If this is the state of #Númenor, it is no wonder why the Valar sent us a splash of water. 🌊 Our trials are unending...

Wrote this thread to explore the Tolkien concept of Incarnates (Mirröanwi) to possibly explain why mithril is not the solution to Elven death.

This is really just an excuse to share some summarizing thoughts before the @LOTRonPrime finale.

#TheRingsOfPower 🧵 1/7. All living things in Arda are classified as either being of the Incarnates ("spirits put into flesh") or not.

Nature of ME— Incarnates include the likes of Eruhíni, Ents, Eagles, etc. Their bodies have 'souls' as Eru has endowed. Plants & most animals are not Incarnates.

The Fëanorian Twins & their smart & sexy uncle... Celebrimbor.

Celebrimbor was in love with Galadriel but never told her because she chose Celeborn. It didn't stop him from making the Elessar (Elfstone) for her!

Galadriel later gifts the Elessar to Aragorn.

#TheRingsOfPower

https://twitter.com/NosyDr/status/1580199910640451584

Excerpt from 'The Elessar' in Unfinished Tales...

@chaneilduine @Bliss_Hughes Forgive me for this long response in many parts:

Augustinian indeed. In the sense that a character's choice (by their own free will) determines whether they are good or evil. 1/5 @chaneilduine @Bliss_Hughes 2/5 Take Morgoth as an example. Of his own will, he chose to stand against & apart from Eru. This stemmed from his inability to accept that his sub-creation cannot be distinct from Eru himself, bc ultimately all things come from Eru. Thus, his actions begot destruction.

S1.E7 Breakdown of #TheRingsOfPower 🧵

Galadriel's eyes have opened to a new reality: Udûn ("Hell"). A "red" horse races past her revealing the aftermath of an apocalypse.

#TheOneRingQuisition AFTERMATH

1. Four LED lighting tubes were strapped to a horse running at Galadriel. Flames were added in post-VFX.

Flames on structures, floating cinders, and swirling ash were also added in post. Wet paper was used for ash on set. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

S1.E6 Breakdown of #TheRingsOfPower 🧵

This episode was very explosive. Not much #Tolkien to breakdown but very fun all the same.

Theory: This is Sauron's gauntlet. Adar claimed it as a trophy.

#TheOneRingQuisition NEW LIFE

Adar plants some alfirin seeds and says a prayer before battle.

Quenya: `Vinya coivië... na vírië...`
English: "New awakening... To life..."

S1.E5 Breakdown of #TheRingsOfPower 🧵

Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) are eating walnuts on a plateau in Central Otago, South Island, NZ.

#TheOneRingQuisition LOST

1. `Perils`

Nori first taught the Stranger to speak using sign language (E2).

Weeks later he speaks in the same dialect as Nori. Not surprising as he patterns his speech after her. He's also learning new words & with that a sense of right vs wrong as Nori sees it.

(1/4)

Dear #Tolkien Fans,

It's hard to see the vision with which #TheRingsofPower is using the source material (#LOTR/#Silmarillion) to make visual/dramatic art.

But I say we ought to treat the source text with some skepticism as well. (1/5)

In the words of the late #HilaryMantel — (2/5)
Tolkien was brilliant at writing Epics. It's why we love his works!

However, you are not giving Tolkien enough credit (as a global thinker) if you don't see that he wrote his works from the pov of certain characters that carry implicit biases; him included.

What is 'The Song of the Roots of Hithaeglir' and where does it fit into #Tolkien? Is #TheRingsOfPower making up new lore?

This goes out to my fellow Tolkien aficionados who are mulling over its purpose in the ROP story🧵

#tropspoilers #fantasy #folklore 1. What is `The Song of the Roots of Hithaeglir`?

Well, Mellons, in the words of Elrond himself, it is `An obscure legend regarded by most to be apocryphal`. Elrond is underscoring the point that this legend is folklore.

[A meta point: #Tolkien is based in folklore!]

(1/5)

S1.E4 Breakdown of #TheRingsOfPower 🧵

I’ve watched E4 5x now. Still like it but can’t shake the feeling that it could've been better. Feeling a bit nervous about the Númenor storyline now that S1 is finally taking off.

The gorgeous sail-master tho 😍

#TheOneRingQuisition NIGHTMARE

`We gather daily to hammer out our island's future...at the Blessing of the Children, we gather to welcome those who will live that future. One as boundless as a sunrise over the rolling sea.`

1. Is Númenor's future as 'boundless' as Míriel dreams it might be?

(1/4)

S1.E3 Breakdown of #TheRingsOfPower 🧵& the current state of my hair as illustrated by hull Galadriel.

#TheOneRingQuisition ORCS

1. Orcs

In the time of the coming of Elves, Morgoth ensnared many. By slow arts of cruelty, he corrupted & ensalved them. Thus, Morgoth 'breed the race of Orcs in envy and mockery of Elves'.

The Orcs multiplied; they became the bitterest foes of Elves. #TheSilmarillion

Quick guide (links) to an episodic breakdown of Season 1 of @LOTRonPrime.

#TheRingsOfPower
#TheRingsOfPowerS1
#TheOneRingQuisition S1.E0

https://twitter.com/NosyDr/status/1566860112601534466?s=20&t=t0EN2RiyJbDxaGB5n3KuUQ

#TheOneRingQuisition

S1.E2 Breakdown of #TheRingsOfPower🧵 STARS AT SEA

1. VALACIRCA (Quen. ‘Valar sickle’) ("Ursa minor")

Set in the North sky by Elbereth (Star-kindler) as a guide to Elves when they came into the workd.

NORTH STAR— part of the Ursa/Valacirca constellation. Seeing Valacirca, Galadriel would've known where NORTH is.

ARONDIR'S CONFESSION

1. A large yellow moon appears above the Southlands

This land is, of course, where Minas Ithil (‘Tower of the Moon’) will be built. 2. `especially strong in their loyalty to Morgoth`

Bronwyn was born in Hordern. Arondir remarks that the people of Hordern were `loyal to Morgoth` but that he's with Bronwyn to help.

Hordern is burning.

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.