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RoP 5: The Disappointment

This episode was called Partings. I’m not sure if that signifies parting from the lore, or parting from common sense.

So far, I’ve been impressed with how long this show has lasted. It was decently canon, and I was even warming up to Arondir and Bronwyn. But something has happened (in the most canon storyline so far) that has made me reconsider my entire view of this series.

The Elrond/Durin/Celebrimbor/Gil-galad story was the one to cause the downfall. When Gil-galad brought up the Roots of Hithaeglir, I’m like, ok. As long as you make it very obvious that this a mere myth, completely fake, I’m fine. But a Silmaril? In a tree? Maedhros and Maglor wouldn’t like that story at all. Yes, you wanted an origin story for mithril, but this is… ugh.

But that was all right. It didn’t change the core of the original, and, as I said, it’s myth. My greatest problem was much worse: What in the name of Ulmo is this, ‘Elves need mithril before next spring or they’re all going to die?’ Like, excuse me? I’m really hoping that Annatar (AKA Sauron) is already in Gil-galad’s counsels and has plotted some heresy in his thoughts. Not even a hint of this was written, and there is no way this could have happened in Middle-Earth. I’m shocked at this sudden turn of events, and all I can say is, they’ve written themselves into a tight spot; I’m interested to see if they can get out.

As for Nori’s story, I’m just as perplexed. They’ve done what I’ve been waiting for: succeeded in making an epic song by which to remember at least Nori’s story: The Wandering Days is beautiful. Meteor Man is still a mystery, but we shall see. If they make him a wizard I’ll be mad, but so far, so good.

The Galadriel story continues as previously, though Pharazon’s attitude toward Miriel’s plans is somewhat enlightening, as we may get to see the dark side of Numenor.

Now, for Arondir. This new sword-hilt discovery is interesting. I don’t really know what to make of it. But as for Waldreg going off and bowing to Adar, I have something to say. First, to clear up anyone who says ‘Adar isn’t Sauron ’cause he yelled at Waldreg for calling him that’, among other reasons, ‘Sauron’ means ‘The Abhorred’ in Quenya, so he’d do that to anyone who calls him that even if he was Sauron. Sauron goes by Tar Maeron, King Excellent. I’d like to see where this goes.

Overall, I am very disappointed in this episode. They’ve written themselves into a tight spot, and I’ll be curious to see how they get out. The series before this episdode: 7.5/10. This episode: 2/10. The series after this episode: 3.75/10. Very scared.

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(Im)mortality

The immortality/mortality tension is a big theme in Tolkien, as well as much of modern fantasy. It is most easily seen through human-elf romances. Although there are several throughout the legendarium (only three of which ended up in a union), I will be focusing on the most famous one, where this theme is most evident: Aragorn and Arwen.

As the film shows, Elrond fears for his daughter, thinking she will hate life after Aragorn’s death. I believe this is much more evident in Elu Thingol, Luthien’s father from the First Age. Or maybe he just hated Men. He charged Beren with the impossible quest of prying a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth. Likewise, Aragorn was charged with becoming the King of both Gondor and Arnor.

After Aragorn’s death, Arwen mourned him, stayed in Gondor for a couple of years, but eventually left to Lothlorien, and lay down on the hill of Cerin Amroth, where she first met Aragorn. She had given up the Twilight, or the immortality of the Eldar, to be with Aragorn, so she does age, but lives like the Numenoreans, with extended lifespan and the grace to choose her moment of parting, like Aragorn did in the end. She essentially chose him over her kindred, and from that moment, there was no going back.

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The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

I wish to address a couple of issues, all of which can be found in the chapter titled ‘The Bridge of Khazad-Dum’. They are:

  1. The Balrog’s ‘Flight’
  2. Gandalf’s Commands
  3. Gandalf’s Fate

The famous question, do Balrogs have wings? Short answer: No. Long answer: Nopety nope nope, No. Longer answer: Most people see the sentence describing the Balrog, and see ‘he stretched his dark wings from one side of the cavern to the other’ and think that the debate is over. This is called a metaphor. Google it. The shadow and flame of the Balrog’s aura, for lack of better term, appeared to the hobbits as wings, not that he has physical, flesh-and-blood wings. And, if he fell, why didn’t he just fly? If he had wings, then Gandalf’s tactic was a little unwise…

Next Gandalf actually never said the words ‘You shall not pass’, as most media presents. It is a sad statement that has corrupted the minds of many a once-loyal Tolkien fan. The words were ‘You CANNOT pass’. If you yell at me for calling this a minor difference, then explain why the billions of memes can’t get 4 characters right. That’s an even more minor difference.

Finally, Gandalf’s fate. After Durin’s Bane pulled him down, they fell together through the mines of Moria. The film actually portrays this nicely. They came to the mountain of Zirakzigil and fought it out there. Gandalf smote down his foe, but then died. He wasn’t half dead, or temporarily dead, he was completely, 100%, dead. His Maia spirit returned to Valinor, and the Valar chose to send him back to Middle-Earth to finish the job he started. He took the form of Saruman, or rather, Saruman as he should have benn.

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Who is the Weirdo with a Blue Jacket and Yellow Boots

As soon as you saw the Argonath upon the opening of this great page, you probably started thinking, He’s got to have a Tom Bombadil article. So, here you go.

For those of you who haven’t read the book, this post isn’t for you. Sorry, if you haven’t read the book, this blog is not for you. Tom Bombadil was in the Old Forest between the Shire and Bree, and is the most puzzling enigma of Middle-Earth.

I have heard theories that Tom Bombadil is Eru Illuvatar, that he is Aule, or Ulmo, a random Maia, or even that he is a reincarnation of the Music of the Ainur itself, a theory which was quite interesting, but ultimately false. Each of these theories has one major flaw. I now present to you the true answer:

The answer to the Ultimate Question of Tom, Bombadil, and Goldberry is…. nobody knows, or will ever know. Tolkien even wrote in his letters: “Tom does not need speculation over, and is not improved by it. ” He is a nature spirit living in the Old Forest. That’s all there is to it. Tom Bombadil is, as Tom himself said, Tom Bombadil. When Frodo asked him who he was, he answered: “Don’t you know my name yet? That’s the only answer!” It really isn’t that complicated when you think about it.

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The Compressed Timeline

OK, I knew this was going to happen, they said they were doing it, I know why they did it, but I think it only makes their job more difficult.

Rings of Power makes use of a ‘compressed’ Middle-Earth timeline. The events in Middle-Earth with Sauron’s rise to power and Arondir take place in c. 1000 Second Age, whereas the events in Numenor, such as the reign of Tar-Miriel, Tar-Palantir, and ‘Chancellor’ Pharazon, happen in c. 3200. This was done to ‘avoid the human characters constantly dying out due to their relatively short lifespans’.

The greatest theme with Human – Elf romances, across all fantasy that contains them, is the lifespan difference and immortality. Usually the elf has to give up their immortality, but this is not always the case. Amazon puts Bronwyn and Arondir in this relationship, while cutting the sense of mortality and shortness of time that makes these stories potent.

I understand this was a move that had to be made in order to make a good show out of it that appealed to more than just the hardcore Tolkien fandom, but just looking at the timeline is just too much for me. I’d be fine if it was 100 years, maybe 500, but 2200 years difference, just gone, with several major events, is too much. Logically, this divide will shorten over the course of the seasons, but it is just a blow to the effectiveness of this story on me.