Thread by @DrNosy10

I will inaugurate my analysis of #TheRingsOfPower with some special info. This is not a spoiler. It's more of a leak.

Sauron's stronghold seen in Ep. 1 was invented for the show. Far north of the Forodwaith. Named 'Dûrnost' (Sindarin. ‘hellish-city’).

#TheOneRingQuisition

PROLOGUE

1. `Nothing is evil in the beginning`

The fighting children is a reminder that 'evil' is an inherent aspect of Eru's Children. The fate of Men and Elves (the acceptance of death and facing the judgment of Mandos) is a key spiritual decision to the central characters.

2. `Fixed upon a light that guides her...`

The reference to the 'light' is a reference to Elbereth ('Queen of Stars') and spouse of Manwë.

3. Map of Middle-earth

It appears to have an unusual orientation. Is it hinting at the mark `whose meaning even our wisest could not discern`?

4. A Fell-beast (of Morgoth) strikes a Great Eagle (of Manwë)

Without showing us the embodied Valar, the appearance of these creatures suggests that this is the War of Wrath. Some Orc appear to be slain by steel arrows— hints to the Edain during the War of Wrath.

5. Innumerable Elves are slain.

Galadriel adds a helmet to the massive pile— The imagery is a reference to Tolkien and the Great War (WW1). Each helmet represents a fallen Elven warrior.

6. `Sorcerer` Sauron assembles the Orc remnant at Dûrnost.

His guise as a `Sorcerer` is a ref to his Necromancer guise at Dol Guldur (Sindarin. 'hill of sorcery'). Sauron is shown to have a pointed spear, which is significant for a major character death in the show.

7. Finrod is killed

His flesh is marked with an unknown mark. His arm is also marked by claw marks— There is a slight deviation from Tolkien's works: Finrod was mortally injured by Sauron's werewolves; his death came prior to the War of Wrath.

8. Galadriel leads her armies North. Over centuries they traverse over rivers and mountains. At every step, her army appears to shrink— Four boats of Elven warriors have dwindled to one that sails to Valinor at the end of Ep 1.

FORODWAITH

1. Galadriel’s company scales the ice wall that surrounds Sauron's stronghold.

2. `Is it not possible the other commanders are right and our enemy is no more?`

Who are these other commanders? Possibilities include Gildor Inglorion (*Three is Company*), Lindir (*Many Meetings*), Glorfindel (*The Council of Elrond*), Haldir (*Lothlórien*), among others.

3. The company tread through the snow but do not leave any traces

An interpretation, as applied to screenplay, the physical & metaphysical constitution of Elves as beings made mostly of fëa (Sind. ‘spirit’) compared to hröa (Sind. ‘body’).

Also a visual ref to 'Grinding Ice'.

4. `This is it, this is where the Orcs gathered after Morgoth’s defeat.`

This is the same place we glimpsed Sauron in the Prologue. [This is a place invented for the show. It is north of Forodwaith (beyond Tolkien’s maps). It has been named Dûrnost (Sind. ‘hellish-city’).]

5. `This place is so evil, our torches give off no warmth.`

Inside the fortress, the presence of evil sucks the heat out of flame.

6. `Even stone cannot hide the mark of one whose very hand is flame unquenched`

Galadriel believes the Orcs are meddling with powers of the unseen world. She soon finds the Sorcerer Sauron’s symbol burnt into an anvil— a direct ref to Sauron’s ultimate weapon: his hot hands.

7. The company encounters a `Hriz-torco` (Quen. ‘Ice Troll’)

Several warriors are injured. Galadriel orders the company to move, but Thondir defies her. The others follow suit. Galadriel stares at the company in disbelief.

TITLE.

`The Lord of the Rings: THE RINGS OF POWER`

I spelt Durnost wrong. It's supposed to be similar to Fornost.

CONCERNING HARFOOTS

1. `Rhovanion` (Wilderlands) is where the migratory Harfoots are currently concealed in comfort, out of their carts, hidden among dense foliage— in the area north of the Dagorlad.

2. Sadoc consults his book with strange pictograms that suggest he has some kind of clairvoyance. In his book, he sees ‘hunters’ followed by ‘wolves’.

'Concerning Hobbits' (Fellowship) explains that even during the Wandering Days the Harfoots had a love of learning.

3. Nori and Poppy lead some of the Harfoot children into a berry-laden grove.

A pawprint of the wolf sends the children scampering back to their camp. They seem to go undetected by the wolf for now.

ELROND

1. Elrond sits in a tree, writing Gil-galad’s upcoming speech.

He is reading in *Quenya* `I Palannúmen. I Alfirimë Nóri. Na metta avantë`. The scene transitions to *English* where Elrond’s first word is `Home`— a direct reference to Elrond’s backstory as an orphan.

2. Elrond’s wardrobe

Includes a brooch (Eärendil's heraldic device) which is a homage to his lineage— a son of Eärendil, Prince of Gondolin (a Noldor princeling). He also carries a scroll holder with a handle shaped in the form of an Elven city, most likely Gondolin.

3. `Herald Elrond`

Elrond was Gil-galad’s herald (Fellowship).

“Master Elrond” is also how Elrond is often addressed in #TheLordOfTheRings and #TheSilmarillion.

4. `Elf Lords, only.`

It does, however, speak volumes to Elrond’s character motivation going forward. He is desperate to be accepted and considered equal with the other Elf Lords.

Question is, how far is he willing to go to please his King? Is he willing to lie to his friends?

MANY GREETINGS OF ELROND AND GALADRIEL

1. Lindon trees resemble Mallorn

Mellyrn did not grow in Lindon. But, it makes quite good sense that the Lindon “Mellyrn” are fading at a much quicker rate compared to those in Valinor. Could be reason for the push for `artificers`.

2. Tapestry

Religious imagery of Elves leaving for Valinor. Shining star above the ship is Eärendil. Eärendil was the great Half-elven mariner, father of Elrond and Elros, & the hero of the War of Wrath.

Bilbo sings the ‘Song of Eärendil’ before Elrond & others in Rivendell.

3. `I hear it’s said that when you cross over, you hear a song. One whose memory we all carry. And you are immersed in a light more intoxicating than any sensation in all of Middle-earth.`

Elrond was born in Middle-earth; he has only heard of Valinor as described by the Eldar.

4. This mark’s very existence proves Sauron escaped.`

Though Elrond is listening, it's clear he knows what the High King intends for her and her old company.

Also, did the Elves really not know whether Sauron had escaped?

5. Elrond attempts to dissuade her

Galadriel calls him out for his obsequiousness— subtle suggestion that Galadriel has the ability to see into others?

Boromir's remarks in Fellowship: 'Maybe it was only a test...she thought to read our thoughts for her own good purpose...'

6. `It wasn't your company who defied you but rather you who defied the High King by refusing to heed any limit placed upon you.`

Galadriel is half-listening & leans into him. Elrond holds his ground but changes his posture slightly.

Does Elrond fear the tempest in her?

THE HARFOOT CAMP

1. Nori and the children return to the camp.

Nori’s father Largo informs her excitedly of the travelers— Nori is very much like her father.

While the Took family were mostly Fallowhides might Nori and Largo be the Harfoot branch of the Took family?

2. `Haven’t you ever wondered`

Marigold, Nori's mum explains `Nobody goes off trail. Nobody walks alone. We have each other. We’re safe. That is how we survive.`

Nori cleverly offers her a berry— a trophy of taking a risk outside the normal comforts of the camp.

HIGH KING GIL-GALAD

1. Gil-galad appears to be both King & spiritual leader of the High Elves.

Across his chest are the words 'Aran Einor'— ref to Manwë ('Elder King'). On his sleeves is 'Elbereth' the Star-kindler.

`O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!` (Three is Company, Fellowship)

2. `...our days of war are over.`

Gil-galad holds the victor's crown. Galadriel's gaze is defiant. Gil-galad disapproves. Galadriel surrenders by lowering her gaze.

In this moment, he is convinced that Galadriel will never yield to him or anyone in her quest for Sauron.

3. `The Undying Land of Valinor`

Galadriel is unhappy at this declaration. She turns to Elrond— Elrond clearly withheld this information from her.

A half-truth perhaps to protect her from further angering the High King in an audience.

FALLEN WARRIORS

1. Elven fireworks

Did the Elves know how to make magical fireworks? Are these fireworks Celebrimor's invention?

2. `The likeness of one fallen preserved upon a living thing...`

I'm guessing the following (apart from Finrod) are:
- Fingon w/ the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin,
- Fingolfin w/ Ringil
- Luthien and Huan
- Tuor (the only Man to have entered Aman) w/ his fishbone spear

3. `You will linger here, an outcast, poisoned in dark whispers and dreams`

Ref to Morgoth’s “whispers [that] went abroad [among the Elves] that the Valar had brought the Eldar to Aman because of their jealousy” (#TheSilmarillion)

4a. `Yet you would leave them alive in me? To take with me?`

This implies that if Galadriel returns to the Far West, she will & the evil within her will live on forever. I feel this is a slight oversimplification from the Tolkien texts.

4b. Death was a concept that existed from before the arrival of the Children of Illuvatar. The Elves are immortal, but this does not mean they are eternal beings. (Of the Beginning of Days, Silm)

4c. Effects from the fading, for the Elves, is a process that occurs slowly in Aman, & rapidly in Middle-earth. (Difficulties in Chronology, Nature of Middle Earth)

The purpose of the Elven rings (`artifices`) of immorality was to slow-down the effects of fading on Middle-earth.

4d. Galadriel, as a bearer of such a ring of power, is protector of Lothlórien and her continued presence on Middle-earth also meant her inability to accept death and accumulate power to help resist the fading.

4e. With this perspective, it is interesting to read the excerpt from the excerpt from 'The Mirror of Galadriel, Fellowship'...

`‘I pass the test,’ she said. ‘I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.’`

5. `You have fought long enough, Galadriel. Put up your sword.`

Galadriel ultimately relents after Elrond promises her to pursue the threat she perceives proves true.

(Sidenote: Cirth on Elrond's back reads 'Eärendil')

6. `Be what you have always been, my friend`

Wish there was a tad more dramatization here.

Galadriel seems to be Elrond’s only friend in Lindon. Why is he content with letting her go so easily?

Is Elrond’s loyalty to Gil-galad worth more than that to himself & his friends?

THE SOUTHLANDS

1. Men in their fields of grain

The Southlands are revealed to be in the same area of Mordor (of the Third Age) before it was home to Sauron and the Orcs. Halbrand/Southland theme is first heard.

2. The villagers watch disapprovingly as two Silvan Elves enter the village of Tirharad

Southlanders use disparaging terms to describe the Elves: `onion-eyed scut`, `knife ears`, `pointies`.

3. `One day, our true king will return…`

Waldreg and Tredwell discuss how one of the grazing may have been poisoned. A brief confrontation breaks out between Rowan and Arondir. The Southlanders are sick of being watched and do not welcome the Elves.

THE WISHING WELL

1. Bronwyn gives Arondir Alfirin seeds

Alfirin were notably found near Edoras and on the Tomb of Elendil at Eilenaer (Rohirric: Halifirien, Gondorian: Amon Anwar)

2. Artificers

Bronwyn asks about healers among the Elves. Arondir explains that Elven ‘healers’ are called `artificers`.

`...it is their labor instead to render hidden truths as works of beauty. For beauty has great power to heal the soul.`

Waldreg notices them chatting.

OSTIRITH

1. Arondir is warned not to engage with Bronwyn

Médhor cites two previous Human-Elf pairings where the result was death— ref to the fates of Beren and Lúthien, and Tuor and Idril. Imrazôrare and Mithrellas are another less obvious pairing. Their fates are unknown.

2. `the days of war are over. All the far outposts are being disbanded`

Post-Morgoth, the diverse peoples of the Elves seem to be under the governance of Gil-galad. It perhaps makes sense since the Noldor are the strongest and most powerful force on Middle-earth.

3a. `you’ve kept watch over the Men and Women of Tirharad, not because of what their ancestors once did. But because of who they still are.`

In the First Age, some of the Men of Hildórien (Easterlings) were corrupted early on by Morgoth.

3b.

`Yet neither by wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by Dragon, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men`

`From that day the hearts of the Elves were estranged from Men, save only those of the Three Houses of the Edain.`

(Of the Fifth Battle, Silm).

3c.

The Southlanders are, therefore, the descendants of the evil Men `that Uldor [their accursed leader] had summoned and kept hidden in the eastern hills`.

One of the Easterling, Khamûl, gains infamy as “The Shadow of the East” after receiving a ring of power from Sauron.

BRONWYN'S HOME

1. Red colored fire-root powder

Is it perhaps Explosive?

2. Black milk

The cow has been poisoned. Tredwill says the cow had grazed near Hordern (north of Tirharad).

Arondir and Bronwyn leave to investigate— ref to earlier scene in the pub where the grass has been poisoned.

THE BROKEN BLADE

1. Theo and Rowan trespass on Waldreg’s barn.

Rowan questions Theo about Waldreg witnessing his mother’s involvement with Aronidir (`one of the pointies`). Theo denies their involvement. He also appears to have no idea what has happened to his father.

2. Theo finds a broken sword

Theo notices that the sword bears the same mark of Sauron (revealed with very *subtle* FX) as on the anvil and Finrod’s flesh in the Prologue.

A NEW PROJECT

1. `We foresaw...`

Reading into “we”... Political decisions in Lindon might involve Gil-galad and a Council of other Elven Lords of the Elven realms:

-Lord Celebrimbor of Eregion
-Círdan of the Grey Havens
-Celeborn of Lothlórien
-Elvenking Thranduil of Mirkwood

2. `You and I must look to the new sunrise`

Elrond is unaware of the Council’s plans— Galadriel’s concerns were accurate!

But it seems that the Council has determined that the solution isn’t pursuing an invisible enemy to banish evil... Instead it might involve `artificers`.

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