic destiny, though it’s a bit ambiguous. He is distributed into the sky in a winged ship to hold the one surviving Silmaril because the night star. And he’s accompanied by his spouse Elwing, solely she’s was a chook!

Earendil was despatched to the sky by the Valar themselves, so Elrond principally grew up and not using a father OR mom.This scene truly performs on that, one of the few efficient scenes to tie Tolkien’s unbelievable legendarium into precise human feeling. That’s what I got here right here for! Granted there may be not loads to go on within the Appendices, however that’s what good writing does.

While we will’t escape the sensation that Gil-Galad and Celebrimbor have some motives they haven’t disclosed to Elrond on his mission to make up with Durin, Elrond additionally discovers that Disa and Durin are hiding one thing from him. What he doesn’t know – however we do – is that it has to do with the Repo Man/Pulp Fiction glowing ~~briefcase~~ treasure chest that Durin and his miners have been gloating over. In a quite amusing scene Elrond interrogates Disa on Durin’s whereabouts and Disa makes up story after story, every simply believable sufficient that Elrond can’t name her on her shit.

However, after Elrond leaves, Disa meets up with Durin and though they’re sensible sufficient to know they have to maintain their voices down, they aren’t sensible sufficient to do it straight away for, you see…ELROND HAS THE SUPER SHARP HEARING OF THE ELVES, beforehand seen in Legolas, and in addition an influence that makes Superman somebody you would possibly hesitate to ask to a celebration.

That’s proper, it’s snooping Elrond, who realizes Durin is hiding one thing, after which swears an oath to not reveal what it’s after Durin explains its the actually superior silver that appears to be “lit from within.” Unfortunately the Dwarves should additionally dig deeply and that results in a collapse, which Disa makes use of her “rock singing” powers to rescue them in a quite eerily stunning scene. Durin IV’s dad, Durin III calls a halt to the digging however in a scene that harkens again to Elrond’s father-lacking speech, the 2 Durins bond in a touching father son second.

I’ve to say, all types of warning bells went off for me with this plotline. In the books, mithril isn’t just present in Khazad-Dum – it’s even present in Numenor, although that is talked about in Unfinished Tales! But the worst half is Elrond demanding to know the place Durin is…why? He’s only a visiting pal, and Durin and Disa have a proper to privateness. Elrond’s relentless snooping appeared actually obnoxious and the sturdy willed Dwarves simply placing up with it appeared actually unlikely to me. Or as Disa put it “”Calling a dwarf dishonest in her own residence is a recipe for sturdy gravy!”

There is far sturdy gravy right here.

On the plus facet, Sophia Nomvete as Disa is well one of the very best characters on the present, and Owain Arthur as Durin 4 is simply pretty much as good. I suppose when individuals say saucy issues in a Scottish accent they robotically grow to be lovable.

On to our closing and most vital plotline, Galadriel and Halbrand in Numenor. Galadriel continues to be a complete asshole, berating regent Miriel in her personal convention room, getting thrown into jail for it, after which escaping by beating up some individuals after which breaking into an invalid’s bedchamber.

She’s out of management.

In the center of all that, Halbrand delivers some sensible counsel to her, as they’re cell mates in jail. Why not use precise diplomacy and a information of human nature, he suggests, as an alternative of preventing on a regular basis? Good recommendation and Galandriel appears to vibe it.

After breaking into the tower the place Tar-Palantir, Miriel’s father, is confined as a result of his poor well being (bodily and psychological) Galadriel lastly begins to really feel a bit of disgrace for her brash deeds. Especially after Miriel reveals her a palantir and she or he appears into it.

Palantirs – seeing stones – are acquainted from The Lord of the Rings, each e-book and movies, however Miriel oddly says there have been seven however six are misplaced. I suppose that is an Easter Egg for e-book followers, as a result of we all know that Elendil introduced all seven with him to Middle Earth.

Looking within the palantir, Galadriel sees the imaginative and prescient that has been troubling Miriel for a whileL Numenor being annihilated by an immense flood. It’s the longer term, says the queen regent.

But it’s all tied up within the difficult Elf/Human/Valar relations on Numenor. In the books, Numenor was based by the Valar as a reward for serving to out within the struggle on Morgoth. And it was based by Elros, Elrond’s brother. While Elves and Humans had been pleasant for some time, issues obtained quite chilly and, on the present, Palantir is deposed as a result of Numenoreans don’t need an Elf-friendly ruler.

Thus, evidently Galadriel’s presence on the island is inflicting fairly a bit of commotion on Numenorean discuss radio, and is the topic of a basic “They took our jerbs!” speech from disgruntled people, who concern that sleepless, ageless Elves will…take their jobs. That’s what they stated. Maybe they may take their human ladies too, though this isn’t stated outright.

Pharazon, Miriel’s cousin and chancellor, can also be revealed to be fomenting this anti-Elf sentiment, however he calms the group by shopping for a spherical – a tactic that Halbrand took final episode suggesting that Numenoreans are borderline alcoholics. Pharazon additionally has a form of weasley son, Kemen, who’s in structure faculty with Earien, Elendil’s daughter, and takes her out on a date of kinds. Kemen is helpful as somebody for Pharazon to speak to and reveal he’s not completely on the up and up.

With all this, Galadriel’s plan to enlist Numenor in her battle towards a returning Sauron – with Halbrand main the hosts of the Southlands – appears to be about to go down in flames, as Miriel orders her despatched again to Middle Earth in a ship (one thing she was determined for when she arrived however see under.) However, at this second the leaves start to fall from the White Tree of Andalunie, a certain signal that the Elves are dying, Numenor is fading, and taking up Sauron is the correct concept in any case.

Galadriel’s plan goes to occur in any case.

Idle Runes:

Is Halbrand Sauron? Well, his mastery of manipulation, eager curiosity in smithing and origin from a Morgul-ruled space all counsel sure however….if he had been the Sauron of the books, let’s simply say he would in all probability be performing very in a different way. I proceed to consider that is all a purple herring and we haven’t truly met Sauron but.
If you might be drained of Galadriel and everybody else rolling rrrrrs (“Sa-oo-rrrrrrron”, sorry that’s how Tolkien laid it down in an appendix protecting languages and pronunciation.
Galadriel sucks. Her motivation varies relying on what route the writers want the story to go in, and it’s wildly out of character, and I imply the one which Tolkien mused about, not Cate Blanchett. Galadriel of the books was headstrong and dedicated to preventing Morgoth and his lieutenants, however she was additionally a Noldor, the best of the Noldor! She was sensible and reliable and never the blundering jerkwad we’ve seen up to now. Even the sensible will be misled, as Tolkien confirmed many instances, however that might be tragic, not simply freaking annoying like this! Also, she is completely sensible sufficient to see that Miriel is one other noble and sensible ruler, and she or he ought to deal with her with respect, not go HAM everywhere in the metropolis. I’m starting to actually dislike the writing on the present. Not solely is it full of cliches (not simply tropes!) however the character act in extremely silly methods simply to advance the plot, like Adar sending residence Arondir, and Elrond snooping on Durin.
I haven’t even talked about Isildur who has the dumbest plot of all. Let’s simply say that he doesn’t need to go to sea, as dad Elendil meant, so will get all of his mates tossed out of faculty as a result of Isildur is a dope, which isn’t honest in any respect. He retains saying he needs to go west which…I imply take a spot 12 months in Andúnie, it’s okay, don’t rat out your mates over it. Isildur is one of essentially the most fascinating characters in all of Tolkien and I used to be dying to see him delivered to different media however I don’t like the place that is going. Also, ongoing Anarion erasure!
Bear McCreary.