#if Halbrand isn’t Sauron what are we doing here

[liminal-zone]

the loudest of Kill Bill sirens

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

We already talked about the blood binding, the crown and the devil smile, but there’s a side to the Sauron and Galadriel’s fight that I don’t see mentioned. And that’s Sauron desire to show off how powerful he truly is.

This is not Sauron “being cute”: this is him humiliating Galadriel, actually. Because she’s giving her everything here and he’s just there, entertaining “her nonsense” without breaking a sweat. He allows her to indulge in her “galloping” and violent shenanigans, because it amuses him, he doesn’t takes it seriously. And also because she humiliated him by rejecting him, and now he wants to do the same thing to her.

Galadriel likes to feel powerful, she’s the mighty commander of the Northern armies, she’s Noldor royalty, she’s legendary on Middle-earth, and looked upon with respect and reverence. And Halbrand did made her feel powerful in Season 1. She did wanted to use him for her own ends, and even if she fell in love with him, it doesn’t change her core goals (everyone conveniently forgets this because he turned out to be Sauron). Galadriel is not an hopeless victim here.

And Sauron is doing the opposite of that in this scene because he’s petty, and wants to rub it in her face. There is no worship here. Because Sauron is getting into his “I’m a god” plot on his character arc; he thinks he’s outgrowing the Maia, when, in fact, he’s getting back into Morgoth’s service. And that’s how he self-deceives himself; he thinks he’s doing good (healing Middle-earth) and escaping his bounds to Morgoth, when it’s the other way around.

Galadriel is no match for Sauron, and he wants her to know that. Nor is any other Elf, Men or Dwarf, for that matter. I see this fandom really underestimating just how powerful Sauron truly is. The only being with equal power in “Rings of Power” is Gandalf. And Sauron is not at the peak of his power yet (not even Gandalf, for that matter). I’ve read people call him “pathetic” or how Galadriel was kicking his ass? You are way off mark here, folks. He’s dominating her in this scene.

In the War of the Last Alliance, both Elendil and Gil-galad manage to weak Sauron because he’s already weakened; he’s formless and bound to the One Ring. and that’s why Celebrimbor says that, at the end, one ring will be Sauron’s ruin, because he’s it slave. In “The Hobbit”, Galadriel manages to banish him to Mordor because he doesn’t have the One Ring, and it takes all of her power to do it. What we are seeing in “Rings of Power” is Sauron rise and fall from power.

He does this on purpose. He knows Galadriel will attack him. And she does just that. He knows her mind, after all.

This is a face of “you want to play? Let’s play.” This is game to him. Why? Because he also knows just how much Galadriel craves power. And he deludes himself into thinking that, by showing off just how powerful he is, it might make her reconsider joining him. Odd way of thinking, but that’s Sauron for you.

Until this happens:

Not only she goes for the face, but she rejects him, again. And that’s when Sauron snaps, and he gets violent for real. He’s not longer amused by this. He’s pissed, now. Why? Because Mairon’s love of beauty is corrupted into vanity when he’s Sauron. And Galadriel dared not only to kick him in the face but to cut him. And rejected his power, as if he isn’t powerful enough to her liking.

And then he does what he came there to do, in the first place. He forces them to bind together, and brutally, too. Some have mentioned the subtext here is r*pe, and they are correct. And when she fights back, he gets even more brutal.

And this moment:

This is a silent conversation between them. And we probably only understand what’s truly happening here at the end of Season 3.

[breathlesswordsbloodyknees]

Narrative Doom

Introduction

I've been playing around in and exploring this space where Sauron as Halbrand was genuinely seeking redemption, trying not to manipulate events but merely nudge them.

In my view, at this point he's in survivalist bed-rotting mode post-goo-form when he meets Galadriel. (I think he's more of an opportunist than a schemer in this era. Not that he doesn't have those schemes, but I think he's pushing those bad bad urges down. I have a web of scenes that I consider in this view for some other day)

I’m building much of this piece on these previous work: (link) (link) (link)

It's led me down some interesting philosophical rabbitholes, and I'd like to share.

Now, important to note, Sauron is a Maia—not a 'human' by any means. He's an ancient spiritual being who doesn’t feel the way us teeny tiny mortals do.

But on a broader scale: Tolkien’s work, like fiction as a whole, reflects and explores the human experience, so we’re riding that train.

All this with the framework of not absolving him for anything that came before or comes after. I plan on expanding into his evil alongside Morgoth and his actions in Season 2 at a later date.

But right now, we’re just exploring this blip of a moment where I consider Sauron could be genuine in repentance.

This is more an analysis of Sauron, but I feel like it has a lot to explore for Haladriel fans. There's some critique of Galadriel's choices here, but I want to make it clear: I'm not assigning blame. More just digging into the complexities.

And, well, I don't think this ship would be as compelling if it didn't have complexities.

Spoilers:

All of TROP S1

Vague themes/lines in TROP S2, mostly from S2E1.

The Good Place spoilers for overall theme and a few season 4 lines, but nothing outright about the plot.

Trigger Warning:

Be warned, I’m going to delve into some dark themes in a very personal way. Including but not limited to abuse cycles, personal trauma, harmful behaviors, and empathy within all of that.

I won’t lie, this work was hard for me. Painful to untangle. I would encourage you to have empathy and compassion for yourself, as well as me, while you read. I tried to put warnings before I go into these themes. Please take care of yourself.

---

To start

Sauron’s narrative, at its simplest, is a cautionary tale: If you let your ambition and drive for power go too far, you turn to evil. Higher values over sinful pleasures. Pride goeth before the fall.

But on a deeper level, being solely a cautionary tale, an overarching villain, a lesson to learn, what does that mean for the complexities of Sauron in The Rings of Power?

Charlie Vickers puts so many layers and so much emotion into his character. Yet he keeps it to a lot of imperceptible movements that, I found out last night, get almost completely lost in low resolution. I can see that being a part of some of the stricter interpretations of Vickers' Sauron. But there’s a vulnerability there that touches on some deeply raw thoughts.

—

So the relentless question in fandom: Does he mean any of it with Galadriel or is he just the Great Deceiver?

I'd like to ask, how much of it is just some deeply relatable ‘human’ behavior? Deflection, defensiveness. Half-truths, twisted truths, fibs.

Because as he says on the raft, he did tell her the truth, that he had done great evil in service of Morgoth. He never lied to her.

(An aside: I personally don’t give the “my ancestor” thing much weight as a true lie, I mean it’s his backstory and he had more reason for it than the Darkling did imho)

But really, who doesn’t try to hide and smooth over the worst ugly evil nasty bits of themselves and their past? We want to shine in the eyes of others—it's a fundamental desire to most.

—

On the other side, touching on influence and ambition:

Aren’t we all trying to sway events and leave an impact in whatever way we’re capable? Don’t we all attempt to sculpt the world like clay? Isn’t that really all we can do in this world?

And don't we often tell ourselves that we’re doing it for a better outcome? Even actions deemed ‘good’ and ‘heroic’ create ripples that have negative impacts, if only just for the orc babies.

I’ve been thinking a lot about orc babies.

—

Galadriel, from their first conversation on the raft in S1E2, backs him into a corner. She’s relentless in her quest for revenge against him and he’s whoops—sitting right there, doing the side eye meme. He’s gotta be self-preservational. And that rings true to me more than outright deceit. (At this point)

But I think over the course of the season, playing as Halbrand, “Lost King of the Southlands”, he’s trying. Trying to be “the hero she seeks”. Trying in the only way he knows how, which is…well, not great, he really toes the line. But he’s trying to ‘choose good every day and choose it again tomorrow’, while he’s on the path she set him on. So it’s a step by step journey towards the light, but the path is ever slippery.

And inevitably, as we know, he fails.

—

TW

So what does that mean for those of us who feel like we’re trapped in the narrative, hurtling toward a doomed end through harmful behaviors we can’t escape? Tied onto the train tracks, staring down what feels like an inevitable fate.

When all you’ve known for ages is subjugation and torment and abuse, what do you become? (Which makes Mairon even more painful, with his origin of beauty and light. Like a whisper of I was once admirable too)

I keep coming back to the image of grooves, well worn. And well, under the influence of an abuser and beyond, I too have done evil.

Holding the good you’ve aspired to and the evil you’ve done in one space; it’s a sharp, heavy feeling like holding coals, like touching a hot pan, something to run and hide from. And looking at my deeply ingrained behaviors from childhood, along with trauma that’s happened throughout my life...I see those grooves echoing in jagged bloody ways that feel comforting, even natural.

For a long while, it’s been the only way I knew how to self-soothe, these behaviors that can cause harm to myself and others. So I’ve been twisting around the question: Can we ever truly be free of the evil we’ve done? If it’s all we’ve ever known, baked and beaten into our bone marrow?

In Sauron’s case, the answer is no. His story unfolds the way it was written. The bad guys perish, the good guys win.

(though there’s the “they meet in Valinor” after canon theory, hope ever shines through)

—

That all brings me into The Good Place and that show’s moral thesis.

Spoilers for The Good Place:

More or less, the show states “people improve when they get external love and support. How can we hold it against them when they don't?” and “What matters isn't if people are good or bad. What matters is if they're trying to be better today than they were yesterday.” (S4E8)

Scanlons’ What We Owe to Each Other and the rabbithole of contractualism that I haven’t fully delved into.

I resonate deeply with what The Good Place says. All with the understanding that you have to put on your own air mask before you help others, don’t set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.

But I do believe we should help each other in what ways we can, rather than writing people off entirely.

So, I struggle with Galadriel’s moments of “shutting the door” being considered wholly empowering. Light prevailing, resisting the allure of darkness and the draw of power. It is indeed all those things, especially for her journey. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame her.

But there’s an itching here for me and I have to scratch it.

—

In S1E8, if we’re assuming he’s genuine, he put it all out there in the raft illusion. It was his biggest, his all, his hope. A leap of faith. Real vulnerability with an internal truth that was like holding coals.

He did what was ‘right’. He reached for support, for understanding, for community, What We Owe to Each Other.

(though we can’t ignore the scene before that where he’s wearing Finrod’s face. But I haven’t followed that thread yet).

He made a play for a better future.

And she—light and goodness and holiness in her hair, denied him.

“You are Morgoth’s friend”, “There is no such future.” Boiling him down to his worst parts, reinforcing his worst fears.

Is that all we ever can be?

---

TW

When do we write off people like Sauron, with all his history of wrongdoing? People like my abusers or even myself? When does the potential for redemption become irrevocably lost?

How much empathy should we show, and what are we obligated to offer? What do we owe to each other? All of this while carefully balancing the line of not condoning or becoming an apologist, along with taking care of yourself first.

It’s mind-boggling.

---

The answers are out there: self-compassion, self-forgiveness. Change comes from within. Balance. But it's the same way people say go outside, exercise more, drink more water to fix depression. When you're in the throes of darkness, those words feel hollow, trite. And that glossy sunlit path is more than treacherous when you walk it, especially alone.

So again, I say, I scream: Should we not still help each other?

It's not just internal and external separately, we need both. I have to believe that. Internal change and external support.

—

Conclusion

In the end, I'm really only left with more questions. This barely scratches the surface of what I've been brewing on, I could go round and round for days. I mean, that’s what I’ve been doing this week.

Regardless, all the typical takeaways feel hollow. Choose light, choose hope, every single step, no matter how hard.

It’s never quite that simple, on a very visceral level. And for some of us, like Sauron, it never materializes.

It all just eats and scratches and twists inside me. Ultimately though, I think Caitlin Seida said it best about hope and redemption and the struggle in her poem, Hope is Not A Bird, Emily, It’s a Sewer Rat. Which I greatly hope you’ll read and find what I have in it. (link)

So I guess we keep being scrabbly little sewer rats, hoping to claw our way out of the dank dark cave. And y’know, it may not mean much, but I’ll be here, down in the muck. Right there with you.

Maybe that’s all we owe to each other.

Follow-up

[just-trying-to-fangirl-in-peace]

Galadriel x fem!Elf!reader

-> in which she sees you in her 2x02 vision instead of Celebrimbor

Warnings: angst, implied Sauron x reader

An immeasurable weight lifts itself off of Galadriel’s chest when she sees you there, safe and sound in Lindon. Your name leaves her lips as she stands from her brother’s grave.

“They did not tell me you had arrived.”

“Well, here I am,” you say softly. And so you are, but...

Something is not right. The guarded smile you give her does not quite reach your eyes. And whereas before you would not have hesitated to come to her and take her hand in yours, or even embrace her in joy of your reunion, now you make no move towards her at all.

Of course not. You must be cross, she thinks, and you have every right to be. For centuries on end you had fought by her side, believed in her even when no one else would. You were the only member of her company that had not turned against her in the mountains. You had not hesitated to leap into the ocean when she had.

And yet, despite all that, she could not find it in herself to be honest with you when she left you in Eregion. Even when you begged her to tell you what was plaguing her, the words would not leave her mouth.

Sauron is alive. You stood by his side and called him friend. Because of me.

Her shame had been too great. Rather than endure it, she had betrayed your trust. And now you will not come to her because the wound has not yet closed.

So she closes the distance between you instead, wrapping her arms around you the moment you are within reach.

“Forgive me,” she says in a trembling murmur, her regret mingling with relief as she feels you return her embrace. “I should not have left without telling you the truth. I should not have left without you.” She pulls away to look into your eyes. There is still care in your gaze, but now it is tainted by deep sorrow. Your name is heavy with regret on her lips as she says it once, twice, resting her hands on your upper arms as if to brace herself for what she must, at last, confess to you. “The reason why I acted like I did... The reason Halbrand left was because—”

“Because you discovered he was Sauron.”

Your voice is nothing but calm and understanding. Yet your words are a tidal wave, threatening to steal the ground from beneath Galadriel’s feet. Her eyes grow wide, her lips trembling. How do you know...?

Your hands settle beneath her elbows, like you are seeking to soothe her as you answer the question she hadn’t gotten to ask, “We’ve had an unexpected visitor in Eregion.”

“He has returned already?” she breathes out. There is no concealing the dread that chills her bones.

“Yes,” you nod once, “but you must not blame yourself. Had I known, it would have made no difference. I would still be standing here, as I am now.”

A half-sob escapes Galadriel’s throat. Yes, you are here, and you are unharmed. Yes, she knows you are as fierce in battle as she is and just as capable of protecting yourself, but to think how close you have come the Lord of Darkness, to a threat that might have been beyond your skill to escape, tears at her soul in ways she cannot bear.

“Had I lost you...” she murmurs.

“Oh, Galadriel,” you whisper. Your hand cups her cheek with utmost gentleness, catching a tear that had slipped from her eye. She leans into your touch, is painfully grateful for it. Your eyes shine with tears as well, carrying the same pain she feels as you speak. “You have lost me. All is lost.”

“No,” she shakes her head, willing fiery determination back into her limbs and heart as she grasps at your hand on her cheek. “No, it isn’t too late. It cannot be. We shall find the Enemy and—”

The words die in her throat. Because when she touched your hand, she found something that hadn’t been there before, and which at once demanded her attention. Her gaze drops to your hand, and she sees what it is that felt so cold and rough beneath her fingertips.

There is a ring on your finger. One with a gem black as the night, so dark it barely even reflects the sunlight. One she knows, deep in her bones, to be no ordinary ring.

One of his making.

She says your name again, this time in question. She knows the answers, but dares not ask. And you know she knows, but you tell her anyway.

“It is a Ring of Power. The very same as yours.”

“No, not like mine,” Galadriel is quick to deny, voice sharp with anger as well as fear for you. “The Three are free of his influence. Yours is tainted by the dark, poisoned by shadow. It will bring you nothing but ruin. Remove it, I beg you!”

But all that you remove is your hand from within her grasp, a small yet sharp movement which puts what feels like an insurmountable distance between you and her.

“I cannot,” you retort. You glance down at your Ring, and your voice softens. “I will not.”

You sound almost... affectionate. The sort of affection with which you would speak of her.

“You will not?” Galadriel says, barely above a whisper. For a moment, you shut your eyes, breathing as if to steady yourself before you meet her gaze again. It is your turn, now, to make a great confession.

“Because it is a ring of promise as well.”

“Promise? What sort of—?”

But she knows. As the skies darken overhead and the dread settles in her lungs, she knows exactly what you mean. Only, she cannot believe it.

She knew you had come to care for Halbrand, but she had not imagined your feelings ran so deep. Or perhaps she had not cared to see it. But even if you had fallen for the supposed lost king of the Southlanders, surely once you learned of his true nature, you would never so much as consider—

“I know what you must think,” you say, in the same eerily calm tone you did at the beginning. “All the years we spent together... Fought together... Had you asked, I would have been yours in a heartbeat. But there was nothing you wanted more than to find him. You always chose him. Now, so have I.”

“No,” Galadriel says. “No. These are his words, not yours!” She surges towards you, aiming to take hold of your hand again. You let her, but this time it isn’t only the gem that feels cold to the touch—it is your skin itself. “What has he done to you?” she asks, frantic. “Speak to me. Please, tell me what has happened! There must be a way to put this right.”

“All is right,” you insist, shaking your head as if explaining the simplest of things to one who cannot understand. “Do not fight him. Do not fight us. When next we meet, I shall be your queen. And I shall be kind to you. But I cannot be yours.”

Your words cut deep, fueling the flames of despair that have taken hold in Galadriel’s heart. She cannot believe what she is seeing, what she is hearing. You do not have to be hers, she wants to say, even if she wishes desperately that she had told you what you meant to her when she had the chance. You can belong to whomever you wish, so long as you are happy—so long as it is not Sauron himself—

She means to say it. But in a blink, you are gone, and she is back inside Gil-galad’s council chamber.

“And what says the Commander of the Northern Armies?” the High King asks. “Galadriel?”

And so Galadriel knows that the nightmare is over. You truly are in Eregion, and Sauron in the guise of Halbrand may truly be on his way there, or already with you. But the Ring on your finger, and the way your mind had been twisted... She knows that was but a vision given to her by her own Ring of Power, a possible future which has yet to materialize, but which is terrifyingly possible.

She vows to herself, then and there, that she will not let it come to pass.

[fatcatlittlebox]

An anon asked earlier about my thoughts on Celedriel and my answer turned into another long ass meta. Shocker. So I decided to post it as a general response to the ship and Galadriel's marriage in TROP. I haven't said much about it because my takes are controversial and I think only 3 people in Borneo would agree with me. But the brain rot is what it is.

As for the Celedriel/haladriel in-fighting. I don’t get it. There’s room for everyone. It shouldn’t threaten anyone. I’m not against the ship either. I just have to see TROP’s take on it. I will say this, and it's an unpopular opinion: what I hate is the idea of boxing Galadriel in a ship because she is canonically married. I see that argument all the time on X. Like that’s it. That’s the tweet. “She’s married.” “Married” isn’t a personality trait. To me, it doesn’t say anything of the individuals involved. It doesn’t even denote love. It gives me nothing, sorry. I want to see their relationship before I ship it. Like I said, I am very open. And I do know what marriage means to elves but that’s clearly not what many of these online folk are asserting. We live in a post-modern, non-Middle Earth world. I'm not a big fan of chivalric love stories but that's my taste.

I love TROP Galadriel because she exists outside of her marriage. She became a warrior and commander. She’s dirty and bloody. She’s a brash, surly, tempestuous, unapologetic woman with priorities that are decidedly un-wifey and not traditionally feminine. Her husband disappeared in the war and she moved on with her life.

What I find interesting is that while Galadriel accepted her husband as gone... Sauron? She refused to. She pursued her rival for centuries with little more than a hunch and a handful of ashes. She pointed to her heart and said he wasn’t gone. Where was that certainty, that intuition about her missing husband?

And when Halbrand confronted her in Numenor, asking whom she had lost, for whom was she fighting? Her answer was not her husband. So why is Galadriel not as bound to Celeborn as she is to Sauron? In elven tradition, the fear of elves are intertwined through courtship, marriage and then sex. If their fear are tied, as they should according to Tolkien, she should know if Celeborn had passed and wouldn’t she be looking for him? But in TROP, does she know? And if she has no flarking idea if his fea had passed to the afterlife, i.e Halls of Mandos. Why?

Here’s my next unpopular take. The showrunners have already stated that Celebrian hasn't been born in this timeline. What if it’s because Galadriel and Celeborn have not consummated their marriage yet? And that’s why Gal’s fea hasn’t pinged on her husband. (Compare that with the text in the Unfinished Tales) So if she hasn’t had sex with Celeborn, their marriage contract is incomplete. The only 2 people who would know that are Gal and Celeborn. The other thing too is, elves do wear marriage rings. But here Galadriel is never seen wearing one for Celeborn? Why? Now let’s get to the meat. Why is her mind so attuned to Sauron? Why was that door open? Their bond had always been unique and singular. And now we know from the director that Galadriel loved Halbrand. I posit that there’s a possibility that they already had sex. I also suggest that Elrond believes they had too. His speech to her in Cirdan's workshop was very sensual in imagery: “Sauron looked inside you, plucked the very song of your soul, note by note. Making himself out to be exactly what you needed - the lost king who could ride you to victory.” Dude, he was trolling her. I believe that’s part of the reason why he’s so feral about Galadriel dabbling in anything to do with Sauron. Because she fell in love, (maybe?) had sex with him (possible?) and she is wearing a ring he believes to be under Sauron’s power. At this point, she is more the bride of Sauron than she was to her actual husband. Yeah.

I’m not saying she didn’t and doesn’t love Celeborn. I’m not saying she doesn’t value her marriage. It’s just clearly, it isn’t high on her list of priorities and if it doesn’t crack it, then obviously she doesn’t define herself by it and…*drumroll* she wouldn’t confine herself to it either.

So where would Celeborn fit in the grand scheme? How they would portray their marriage? In many ways, she’s the same elf Celeborn married: good, graceful, beautiful, charismatic, strong-willed, and clever. She could be all those things again. Sometimes that’s what marriage is. Being that person whom your partner married. But to find someone whom you could be yourself? Truly? That is a soulmate. So far, in the show, we’ve seen Galadriel with someone with whom she can be all parts of herself at once. Someone who sees her light and tells her to embrace her darkness. Who invites her to blaze at her brightest because he can withstand the flame. There is danger in that, of course. The flame could be a conflagration, destroying everything it touches in its wake. A temptation and adrenaline rush that only another one who bears a ring of power would understand.

If I were a TROP writer and I had to bring Celeborn back and make him a compelling counterpoint to Sauron, I would give him a whole arc and backstory of his own. I would show him on his own odyssey home to Galadriel. I’d show him in dire straits and similar obstacles where he triumphs because of his decency and devotion to the love he left behind. (Cold Mountain comes to mind). It’s a classic tale and it works every. damn. time.

[ivfrankenstein]

got power over me; 

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: Halbrand/Sauron x fem!reader 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘:

“It's not an enviable fate they've given you. There’s s no mercy in tying you to me.” “It was you, not them, who did the tying. Wasn't it you who named me that precious word — lover? Aren't we bound by the same ties?”

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: maia!reader, angst/fluff here, guess it’s star-crossed lovers trope 𝐚/𝐧: seren — star [in welsh]. gif: @ladyhawke​; eng not my 1st language, so be merciful for mistakes, my stars 🫶🏻

𝕹𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖁𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖗 understood the purposes of the One so clearly as Manwë. With Manwë dwelt Varda, Lady of the Stars, and the light of Iluvatar still lived in her face. Melkor feared her more than all others whom Eru made. Back in the days when Melkor's misdeeds began, an idea was sent to Varda to summon a spirit she had created earlier from the Light of the Stars, capable of bringing back those of the good powers who had been seduced by Melkor's darkness.

That light of the combined creation of Manwë and Varda was to reveal the true path to those of Morgoth's devotees who were still capable of seeing it and hesitating.

By the time Serena was descended upon Arda, the Great Enemy had fallen, but his strongest and most loyal servant was still wandering among the living, bringing himself into voluntary exile. Only one and only once did he fall into the despair that led to his repentance. He was called by many names by those who suffered at his hand, but Sauron was his last. 

In those relatively early years of Y/N's life, a name Serena bore in Middle–earth, she lived by instinct rather than orders from above, the way she was able to. Left alone to face all the new things, Y/N was just at the stage of exploring the world that was to become her home for centuries when, along with the rest, she faced Mairon. Which is why, when the two met, it was more of an accident than a successful hunt. But that’s a different story from this one.

That one was about how it's not hard to stop a dagger when it's already so close to someone else's chest, and also how it's not hard to be penetrated by another. This story, on the other hand, is about what you have to deal with when trust isn’t your strong suit after all. 

“Even if it was me who did the tying, I won't let it be used against me.” 

Many days in this wilderness and in this hut overgrown with moss on the outside. No longer than usual, in fact. But apparently too little space, and in its absence, too palpable is the addiction into which he has driven himself and not even noticed. 

“Used? W-what do you think it is? The nets I cast to catch you?” 

Y/N always deftly handled his temperament — not fervent, but at times so chilling that it scorches better than any fire. But this time Halbrand noticed how her lower lip trembled slightly. He didn't care if it was caused by the anger he'd driven her to, or by resentment. All he wanted was to push her to the level of vulnerability to which he himself had reached, so it would be fair.  

“It could become them,” dense shadows ran across his face, dispersed by the warm light of the candles, as he stepped back to curtain the small window. “Have you forgotten what you were created for in the first place?” he looked at Y/N half-turned, just enough to see her reaction, but not enough for her to see his.

Such a typical move of his. Which, in context, is a silent acknowledgement that Sauron is almost defeated, and it touches those deep strings of Y/N's heart that make her cheeks blush. It was obvious that she shared this defeat with him, though to his eyes it remained hidden. 

“You don't think they're proud of what you've accomplished in this, do you?” he taunted Y/N on purpose, outwardly mocking the way she had missed, failed, and fallen, keeping quiet that it was actually him who did all of this. With an impenetrable grin on his face, Halbrand feared that Y\N would seriously back down, obey his deceptive speeches or voice of reason, or anything else that would raise doubts in her faith in him. 

He was seeking devotion, and that devotion was a treasure she would not give him so easily.

“Take off your cynical mask when it's me you're talking to.” Y/N said sternly and rose from her seat, “You wanted me to call you Halbrand,” she took a step toward him, keeping his provocative gaze on her, “so deign not to treat me as if it were Melkor's right hand that appeared before me.” 

“But it is.” Halbrand was gloomy, like an enraged sky before the onset of a rainstorm, and it was almost like he physically exhaled the flames he was diligently extinguishing somewhere in the depths. 

Yet, Y/N kept walking forward, “No, not anymore,” her palm reached his chest and he shuddered, “You were created like Mairon, and there wasn't a single trace on you of what torments you now,” she could feel how his heart pounded out of his ribcage through the thin fabric of his tunic, “The traces will go away if you let them.” She stared at the throbbing vein on Halbrand's neck for a long moment, then looked up at him, “Is it possible for you to let them?” 

Her lips were in such a pleasant, pampering closeness and it made him so angry. It was a desire... something, in this mortal form, that Halbrand had to get used to for quite a while. He ran his hand across Y/N cheekbone the way it was the blade of a knife, not his finger. 

“If all this turns out to be the intention they put in you, my Serena, just to punish me..” he grabbed her neat face, “It'd better not be, because I'm going to be dead pissed.” 

Y\N only laughed at it, “You should know me better than that.” she found his hand, only briefly averting her gaze from his eyes fixed on her, and wove their fingers together, “But instead, you choose to be blind.” 

Whether it was the sweetness inherent in a woman's nature or the the prodding effect of Maiar, Halbrand, yet, wanted to believe that this was how love was functioning. He had only basic notions of this curse, but even that was enough for him to classify himself as one of these poor doomed men as well. This weakness, seeping into him like poison, urged him to give in, to give more than he had, to the one he had chosen (or not chosen), but wanted to keep near him either way. 

He was holding Y/N by the chin when, for the first time, the crystals of tears gathered at the border of her fluttering lashes became obvious to him. Her soul languished in oppressive anticipation for at least a word, his word, to be spoken. 

“I will spend entire years needing you if you ever abandon me.” he said in a low voice, “Will your love be enough not to condemn me to such a fate?” 

Y\N gently moved her palm to Halbrand's neck, and softly drew him to her until their foreheads touched. To her relief, he followed easily. “I don't know what our fate is, Hal,” his breath was warm on her, and it reminded her that this was reality, a peaceful one, not that which she was accustomed to in all her chilling visions, “Is yours enough to keep us both from getting there?”

[thegreatzombieartisan]

Rings of Power + Tolkien Fusion Meta

What’s in a Name: Case for ‘Halbrand’ as Sauron’s True Name - One That Shall Never Be Known Part t. 2

Series : Pt 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Why does Sauron have an Elvish name? Well ‘Mairon’ isn’t a name, it’s a title

*

The most pragmatic reason? Sauron once coexisted with the Eldar in Valinor and moved among them. Not far-fetched, as even post-prison Melkor was re-welcomed among the Noldor, who ‘took delight in the hidden knowledge that he could reveal to them' [1]. If so, dare it be asked, did the Eldar bestow their future tormentor “The Admirable” title? After all —Sauron, Gorthaur, Thû —Elves ain’t shy about giving old boy nicknames.

What is sure, as Noldor royalty, Galadriel and Mairon would have definitely met under better circumstances.

In contrast to the published The Silmarillion -- which has Mairon yelling #YOLO and joining Melkor in Middle-Earth long before the Elves awoke -- Tolkien did experiment with such a backstory origins storyline[8].

In S1:01, we see the light of the Two Trees of Valinor destroyed.

In The Silmarillion, Melkor forms an uneasy partnership with a giant spider named Ungoliant to carry-out the dastardly deed [2].

But in a different version, Sauron replaces her as the reason why Elves can’t have nice things before joining Melkor in Middle-Earth.

Sure, The Silmarillion is a draft yet it’s unlikely Tolkien would have reintroduced a plotline where Sauron and Eldar could be potential besties. It would require rewriting intricate lore. Besides, pre-Second Age was Melkor's time to wreak havoc on the Elves.

So again, why is Mairon an Elvish name?

*

'Mairon' is a Quenya Elvish translation of 'The Admirable' in the Ainur Language

Valarin -- the "tongue of the gods" -- predates all Elvish forms. Few every learn it ,as most little Elf ears judged Valarin as unpleasant and alien AF. Some Valarin words and names into “fair Eldarin” (Elvish) [4].

See translations below. Listen to them said in Valarin here:

Aulë - Aȝūlēz

Telperion - Ibrîniðilpathânezel 

Manwë - Mânawenûz 

⁠Oromë - Arǭmēz

Ossë - Oššai/Ošošai

In Valarin, ‘Mairon’ is most likely Mayarônôz (pronounced my-yah-row-noze)

Although Tolkien never fleshed out Valarin, enough exists to fairly conceptualize ‘Mairon’. Translation credit to @valarinventures [4]:

Known Valarin words starting with a “M” + vowel translate exactly into Quenya. Now it’s ‘M’.

In Valarin, Ainur = Ayanûz. So the ‘ai’ of ‘Mairon’ is translated into ‘aya’ in Valarin. Now it’s ‘My-yah’.

(+/- z) suffix might indicate the nominative singular or plural noun. That is, Mayarônôz (+ z) might be ‘The Admirable’ (singular), while Mayarônô (- z) might be ‘The Admirables (plural).

If Mayarônôz left Valinor before they awoke, how did the Eldar learn of his name? In the Valaquenta, it’s written:

Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron… he was of the Maiar of Aulë, and he remained mighty in the lore of that people.

Surely, the Valar warned the Eldar of Melkor and Mairon wickedness. Possibly Oromë told them first, as he was tasked to find and protect the newly awakened Elves in Middle-Earth.

Did Galadriel know Valarin? Once Aulë’s apprentice, Yavanna's handmaiden, and Melian protege — it's likely Galadriel would know more Valarin than most Eldar.

Mayarônôz is still not Sauron's true name

Now the names that we have for the Valar or the Maiar, whether adapted from the Valarin or translated, are not right names but titles, referring to some function or character of the person; for though the Valar have right names, they do not reveal them. Save only in the case of Oromë…[Quendi] asked him what that signified, and again he answered: Oromë. To me only is it given; for I am Oromë. Yet the titles that he bore were many and glorious; but he withheld them at the time, that the Quendi should not be afraid [3].

(Say, what’s with the Ainur “no name reveal” policy?)

Oromë's admission here is profound: Ainur true names lack a primitive root meaning in Valarin. Only the sound of their names distinguish them. He also states that his name (and presumably all Ainur) was "given" to him. By Eru Illuvatar or other Ainur? It's unknown.

Thank you for reading! Your likes and tagged reblogs are appreciated. Got feedback?

What did you like? Got theories or insights to share?

Disagree? I love good faith debate and sparring!

Need clarity on points? Got feedback on readability?

Spot an inaccuracy? Hey, Tolkien's work is complex. Drop it in comments or DM.

Works Cited

[1] On Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor, Morgoth’s Ring

[2] On the Darkening of Valinor, Morgoth’s Ring

[3] Quendi and Eldar

[4] Valarin - Like the Glitter of Swords

[5] Why You Should Love Your Guardian Angel (And Not Name Him)

[6] Osanwe - Tolkien Gateway

[7] Orkish and the Black Speech - base language for base purposes

[8] Name for a Dark Lord

[9] Quenya Grammar

[rivalsforlife]

I have better things to do with my time other than think about lotrop and yet here I am. I’m still mad about the celebrimbor/annatar plotline being completely . I can’t say it’s completely ruined yet when I guess they’ve got a season where they can finally fit it in? but I’m still so mad celebrimbor who arguably is the most important character in these first few seasons (if they were doing it right) has such a minor role. maybe that will get better in season 2. probably it will not.

also are they doing annatar? like either “halbrand” comes back and we all just have to accept sauron disguising himself as a lowly human and this somehow working at all, or (hilarious option) he literally leaves as halbrand and comes back as annatar and THEN they actually jump into the canon plotlines which would be so incredibly funny because what was the point of anything in the first season really. hey guys who was that loser human. anyways I’m annatar I have the exact same knowledge as that other guy but I’m pretty now?

also still frustrated by the logic of not just going with annatar that isn’t “we don’t have the rights”, which I could understand, but I’ve read both “we want non-book readers and book readers to be on the same page” (IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE AN ADAPTATION! THEY’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE!) and “who would believe this random guy who shows up claiming to have knowledge from valinor” (THAT’S WHAT THE WIZARDS WERE. THAT’S WHY SAURON DID IT. YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS.)

[tolkiendefiled]

Season 2 Episode 4

Okay, I want everyone to look at the following screenshots. Because that’s right. You get a callback.

You get a callback.

You get a callback.

Everybody gets a callback.

I said in previous reviews that it seemed like the showrunners and writers for the Rings of Power really wanted to retell the Lord of the Rings, and boy, did they prove it with episode four. There’s barely a scene that doesn’t callback to something from the book or the films, and they’re all just painfully on the nose. If they were just going to pigeon hold the story beats from the novel, why not make a Lord of the Rings TV show? I mean, that’s actually what people expected Amazon to do. Instead, we got the Rings of Power and an hour of weird references to things that have nothing to do with the creation of the rings.

Like I said in my previous review, I’d be less bothered by this if the callbacks weren’t so frequent. But this episode hammers home another problem with the constant callbacks: continuity errors. We see this all the time with prequels. Someone says a line or does something that doesn’t connect to or instead contradicts the events of an existing story. Sometimes, it’s a little thing. And sometimes, it’s a story-breaking problem, like having Darth Vader and Obi-Wan fight twice when Vader said, in Star Wars, that when last they met, he was but the learner. Or having Kenobi save Leia as a child when, in Star Wars, she sounded like she’d never met him. Or having Padme die after giving birth when Leia says, in Return of the Jedi, that she remembered her real mother looking very sad. None of those make any sense, and they’re easy to avoid, and yet we have a similar thing happen in this episode.

The worst example is the Elven Rings. Elrond, Galadriel, and their crew head to Eregion to warn Celebrimbor about discount-Jesus… I mean Halbrand. And the whole time, Elrond and Galadriel bicker over her ring Nenya. Galadriel keeps getting visions of dark tidings, and later uses the ring to heal someone, and Elrond keeps telling her not to trust the ring. There are two story-breaking issues with this. One, that’s not how the Elven Rings work. And two, Elrond eventually gets a ring, so they’re going to need a good reason for him to change his mind.

Galadriel keeps getting glimpses of evil events as they head to Eregion. It’s implied that this might be Sauron’s doing; that since he’s connected to the rings, the visions are tied to things that will come to pass because of his actions. So, when the group gets blocked by a broken bridge and try to figure out another route, Galadriel gets a vision of the Barrow-downs near what will eventually become the Shire. By the way, with all the callbacks, I fully expected one of them to look at the bridge and go “Oh, we can make it,” but no one did. I would have let that one slide. Missed opportunity.

But here’s the thing. This isn’t how the rings work. They don’t give people visions. The Elves can have visions on their own, and items like a palantír - or Galadriel’s mirror - can cause visions of the future or past, although the mirror is probably an extension of Galadriel’s natural powers. But the Elven Rings don’t do that. They just preserve. You might ask how this is a problem. Well, if the rings now give people visions about future events, one specifically tied to any darkness or evil stoked by Sauron, why wouldn’t Galadriel, Elrond and Gandalf use their rings to figure out Sauron’s plans during the events of the Lord of the Rings? Why wouldn’t the rings warn them about Sauron’s return in the Hobbit? Better yet, why wouldn’t the rings tell them where the One Ring was or at least who had it? If the rings now have this power, where did it go? After all, the Elven Rings are unchanged by the events of the Second Age, so whatever powers they had during that age they should still have thousands of years later.

The other power that makes no sense is the healing ability. After Elrond scolds Galadriel for listening to the ring, the Elves make their way to the Barrow-downs because it’s the fastest way to get to Eregion. While there, they get attacked by Barrow-wights. Yes, the same Barrow-wights that attack the Hobbits thousands of years later. Now, who do you think, in this merry band of diverse Elves (screenshot below), is the first and only one to die? Yup, it’s the black one. Say it with me: that’s racist. Seriously, you kill the black one? And not just kill him, you do him like the dude from Jurassic Park? Well, at least he got killed after the opening credits. I mean, the show is all about diversity, but then again, they’ve only got room for one black Elf, and Arondir doesn’t share power.

That said, the scene (below) looks awesome. The Barrow-wights are beautifully rendered. This is some stellar animation. If anybody tells you it looks like garbage, they’re not being honest. The movement of their eyes alone sells it. This is some high-level VFX. However, the Barrow-wights are not supposed to be here. The Barrow-downs don’t become a fell place until the Third Age. In the Second Age, they’re actually part of the kingdom of Arnor, and held in high esteem. I double checked that because I was sure that they were fine during the Second Age, and I was right. It’s in Appendix A: “The Númenórean Kings” from the Lord of the Rings. You know, the section the show is supposedly based on.

Anyway, after this, they come across Adar’s forces, who are also headed towards Eregion to get to Sauron, and they get spotted by some Orcs. The Orcs shoot at them, and when one of the Elves gets hit and Galadriel comes over and touches him with the ring, it heals him. That’s also not how the rings work. None of them work like this. We know this because Frodo gets stabbed on Weathertop when he’s wearing the One Ring - the Master Ring, and it doesn’t protect or heal him. The Elves have the ability to heal because of their knowledge of how things work. It looks like magic, but it’s really just a deep understanding of the natural world. However, when it comes to Galadriel, part of her power comes from being taught by Melian, who was a Maia and the mother of Lúthien. Melian was incredibly powerful, using her skill to veil and protect Doriath during the First Age. She taught some of her skills to Galadriel, which were later used with the ring Nenya to protect Lothlórien. So, Galadriel should be able to heal people on her own, although it wouldn’t be instantaneous. She doesn’t need the ring, and the ring wouldn’t do this anyway. At best, they might slow the guy’s death, since it can preserve, but I don’t know of any instance of the rings being used like this. And again, if this were how they work, why wouldn’t Galadriel, Elrond or Gandalf use these powers all the time?

Of course, the scene wouldn’t be complete without Galadriel living up to her nickname (strong-woman), so she gives up her ring to Elrond for safekeeping, and goes to fight the Orcs as a distraction so Elrond can go help Celebrimbor. She does the cool fight scene stuff, but eventually gets caught by Adar, who says this: “Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo. (A star shines on the hour of our meeting).” Fair enough, but “Mae govannen (Well met)” would have sounded way more badass.

As the Elves leave, one of them comments on how Galadriel is sacrificing herself to save them, and Elrond corrects him, saying that she’s not doing it for them but to save the ring. He really doesn’t trust the rings, which makes sense given the changes to the lore, but it creates a massive continuity problem because, later on, he gets Gil-galad’s ring Vilya, and uses it to preserve Rivendell. That’s one hell of a party switch. How will the show explain this? Especially since there is no One Ring yet, so the book’s pretense of the Elves avoiding their rings while Sauron had his doesn’t work. Maybe they’ll try to claim that, once Sauron is defeated, that his power to influence the rings is gone. But if that were the case, wouldn’t that apply to everything he influenced from this time, like the Nine Kings of Men who eventually become ringwraiths? Once the show gets to this point, we’ll find out how they handle it. But do you see the problems they’ve created for themselves? The more they change things, the harder it is to make it jive with the Lord of the Rings.

Then there’s the Tom Bombadil scenes, where a whole lot of nothing happens. I’ve mentioned the pacing problems with the show, and these scenes are a perfect example of this. It’s just lots of meandering dialogue without any payoff. We find out that the stars the Stranger was looking for were actually on Bombadil’s ceiling, meaning dude’s search was actually for old Tom, who’s apparently supposed to guide the wizard or help him in some way, which he doesn’t do in this episode. And we had to sit through ten minutes of vague dialogue just to get that tiny bit of information, but not before Tom Bombadil gets to say his famous lines to Old Man Willow - excuse me, Old Man Ironwood. That’s right, the wizard gets attacked by a tree (below) and saved by old Tom, who kind of takes his sweet ass time coming to help. We’ve just got to throw that in there, even though Bombadil has nothing to do with the events of the Second Age, or any age for that matter. This is, by far, the most bizarre inclusion for the show because Bombadil literally doesn’t do anything major in the story because he’s not concerned about such things. Why would you add him in to basically do nothing?

Honestly, that’d be a fair question to Tolkien himself because the films prove you can cut Tom Bombadil out of the story, and it really doesn’t make a difference. I mean, I get giving old Tom a cameo in the Rings of Power, like someone randomly encountering him for a moment and then moving on, and even then it would be a stretch. But to try to tie him in with the wizards just makes no sense. He’s so removed from anything like that.

Speaking of making no sense, we’ve got Ents. Is there really any reason for them to be in the story? No. In fact, if you cut the scene out of the episode, you wouldn’t miss anything because it has nothing to do with the overall plot. In the previous episode, an Entwife captured Theo, so Arondir and Isildur decide to look for him. However, the villagers want to get revenge against the people who stole Isildur’s horse. I need to make a correction here. I said, in the previous review, that these were followers of Sauron, but they’re actually followers of Adar.

Anyway, before they leave, Arondir confronts the girl Isildur saved because he suspects she’s a spy. I’ve watched the scene a few times, and I’m not sure if the girl is actually a spy. She kind of admits it, but kind of doesn’t. Arondir demands that she show them where her people live, and on the way, the trio get attacked by some discount kraken (below), so Arondir can spout some lines about the “nameless things in the deep places of the world,” which he calls supper. Oh please, don’t put that in your mouth. You genuinely don’t know where that’s been. Do not. Put that. In your mouth.

Then we get to the Ents. They attack the trio right after Isildur frees the girl for helping him. She draws Isildur’s sword to try to get away, and the Ents think the sword is for cutting wood. The Entwife knocks the girl away - who survives this - and tries to kill Arondir, but he manages to talk her down. Why are the Ents here? Well, because there are Ents in the Lord of the Rings. Oh, you meant in context to the show? Well, remember back in the first season when the Orcs cut down the forest? Okay, that triggered the Ents because they knew some of those trees “from nut to acorn,” so they came to get revenge, like Treebeard with Fangorn.

Now, you might wonder what happens with the Entwives, since Treebeard says - in the Lord of the Rings - that they lost the Entwives and can’t find them. We don’t get an answer. She’s just there and gone after she frees Theo. But it is a valid question, given that the Ents operate on a different sense of time than anyone else, so the Second Age would be a short time for them. The way Treebeard spoke made it sound like the Entwives have been missing for more than a few thousand years. So, all of this is wrong - wrong on such a level that you’ve got to ask why even put it in the show. Do you think Isildur wouldn’t mention coming across Ents? That this wouldn’t be recorded in some lore and then passed down? That certainly someone like Saruman, Gandalf or Elrond wouldn’t know about this? Wouldn’t Elrond or Gandalf tell Treebeard about it, especially after the war when many of the Ents died and the lands needed repair and tending? Again, this creates a very strange continuity error. There’s no reason to do this. It doesn’t even add anything to the story because we don’t learn anything about the Ents. They’re just there.

That said, the Ents (below) do look awesome. I don’t know if any of this was practical, meaning if the Ent models were built for real, but they looked fantastic. I wouldn’t say the effects are better than House of the Dragon, but they’re much better than this show’s first season. If the show gets snuffed for VFX nominations this year, it’d actually be pretty unfair. This stuff is really good.

What’s not good is this nonsense with the Hobbits. Nori and Poppy wind up near the Stoor city, and bump into Merimac (pictured below), who answers the unasked question of what happens if you leave a Dwarf in the middle of Mad Max. I haven’t seen character designs this bad since the Hobbit films. And them ears! God damn! It’s because he’s brown, isn’t it? How come none of the white Hobbits have them janky ass ears? And how come he has to be dumb as dirt? My man is so stupid that, if you told him to tie his shoes, he’d actually try to do it and then pop back up and say, “I haven’t got any.” No, what gave it away?

Merimac unintentionally leads the girls to the Stoors’ village, which is just sitting in the middle of the desert. My first thought was: I hope they don’t light fires at night because people could see them miles away. And wouldn’t you know? If they were trying to hide, they failed. Anyway, they meet the leader of the village, who’s full of sass, and ties them up when they tell her that they’re looking for their friend, the wizard. Why? Because the only wizard this group knows of is the dark wizard. But later that night, she frees Nori because of what Nori said about her people traveling around, following a man named Burrows. Why? Well, because in the before times, another man named Burrows left the Stoor village to find a green place and promised to send someone back, and this woman thinks it might be Nori. Again, none of this is in the books, but that’s not my main problem with this part.

My problem is that, in the show based on a story written by a linguist who was very keen on tracking the progressions of his languages, the Harfoots have traveled around for thousands of years, and apparently the Stoors can still recognize their surnames. Words change over time, especially hundreds of years. That’s the thing Tolkien constantly mentions in his stories - that people can’t understand each other because of the changes to the languages. It seems like a major oversight, and a missed opportunity to throw in some respect for Tolkien’s love of languages, and actually make the show interesting - by the woman hearing Burrows, and later realizing this sounds similar to some old legend’s name, and then going there. I don’t know if that ever occurred to anyone on the show, but that’s an opportunity wasted.

At any rate, the dark wizard sends Xerxe’s extras to harass the Hobbits into handing over Nori and Poppy, but they don’t comply, and the men threaten to return with the dark wizard himself. That’s the episode. Overall, it was okay. It was very mid and still incredibly slow. 

That said, the VFX were fantastic. My favorite shot was the opening scene (screenshot below). The only things that are real are the actors and part of the set. Everything else is digital or composite, and that’s madness because it’s a single moving shot. The camera moves, stops, and moves again into this wide shot seamlessly. Not an error or flaw to be found. It’s absolute magic. I’ve got to give the effects team credit because their work for this season has been phenomenal.

Unfortunately, the story is still a mess. Since I already know, from the trailer, that Adar and Galadriel team up to fight Sauron, I’m guessing the next episode is where that happens. I swear, if Sauron is easily routed out of Eregion, the show will have killed their own story dead in its tracks. 

[ichabodcranemills]

Episode 4, here we go!

UGHH, Galadriel's crown braid!!! I love it so much!!!

“Trust? Me?” she's so petty, I love her. And she puts so much contempt on her “commander”, poor baby Elrond 😂

TOM BOMBADIL!!!!!

ugh, what is this straight nonsense, Poppy is already taken, kind sir (don't get me wrong, I liked Merimac, he seems fun and interesting, BUT. My Nori x Poopy heart 🥺)

Sorry, I can't stop talking about this, I’ve dreamed of live action Tom Bombadil for so long, he’s so precious. And Goldberry is hidden there somewhere!!!

For real, though, the Stoors are pretty cool. Early Hobbits 🥺🥺🥺

Ohh, we’re getting a Galadriel giving into some sort of dark temptation for sure. WHY else would she say that to Elrond and her vision with Sauron back to Halbrand aaaahhhh

Oh, no the parallels are paralleling 😭 (re: Isildur x Estrid/Haladriel, “They’ll cast me out eventually”)

ENTWIVEEEES

Not to name any names, but isn’t it tasty and fresh how TROP allows women to be pissed and willing to wage war to protect what they love, at times even more than men do? unlikesomeothershows

Oh, the Ents speech was very Tolkien. I’m in tears now.

Oh, no the parallels are paralleling pt.2 😭 (re: Isildur x Estrid/Haladriel, her long lost partner returns 😭)

AAAAAAHHHHHH THAT ENDING

lmao finishing with “Old Tom Bombadill” after the tension was a genius move. I'm obsessed with this song

[minetteskvareninova]

Minette watches Medici, part 9 (Old Scores)

- Yes, my friends, the triumphant return of Minette watches Medici is here! The series that noone liked, Minette least of all... Like, you thought reading it was painful?! Try writing this shit!

- Okay, first off, the theme song - FUCK the theme song. Either reuse Renessaince, or don’t. Do NOT fucking cheat by using its inferior knockoff. Understood?!

- The characters aren’t good enough for me to fall in love with, but I still Vibe with them in general. Except for Lorenzo, who is hot, smart and in general a veritable boyfriend material - well, except for the whole “banging a married woman” thing, but it’s renessaince Italy, people are having extramarital shags left and right, we can’t go all Savanarola on their asses, not when real Savanarola is just around the corner...

- Speaking of clergy! My stupid ass mistook Piero for some kind of family priest. Would the Medici even have a family priest at this point? Like, maybe, they were of course loaded and their household might’ve been big enough to warrant it...

- The evil Pazzi brother has a strong “if villain evil why hot” energy. What can I say? Minette loves herself some good cheekbones, and I strongly suspect this guy is going to be the old Albizzi of this season. Helps that his most evil act so far was beating the shit out of Giuliano, and I personally don’t care about Giuliano.

- The most thrilling subplot of this season is “did Sean Bean keep true to his vow to stop feeding the meme machine and never ever take another role where he dies?”. Also, Ned Stark did NOT age well. Which, okay, he’s not there to be hot, and his show son is hot enough to cover the raging unsexyness of not only his father, but also his stupid brother.

- Speaking of! Lucrezia’s boyfriend is apparently played by Halbrand from The Rings of Power. Yes, the man meant to be Sexy Sauron that doesn’t end up being all that sexy. Honestly, I cannot fathom how the producers over there at Amazon looked at this show and were like “why, yes, wouldn’t EVERYONE be tempted to join the dark side by this hot piece of ass?”. Like, no, I personally wouldn’t be tempted into a game of spin the bottle. Baby Pazzi’s personality doesn’t help any, like him and Lucrezia are just Mehmet Giray and Fahriye hardboiled without salt. I mean, it is just the first episode, so maybe they get better later, but still.

- “We raised Sandro as our own” - NO. Show, I am willing to swallow anything, but do not try to convince me the Medici family has taken in Sandro Boticelli of all people as their ward. From now on, I am just pretending this is some kind of Lorenzo’s artist buddy, who just happens to be named Alessandro, and very much not the author of The Birth Of Venus and Primavera.

- Political stuff is still the best part of this show bar none. Just... A+++ out of the gate, no notes. “Did the Pazzi family orchestrate the attack?” may not be as exciting a premise as “Who killed old Giovanni?” (or “is Sean Bean going to die again?”), and probably doesn’t have an answer that interesting, but it still gives some juicy, juicy drama. Though if the whole thing was orchestrated by the guy who wanted to marry his son to Lucrezia, I will get pretty mad at the blatant ripoff of the last season, where a third party also turns out to be the real villain.

- One annoying thing that persists (and if anything seems to have only gotten worse) is the attempt to whitewash the Medici family. Like, I get that we want to add layers(tm) and likeability(tm), but the show’s attempts to pretend they are anything but ruthless protocapitalists trying to make their way in an oligarchical political system do sometimes go way too far. Lorenzo is already hot and smart, I won’t get mad if he isn’t also perfectly good and saintly and shit.

- Contessina had a cameo in this episode! Yay! Also, I wonder if Piero’s second daughter appears in the show; I mean, she doesn’t have to, considering she was already married at this point, but you know. It would be nice.

- Overall a nice return to form, no big complaints from me so far...

[prying-pandora666]

With all due respect, the fact that racists and misogynists don’t like this show doesn’t change that the show itself is racist and misogynistic.

Let me ask you, out of all the characters they could’ve had be deceived by and have romantic tension with Sauron, why Galadriel?

In Tolkien’s canon, Galadriel was among the first to suspect Annatar. She warned others not to trust him. She is imbued with wisdom by the light of the two trees, is around 5,000 years old so she is among the older and more experienced elves (not a young elf still learning basics about the world by any means), and she is already married and soul-bonded to her husband. Why, out of all the characters, would anyone choose Galadriel for their Sauron “will they won’t they” deception? Is a female character not allowed to be the wise sage? Rather than force in Tom Bombadil, who canonically doesn’t concern himself with the world, and change him to be the wise sage who guides the wizard? Could not Galadriel have filled this role? They would rather butcher the characters rather than let the female character be the wise, revered character she actually is?

Why does Gil-Galad talk down to her? She’s his great aunt! Why does ELROND! He’s a baby compared to her!

It didn’t even forward the plot to do this. If anything, they wrote themselves into a corner by having Galadriel get ship baited with Halbrand, because then there was no good reason for her not to warn everyone except out of arrogance and selfish shame! If you get fooled by the devil, I don’t care how embarrassed you are, you have a duty to warn others. Galadriel, of all people, would know this. Why didn’t they have Celebrimbor be the one to have the “will they won’t they” romance deception with Sauron? Story-wise, it would make way more sense considering Annatar convinces him not to heed Galadriel’s warnings. Celebrimbor, canonically, has an unrequited love for Galadriel. Annatar could even play on that to manipulate Celebrimbor against her. As you said, they are too cowardly to depict anything gay, but they could’ve had Annatar shapeshift into a female form.

So why Galadriel? An already married elf in a race that is monogamous by nature? Why must she be the naive, arrogant fool deceived when it actively harms the story?

Why doesn’t she care for her comrades she travels with? Why does she dismiss them and their concerns? This isn’t the mark of a good leader. It doesn’t make her badass. It makes her egotistical and selfish. If this didn’t bother you, that’s alright, but it sure bothered me! Especially when she’s the tolerant one in Tolkien’s world who tells her people to stop being racists to Gimli!

Why did the writers contrive an excuse for Elrond to make out with Galadriel? His future mother in law? No really, what did it add? If you’re trying to slip a lock pick to someone, a hug would do it better than a kiss, where you can’t even see what you’re doing as well and move more carefully. A kiss ATTRACTS attention, it doesn’t distract. And the way the score swells makes it clear we are meant to see romantic and sexual tension here, not just a diversion.

So… what is gained by this decision? Using Galadriel for ship bait with her son in law—already off putting and unpleasant—when they could’ve written literally anything else! What does it add other than titillation? Who does it instruct the audience to empathize with? Because it isn’t Galadriel, seeing as the score and framing don’t evoke horror, discomfort, or even shock. It evokes romance. And to remind, Galadriel is married and elves are so monogamous by nature that being forced outside of their soul bond can even kill them in extreme circumstances.

It sounds like we agree on the Elrond kiss, which appreciate, because that was egregious! Why did Elrond have to kiss Galadriel and not literally anyone else? Why not Durin, his bff? Why not Celebrimbor, who also needs saving? If it was just a ruse, then it shouldn’t matter, right?

She is the ONLY prominent female elf and the most prominent female character period. And she is reduced to ship baiting not once, but TWICE.

When you remove all of the positive qualities from a female character and exploitatively use her for ship-baiting, when none of the male characters are subjected to that treatment, that’s sexism.

And again, I don’t fault anyone for consuming problematic media. There is now way to avoid it at some point. Studios don’t care about being progressive except to give lip-service.

But I do think it’s a depressing reflection of how misogyny is rising in the world. Which it is.

Either way, thank you for the civil discussion. I hope you have a lovey day regardless.

Rings of Power is Insidiously Sexist

And I’m tired of pretending none of us can see it.

If you enjoy the show, please don’t take this as an attack on you. All media has problematic elements and we all do the best we can in a messed up world. My ire is reserved strictly for the people making these “creative” choices.

The way the show treats Galadriel is misogynistic.

Turning the kind, matronly sage imbued with divine wisdom by the light of the two trees into a naive, selfish hothead who gets ship baited with both the villain AND her son-in-law for titillation is incredibly sexist.

They wouldn’t have had Elrond kiss his father-in-law to “save” him. Everyone would’ve rightfully been disgusted. So why is it okay to do this to Galadriel?

Elrond wouldn’t kiss Gil-Galad, or Celebrimbor, or his bff Durin to “save” them. We would all recognize this as sloppy OOC writing just meant to stir up shippers. So why is it acceptable to do to Galadriel? Being a female character is not an invitation to use her as fan service ship bait. Not once but TWICE.

The way the score swells and the kiss is deep and framed as romantic (even though he’s handing her something and didn’t need to shove himself on her like that at all!), despite the fact that Galadriel is married and elves are by nature monogamous (so much so that forcing yourself on them can even KILL them). As if everything about the narrative framing is subconsciously telling you to ignore Galadriel’s POV and the discomfort she would be feeling and be moved by how “meaningful” this kiss is. But also it’s a deception so don’t get mad! So incredibly transparent.

The fact that they also made her an arrogant idiot that fell for Sauron’s manipulations, when in Tolkien’s canon she is described as one of first to see through him, is also a telling choice. Especially when it would’ve made more sense to have Celebrimbor be the one manipulated and fooled.

So why have it be Galadriel? Why not do their weird ship-teasing bullshit between Annatar and Celebrimbor? At least it might serve the story then.

It’s because she is “female elf”, and therefore she has to be mean, violent, selfish, and stupid. But she isn’t allowed to be criticized either! That’s their idea of a “strong” female character.

So yeah. Personally I find that incredibly sexist.

So for that, I rate ROP a big old “cast it into the fire”.

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

Could Saurondriel actually happen in Tolkien lore? 

@historical-romances9 asked me to elaborate on how and if Sauron x Galadriel could/would work, according to Tolkien lore, or if it’s was even possible to actually happen because many “lorebros” are always whining about the impossibility of it because Galadriel is an Elf, and they “mate for life”, and Sauron is an evil spirit obsessed with power, and uncapable of “human like” feelings, and that “Rings of Power” is an abomination to the Professor’s lore for giving these two characters romantic and sexual undertones.

Tolkien’s writings about wedding, love and sex among the Eldar (Elves) can be found in “Morgoth’s Ring, Part III. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar.”  

Argument #1: “Galadriel can’t have romantic feelings for Sauron because she’s already married to Celeborn, and Elves are monogamous and mate for life!”  

Is this true? 

We know that Galadriel is already married to Celeborn (whom she believes to be dead) when she meets Sauron/Halbrand. We also know Elves marry for life (either by love of free will from both parties; an Elf can’t be forced to marry), and divorce is forbidden, especially among the Noldor. This is what Tolkien actually wrote; there is no mention of Elves being emotional monogamous (= only loving one being for the rest of their lives). 

Actually, we have textual evidence on the contrary, with Elf characters, actually, falling in love more than once in their lifetimes and even re-marrying. The Elves don’t divorce due to their history, and not because they only love one being their entire lives; and the majority of the Noldor’s problems are blamed on Fëanor’s parents' divorce. In short: Fëanor’s mother, tired of giving birth, went to the Hall of Mandos to sleep. Afterwards, Fëanor’s father asked the Valar for permission to remarry (even, though, his wife wasn’t dead). The Gods said yes, and Fëanor’s half-siblings were born, and Morgoth used Fëanor’s jealousy to drive a wedge in the family, which eventually led to disaster. And this is why the Noldor don’t divorce. 

According to Tolkien lore, it’s completely possible for Galadriel to have romantic feelings for Sauron, despite already being married to Celeborn. 

But now, one can argue that the Valar would never give their permission for Galadriel and Sauron to be married. Here’s the catch: Sauron is a fallen Maia and a servant of Melkor/Morgoth. He’s not one of faithful (he doesn’t obey Eru nor the Valar); he wouldn’t ask for their permission to do anything. Many wrongly compare Sauron to the Christian Satan, but the actual “Devil” in Tolkien’s lore is Morgoth (he’s the one who rebels against Eru, “God”, and wants to corrupt creation).  When Sauron proposed to make Galadriel his Queen, he really meant it as the "whole package deal", because his master is in the Void forever, and he doesn’t gives two f*cks about the Valar giving permission or not. Which leads me to the next point.

Argument #2: Galadriel wouldn’t ever cheat on Celeborn because adultery is unthinkable for the Elves! 

True. However, we've already established that “emotional cheating” can happen, according to the lore, and I would argue that counts as adultery as well. But, again, we are talking about a fallen Maia and a servant of Morgoth, here: Sauron doesn’t follow the Valar’s rules. And, so, Sauron sexually seducing Galadriel isn’t OOC for him, actually.

And what about Galadriel falling for his seductions? We know Galadriel is proudful and strong-willed, but she’s not immune to temptation herself. Sex, for the Elves, equals marriage, and it’s actually a requirement to officiate the union (you, kind of, like medieval traditions). And since Sauron doesn’t need anyone’s permission to marry Galadriel, this is possible to happen if she was to actually join him and be his Queen.

And if Galadriel and Sauron would to have sex (or any kind of sexual/romantic act) it has to be 100% consensual on her part (and that’s what drives the “lorebros” mad) because if Elves are SA they die (Tolkien actually wrote this).

Argument #3: “Sauron is not capable of love! He’s a Maia! He’s an evil spirit obsessed with power, and uncapable of human-like emotions!” 

Maiar were immortal spirts, yes, but they were capable of falling in love, because Melian (a Maia) fell in love with an Elf (Thingol) in Tolkien canon, and these two characters happen to be Elrond’s ancestors. This means that Mairon, the Maia of Aulë, was, indeed, capable of love.

However, Mairon was corrupted by Melkor/Morgoth, meaning his capacity to love was also corrupted. And instead of the “good” and “fluffy” side of love, Sauron is in the “dark side” of it, and his love is possessive, obsessive, jealous, and manifests in unsatisfiable lust, emotional turmoil and suffering.  

I've already talked about this before, but, in “Rings of Power”, Sauron fell in love with Galadriel while he was on his somewhat “repentant era”, and it started out as something purer, but it’s twisting into something darker as he goes deeper and deeper into evil, until it turns into hatred, later on. 

Argument #4: “Sauron can’t have sex! He doesn't care about sex! He’s a Maia!” 

Actually, Tolkien himself wrote about this, in his essay "Ósanwë-kenta”, where he brainstorms about Maiar reproduction. According to the lore, Maiar can, indeed, have sex and reproduce if they are in humanoid form (Elf, human, etc.). Tolkien discourses about Melian (Maia) and Tringol (an Elf): they had sex and a child (Lúthien), and this Half-Maia lady was also able to have sex with Beren (a human), and have children on her own (Elrond and Arwen are descendant from Lúthien and Beren). But there’s a catch: Melian created a she-elf body to be with Thingol, and she became bound to her Elf form because of this. She lost the ability to return to her spirit form, unless her physical body was killed to set her free (which was what eventually happened).

Tolkien also wrote about the corrupted Maiar by Morgoth (Sauron, Balrogs, etc.) and whenever they could take on Orc form in order to reproduce with other Orcs, in his essay “Orcs”. Here, it’s pretty much the same: they can, but if they were to actually do it, they would also be bound to their current physical form, and unable to return to their spirit/demonic form, unless they would be killed to be set free. But there’s another catch: they would be “damned”, too, and “reduced to impotence” after.  

This means that Sauron can indeed have sex with Galadriel (and impregnate her), but he would be bound to whatever current humanoid form he had at the time (Halbrand or Annatar), and, if he was to have such physical form destroyed, he would be damned afterwards (well, Eru did took away his ability to have a body after the fall of Númenor, so it, unintentionally, checks out?). 

The answer is yes: Saurondriel can work in Tolkien’s lore, under the right circumstances: 

Doomship: they love each other but can’t never be together (never act on their feelings);

Dark!Queen Galadriel: she joins Sauron and it’s pretty much the "whole package deal", with lots of obsessive love and hardcore sex.

Galadriel has a moment of weakness and has sex with Sauron; he becomes bound to Annatar form, which only gets destroyed in the fall of Númenor, but he's now "damned" and "reduced to impotence" and that's why he loses the ability to take on a full body? (Ironic how this actually fits the canon).

[liminal-zone]

Halbrand!Sauron/Galadriel is healing some huge reylo wounds I still carry. GRATEFUL.

In the third age, she is Not answering that boy’s FaceTime calls and he is screaming ‘blow that piece of junk out of the sky.’

[sentimental-darkness]

Amazon Caused Re-wiring of Tolkien Fans???

I’ve seen people excited about RoP discussing Halbrand being Sauron and many of the arguments were like “in canon Sauron is the King of the Southlands, before he goes to Numenor” and I. JUST. CAN’T. Are their brains rotten or something? How much of self-rewiring do you need in order to enjoy something that’s not at all in agreement with any canon? Did Amazon just change their entire perception of Tolkien with a switch of a button?

No, “Southlands” didn’t exist, it’s an artificial creation unique to Amazon and in the show it was occupied by the elves... which is a whole new level of stupid in Tolkien’s Second Age but nevermind.

In canon Sauron called himself King of Kings (among other titles) as a ploy against Numenoreans to piss them off - even though he didn’t exactly control all of it, because there must have been some ports and enclaves still controlled by the Numenoreans and resisting him. There was no “king of the Southlands” - there were many kings and different chieftains and different peoples, and everything seemed to resolve around Eastern shores of Middle-earth, politically - Harad, Far Harad, Umbar, parts of future Gondor like Harondor and slightly above maybe. Anfalas and the entire coastline North of Numenor, even if somehow developed and with Numenorean outposts, seemed rather untouched and untamed by larger forces yet (based on Tal-Elmar), so it should matter less in a story centered around Second Age and Numenor. The South should matter more!

But the actual “South” in Amazon’s “adaptation” is completely erased, what they call “Southlands” isn’t really South. No Harad and no Umbar, no Eastern coastline (nor any coastline for that matter, probably just things near and around Mordor area). It’s a subversion of the highest degree and now people who call themselves Tolkien fans act as if Harad never existed in canon and didn’t matter, as if Sauron was interested in being “a king” of these underdeveloped areas which were less strategically important, as if artificial Southlands truly existed in canon... because apparently they forgot all about Harad and vast Eastern territories Numenor and Sauron waged war on and where Al-Pharazon ultimately “humbled” Sauron. Basically, they’re fine with whitewashing (and American-style diversifying) unique Southern cultures that should have played key parts in this story... and they act like this is all canon... 

I'm done. This is a farce right now. Can’t believe what happened to this fandom and all it took was Amazon fooling them with a fake territory that has a “south” word in its name.

Also, they’ll call as “racist” because we actually wanted to see some canon POC cultures and kingdoms in the show, because we dare to point out they actually existed and Amazon ERASES THEM. The level of denial and psychological rewiring here is OUTSTANDING, something incredibly sad and worrying.

[liminal-zone]

Me, weeks later: THAT IS THE DARK LORD SAURON AT A GENTRIFIED CAFE IN SEATTLE

why do all the sneak peaks for the new lotr show look so ordinary. this man is a gentrified cafe in seattle and you cannot change my mind.