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SPOILERS AHEAD - Season 1 Episode 1 & 2 - A Shadow of the Past and Adrift
6 Jul, 2022
(edited)
2022-7-6 5:54:41 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-7-8 7:11:33 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-8-16 3:40:36 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-1 9:17:04 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-1 10:51:27 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-1 3:48:36 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-2 6:03:48 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-2 6:03:59 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-8-16 3:40:36 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-1 9:17:04 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-1 10:51:27 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-1 3:48:36 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-2 6:03:48 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2022-9-2 6:03:59 AM UTC
2022-7-6 5:54:41 AM UTC
This is a placeholder for the discussion thread for the first and second episode.
This thread contains spoilers for the Amazon TV Series The Rings of Power, it is advised that you watch the episode first before reading this thread.
Additionally please follow the rules of the site when posting in this thread. Any comments not following the site rules will be deleted and your account may be suspended by the moderators.
Release Date : September 1st 2022
Episode Title : A Shadow of the Past and Adrift
imdb Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9788618/?ref_=tt_eps_nxt
This thread contains spoilers for the Amazon TV Series The Rings of Power, it is advised that you watch the episode first before reading this thread.
Additionally please follow the rules of the site when posting in this thread. Any comments not following the site rules will be deleted and your account may be suspended by the moderators.
Release Date : September 1st 2022
Episode Title : A Shadow of the Past and Adrift
imdb Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9788618/?ref_=tt_eps_nxt
Watch the special two-episode Global Series Debut of #TheRingsOfPower
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) August 16, 2022
?: September 1 at 9pm ET
?: September 2 at 2am UK
And then, tune in weekly! New episodes will be available on Fridays at 12am ET, only on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/QqSwDVQVPA
So after staying up very late and suffering for it now I will try to capture some of my thoughts about the two episodes.
1. The first episode opened much as I thought it would. I found the pacing a bit clunky as I have said elsewhere. I liked the use of place names on the screen. I like that very much as over time it will I assume become more important as we see more of the world.
2. The visuals. While the world looks fantastic, I don't share in the almost widespread praise for the production value. I am of the school that believes a look of a film or TV show can have a bigger impact than some imagine. And the crisp (almost high framerate) look of The Rings of Power is not to my immediate taste. That may change as I get used to the show but for now the jury is out.
3. The onscreen map portions are something I really did not like. Again, like the crisp look and movement of the show I felt these out of place.
4. The Harfoots (Harfeet). I went in expecting to cringe but I came out of the first two episodes quite liking Nori and her friend Poppy. Nori is just the sort of child that I was so she warmed my heart a little. Though they seem entirely out of place in this time.
5. The dwarfs. As ludicrous as Peter Jackson's and I still don't like any dwarf shown in a live action Tolkien adaptation. Their kingdom is astonishing I will add. Kazad-dum is beautiful, but the folk who live there not so much.
6. The Southlanders and a certain sword. That is just urghhh! Where this is going I don't know obviously but I don't like it.
7. I found most of the Elves sort of unbelievable, although Morfydd Clarke is perfectly cast. Elrond was OK, though his story arc looks like it will be an odd one.
8. The ship leaving for the Undying Lands. I really had to gasp at this. I know it is just light, but I thought as an on-screen representation, it worked really well.
9. Did I mention how bloody annoying those dwarves are?
So overall I was left in limbo. I don't know how I am going to get on with this series.
One thing. I have read so many comments from the online Tolkien community from Podcastors, media people saying that this is a "love letter to Tolkien". I found none of that. This was very much a love letter to Peter Jackson.
1. The first episode opened much as I thought it would. I found the pacing a bit clunky as I have said elsewhere. I liked the use of place names on the screen. I like that very much as over time it will I assume become more important as we see more of the world.
2. The visuals. While the world looks fantastic, I don't share in the almost widespread praise for the production value. I am of the school that believes a look of a film or TV show can have a bigger impact than some imagine. And the crisp (almost high framerate) look of The Rings of Power is not to my immediate taste. That may change as I get used to the show but for now the jury is out.
3. The onscreen map portions are something I really did not like. Again, like the crisp look and movement of the show I felt these out of place.
4. The Harfoots (Harfeet). I went in expecting to cringe but I came out of the first two episodes quite liking Nori and her friend Poppy. Nori is just the sort of child that I was so she warmed my heart a little. Though they seem entirely out of place in this time.
5. The dwarfs. As ludicrous as Peter Jackson's and I still don't like any dwarf shown in a live action Tolkien adaptation. Their kingdom is astonishing I will add. Kazad-dum is beautiful, but the folk who live there not so much.
6. The Southlanders and a certain sword. That is just urghhh! Where this is going I don't know obviously but I don't like it.
7. I found most of the Elves sort of unbelievable, although Morfydd Clarke is perfectly cast. Elrond was OK, though his story arc looks like it will be an odd one.
8. The ship leaving for the Undying Lands. I really had to gasp at this. I know it is just light, but I thought as an on-screen representation, it worked really well.
9. Did I mention how bloody annoying those dwarves are?
So overall I was left in limbo. I don't know how I am going to get on with this series.
One thing. I have read so many comments from the online Tolkien community from Podcastors, media people saying that this is a "love letter to Tolkien". I found none of that. This was very much a love letter to Peter Jackson.
onthetrail wrote:
6. The Southlanders and a certain sword. That is just urghhh! Where this is going I don't know obviously but I don't like it.
I'm hoping that they do not go for the obvious, Theo is given one of the nine rings by Sauron, but it is certainly looking like that will happen.
Not sure if they have the rights to use this, but one of the Nobles in Númenor would become the Witch-King.
Trotter wrote:
onthetrail wrote:
6. The Southlanders and a certain sword. That is just urghhh! Where this is going I don't know obviously but I don't like it.
I'm hoping that they do not go for the obvious, Theo is given one of the nine rings by Sauron, but it is certainly looking like that will happen.
Not sure if they have the rights to use this, but one of the Nobles in Númenor would become the Witch-King.
It does look like they will go for a shock value thing with the boy. That sword being where it is, well, it is simply put, silly. I wonder if they are going for an emaculate conception angle here and he will turn out to be Sauron himself reborn.
I also don't know if they can do this but I wonder if Halbrand will be the Witch King? Instantly they are setting up the relationship with he and Galadriel to have them friends, only to then make him part of what she is fighting against.
I have not read any reviews yet other than a few Twitter posts, I want to see it again first when I am not shattered but overall it doesn't feel enough 'Tolkien' to hold me that way, and feels too generic fantasy dressed in a Middle-earth cloak to hold me that way. I remain unconvinced.
One way to possibly check whether they have the rights to something is if you have Foster’s Guide — not the Complete Guide but just the pre-Silm Guide.Trotter wrote:
Not sure if they have the rights to use this, but one of the Nobles in Númenor would become the Witch-King.
The fact that the Lord of the Nazgûl and two others are Númenórean is not included in the Guide, However, he speculates that all the Nazgûl are Black Númenóreans. In any case I would expect the show to introduce some of the eventual ring recipients.
I also checked if Galadriel is mentioned as having a brother. The closest it gets is that Galadriel and Finrod were both of the House of Finarphir [sic].
No Annatar, either…
Before mulling over my own spoilery reviews, I wanted to catch up here first - thanks for your thoughts!
It looked awesome projected on a theater screen. I am making my way through the episodes again at home, and not really feeling it suffers too greatly on the small screen, but I do get what you are saying. I do note that I can pause on just about any scene and feel like everything on screen is for a reason, and well made (so far as I have tried at this time). I don't get the "styrofoam stone" feeling yet.
I also feel like these Dwarves are an homage to Peter Jackson's depictions, which I did not like. I still have hopes that they will rise up and fill out as more noble and less crass.
Over the course of five seasons, it seems inevitable that we will meet the nine men who become ringwraiths. Their backstories will be much of the plot, I think. This seems to be the first of those stories getting started. That sword isn't his, he steals it from the barn of a neighbor. Also, there's a couple references to "black blood" in this region because of their support of Morgoth "a thousand years ago", which seems like an intentional allusion to the Black Númenóreans.
I do not yet get (or like perhaps?) the motivations of most of the Elves. They don't feel like Tolkien's Elves yet, just normal "human" motivations and emotions.
I have issues with the how's and who's of traveling to/from the Undying Lands, but I agree, the representation on screen is really beautiful.
onthetrail wrote:
2. The visuals. While the world looks fantastic, I don't share in the almost widespread praise for the production value. I am of the school that believes a look of a film or TV show can have a bigger impact than some imagine. And the crisp (almost high framerate) look of The Rings of Power is not to my immediate taste. That may change as I get used to the show but for now the jury is out.
It looked awesome projected on a theater screen. I am making my way through the episodes again at home, and not really feeling it suffers too greatly on the small screen, but I do get what you are saying. I do note that I can pause on just about any scene and feel like everything on screen is for a reason, and well made (so far as I have tried at this time). I don't get the "styrofoam stone" feeling yet.
onthetrail wrote:
5. The dwarfs. As ludicrous as Peter Jackson's and I still don't like any dwarf shown in a live action Tolkien adaptation. Their kingdom is astonishing I will add. Kazad-dum is beautiful, but the folk who live there not so much.
I also feel like these Dwarves are an homage to Peter Jackson's depictions, which I did not like. I still have hopes that they will rise up and fill out as more noble and less crass.
onthetrail wrote:
6. The Southlanders and a certain sword. That is just urghhh! Where this is going I don't know obviously but I don't like it.
Over the course of five seasons, it seems inevitable that we will meet the nine men who become ringwraiths. Their backstories will be much of the plot, I think. This seems to be the first of those stories getting started. That sword isn't his, he steals it from the barn of a neighbor. Also, there's a couple references to "black blood" in this region because of their support of Morgoth "a thousand years ago", which seems like an intentional allusion to the Black Númenóreans.
onthetrail wrote:
7. I found most of the Elves sort of unbelievable, although Morfydd Clarke is perfectly cast. Elrond was OK, though his story arc looks like it will be an odd one.
I do not yet get (or like perhaps?) the motivations of most of the Elves. They don't feel like Tolkien's Elves yet, just normal "human" motivations and emotions.
onthetrail wrote:
8. The ship leaving for the Undying Lands. I really had to gasp at this. I know it is just light, but I thought as an on-screen representation, it worked really well.
I have issues with the how's and who's of traveling to/from the Undying Lands, but I agree, the representation on screen is really beautiful.
Urulókë wrote:
Before mulling over my own spoilery reviews, I wanted to catch up here first - thanks for your thoughts!onthetrail wrote:
7. I found most of the Elves sort of unbelievable, although Morfydd Clarke is perfectly cast. Elrond was OK, though his story arc looks like it will be an odd one.
I do not yet get (or like perhaps?) the motivations of most of the Elves. They don't feel like Tolkien's Elves yet, just normal "human" motivations and emotions.
This stood out to me as well. The Elves feel like Men dressed as Elves...behaving as Men would in the situations faced. Hoping this changes.
Great points Jeremy, thank you.
2. I have wondered if my perception that it is too crisp and clean comes down to my loathing for streaming. To my eeys everything looks like it is that hidious high frame rate that Jackson is so keen on. Streaming can have micro stutters that get picked up by some of us as HFR.
5. Couldn't agree more about the dwarves. Very Jacksonesq. Kazad-dum is jawdropping. Stunning worldbuilding gone on there.
I am actually very interested in how they take the Southlanders forward with their history.
8. I have the same issues on subject of the Undying Lands. That is avery big leap away from what we know.
I watched the episodes again tonight and I retain my opinion that the frist episode is clunky with very dialogue but I enjoyed the second episode far more.
Mr. Underhill hits the nail clean on the head. My own thoughts exactly.
2. I have wondered if my perception that it is too crisp and clean comes down to my loathing for streaming. To my eeys everything looks like it is that hidious high frame rate that Jackson is so keen on. Streaming can have micro stutters that get picked up by some of us as HFR.
5. Couldn't agree more about the dwarves. Very Jacksonesq. Kazad-dum is jawdropping. Stunning worldbuilding gone on there.
I am actually very interested in how they take the Southlanders forward with their history.
8. I have the same issues on subject of the Undying Lands. That is avery big leap away from what we know.
I watched the episodes again tonight and I retain my opinion that the frist episode is clunky with very dialogue but I enjoyed the second episode far more.
This stood out to me as well. The Elves feel like Men dressed as Elves...behaving as Men would in the situations faced. Hoping this changes.
Mr. Underhill hits the nail clean on the head. My own thoughts exactly.
Just a thought concerning the rapresentation of the elves: I like the choice they made to let them behave more like humans in the 2nd age. It makes me feel that they are less detached from the concrete, like they are in 3rd age.
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