#sorry Harfoots

[gauntletgirlie]

That song is lovely for sure and I’m glad it exists…

But for me, personally, when I heard Second Age, it gave me more Silmarillion vibes. I know they don’t have the rights to that, but many of the stories are the same as found in the appendices. Until they brought them out, I didn’t think there would be hobbits in the show. Tolkien himself doesn’t focus on them until the Third Age.

Also, yes, hobbits are central to LOTR and I loved them in that. The idea that it is the small, often unnoticed people and acts that get the job done and are pivotal to accomplishing great deeds is wonderful. I vibe hard with Bilbo Baggins and The Hobbit is my favourite book ever (though Dracula is a close contender).

However, it was refreshing to focus on Tolkien’s world another way. We’ve seen a lot of hobbits and how they work, so I was really glad to delve deeper into Sauron’s character other than a whispering fiery eye and hulking armed figure bashing people. I’ve really enjoyed seeing Gil-galad, Elrond, and Galadriel explored more, both their characters and stories. I wanted to focus on greatness and big characters with epic storylines, probably because I love The Silmarillion so much and the vast majority of that book is big important people doing big important things.

Again, it might just be me, which is fine, but I really didn’t connect with the Harfoot storyline. It felt shoehorned in so that hobbits/proto-hobbits would be part of the story. “Look, we’ve got them! Oh and here’s Gandalf too!” As if the showrunners needed to include them to validate the show as part of the LOTR franchise.

So I would argue they’re unnecessary because Tolkien is not about one thing and having them in for the sake of having them in isn’t good enough and quite frankly doesn’t work that well.

The acting is great, the aesthetics are great, the storyline has been a bit meh in my opinion, I can’t see how they are important yet other than: Gandalf, so the necessity…?? I’m not seeing it yet. Other than that lovely song and a few nice moments, if you took that storyline out, I wouldn’t miss it. I appreciate shows can and maybe should have separate subplots, but at the moment this one isn’t doing it for me, personally.

That is why I’m hoping the showrunners prove me wrong and I can go “okay, sorry, yes it all makes sense now thank you, plz do forgive me for my lack of vision.” I want to care about their storyline, but what I’ve seen so far hasn’t made me yet.

#14 "I know I should care about the Harfoot storyline, but I just don’t. I don’t hate it or anything, there have even been some fun, thought provoking, and sweet moments, I just don’t see the necessity of it. Maybe I will by the end, maybe it’ll all tie in nicely together.

But it’s the Second Age. I want to see Sauron, Sauron, and more Sauron. That is why I was so excited the show was being made in the first place. Charlie Vickers delivering the performance of a lifetime is just *chef’s kiss*."

[thefabelmans2022]

it's time to admit that i never finished watching rings of power.

[dadattebayo]

You know what guys…

I just watched this teaser for the final episode, and of course I am thrilled and blown away by Sauron's maniac face telling he is gonna rape his preciousssss eat Galadriel alive

oh fuck help me i can´t

BUT

I still have something to say. Like okay, i get it, all this unspoken sexual tension and stuff between them, and kinda obvious crazy thirst for her in his creepy face - all could be fine by me except the one tiny detail. What we can see more in this teaser is another freaking kiss that is going to happen this time between Isildur and his girl sorry I forgot her name,

so what’s really pissing me off is that so far we would have 4 kisses in the show and basically these are 4 KISSES NO ONE ACTUALLY GIVES A FUCK ABOUT.

1. Harfoots. Who cares about the hobbits kissing scene? Like what the hell was it for? Does someone for real ship them? Was this kiss important to the story?

Fucking NO.

2. Elrond and Galadriel. Totally unnecessary. No one expected this and no one would want this to happen actually. Especially considering the fact he eventually just put the key into her hand without any special use of his mouth required.

Okay I get it can explained he wanted to distract the orcs, but anyway, somehow the writers did came up with this particular idea!

3. Arondir and Bronwin. Totally fine by me except she´s dead now.

4. Now Isildur and Estrid (I remembered the name).

At first I was blind enough watching the teaser to think it was Halbrand so I got a mini stroke.

Pretty sure once we will see Elendil/Miriel kissing too. Of course I do not mind any of these kisses happening, I even ship some of them but still these are not something the whole fandom is waiting for.

There is literally only one kiss EVERYONE is expecting. Not only the haladriel shippers, but everyone (some might want it to happen, some might not, but it would not be a surprise for anyone) since in fact nobody has ever asked for Saurondriel in the first place, it was totally up to the showrunners to literally just start pushing this ship into our throats from their first meeting using all scrupulously planned moments between them throughout the season 1 and countless hints and moments of nostalgia in the season 2! God, they even invented the whole Mirdania character just to prove Sauron´s feelings (and of course to show his cruelty later, but thats not the point)

guess where the kiss should have happened if they hadn't been interrupted

The writers made this ship up consciously and intentionally. THEY HAVE BEEN FEEDING US WITH HALADRIEL SINCE THE BEGINING,

So why the fuck this couple which has always been promoted in such obvious way is the only one that is not likely to get a goddamn kiss?! At this point i would rather believe that even Stranger and Nori would kiss, but not Saurondriel.

This is disturbing. BECAUSE EXCUSE ME WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT 2 MORE YEARS to get the s3. I am not still quite sure though cause there is still no official announcement on s3

So, they all have already messed up enough with the original plot by putting some of the kisses mentioned above in the series, so why just not let also Saurondriel finally happen? What difference would it make anyway? none! all plot holes will all be fixed thanks to impossibility to fix sauron.

I am just fed up with another 'LETS TOUCH THE DARKNESS TOGETHER', "NO NEVER', 'DIE BECAUSE OF ME', BLABLA...

It needs something better to get us screaming and making views to the show.

[earthshine-moon]

Some thoughts from my rewatch of RoP 1x05

- I love Nori teaching the Stranger words he doesn’t understand. That whole scene is just perfect

- This Wandering Day is such a beautiful song. I’m sobbing 😭

- MIDDLE EARTH EMINEM!!!

- Halbrand looks so gorgeous in that smithing montage

- the Harfoots don’t deserve anything they go through. Let them be happy (please. For my sanity)

- Galadriel teaching the new soldiers to fight is so iconic. I could watch that scene on repeat until the end of time

- Valandil cockblocking will never not be funny

- “I hope one day you find something you would be willing to sacrifice anything for.” My poor baby Isil, doomed by the narrative

- Isildur and Kemen on the ship also will never not be funny

- that sweeping brush is terrible. It’s literally just drawing lines in the dirt? ashes? metal particles? idk what it is

- Does anyone else feel like Halbrand/Sauron meant it when he said he was sorry for everything that happened to Galadriel because of him? Or is that just my delusional Haladriel-shipping mind?

- Durin in this episode is just the best

“it usually takes you people weeks just to decide whether to take a sh-”

lying about the stone the table’s made from

“The fate of the entire elven race is in my hands.” etc…

and my personal favourite:

“Give me the meat and give it to me raw.”

Episode 6 tomorrow!! Time for Mount Doom!!

Happy 4 days until season 2 💗

[allgirlsareprincesses]

Ugh. I really don't get it. Y'all are LOVING Rings of Power Season 2 and I'm SOOOOO BOOOORED. The plot-driven writing is atrocious, the pacing is all over the damn place, and as usual it's all foreshadowing with nothing ever actually HAPPENING. No feeling of progress, just constantly cycling back to the same places and making Middle Earth just feel really tiny.

Like, Galadriel insults Adar and refuses to work with him, then literally the NEXT SCENE WE SEE WITH THEM she's done a 180 and changed her mind. There's nothing bridging the gap, nothing to show WHY she's suddenly willing to work with him and use his proper name, just THE PLOT DEMANDS IT so let's just chuck character development out the window and instead spend screen time on... Poppy's romance? Really? We get zero Isildur this episode, but we sit there having chats on the [desert Harfoots, I forget what they're called] doorsteps?

OMFG IT'S SO BORING MY BRAIN IS GONNA ROT.

Season 1 was 1000x more interesting because stuff actually happened. I am not enough of a Tolkien fan to sit through f*cking Tom Bombadil doing inception with Gandalf's most memorable lines.

Sorry sorry sorry I know everyone but me loves it. I just UUUUUUGH I am constantly frustrated and underwhelmed.

[aeviagreenleaf]

The Rings of Power season 1 episode 1 rewatch (focusing on Galadriel and Sauron/Halbrand for Haladriel/Saurondriel fic research purposes)

“Nothing is evil in the beginning” - Morfydd’s voice is PERFECT for Galadriel. It’s full of gravitas and I’ve seen this so many times but still hit hard with emotion at her first words. Also her words foretell Elrond saying the same thing and in reference to Sauron: “even Sauron was not so.”

Galadriel is so badass and sexy killing the snow-troll! I love the sequence, as I love also when she rights the orcs alone in s2.

“Then you shall do so alone” 😭😭😭😭 she already feels so alone my poor girl. why wouldn’t you follow the Galadriel wherever she wants to do?! I know they have already followed her far but it’s so gutting, and we know how much it hurts as she tells Halbrand later

Sorry sweet little harfoots but maybe next rewatch….

Elrond gosh he really feels warm as summer in his intro, I love Robert

Jeez why they have to twist the knife into him? “Elf-lords only” well jokes on them he will be onto of the greatest Elf Lords one day

I do like that in s2 we see Gil-Galad giving Elrond more opportunity even though it’s at Galadriel’s expense 😅

Stop it’s so cute how Galadriel notices Elrond mouthing Gil-Galad’s speech cause I assume he wrote it for him. Also Galadriel is clearly like this is sus, what is going on?

She almost doesn’t bow and Elrond is stressed haha

Galadriel is soooo heartbroken I want to hug her. Absolutely devastated and we see it again when she tells Halbrand how her best friend and King tried to exile her against her will. Someone hug her 😭😭

She’s still so kind to Elrond and greets him like a little brother. And now they’re arguing

I do love how Elrond promises to continue the fight for her if any of her worries come true. He genuinely wants to grant her peace and rest… but of course we know that will not happen for her for thousands of years

Arondir and Bronwyn are so adorable 🥺

What a prejudiced elf. Yeah I know what happens with some like Waldreg but you also have others like Bronwyn. I love how Arondir is so defensive and protective of the Southlanders.

It’s precious how excited Elrond is about working with Celebrimbor

Galadriel really doesn’t want to let go of her brother’s dagger 😭

They really do set up the stranger to throw people off Halbrand’s trail for a while, haha.

What an amazing first episode. Definite highlight is Galadriel and Elrond’s friendship, the devastating push and pull between them caring for each other but Elrond not trusting Galadriel despite his adoration of her.

Morfydd and Robert are just incredible.

Also I remember now how frustrated I was with Gil-Galad but it’s funny cause I adore him after the last couple episodes of season 2.

[sindar-princeling]

just passing by to say that i love reading your takes about the rop episodes! i really dislike the show but i wish people could just have civil conversations about its real flaws instead of just spewing racist crap like i'm seeing a lot of purists doing. since the show came out it seems to me that you have to love the show and excuse every single thing it does because the bigots hate it or else you're a bigot too. idk it makes me not want to engage with the fandom that much

yeah especially new tolkien-related content always makes you remember how many racist pieces of shit treat every racist trope he wrote like actual word of god, because they suddenly start crawling out of every corner of the internet :// and I'm just here like. I just want to not enjoy a mediocre show in peace and see what they're doing to my favourite fictional world.

(I am of course aware that this situation is not about me - a white as raw bread dough central european - this is only my personal annoyance)

(ESPECIALLY since the show the racists hate so much for the cardinal sin of *checks notes* having a black elf in it.............. has actually already contained some really racist tropes (rhun will never be free of the racism present in the original text, it seems)! not to mention amazon mainly cast POC as their original characters (arondir, disa, some harfoots, miriel being the only exception i can think of rn) in a move that I imagine was meant to not piss off the racists too much, because there's still money to be milked out of them. amazon don't think we didn't notice your spinelessness)

.......ANYWAY, I'm sorry for derailing this so much, rop asks always make me ramble

I'm really glad you're enjoying my posts! I dislike the show but I try not to be an Angry Internet Person about it, mostly for my own peace of mind but also not to spew bile on yalls dashes - I just don't want my blog that I have for fun to be such a place. So I'm really happy that someone like you who wants to see civil conversations about it feels that they can do so here, it really means a lot to hear!!

it's the same reason why I don't really go to the main tag - many people like the show, they enjoy the aspects I don't - and I know going into the tag is pointless, I'll just be disagreeing with most of the posts I see. the most sensible thing I can do while criticising the show is add the 'rop critical' tag so those people have a way of knowing that my opinions won't interest them either, and just... live and let live, you know.

(and leave the longest, most cathartic rants for one of my very best friends, who actually wants to listen to me 😂)

[valar-did-me-wrong]

Number 21 for the RoP ask game :)

Thankyou for the ask 🫶🏽

21. Based on the various dinner scenes we have seen so far, to whose table would you most like to be invited as a guest?

Oooooo not Gil-galad's table for sureeeeee... Raw unseasoned veggies and fruits are my nightmare I'm sorry healthy food enthusiasts 🙈

Same for Harfoots tbh.

My heart wants to say Adar but but but the way Disa talks about cooking & food and does meal preps I will say Her & Durin's table. Strong gravy, YES PLEASE!!

[malkaleh]

Rings Of Power 2X06

spoilers below cc @nocompromise-noregrets when you’ve seen

thank you Ulmo once again proving that you and Varda hold the Valars collective brain cell(s), especially re messaging delivery like THANK YOU KINDLY.

that is so much Elendil whump SO MUCH like THE POTENTIAL. Also he and Queen Of My Heart Miriel get married and they are both FINE ACTUALLY. They have three daughters running around.

Miriel really really just…I adore her so much. Her faith, her heart and the way she will absolutely be the best kind of leader and also that she and Elendil are shoving each other out of the way like NO I’M RISKING DEATH FOR THE GREATER GOOD. Love them. Love their decency.

(Listen Ar Pharazon is in love with Elendil sorry not sorry I am going with this (in text they were quote great friends in their youth I’m going with it, Pharazon is just hella jealous/possessive).

Galadriel really continuing the family tradition of getting chained up by the hand :(. (Also her desperate heartbroken pleading to Adar because she’s seen the awful shape of the trap and actually, despite everything she does not want this, does not want more people to fall to Sauron (yes even Orcs, I think).

Mairon really got stabbed with his husbands crown I think that’s hilarious frankly also…Adar it didn’t exactly work. I mean kind of. Temporarily. But I get why you’d think it.

(I am sad they don’t have Silmarillion Rights because there’s so so much amazing lore work here love that for me).

Sauron really gaslight, gatekeep, girlbossing horrifyingly.

In all seriousness it’s Awful. It’s abusive relationship (romantic) and possessiveness and using and I can feel it in my bones and the thing is, the thing is he’s using Celebrimbors ambitions yes - but overridingly it’s the desire to do good, to redeem his family name as well and :((((((((.

Charlie(s) plural are doing amazing but also CHARLIE VICKERS HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK. He is a maia somehow. He is alluringly horrifying and you can see exactly how Sauron is so competent, so very very dangerous and why he came so very very close to winning in the end.

Charlie II is breaking my heart because, G-d his abuser can literally manipulate reality and there’s so so little he can do (we know he won’t give Sauron what he wants despite all the pain, we know it but it’s still breaking me).

DISA MY BELOVED DISA (her singing, can we just discuss that oh my G-d. Also that Prince Durin looked that Fuck Ass Maia in the face and went ‘…fuck off’ BEAUTIFUL.

Harfoots very cute fyi (also party tree origin story?)

Still not mentioning Luthien’s name because Sauron too terrified out of his mind. It’s why he’s hoping to not meet Elrond thank you very fucking much.

THE PREVIEW FUCK. OW. (“I don’t want you to face this alone” I just…EMOTIONAL DAMAGE)

Both reasonably sure Stranger Gandalf (which is actually a cool lore bit because Olorin did not want to go to Middle Earth, was Terrified Of It if it is) and also maybe not.

Tom Bombadil might be aspect of Eru which would track with Eru.

In conclusion get a job stay away from them really applying to a lot of people in regards to Sauron.

[gnomescarfcomics]

Rings of Power: Episode 5 - Partings

Rewatch mini review. Chaotic and out of order.

Harfoots/Harfeet: They continue to be incredibly charming. Poppy's song and the accompanying traveling montage is one of my favorite things from the series. Nori and Definitely-Not-Gandalf's relationship is great. I love the juxtaposition of a hobbit teaching and encouraging a wizard, while he struggles with his own fear and darkness slowly consuming him. Whether intentional or not, their arc feels like an echo of one of the best scenes of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy (and a quote that is often misattributed to Tolkien himself):

"Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Because perhaps it is because I'm afraid, and he gives me courage."

The harshness of the Harfoot laws still holds things back a bit though and could have been handled better. I can see why it sucks some of the warmth out of the storyline for so many people.

Southlands: Arondir and Theo's bonding scene is especially great. Even with all the darkness around them, Arondir is trying so hard to keep everyone's spirits up and see their worth as people. And I really appreciate Theo showing them the evil sword-key rather than just keeping it secret for forced prolonged drama. That's something this series is actually pretty good at avoiding most of the time.

Waldreg is still one of my favorites (I really hope he shows up in season 2). The evil of his character is done in a very believable way. So many of the bad choices the characters make throughout the series are done out of misguided senses of righteousness, being trapped in a cycle of tradition, or simply not having all the information they need. But the darkest decisions are always done out of complete despair and desperation.

Numenor: Some of the momentum is lost after the end of the previous episode, not that what they're doing doesn't make sense. They need to prepare. Drama needs to happen first. But I think the ship sabotage, while a nice visual, was ultimately unnecessary. The time could have been better spent elsewhere. Galadriel's insistence on Halbrand being a king could have been expanded on a little bit more. I get that she basically just has a "feeling" about him (almost similar and contrasting Gandalf's about Bilbo), and this season is about the danger of assumptions. But it still felt a little underdeveloped.

Even with his limited screen time, I think Pharazon really comes into his own in this episode. His true intentions and what drives him comes into focus, and he's shown as misguided rather than outright evil. Earien and Kemen's relationship could have been given a little more time. But it's a rather insignificant aspect of the story, so if anything can survive being stripped down to the bare minimum, it's them.

But that brings me back to my main issue with Numenor. There's just too much going on. This series really should have had ten episode seasons, which apparently was the original intention. Hopefully season 2's structure ends up being more accommodating to the episode count.

Galadriel and Sauron's little heart to heart is fantastic. The ambiguity of just how sorry he is makes everything extra interesting. Bringing the Lord of the Rings himself to the forefront of things could have gone very poorly, but I think that, despite some bumps along the way, it's one of the strongest parts of the series. He's a tragic and charismatic character rather than a mustache twirling villain. There's plenty of time to focus on just how evil he is later on, but I appreciate they went for a more unexpected and complex telling of his story from the beginning. And it's all very rooted in Tolkien's descriptions of him.

Lindon: This is where the big problem makes its appearance. That darn mithril. It's hard to judge it completely until we know for sure what's going on. How much of the story is a lie? How does the mithril actually work? Was a Silmaril actually involved? Whatever the truth ends up being, they took a big swing with this lore invention, and I think it's mostly a miss. I appreciate the idea of a legend within the story that not even the characters know to be true or not. That feels very Tolkien and just a good use of myth and storytelling in general. But doing that with such a vital aspect of the overall story's core may have taken things too far.

And then there's Elrond's oath. I think it was poorly handled. The "rules" of his oath feel very vague. Based on his conversation with Celebrimbor, who he tells and what exactly he reveals don't seem to have concrete lines that can or cannot be crossed.

I assume Celebrimbor already knew there was at least some mithril around. Otherwise why would they specifically be looking for it with the dwarves? So are we to assume Elrond just didn't tell him how much the dwarves actually found? When did Celebrimbor test it? Did he mean he tested a piece they already found, which sparked their mission to find more? Did he test the little piece Elrond had after dinner. All of this could have been (and should have been) cleared up rather easily. I have to wonder how much of this is a result of the Celebrimbor recast, but that excuse can only go so far.

Elrond and Durin's friendship continues to be one of highlights of the series. Their chemistry and honesty with each other is refreshing. No matter how many political expectations or awkward racial differences attempt to keep them at odds with each other, it never takes long for them to just get to the raw meat of things.

Overall, some of the best individual scenes in the series only held back a bit by some truncated writing and a loss of momentum from the previous episode.

[winterpinetrees]

It continues.

Episode 3: Adar

oh boy the orcs are digging tunnels. why? uh something something tolkien hated industrialization.

This Numenorian armor… is ugly. I like the rest of what they're doing with Numenor but that armor is really not it.

Okay they’ve turned Miriel into a girl boss and not one of the Faithful. I presume they have removed the incest to match. 

Nice character establishing moment for Isildur. He’s clever and protects his crew. too bad he’ll get corrupted by the ring. 

wish i could say the fantasy racism was invented by Amazon. its not. 

this sigil/mordor plan makes no sense at all. why is Sauron carving an evil dogwhistle on the body of his enemy at the height of their strength. Sauron is also not the sort of guy to really think things out in advance (citation: getting his physical form destroyed with Numenor)

So the harfoots abandon anyone they dislike? That isn’t very hobbit of them.

I like Isildur and Arondir but not much else. Galadriel's done some cool stuff but I know that the boring man is her default love interest and also Sauron so it's just tiring.

............

Episode 4: The Great Wave

Celebrimbor is a fool. Also I am pretty sure Earendil’s ship was made of mithril back in the First Age. The Valar might haven given it to him though so idk what my point is other than that Celebrimbor is going to walk confidently into his horrible death next season.

not Isildur! they’re giving him a dramatic backstory nooo just let him be a kid. It's so much more compelling if he's a kid trying to do the right thing who doesn't fully understand what's going on.

I like the Palantir visual, but the Numenor plot’s timeline is so distorted from canon that it’s distracting. One of Numenor’s canon crimes is too much intervention in the southlands. They form colonies that survive the fall and then turn evil. (its racist in multiple overlapping ways but those are themes you need to acknowledge when you read Tolkien)

Galadriel as warrior is so funny actually. I don’t think that woman even picked up a sword for the battle of the last alliance, when things were beyond desperate.

I still can’t believe there’s a character named Theo. A hobbit named Sam or Elanor I can see, but a Second Age human named Theo? Not even short for Theoden or anything? Just Theo? The sword plotline doesn’t seem like something Tolkien would do. It’s so bluntly magical. This isn't a YA novel.

Seeing dwarven women is so weird. I’d gotten Terry Pratchett’s “dwarves have one gender and it’s dwarf” in my head and forgotten that wasn’t actually a thing.  Durin's wife is cool though.

nooo Elrond is sad about his parents! so sorry my guy. You’ll get to see him and Elwing in about 3000 years. but not your daughter or twin. his story is so sad agh. 

[myfanfictiongarden]

S2 ep4 “Eldest”- my thoughts

now we know that Eregion is some 150 leaugues from Lindon- with 1 British league being 4,83km that makes 724,5km… so, definitley two weeks of travel by foot. Exelent! (or not)

was all this really fimed on the British isles? Wow, the nature is stuning!

**sigh** the blond Elf from the trailers traveling with Galadriel and Elrond is not Caleborn. On the other hand, I really like those Elves, they all have character

can I just say the traveling outfits for the company looks stuning (as is Elrond´s hair)

Galadriel wearing her hair Silmarilion style!

Tom Bombadil! And he is singing his song!!!!!!

awwww, Merimac and Poppy looking at each other 🥰

“Was that three rules or four?””I wasnt really paying attention.” 🤣

We got Stoors!!! and they live in holes in the ground!!!!! (no, seriously, I love their look and how it all later mixes in the Shire)

Stranger finally gets a bath

GOLDBERRY is already here?! omg!!!!!

sorry, but everything about Tom is perfectly whimsical

Wait… the lamb is called Iarwain… isn´t that the elvish name for Tom? Doesn´t it mean something like “without father”? (my Catholic mind is reeling!)

having recently read “Unfinished Tales” where its sayd that Gandalf was afraid to go to M.E. to face Sauron…

ok, the Barrow-wights sequence was pretty intense

Estrid and Isildur are adorable <333

am glad Arondir finds out something was sus about her very quickly

the swamp worm was disgusting

omg, the tale of some Stoors having long ago left to find a greener home and they became the wandering Harfoots? Nori saying “We are still homeless”? I got emotional at that 🥲

Galadriel afraid of “falling”, Elron dfeeling responsible for Calabrimbor…

ENTS!!!!!

the scene with the Ents, the dialogue, the music… I´m sobbing 😭

Arondir and Theo re-uniting <3

wait, Estrid does have a fiance? no!!!!!!!

Theo as Lord of Pelangir- cool, just stay away from elvish rings and everything will be fine

Galadriel giving Elrond her Ring to earn his trust + not trusting herself with it 😭

Galadriel fighting orcs was pretty badass

So, I guess the Barbossa-Elisabeth-style diner scene between Adar and Galadriel comes next episode

[conkers-thecosy]

Hi conkers!!

i have a question regarding hobbit ears.

In Poet (I forgot which chapter, sorry), you mentioned hobbit ears are very sensitive/easily aroused when touched(?) Does this only happen when the ears are being touched by someone else? Or can the hobbit themselves touch their own ears and feel arousal?

(is it the hobbit equivalent of jerking off???)

thank you very much

Well hi there!

This is such a great, fun question, and honestly not one I expected to get, so thank you for sending it!

Answer under the cut 💛

So, the way I decided to tackle this particular bit of popular fanon, is that Bilbo's ears are an eroginous zone. They aren't an inherently sexual organ, but they are particularly sensitive to stimulation. For example, let's say someone likes to have their neck kissed during foreplay or sex, it doesn't necessarily mean they can't wear a polo-neck jumper or necklaces the rest of the time without getting all hot and bothered. Another fun example to use is that Thorin is often depicted in fanfic as being the same way about his hair - there's smut upon smut of him going to pieces because Bilbo touched his hair or braids or beard, etc, but it would be a bit inconvenient if he became aroused just brushing his locks in the mornings. ...Though I guess it depends on the sort of night he had 😂

In particular for my headcanon about this, I specify via Beorn that Bilbo is a Fallohide hobbit. This is only partially true, as he's a Fallohide from his mother, and a Stoor from his father. I don't want to get too deep into the differences as it's a plot device I'm saving for "King" but I felt like some of the differences might be that a Harfoot hobbit would be sensitive about their feet, for example. Fallohides, by comparison, are more responsive to having their ears touched - and I have to admit, I mostly went for this because feet give me the ick, haha!

Now, in chapter three of "Poet" Bilbo has a pretty strong reaction to Thorin pinching his ear. The reason for that is threefold; first, because he's drunk and his inhibitions have been lowered. Second, because Thorin has been touching him up a little, while very, very obviously flirting for almost the whole chapter, so he's already a little flustered anyway. Third, and not to spoil anything for you (because I'm sure this will come as a shock) is because it's Thorin who does it, and Bilbo has a very specific set of emotions regarding his dwarf, poor chap!

I feel like in this particular headcanon, Bilbo couldn't get off from having his ears touched alone (though if that's your jam, I highly recommend "A Little Privacy" by Keelywolfe) but in the right situation it could definitely get him in the mood to get railed, let's say, over a large table, or the wall of a well 😁

Ahem.

Anyway, I hope this answers your question! Thanks so much for sending it, it was fun to have an excuse to ramble about my silly ideas, haha!

Lola xx

[heyclickadee]

Fandom Ask:

The Lord of the Rings OR Pokémon

Thank you so much for the ask! I’m sorry it took me forever to answer it, though. And between The Lord of the Rings and Pokémon, I think I’ll go with The Lord of the Rings. (I love Pokémon, but I’ve been really out of the loop with it for a long time.) So!

The first character I first fell in love with: In the books? Gandalf. He’s so cantankerous, I love it. In the films? Probably also Gandalf, if I’m honest.

The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: In the books? Frodo. Little eleven-year-old me didn’t really get Frodo when I read the books for the first time. I didn’t dislike him, exactly, but I didn’t get him. In fact, the first time I got through the chapter where Frodo claims the Ring, I was so upset that I put the book down and didn’t pick it up again for a couple weeks. And back then? That was weird for me. But I did eventually finish the book, and when I re-read the LOTR about a year later, Frodo’s whole thing started to click, and I started to really like him. And now, reading it as an adult, I get it, I really do.

In the films? Boromir. Again, I never disliked him, but a lot of the fanon on this website has created a special place in my heart for movie Boromir.

The character everyone else loves that I don’t: In the books? I don’t know if I have one. I don’t really hate any of the characters as characters. In the films? Legolas.

The character I love that everyone else hates: In the books? Okay, so, if we’re using “character I love” here to mean “character I love as a CHARACTER because they’re interesting and play a vital role in the story,” and not, “character I love as a person,” then it’s Denethor. Because, mean—Book Denethor is awful. He’s not exactly the same as in the films, but he’s awful in an equally bad way (and still the winner of the worst father of the year middle earth award). But he’s also pitiable, and really, really interesting.

In the films: Soooo…okay, this isn’t the PJ films, it’s in Rings of Power; and it’s not even the Lord of the Rings, strictly speaking, and there are elements of the Harfoot plot line I think are a little uneven, but I love Nori Brandyfoot. And Poppy Proudfellow. I’m sorry, I’ve adopted them.

The character I used to love but don’t any longer: In the books? I don’t think I have one. In the films? I do have one (Pippin) but it’s honestly not fair to the character in the film, because the film is doing a different thing, and that’s okay.

The character I would totally smooch: In the books? I’m undecided on the merits of smooching, but I would definitely platonically kiss Frodo on the forehead. And. Like. Straight up marry about half of the rest of the cast. In the films? Pretty much the same.

The character I’d want to be like: In the books? Faramir. Also maybe Ioreth. Being a gossipy old lady seems fun. In the films? Definitely not Faramir.

The character I’d slap: In the books? There are so many, but Lotho Sackville-Baggins most of all. In the films? Denethor.

A pairing that I love: In the books? I’ll admit I’m partial to Faramir and Eowyn. In the films? I don’t really actively ship it, but the fanart/fanon/kinda canon around Legolas and Gimli is all fantastic.

A pairing that I despise: In the books? I don’t have one. This is one property where I really don’t ship any of the fan ships, but I still think they’re fun, even if I don’t ship them. I’m sure there’s one that I’d really dislike, but I’m not involved enough in the LOTR fan community to know about it. In the films? Soooo…okay, I know that Peter Jackson was between a rock and a hard place here, because Arwen has near-terminal “not appearing in this picture” disease in the books (she was created fairly late in the game was far as writing went; there’s a chance that if she was created earlier, she would’ve been a lot more active and involved in a Luthien-kind-of-way, buuuut we’ll never know) and he still had to figure out a way to communicate that she and Aragorn have a relationship so it doesn’t come out of nowhere when they get married at the end, and he didn’t exactly have the benefit of an appendix at the end of the film, but. Man. I. Don’t love the execution here with Arwen and Aragorn. Pretty much at all.

[zorosroronoas]

this is actually so unfair to the rings of power & it just shows you all have not watched the damn show. like i'm sorry but you're also literally comparing human & hobbit clothing to that of elves, which even in the jackson movies are always perfectly in place.

if you watched trop (ah isn't that the issue to begin with!), you'd notice that human & harfoot characters for example are completely different costume wise. even elven costumes show wear & tear as time goes by depending on the circumstances. these costumes look brand new bc they ARE. arondir's armor gets significantly torn down with time, so does galadriel's outfit by the end of the season etc.

idfc if you dislike trop but all least be truthful & don't slander the costume designers that worked so hard on this show.

in my opinion it’s almost never the outfits themselves that are the problem in recent tv/film. it’s the fact that it all looks unworn. there’s no wear. there’s no tear. there’s no signs that it truly belonged to a character. in some cases, that’s fine. but with warriors? travelers? the first example that comes to mind is how supernatural went from sam and dean driving across america living out of duffel bags wearing distressed heavily used workwear to…whatever this is…….. looking like every outfit is Brand New

[superloves4]

How did they make the Harfoots “very cruel”?

So, first of all, this isn't me saying anyone can't enjoy rings of power, I, myself enjoy many things considered bad and dislike things considered good, I'm really not here to tell people not to have fun here (I'm also hoping season 2 can change my mind on the show)

Second of all, I'm not always great at explaining what I'm thinking so if you want a better written critique (by someone who also isn't a bigot) of rop to understand those that don't like it: Hello Future Me has a very good video on the subject (Nerd of the rings also has a good vid on rop)

Now, for my rambles:

The Harfoots are very clearly written to be lovable but a tad foolish and living in harsh conditions, however the way they went about portraying this is by showing that a smaller injury is worth abandoning, which makes no sense in the universe they are portraying (Tolkien's "people will help each other" universe) and if the argument is realism, then it's even worse as isolated folks survive by constantly helping each other, so not realistic at all, especially with someone as important as the wheel maker.

(also, sorry for being harsh, but I have seen the misunderstanding of what survival of the fittest means come from Americans quite a bit, so I would not be surprised if the problem was this)

Like, I can see the line of thought for this for wanting the stranger to bond first with Nori, then with her family and only then with the other Harfoots, but with the way they decided to go about was by showing Nori's family having to work around the Harfoots indifference by putting their cart first, then being all punished for one mistake from only Nori by being put last (that was first supposed to be even harsher, the head Harfoot has to go against that idea as opposed to the Harfoots being kind)

Nori's family actively believes they are "going to be left behind" aka die because of this (and it makes you think that the other left behind might have survived had the Harfoots behaved as a real small tribe and banded together to survive)

(Also, laughing at someone dying from bees, meaning either the Harfoot had allergies or being hit by so many bees that they were poisoned, very much not a fun, but I'm giving the small chance that they don't understand bees very well and just finding that someone died from bees would be strange enough to be funny)

These are all very cruel actions from a culture we are supposed to see as having "hearts bigger than our hearts"