[flea]

The second season is definitely stronger. I'm with you about Tom Bomadil. He's much less annoying than in the book. I can't figure out why he's is in Ruhn.

I feel the show runners love Tolkien. The SA is not a well formed world, and they have had to do a lot of compression of the time line. So far they are failing with Numenor. Key theme in Tolkien is their growing fear of death, and how that fear leads to their destruction. We also do not really get much about its splendor and strength -- the first season actually minimizes this with the defeat of the small force sent to Middle Earth.

This era of IP content feels like a Sauron plot in its cynicism, and we see it poison commentary about it. I am fond of a podcast called House of R, with two very intelligent and well-read Tolkien nerds who have helped me enjoy the series more. That said, they are not really able to call out some of the crap in the series, since to do so would undermine the purpose of the pod. Still, they are insightful and really funny.

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 12 September 2024 - 02:26 PM, said:

champ, on 12 September 2024 - 01:00 PM, said:

I've quite enjoyed this season so far. It's not amazing but not as bad as a lot of people seem to claim. I think it's entered that realm where people just love to hate on it.


Looking forward to watching the new ep tonight.

Probably fair.

I was really pleasantly surprised by (from Episode 4 - I think the casting was announced but spoilers just in case)

Spoiler

Tom Bombadil

I expected them to best case irritating/ worst case dreadful and instead their interactions with The Stranger ended up being my favourite scenes of this series so far.

Episode 4 was definitely a pretty significant uptick for me, I'd be happy if it continued at that level.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

flea, on 16 September 2024 - 01:58 PM, said:

The second season is definitely stronger. I'm with you about Tom Bomadil. He's much less annoying than in the book. I can't figure out why he's is in Ruhn.

I feel the show runners love Tolkien. The SA is not a well formed world, and they have had to do a lot of compression of the time line. So far they are failing with Numenor. Key theme in Tolkien is their growing fear of death, and how that fear leads to their destruction. We also do not really get much about its splendor and strength -- the first season actually minimizes this with the defeat of the small force sent to Middle Earth.

This era of IP content feels like a Sauron plot in its cynicism, and we see it poison commentary about it. I am fond of a podcast called House of R, with two very intelligent and well-read Tolkien nerds who have helped me enjoy the series more. That said, they are not really able to call out some of the crap in the series, since to do so would undermine the purpose of the pod. Still, they are insightful and really funny.

Thanks for the podcast recommend - I'll go have a look for it

Agreed that Numenor isn't really working yet, but we'll see if that improves (I feel there may be far more focus on Numenor next series once the forging of the Rings is taken care of, which might help). I do like the performances from Elendil and Miriel, and I feel like Pharazon is probably a good actor, they just need to give him stuff to get his teeth in to and they haven't yet (I am just pretending the "make Numenor great again" moment from the first series didn't happen and I'm happier for it)

Up to date as of last night, and I am really loving the Annatar/Celebrimbor dynamic. It's still a touch too heavy handed at times but they're getting Annatar pressing all of the poor bloke's buttons very right. I'm hopeful they're going to stick the landing with Eregion based on that.

I still don't care about Galadriel though...

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 23 September 2024 - 10:38 AM

[Tavvar]

I agree with the above so far. I kind of feel like they should've left the Numenor drama until after the forging of the Rings, they could've shown them at their height of power then decline, whereas in the show it just seems to be in decline.

It is interesting enough that I want to keep watching to see if they can tie it up nicely over 5 seasons. There is some potential here, but its still not quite "there" yet.

ex. I'm not quite sure of the point of the Harfoot/Stranger storyline, it seems to be taking time away from Numenor and the Elves that they could really use.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Episode 7 is the strongest episode so far, in either series. Odd bit aside, it's genuinely excellent.

Spoiler

Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, is a bit of a British heavyweight, he's in every big name British period drama going etc. I definitely raised an eyebrow at him in the first series because I didn't understand why they'd cast that sort of actor and he felt pretty wasted.

Oh my word. THIS is why they cast him. He does an incredible job in this episode portraying the Celebrimbor who is broken by the discovery of Sauron and what he has done under Sauron's manipulating hand. It blindsided me completely and I got genuinely pretty emotional at his interaction with Galadriel. Going back to face Sauron knowing he'll die in order to give Galadriel time to escape with the Nine and buy Eregion whatever time he can is just the most nail-on-head Silmarillion-toned thing they could have done, and I loved it.

He and Charlie Vickers' scenes have been my favourite part of the second series, they play so well together. Seeing Sauron finally cast off the need for the Annatar persona and unleash his power openly was actually scary. Great work - cannot believe how much better Vickers is this series compared with last. Maybe Annatar just gave him a lot more to get his teeth into than Halbrand.

Elrond did some great work this episode too. Really liked the deliberate invocation of the "at first light on the fifth day, at dawn look to the east" moment from Two Towers only for it to be the lone dying messenger reporting the doors of Khazad Dum are shut. I suspect it'll go the way of the book in the finale, in that Durin and at least some form of force will arrive to rescue Elrond at the last minute, but then the doors will close for good.

Overall though, the Fall of Eregion has been great.

Suspect it's got rather too much to do in the last episode (maybe Numenor and Rhun will get stalled until next series now) but I'm genuinely excited to see the finale. Not a feeling I expected from this show!

[Macros]

Don't make me pick this up again RTB!!!

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Macros, on 01 October 2024 - 11:42 AM, said:

Don't make me pick this up again RTB!!!

[Tavvar]

I thought the finale was great! I am feeling much better about this series now that I was after Season 1. While I enjoyed season 1, it was more in a "there's potential here" kind of way, and now I think they have a good chance to live up to that potential.

[Briar King]

I still thought it was utter garbage tv myself. Got some pretty eye candy for sure but that “battle” was utterly ridiculous to watch.

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 30 September 2024 - 11:35 AM, said:

Episode 7 is the strongest episode so far, in either series. Odd bit aside, it's genuinely excellent.

Spoiler

Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, is a bit of a British heavyweight, he's in every big name British period drama going etc. I definitely raised an eyebrow at him in the first series because I didn't understand why they'd cast that sort of actor and he felt pretty wasted.

Oh my word. THIS is why they cast him. He does an incredible job in this episode portraying the Celebrimbor who is broken by the discovery of Sauron and what he has done under Sauron's manipulating hand. It blindsided me completely and I got genuinely pretty emotional at his interaction with Galadriel. Going back to face Sauron knowing he'll die in order to give Galadriel time to escape with the Nine and buy Eregion whatever time he can is just the most nail-on-head Silmarillion-toned thing they could have done, and I loved it.

He and Charlie Vickers' scenes have been my favourite part of the second series, they play so well together. Seeing Sauron finally cast off the need for the Annatar persona and unleash his power openly was actually scary. Great work - cannot believe how much better Vickers is this series compared with last. Maybe Annatar just gave him a lot more to get his teeth into than Halbrand.

Elrond did some great work this episode too. Really liked the deliberate invocation of the "at first light on the fifth day, at dawn look to the east" moment from Two Towers only for it to be the lone dying messenger reporting the doors of Khazad Dum are shut. I suspect it'll go the way of the book in the finale, in that Durin and at least some form of force will arrive to rescue Elrond at the last minute, but then the doors will close for good.

Overall though, the Fall of Eregion has been great.

Suspect it's got rather too much to do in the last episode (maybe Numenor and Rhun will get stalled until next series now) but I'm genuinely excited to see the finale. Not a feeling I expected from this show!

I agree. It was really quite good. I felt the middle of this season flagged a LITTLE....but that the ending brought it home.

It is ever going to be as good as the movies? No. But it's damned decent television.

[champ]

QuickTidal, on 18 November 2024 - 04:22 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 30 September 2024 - 11:35 AM, said:

Episode 7 is the strongest episode so far, in either series. Odd bit aside, it's genuinely excellent.

Spoiler

Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, is a bit of a British heavyweight, he's in every big name British period drama going etc. I definitely raised an eyebrow at him in the first series because I didn't understand why they'd cast that sort of actor and he felt pretty wasted.

Oh my word. THIS is why they cast him. He does an incredible job in this episode portraying the Celebrimbor who is broken by the discovery of Sauron and what he has done under Sauron's manipulating hand. It blindsided me completely and I got genuinely pretty emotional at his interaction with Galadriel. Going back to face Sauron knowing he'll die in order to give Galadriel time to escape with the Nine and buy Eregion whatever time he can is just the most nail-on-head Silmarillion-toned thing they could have done, and I loved it.

He and Charlie Vickers' scenes have been my favourite part of the second series, they play so well together. Seeing Sauron finally cast off the need for the Annatar persona and unleash his power openly was actually scary. Great work - cannot believe how much better Vickers is this series compared with last. Maybe Annatar just gave him a lot more to get his teeth into than Halbrand.

Elrond did some great work this episode too. Really liked the deliberate invocation of the "at first light on the fifth day, at dawn look to the east" moment from Two Towers only for it to be the lone dying messenger reporting the doors of Khazad Dum are shut. I suspect it'll go the way of the book in the finale, in that Durin and at least some form of force will arrive to rescue Elrond at the last minute, but then the doors will close for good.

Overall though, the Fall of Eregion has been great.

Suspect it's got rather too much to do in the last episode (maybe Numenor and Rhun will get stalled until next series now) but I'm genuinely excited to see the finale. Not a feeling I expected from this show!

I agree. It was really quite good. I felt the middle of this season flagged a LITTLE....but that the ending brought it home.

It is ever going to be as good as the movies? No. But it's damned decent television.

How good is Charlie Vickers as Sauron... The later scenes with Celebrimbor are fantastic!

[QuickTidal]

champ, on 18 November 2024 - 07:12 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 18 November 2024 - 04:22 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 30 September 2024 - 11:35 AM, said:

Episode 7 is the strongest episode so far, in either series. Odd bit aside, it's genuinely excellent.

Spoiler

Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, is a bit of a British heavyweight, he's in every big name British period drama going etc. I definitely raised an eyebrow at him in the first series because I didn't understand why they'd cast that sort of actor and he felt pretty wasted.

Oh my word. THIS is why they cast him. He does an incredible job in this episode portraying the Celebrimbor who is broken by the discovery of Sauron and what he has done under Sauron's manipulating hand. It blindsided me completely and I got genuinely pretty emotional at his interaction with Galadriel. Going back to face Sauron knowing he'll die in order to give Galadriel time to escape with the Nine and buy Eregion whatever time he can is just the most nail-on-head Silmarillion-toned thing they could have done, and I loved it.

He and Charlie Vickers' scenes have been my favourite part of the second series, they play so well together. Seeing Sauron finally cast off the need for the Annatar persona and unleash his power openly was actually scary. Great work - cannot believe how much better Vickers is this series compared with last. Maybe Annatar just gave him a lot more to get his teeth into than Halbrand.

Elrond did some great work this episode too. Really liked the deliberate invocation of the "at first light on the fifth day, at dawn look to the east" moment from Two Towers only for it to be the lone dying messenger reporting the doors of Khazad Dum are shut. I suspect it'll go the way of the book in the finale, in that Durin and at least some form of force will arrive to rescue Elrond at the last minute, but then the doors will close for good.

Overall though, the Fall of Eregion has been great.

Suspect it's got rather too much to do in the last episode (maybe Numenor and Rhun will get stalled until next series now) but I'm genuinely excited to see the finale. Not a feeling I expected from this show!

I agree. It was really quite good. I felt the middle of this season flagged a LITTLE....but that the ending brought it home.

It is ever going to be as good as the movies? No. But it's damned decent television.

How good is Charlie Vickers as Sauron... The later scenes with Celebrimbor are fantastic!

Charlie Vickers is a revelation. I was SO skeptical of his Annatar form just being him in a elf wig with pointy ears for S2....but MY god he sells the shit out of it and I believed every second.

And Charles Edwards Celebrimbor should really be the MVP of season 2...he poured SO much emotion into that role. Just incredible.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 18 November 2024 - 07:48 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

I've got two more episodes to go and I'm in agreement that this is a better series than the first one.

The levels of hate I have for that dweeby son of Pharazon are quite concerning haha

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 19 November 2024 - 11:41 AM, said:

The levels of hate I have for that dweeby son of Pharazon are quite concerning haha

Nah, he's a first class weasel

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 19 November 2024 - 12:15 PM

[QuickTidal]

Oh yeah he's the worst. Which is funny cause you already hate Pharazon and think "Oh his son can't be WORSE can he?" he absolutely can.

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah especially as s1 Pharazon isn't actually that bad IIRC and I was like "Huh maybe I'm misremembering the Silmarillion" but no.

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished it and wow that was done amazing TV! I finished s1 feeling a little meh about the whole thing but this has made me keen for more. It's like every element of the show has stepped up in quality. Celebrimbor was astonishing, and the nuance from Adar was surprisingly emotional by the end.

Did I hear they've already greenlit s3?

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 20 November 2024 - 11:31 PM, said:

Finished it and wow that was done amazing TV! I finished s1 feeling a little meh about the whole thing but this has made me keen for more. It's like every element of the show has stepped up in quality. Celebrimbor was astonishing, and the nuance from Adar was surprisingly emotional by the end.

Did I hear they've already greenlit s3?

They did. This show and WOT are Amazon's GOT/STRANGER THINGS lunch, so they will make them till it's not profitable to do so. I think they are chuffed that the response to S2 has been overwhelmingly better than S1.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

QuickTidal, on 21 November 2024 - 01:12 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 20 November 2024 - 11:31 PM, said:

Finished it and wow that was done amazing TV! I finished s1 feeling a little meh about the whole thing but this has made me keen for more. It's like every element of the show has stepped up in quality. Celebrimbor was astonishing, and the nuance from Adar was surprisingly emotional by the end.

Did I hear they've already greenlit s3?

They did. This show and WOT are Amazon's GOT/STRANGER THINGS lunch, so they will make them till it's not profitable to do so. I think they are chuffed that the response to S2 has been overwhelmingly better than S1.

After the end of series 1 I never expected to be excited for new seasons to be greenlit for ROP - but I'm really looking forward to series 3.

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 21 November 2024 - 01:41 PM, said:

After the end of series 1 I never expected to be excited for new seasons to be greenlit for ROP - but I'm really looking forward to series 3.

Same. While I was gone I sat down one day and decided to finish S1 and found the back half was better than the front half and there was enough there for me to look fwd to S2 a bit....after S2 I'm all in on whatever they want to do next. They pretty much fixed any issues I had with it from S1.