The sketch he makes for one of the Dwarf rings is pretty stupendous, yes (timestamp 0:34, screen-shotted here because it's only unobscured and complete for a few frames). I really hope that down the track we get another John Howe art book for RoP.

The show seems to be following the Jackson film logic of having the Seven at least made specifically for the Dwarves. Makes sense from an adaptation pov of giving them distinctive designs, and by implication 'explaining' why they have different effects on Dwarves, Men and Elves (as opposed to trying to detail the metaphysics of the different races, or leaving it unexplained and mysterious). And a literal reading of the Ring poem seems to indicate it anyway, even if it's not quite intended that way. Nothing in Tolkien's text that I know of says that the designs were different for the different groupings, just that they had their 'proper gem'.

(I hope the screenshot with attendant discussion/analysis is allowed under Fair Use)

In an recent article, someone mentionned they were using a completely new language devised by Tolkien for Rhûn :

But for the series, Tolkien scholars working with the show have unearthed some of Tolkien’s unpublished notes and used them to build out the beginnings of a language for Rhûn.

https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment ... swift/article68542510.ece

Any idea of what language they are talking about and if it's really new, could we hope a future (soon) publication of these notes ?

Assuming the report is accurate ....
My first guess would be Taliska or similar, though quite what that label attaches to at different times seems to vary. I believe Rhûn plays a rôle in the history of the migration and hence language development of the group that gave rise to at least some of the Edain, and hence there is at minimum a tangential connection to Taliska, depending on how one is willing to join the dots.

Someone else in a Tolkien-focused Discord server I'm in suggested the outside possibility the language might be Mágol.

Just wanted to get this prediction public before people hear the result in the show, whatever it turns out to be.

The first three episode should be able to be streamed today.

• Episode 1: Elven Kings Under the Sky | 1 Hour 13 Mins
  
• Episode 2: Where the Stars are Strange | 1 Hour
  
• Episode 3: The Eagle and the Sceptre | 1 Hour 3 Mins

I know it’s not fashionable here, but I really enjoy this programme. Some wonderful moments in the first 3 and a surprising but appropriate use of the title Lord of the Rings :)

Gerryt wrote:

I know it’s not fashionable here, but I really enjoy this programme. Some wonderful moments in the first 3 and a surprising but appropriate use of the title Lord of the Rings :)

Glad you are enjoying it! I haven't had time (or a Prime subscription at the moment) to watch, but plan to catch the season closer to the end when I can fit all the episodes in a free 30 day trial 😅

Finally got to end of the third episode, this season seems to be showing that it is not really a Tolkien adaptation, but a Jackson LOTR adaption, so many call-outs to the films. Which makes perfect sense for the audience that they are producing this for.

The main problem for me is still the quality of the writing, as a Peter Jackson adaptation, it is not as well written as Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh did with The Lord of the Rings, strays more into the disaster of The Hobbit movies.