**Spoiler Warning** Rings of Power S1E7 - "The Eye"

[Gil-Galad]

As we reach the season finale, questions will be answered and answers will be questioned.

Play by Play Thoughts:

- Always appreciate a good volcano scene, but not surprising the amount of survivors.

- Isildur's demise is obviously a fake out for those who know the books.

- Beginning to see more signs that the Stranger is one of the Istari, or maybe they might go for a deep dive and create Tom Bombadil(I imagine the Stranger would start collecting Tom's iconic wardrobe one by one)

- Out of all the locations, I have been liking the Dwarven ones the most. The Durin's have showed some good emotion and passion.

- Half way through the episode and there isn't any mention of Halbrand? That seems... really weird.

- We get our first Celeborn namedrop, who married her when he stumbled upon her dancing and that was the last time she saw him? I don't think that is how marriages work. Also didn't like the meaning that he is dead, but that probably means he is captured somewhere and will be rescued by Galadriel.

- Okay, that one was a bit on Nori for alerting the seekers. But, I understand that she was trying to protect the Stranger.

- they sure do like reusing cliches - twice they used the "that person looks like who I am looking for from a far andddd it's not them"

- Weird to not have Arondir and Bronwyn show up until near the end, but i get the emotional point. But having no mention of Halbrand at all just feels the worst. Last episode ended on the "King of the Southlands" and now this is all "Remember whats-his-name? Hell-Brad?"

- Heh, line callback to Boromir.

- "Harfoots stick together! Except that time my family and I were left behind"

- Harfoot Fellowship!

- Pelargir mentioned, also first time of "Old Numenorean Settlements" I think. This might make the Southlanders as Proto-Gondorians.

- And there it is, the "Oh yeah, what about Halbrand" moment.

- Galadriel taking Halbrand to the elves for healing might be the Annatar introduction of Celebrimbor, if Halbrand proves to be Sauron.

- Durin's Bane emerges.

- Seems like Adar is doing all the work for Sauron to copy his homework.

Final Thoughts:
- Another choppy episode of poor writing and pacing, but glad to see things moving and developing. I have a feeling that we are only going to see the rings of power as a drawing in Celebrimbor's hands in the season finale at this point. With two episodes left (I believe) I am either expecting it to pick up, or leave it with a cliffhanger for the second season. If the latter is the case, that would make for an overall disappointing first season. Especially given that showrunners/actors have already said that we are not going to find out the true identity of the Stranger, and Sauron, this season.

- For the episode itself, the timing of finding out if characters are alive or dead was really off for me and felt a bit lazy, or forgetful.

[Formendacil]

More than a few parallels between my list of thoughts and Gil-galad's...

• You know, I am not tired of the opening theme, visually or musically.

• I also think I'll miss this weekly routine. I'm not sure if I'll actually miss the show.

• Galadriel, you should all be dead. Why are you not dead? This is Pompeii; you're supposed to be a fossil now. (I like the idea of Orodruin pulling a Pompeii--or should I say a Krakatoa?--on a previously verdant Southland, but this is straining credulity to have our point of view characters surviving it this close up.

• Or is it? I'm no vulcanologist. How close to Orodruin are we supposed to be and what's reasonable?

• Is is a good sign I writing this verbosely when all this action is on screen?

• What is this now? More meteorites? Ah, no--we're blaming Orodruin for this.

• Being sad over a tree is very Tolkienian... though a potentially Sauronic figure saving one is a bit of a reversal.

• Well, err, not actually saving it, I guess.

• Elrond asserting his half-Elven naturally is almost subtextual: like, the narrator of the Red Book lays more emphasis on it, rather than the characters.

• You know, it really would have been better if they could have just said "Mahal," but... yeah... Appendices.

• I half expect Durin Jr. to kill Durin Sr. here...

• I'm annoyed at this stupid "Elves will die by spring" story, though I do enjoy Elrond, Durin, and Dísa every time they're onscreen.

• Look, teasing Isildur's death is silly--we KNOW he has to survive. They should have made him Anárion (a character we never saw in the movies) and had Isildur the offscreen brother--it'd raise stakes and give better peril here.

• Did you just give the Witch-king his sword, Galadriel?

• Hmmmm... is a blinded Míriel going to lead to her union with Pharazôn?

• Why is the music especially "Downton Abbey" during the Harfoot scenes? Am I imagining this?

• It'd be a bit of a downer, but if this is where the Harfoot story ended--and they were hiding through the remaining seasons--that'd be ballsy and super interesting. But... I doubt that's what we're getting here.

• Whoa! You've killed off Celeborn?!?! This seems quite ridiculous, but... I admit I am curious. Also baffled. This is a reversal of their usual rewriting: moving something backward rather than forward. I assume we'll see him again--either returning from the west, ala Glorfindel or in an Adar-like role.

• Or... both?

• I admit I never really expected extended Galadriel/Theo screentime.

• There is real menace in the orks--I continue to really love that.

• "Blast it" doesn't quite work for Tolkien--even for his Dwarves.

• You're not about to reveal that your Secret Name is Narvi, are you, Durin?

• Am I about to get some Longbeard patricide?!

• Durin Sr.'s stage presence is fantastic--I'll be sad when he does leave the stage.

• As soon as you started singing, Poppy, it was clear this would end creepily--and so it does.

• This is a very WWI sort of injured-looking tent.

• Again--that note of period piece melodrama.

• Oh yeah, I forgot Arondir existed.

• This is VERY short-hand, but the idea of Númenor turning its back on Middle-earth is not terrible.

• "Míriel daughter of Ar-Inziladûn"--what is this mixing? Either you're Míriel daughter of Tar-Palantír or Zimraphel daughter of Ar-Inziladûn. Except, of course, she promises to come back.

• Look, Daddy Brandyfoot, I'd buy this speech more if your tribe hadn't left you behind for dead on the road.

• Halbrand does have one of the better musical cues, doesn't he?

• You're going to take a near-dead invalid on horseback from Ithilien... to Lindon? Greenwood? Where are you going to ride with him, Galadriel?

• I still hate "commander."

• Still, if the point is to save the Elves, Dísa, there's not much point waiting to dig if you have to wait a few more years. Except for spite, which IS kind of a Dwarven motivation.

• Oooh, Balrog cameo! Pointless, but okay.

• Adar's not dead, I see. Do any main characters die?

• Is it supposed to be a "reveal" that the Southlands are now Mordor? Because... who didn't know that?

• Still annoyed that Amazon cuts off the credits.

Overall, I think I'm more exasperated at the snowballing of annoyances now, as the season goes on, but my expectations have found the right level for the show, so this isn't resulting (yet?) in a higher level of overall dissatisfaction

[Gil-Galad]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

• I admit I never really expected extended Galadriel/Theo screentime.

I feel like that scene felt really out of place; like why didn't Galadriel stay in the town to help everyone else? Instead she grabbed Theo and just left, and everyone was heading in the same direction anyways.

It might be a reshoot that was edited in for some reason.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Gil-Galad

I feel like that scene felt really out of place; like why didn't Galadriel stay in the town to help everyone else? Instead she grabbed Theo and just left, and everyone was heading in the same direction anyways.

It might be a reshoot that was edited in for some reason.

In a way, the whole episode felt kind of like their little side-story: just a little bit off-kilter. In some ways, that kind of worked for the episode--half the characters (anyone in Mordor) is literally in shock, so it "felt" like the characters did, but at the same time it's just not good writing.

[Oddwen]

Oh no. Peril. Anyway.

"Trees don't talk!"
"SOME do!"

"the dwarves dug too greedily and too deep" for FRIENDSHIP (Hmmmm, is Disa getting a little greedy though?)

"How much longer until we are clear of this smoke (that nobody at all has coughed from)"

"Silver clam" ok that's a little funny.

It's a good thing Elrond has enough mithril to make an elven ring or three. That'll save all the elves just in the nick of time, but not before several fakeout deaths and reveals. I'm tired of fakeout deaths and reveals.


This episode was maybe the most meh of them all for me.

Originally Posted by Form

It'd be a bit of a downer

Aren't we all?


Halbrand's arc this episode was the longest fakeout death and reveal of them all. Also when are they going to address that Bronwyn and Theo are possibly the only healers in the village? When are they going to heal anyone????

[Gil-Galad]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

In a way, the whole episode felt kind of like their little side-story: just a little bit off-kilter. In some ways, that kind of worked for the episode--half the characters (anyone in Mordor) is literally in shock, so it "felt" like the characters did, but at the same time it's just not good writing.

Another thing I have been noticing is the inconsistency with Galadriel. Last week's episode with her stopping Halbarand from killing Adar ("We need him alive!") Then to her almost killing Adar.

And this week, we have seen her relentless bloodlust in killing orcs, then she tells Theo not to enjoy killing orcs.

I feel like they are trying to show character growth, but doing it in the most asinine way, like breaking the writers Cardinal rule of "Show don't tell".

[Boromir88]

Well, my friends who don't know the lore are still enjoying the series more than I have. It seems more like a world-building season for new fans, and not a season for folks like us.

But even they have said they don't get the purpose of teasing Isildur's death. Because they are at least familiar with the movies, and know he's not going to be dead. It was a poor choice of character to try to tease being dead. That is one of the essential problems of "prequel" movies and shows. In Kenobi, we all know Obi-wan, Leia, and Vader aren't going to die, so it's kind of difficult to have drama built around convincing the fans those characters are going to die. The Kenobi characters managed to navigate around those difficulties and make a fantastic Season 1. It left me wanting a Season 2, even though I know now it will probably be disappointing, because where does the show go from there? It was already a perfect conclusion to the Obi-wan/Vader tension. Rings of Power is not making good decisions by trying to fake us with Isildur's death and Celeborn's death. Celeborn is a little more niche, but Isildur has an iconic moment that even the non-hardcore fans remember. It's just silly to try to convince us he's dead.

That's all I have time for at the moment. As a Tolkien fan, Season 1 is rather dull. Episodes 3 and 4 were the strongest, but it's been regressing. I'm enjoying more my non-Tolkien friends think it's interesting and answering their questions than actually watching the series.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Gil-Galad

Isildur's demise is obviously a fake out for those who know the books.

..or haven't watched the PJ movies... so probably about 0% of their audience.

Originally Posted by Gil-Galad

Pelargir mentioned, also first time of "Old Numenorean Settlements" I think. This might make the Southlanders as Proto-Gondorians.

Which, to be honest, is again one of the more interesting things set up by the shows. Since the Gondorians were (more or less, depending on the region) descendants of the Númenor and the original inhabitants of the area it's interesting to see where the latter came from and who they were.

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Is it supposed to be a "reveal" that the Southlands are now Mordor? Because... who didn't know that?

Even more ridiculous of them not to have Adar say it aloud and then reveal it in the text. If the point was to make it less cheesy, it failed massively. Makes me think the text was added as an afterthought for maximum clarity. (Which makes me miss House of the Dragon where they have no trouble throwing new characters and names at us left and right and expecting to keep us track. I'd rather be overestimated than underestimated as a viewer...)

We watched this together with the finale, so more thoughts on that thread...

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

..or haven't watched the PJ movies... so probably about 0% of their audience.

I've actually seen some young'uns say they've never seen the PJ movies. I would guess this adaptation is for them, but I'm not sure how common that lack of experience is.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I've actually seen some young'uns say they've never seen the PJ movies. I would guess this adaptation is for them, but I'm not sure how common that lack of experience is.

I actually believe that this adaptation is for those who have seen PJ, because they work as a prequel to PJ's LotR much more than as prequel to actual Tolkien. Thinking of all the contradictions to canon etc (and I mean just the contradictions in the actual part of the canon the showmakers had access to!), I think that this show would work the best for those who have seen PJ but haven't read the books, not even the appendices.