**Spoiler Warning** Rings of Power S2E1 - "Elven Kings Under the Sky"

[Huinesoron]

Yup, we're doing this again. Love it, hate it, refuse to watch it, here's your spoiler thread for The Lord of the Rings: Extracts from Appendix B (Revised and Expanded) - Season 2 ~~~ Episode 1.

Leading with the random thoughts that have stayed with me in the couple of days since I watched the first episode:

- The recap was good for what it was, bringing me back to where the story broke off. I don't think it would work as an intro to the series if someone wanted to start watching with S2.

- HA HA Sauron got murdered by Orcs with his own hand-me-down crown. If you're counting, Mr. The Terrible has now lost his fights with: an orphan who'd lose his own hand if it wasn't screwed on properly; a girl and her dog; a bunch of orcs who just lost the War; an army he didn't even bother to fight; the Sea; an orphan with a busted sword; Finrod's kid sister; and a couple of short fellows with sore feet. (Not all of this can legally be mentioned in the show, of course.)

- I do not like Blood Worm Sauron, but I find him blobbing his way down the mountainside hilarious.

- Elrond ducking behind a bush and pulling a vanishing trick is also hilarious, especially since the editing makes it look like Galadriel reached the guards second later. He must have legged it over to them while she was looking baffled.

- Is this the first time Gil-Galad has been made aware that his aunt (or whatever) is still running around? I half expected a "Didn't I send you to Valinor?".

- Elrond rejecting the Rings is an interesting plot beat, but actually makes sense given the confirmation that Galadriel didn't mention that Halbrand was Sauron. That's a dumb move/bad writing on her part, especially since her justification is that it would be a bit embarassing. It only happened because Celebrimbor needs to not know who his houseguest is/was.

- Waterfall jump! I guess we know where Movie Aragorn gets it from.

- I actually have no idea why Halbrand turned himself in to Adar. His next move is just to head right back to the place he just left. Did he just want to taunt his enemy/target? Or was that wolf his favourite pet that he just really missed? Maybe he just hated Waldreg that much.

- Cirdan is amazing, and properly bearded! He's also the only person in the entire episode (/show) to come up with a simple, enactable plan and just go for it. "Potentially evil rings? Yeah, I've got a mid-ocean rift with their name on it, let me get my boat."

- Why does he stop? The visuals imply that Elrond was 100% correct: looking at the Rings corrupts you into accepting them. But given that it's Cirdan, I think he took that wave as a message from Ulmo, to turn aside from his course and try another. It wouldn't be the first time.

- I feel so bad for those women behind Gil-Galad, the ones who've adopted the Arwen Moping Veils. They clearly want to go to Valinor! They'd love to hop on a boat and head over to the Undying Lands and not have to deal with sweeping up leaves or whatever it is they do in Lindon. And then suddenly it's magic rings and magic trees and I guess we're staying here then.

- That messenger from Gil-Galad to Celebrimbor is so dead. Poor guy should have a red shirt to go with his stolen herald's staff (which is blatantly just Elrond's).

- Very pleased to see the Harfeet again, especially once Poppy returns too. (She has blatantly been following since the moment Nori left, and doesn't have the faintest idea how everyone's doing back home). Fake Gandalf is actually much less interesting now he can talk.

- I like "the song is a map", but wish it had felt less rushed. Were the pillars with ?crystal outcrops? the Light in the Tower, or the Eyes of Pale Fire, or what? I didn't even see the Black Sand For My Bed. We needed a proper flyover here.

- And Celebrimbor lets Halbrand back in. Of course he does - his only evidence against him is that Aunt PTSD said "he's not coming back", because of course Elrond didn't say anything useful before haring off to Lindon like "Halbrand was lying about being the King of the Southlands and is probably a servant of Morgoth, don't trust him even slightly." Nope, the Ring Heist was on, no looking back.

Overall thoughts:

I enjoyed this episode, blob!Sauron aside. I liked the fact that they managed to focus on just the three storylines; in particular, I enjoyed not having to try and identify any Numenoreans or Southlanders for once. The fact that none of the bearers of the Three particularly trust each other (Cirdan tried to destroy the Rings despite knowing Gil-Galad's preference for using them) should make for interesting dynamics. We'll see if episode 2 carries that through.

I won't comment on the trailer that came attached to the end of the episode, because what the even heck.

hS