numenor Archives - THE RINGS OF POWER WRAP-UP

026 – Eat Your Broccoli

ROP Admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 22:03:32 +0000

Like a toddler at the dinner table, we’ve saved the most unpleasant bit for last. Listen in as Sara, James, and Alan return to finish their report cards for Amazon: will the show get passing marks? With discussion of the visuals, music, and acting behind us, tonight’s conversation turns to the writing. The sea may always be right, but if the sea could write, that might help. We grade specific plot lines, from Durin and Elrond (outstanding) to mithranium (needs improvement), look into specific dialog examples, and debate where The Rings of Power got it right, and where they might improve. Join us as we wrap up S1 and look forward to S2! There is a tempest around here somewhere… now where did I put it?

025 – Lofty Ambitions

ROP Admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 22:45:23 +0000

You decide if the episode title applies to S1 of The Rings of Power, or our attempt at a season-ending report card! Sara, Alan, and James return to discuss the high (and low) points of the first season of Amazon’s efforts to bring Tolkien’s Middle-earth to life. Somehow, we get so buried in conversation, we only finish part of the report card: if they’re giving grades for giving grades, we’re in trouble! In this half, we discuss set design and other visuals, and walk through the strong points of each of the actors from S1. So binge the show again, and join us for this half of our first season report card!

020 – Missing Persons

ROP Admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 20:06:43 +0000

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.

019 – The Return of the King?

ROP Admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 23:29:41 +0000

Adar leads his children on a righteous quest for a well-deserved homeland, Arondir plays Jenga in the watchtower, and the writers quote Tolkien directly! Sara, Alan, and James discuss the latest episode of Rings of Power, observing that it doesn’t take much to become king these days, apparently. Elendil plays horse-whisperer, Galadriel plays good-cop/bad-cop with Halbrand, while Adar plays a trick on them all. Also, Pompeii called – they would like to have a word about pyroclastic flows.

018 – Silmarils Don’t Grow on Trees

ROP Admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 02:04:52 +0000

Elendil shows tough love, Poppy sings a pretty song, Theo makes nice with Arondir, and Pharazôn schools Kemen. James, Sara, and Alan offer their mid-term grades for their most promising student, wonder why Waldreg would call Adar “the Abhorred” to his face, and seriously question the origin story of mithranium mithril. Oh, and none of us are willing to play poker with Durin IV.

Stone Weight Calculator: https://stoneyard.com/calculators/stone-slab-weight/

017 – Fathers and Sons

ROP Admin — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 01:00:00 +0000

We let the story of Númenor wash over us, as we dive deep into the lore, and try not drown in all the sea-related puns about the Great Wave. We engage in admiration of Galadriel’s headstrong attitude, observation of Pharazôn’s manipulations, and speculation of just who this Waldreg guy is anyway. And of course we’re not crying at Elrond’s story about his father, Eärendil – not at all, at all.

012 – Foundations: Men

ROP Admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 01:00:00 +0000

In our second foundational episode covering the lore of Tolkien’s legendarium, we review the history of Men — humans, not males — in Númenor and Middle-earth! Catch up with us on the origins of Men, their story through the First Age, and the vast difference in nature between Men and Elves (hint: it’s not pointy ears). We’ll also introduce you to some of the characters we know will be major players in the series, and remind you of the real reason you don’t want Elves writing your histories (unless you want to be called “Sickly”).

010 – The Elves Take San Diego

ROP Admin — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 15:00:00 +0000

Alan gives a recap of his experience at San Diego Comic-Con, from catching up with old friends, to lunch with the cast, to the awesome reveals of Hall H! And of course, we break down the trailer released at SDCC complete with creepy bad guys, creepy old men, creepy sword materialization… really, just loads of creepy stuff. Plus, Galadriel gets her hands on one of her uncle’s seeing stones, Arondir defies physics — again — and much more!

Useful Links:

The official release of the SDCC trailer is available on the official Prime Video Youtube channel here.

009 – How About a Heads Up Next Time, Amazon?

ROP Admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 23:43:37 +0000

Alan and Shawn finally break down the teaser that dropped on July 14, while they were both on summer vacations (oops!). Galadriel puts Elrond in his place with Middle-earth’s greatest “you idiot” look, and we may be seeing the discovery of mithril in Moria! Plus, terrifying unidentifiable red stuff… and lots of physics-defying Elvish fighting techniques.

Useful Links:

The official release of the trailer is available on the official Prime Video Youtube channel here.

008 – A Shooting Star Is Not a Star

ROP Admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 22:44:51 +0000

We unpack the new trailer dropped on Amazon Prime Video on July 6, with a first look at some new characters — and a better look at some previously seen ones — as Middle-earth observes the falling meteor. Alan falls on his sword at the appearance of a figure who’s clearly made of wood (but not a witch), and Shawn has reservations about writing systems. And what’s the difference between a mandarin and a satsuma anyway?

Useful Links:

The official release of the trailer is available only through Amazon Prime, so you’ll need to log in to watch it. If you’re not already a member, unofficial versions are readily available on Youtube.
Amazon Trailer

numenor Archives - THE RINGS OF POWER WRAP-UP

026 – Eat Your Broccoli

Recommended Reading:

025 – Lofty Ambitions

Recommended Reading:

020 – Missing Persons

Recommended Reading:

019 – The Return of the King?

Recommended Reading:

018 – Silmarils Don’t Grow on Trees

Recommended Reading:

017 – Fathers and Sons

Recommended Reading:

012 – Foundations: Men

Recommended Reading:

010 – The Elves Take San Diego

Useful Links:

Recommended Reading:

009 – How About a Heads Up Next Time, Amazon?

Useful Links:

Recommended Reading:

008 – A Shooting Star Is Not a Star

Useful Links:

Recommended Reading: