#trop book spoilers

[thenotoriousscuttlecliff]

So I'm assuming the top image is Círdan in the First Age, possibly during the youth of Eärendil or Elrond (in the text he was a father figure to Eärendil and that role might be switched to Elrond for the show), and the bottom image is him during the Second Age, looking a lot older, but not as old as he'll look by the end of the Third Age (he's only just getting started on that beard).

[beaulesbian]

The Rings of Power 2.07

Neither of us was strong enough. There might not be anyone in Middle-earth who is. But perhaps, the Elves need only remember that it is not strength that overcomes darkness, but light. Armies may rise, hearts may fail, yet still, light endures and is mightier than strength. For in its presence, all darkness must flee. Namarië.

[hailturinturambar]

“Sauron, greatest and most terrible of the servants of Morgoth, who in the Sindarin tongue was named Gorthaur, came against Orodreth, the warden of the tower upon Tol Sirion. Sauron was become now a sorcerer of dreadful power, master of shadows and of phantoms, foul in wisdom, cruel in strength, misshaping what he touched, twisting what he ruled, lord of werewolves; his dominion was torment.”

The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien

[totalherald]

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S2.E1 "Elven Kings Under the Sky"

[kazz-brekker]

i present: my extremely long and highly specific list of book recs for my fellow rings of power fans

[raointean]

This nerd, I swear-

[itsmetheabnormalone]

He’s alright guys. Brimby’s with me. He’s safe.

[dark-silhouette]

I just watched episode 8, and I honestly feel very bad; I feel sad. I can't accept that Adar died. He just wanted his Uruk to be free and live in peace. I thought we'd see more about his past or at least tell him what his old name was... We weren't even given that.

Galadriel could have helped him at least kill some orcs...

On the other hand I'm surprised that Arondir is as if nothing had happened, not even a scratch.

[highfantasy-soul]

My view on the Elrond/Galadriel kiss:

Cultures be different.

Kisses on the lips are not always sexual/romantic. (I, as an American, have kissed certain friends on the lips in completely platonic ways)

In many cultures, closed-mouthed kisses on the lips are a sign of love and emotional connection in a platonic/familial way.

Specifically American aversion to affection in any form is rotting people's brains - here, a lot of men won't even HUG each other because they think it's 'too intimate'. Other cultures kiss on the hand, cheek, forehead, nose, and yes, lips too, in completely platonic ways. [And we're not even going to get into the large portion of the population who thinks that men and women literally CANNOT be just friends, if a man and woman are close, it HAS to be romantic/sexual.]

Just because YOUR culture/personal preference reserves lip kisses for romantic/sexual feelings only doesn't mean everyone else is wrong for feeling differently.

I didn't read the kiss as Elrond secretly having romantic feelings for Galadriel at all - to me it was clear it was a platonic show of how much he cared for her and how sorry he was that they had been at odds all season (and largely in S1 too) and was afraid it was really going to be the last time he saw her. He wanted to show her just how much she meant to him - PLATONICALLY - and a tender kiss (while also using it as a distraction to slip her a lock-pick) was the way he did it.

Obviously it's ok for people to interpret it as romantic if they ship Galadriel and Elrond, but to say that's the ONLY interpretation based on your own limited cultural understanding of what a kiss could mean is just frustrating.

[rxyl]

Illustrations by Alan Lee for "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Chapter 3 - Errantry" by J.R.R. Tolkien | Halbrand, The Rings of Power.

[olessan]

[thenotoriousscuttlecliff]

The creators of Rings of Power have said that they have a five season plan for the show and are going to stick to it. Knowing what happens in the Second Age, this is how I think that might play out.

Warning: Book Spoilers Ahead

Season 3

This is where Sauron will fully establish himself as the new Dark Lord, taking full control of Mordor, recruiting the Nine, building Barad-dûr built, and waging The War of the Elves and Sauron, culminating in Númenor coming to the aid of the Elves at the decisive Battle of the Gwathló (supposed to be the biggest battle of Middle Earth after the War of Wrath), and Sauron being taken back as a prisoner by Ar-Pharazôn. We'll also see the founding of Rivendell and the eventual siege by Sauron.

Season 4

Sauron's imprisonment on, and eventual corruption of Númenor, leading to the destruction of the entire island and the escape of the Faithful. Think we'll also see Lothlórien under King Amdír and how Galadriel eventually comes to settle and rule there. Might also see the establishment of the Black Númenorian colonies in the south prior to the island's fall.

Season 5

The establishment of the Kingdoms in Exile (although I can see them starting the season with a time skip over that part) and finally the War of the Last Alliance and Sauron's first defeat, possibly ending with the Disaster of the Gladden Fields.

These are just the main events, of course. I'm sure the writers will have to invent a lot stuff for all the characters to do since there are so many big gaps as Tolkien never really fleshed out the Second Age like he did with the First and Third.

[hailturinturambar]

MORFYDD CLARK at The World Premiere of "The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power" August 30, 2022 in London, England.

[anragaire]

GO AND GET NARSIL ELENDIL! ELENDIL GET NARSIL!

[aquitainequeen]

Getting distinct Interview With The Vampire vibes from Adar (nearly) taking out Sauron.

Adar: Good night, sweet Prince. May flights of devils wing thee to thy rest.

Sauron: Then on a diet of the blood of snakes, toads, and all the putrid life of the Mississipi, Lestat became something like himself again.

[raointean]