Our old friend, Celeborn, makes an appearance, even if it’s on a Second Age milk carton; Durin IV finds himself un-princed, and we hear some lovely Quenya from a tall Stranger in the Grove. James, Sara, and Alan discuss the seventh episode of The Rings of Power, but disagree on the nature of romantic meet-cutes. Isildur casts himself into the fire, Theo gets an actual sword (not just a hilt this time!), and Elrond makes an offer that Durin III can’t refuse – except that he does. Also, Balrogs are light sleepers.
Recommended Reading:
The Silmarillion
(J.R.R.Tolkien, ed. Christopher Tolkien, Mariner Books)
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
(J.R.R.Tolkien, ed. Christopher Tolkien, Mariner Books)
The Fellowship of the Ring
(J.R.R.Tolkien, Mariner Books)
The Two Towers
(J.R.R.Tolkien, Mariner Books)
The Return of the King
(J.R.R.Tolkien, Mariner Books)
After hearing the discussion about the mithril removing corruption from the leaf, and the possible extension of removing “corruption” from the elves, I am feeling more and more confident in my theory that the claim that “mithril is the only thing that can save the elves” is a deception from Sauron. Hopefully not directly deceiving Gil Galad, as he is named in the appendices as an intense critic of Sauron around this time. I think Sauron is already in Celebrimbor’s (and others’) ears influencing the events in Eregion. Sauron is using the elves to get to the dwarves’ mithril. He does this by deceiving the elves into desiring the material to affect their own fate.
Also regarding theories on identities: I think Halbrand will become one of the Nazgul. He is a king of men who will at some point be deceived into trusting Sauron (Annatar?)… Is there anything that would debunk this theory outright?
So I only watched the episode once and English isn’t my first language but I took Galadriel saying she lost Celeborn as that her quest for vengeance has driven them apart – not that he died. However it would make her choice not to go to Valinor even more powerful.
Awesome podcast episode as always!
Greetings from Germany.