Comments for THE RINGS OF POWER WRAP-UP

Comment on 022 – Sand By Me: An Interview with Plains of Yonder by Greg

Greg — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:09:49 +0000

“Chladne’s experiment seems to me central. He strewed sand on glass and then struck the glass with tuneful accords, and the sand assumed symmetrical figures. With discords the sand was thrown about amorphously. It seems, then, that Orpheus is no fable; you have only to sing and rocks will crystallize; sing and the plant will organize; sing and the animal will be born.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson—

Pretty much Ainulindale in a nutshell.

Comment on 021 – There’s Something About Halbrand by Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 02:20:40 +0000

I don’t know if this is the best place for this, but I have not been part of the online discussions about the series, and now that my wife and I have seen the season finale, I wanted to set down a few of my reflections:

– I began to realize that Halbrand was Sauron after I had seen the penultimate episode, but before watching the final one. I had already assumed that Galadriel and Halbrand were heading for Eregion, and when I put that together with the fact the the show had made a point of portraying Halbrand as a smith, that put two and two together for me.

– I assume that the second season will show both Sauron taking control of Mordor and Pharazon taking control of Numenor, as well as the forging of the other rings and other storylines (Isildur’s return, Nori and the Wizard traveling to Rhun, etc.). One thread that I found myself reflecting on is that of Arondir, Bronwyn, Theo, and the other surviving Southlanders headed to Pelargir. Their storyline will very likely intersect with Isildur’s, but it also occurred to me that Sauron might approach them in his guise as Halbrand; after all, the last they knew of him, he had just been hailed as their “true king” by no less than Galadriel and Miriel (something that in retrospect seems quite deliberately ironic).

In the course of watching this season, I have appreciated some of the nods to the lore and found some of the new material intriguing, while being very dubious about other parts of it, as well as uncertain where the story was heading. However, it did seem as though the showrunners were able to pull the threads together in the final episode and create something that, while it does not entirely match Tolkien’s tale, has at least drawn closer to it. I will be interested in seeing the second season when it eventually arrives.

Comment on 020 – Missing Persons by Marcel Paquet

Marcel Paquet — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:51:11 +0000

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.

Comment on 020 – Missing Persons by Mitch Yurkovich

Mitch Yurkovich — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 18:12:58 +0000

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?

Comment on 019 – The Return of the King? by Sam W.

Sam W. — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 16:02:14 +0000

James mentioned an interview with Ema Horvath – is there a recording or anything?

Comment on 015 – Manwë Wants a Word by ROP Admin

ROP Admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:40:57 +0000

In reply to Bruce Mohler.

Hi Bruce – we do have an About page with full details coming shortly, sorry! In the meantime the names you want are Dr Sara Brown and James Tauber. Both on Twitter – @AranelParmadil and @DigitalTolkien.

Comment on 015 – Manwë Wants a Word by Bruce Mohler

Bruce Mohler — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:33:18 +0000

Please provide the full names of the two new hosts. How else can we track them down and follow them on social media?

Comment on 015 – Manwë Wants a Word by Jay

Jay — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:43:22 +0000

I am inclined to believe that the stranger is indeed Gandalf. Recall that when Gandalf the White returned to Middle Earth, he arrived rather disoriented. The same is true of the stranger. Also, the stranger seems powerful but not evil. Gandalf watched over the Hobbits for a very long time and has a special affinity for them. The fact that he is going to pull the cart belonging to the Harfoots; that is not an action I’d expect from an evil character.

Comment on 015 – Manwë Wants a Word by Jake Newman

Jake Newman — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 20:27:39 +0000

Just a quick one to say well done to Sara and James – excellent work. Shawn’s were big shoes to fill and you both did brilliantly. Alan – awesome as ever. Thanks to you all.

Comment on 009 – How About a Heads Up Next Time, Amazon? by gatheringtide

gatheringtide — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 22:17:20 +0000

In reply to Kaci Foster. I think that Queen Regnant is a full Queen, Queen Consort is wife of a King, and Queen Regent is a Queen ruling in place of someone else - a young child, or an ailing parent.