Fans left underwhelmed by The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
‘I had trouble getting through the first episode’: Eager fans are left underwhelmed by hotly-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as the first two episodes of Amazon’s billion dollar Tolkien epic finally drop
- After two big-screen trilogies adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit books, Amazon Studios’ hotly-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has finally dropped
- But fans have been left underwhelmed by the first two episodes, set within the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events shown in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books
- The eight-episode series begins during a time of peace, but will depict events that play a huge role in the LOTR and Hobbit franchise, including the forging of the Rings of Power
- Viewers were awaiting the first two episodes to drop at 2am GMT on Friday morning, but appeared disappointed after watching the one-hour instalments as it received very mixed reviews
- The series will roll out weekly episodes every Thursday night/Friday morning with the series finale airing Thursday, October 13/Friday, October 14 on Amazon Prime Video
After two big-screen trilogies adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit books, Amazon Studios’ hotly-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has finally dropped.
But fans have been left underwhelmed by the newly released first two episodes, set within the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events shown in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books.
The eight-episode series begins during a time of peace, but will depict events that play a huge role in the LOTR and Hobbit franchise, including the forging of the Rings of Power.
Return to Middle-earth: After two big-screen trilogies adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit books, Amazon Studios’ hotly-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has finally dropped
Excited viewers were eagerly awaiting the first two episodes to drop at 2am GMT on Friday morning, but appeared disappointed by the results after binge-watching the one-hour instalments as it received very mixed reviews.
Diehard LOTR fans took to Twitter to admit that they ‘had trouble’ even getting through the first episodes of Amazon Prime’s billion dollar Tolkien epic, while others described the characters and plot as ‘dull’.
One viewer wrote: ‘I’ve loved everything The Lord of the Rings for decades now but I had trouble getting through the first episode of The Rings of Power. I’m still going to watch all of the eps before passing judgment on the show as a whole. #theringsofpower.’
Another said: ‘I tried to start the lord of the rings trilogy last night (for no reason at all). i got the best sleep i had in months.’
Forging: But fans have been left underwhelmed by the newly released first two episodes, set within the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events shown in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books
A third commented: ‘This show looks very pretty, but most of the characters are dull which is unfortunate cuz Lord of the Rings usually has engaging characters. It was ehh I kind of struggled at points to keep watching since most of the characters are boring. I’ll keep watching.’
While a fourth added: ‘The Snow Troll was well-designed. Some scenes felt like raw Lord of the Rings Online nostalgia. That’s about the only positives I’ve experienced so far, an episode an a half in.’
And a fifth fumed: ‘If the concept of secondhand embarrassment were a TV show, it would be #TheRingsOfPower.’
However, not all fans were left underwhelmed by the Amazon series as others took to social media to comment on how ‘nostalgic’ the series was, while others urged people not to make early judgements on the show.
One person tweeted: ‘The lord of the rings #TheRingsofPower is something else: so much nostalgia! Wow.’
Disappointed: Excited viewers were eagerly awaiting the first two episodes to drop at 2am GMT on Friday morning, but appeared disappointed by the results after binge-watching the one-hour instalments as it received very mixed reviews
Another said: ‘Rings Of Power opening credits meets Masterpiece Theater.’
A third said: ‘I just watched a fan screening of the first two episodes of Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. Incredible. Don’t listen to the ‘real fans’ who have made up their minds about this show before they even watched a frame. Watch for yourselves when it comes out.’
And a fourth wrote: ‘Holy s**t the Lord of the Rings show is one of the most beautiful pieces of cinematography I’ve ever seen.’
The first two episodes also received mixed reviews from the critics, with The Daily Mail’s Christopher Stevens giving it a mere one-star review as he described it as ‘ill-judged’.
In his damning review, he penned: ‘Turkey is not the word. No turkey, however bloated and stupid, could ever be big enough to convey the mesmerising awfulness of Amazon’s billion dollar Tolkien epic.
‘I am awestruck’: However, not all fans were left underwhelmed by the Amazon series as others took to social media to comment on how ‘nostalgic’ the series was, while others urged people not to make early judgements on the show
‘This is a disaster dragon – plucked, spatchcocked, with a tankerload of Paxo stuffed up its fundament, roasted and served with soggy sprouts.
‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (Amazon Prime) is so staggeringly bad, it’s hilarious. Everything about it is ill-judged to a spectacular extreme.’
The first episode of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power begins with Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) giving a speech, with flashbacks to her youth, saying the world had been so young, there wasn’t even a sunrise.
‘But even then, there was light,’ she says, as we see a group of kids coming upon young Galadriel, asking if it is finished yet.
It’s here! The first episode of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power begins with Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) giving a speech, with flashbacks to her youth, saying the world had been so young, there wasn’t even a sunrise
Sail: They all walk to a stream as one boy says, ‘Even you can’t believe that scrap can float,’ as a defiant Galadriel says sit will sail
They all walk to a stream as one boy says, ‘Even you can’t believe that scrap can float,’ as a defiant Galadriel says sit will sail.
The paper boat transforms into a paper swan, as the boys all start throwing rocks at it and sink the boat, causing her to attack the boy before her brother Finrod (Will Fletcher) stops them.
‘It was a good ship, sister,’ her brother says, trying to comfort her.
He asks why the stone sinks, and he says it goes towards the darkness, adding the ship doesn’t gaze downward, but up.
Rocks: The paper boat transforms into a paper swan, as the boys all start throwing rocks at it and sink the boat, causing her to attack the boy before her brother Finrod (Will Fletcher) stops them
She adds sometimes it’s hard to know which way is up and which way is down, as her brother Finrod whispers a secret to her.
She adds it seems so ‘simple’ but he says the most honest truths are, as he takes them to see mother and father.
‘We have no word for death, for we thought our joys would be unending,’ Galadriel says in voice over, as Finrod is seen walking towards their village.
Death: ‘We have no word for death, for we thought our joys would be unending,’ Galadriel says in voice over, as Finrod is seen walking towards their village
War: The episode cuts to a massive battle in Middle-earth, as Finrod is overcome by the enemy, as Galadriel explains they thought it would be over quickly, but the war would leave Middle-earth in ruin and last centuries
‘We thought our light would never dim,’ she adds, as she explains how a legion of elves went to war, leaving their home in Valinor, journeying to a distant realm… Middle-earth.
The episode cuts to a massive battle in Middle-earth, as Finrod is overcome by the enemy, as Galadriel explains they thought it would be over quickly, but the war would leave Middle-earth in ruin and last centuries.
Galadirel is seen on the battlefield long after it had ended, picking up her brother’s golden helmet and placing it on a massive pile.
Helmet: Galadirel is seen on the battlefield long after it had ended, picking up her brother’s golden helmet and placing it on a massive pile
Helmet pile: Galadirel is dwarfed by the pile of helmets representing the fallen soldiers
‘Now, we learned many words for death. In the end, Morgoth would be defeated, but not before much sorrow, for his Orcs had spread to every corner of Middle-earth.’
She explains that the Orcs were under the spell of a cruel and cunning sorcerer, who was called Sauron, who is seen only in shadows, his face not exposed quite yet.
‘My brother vowed to seek him out and destroy him… but Sauron found him first,’ she says, as she’s seen standing over his corpse.
Orcs: She explains that the Orcs were under the spell of a cruel and cunning sorcerer, who was called Sauron, who is seen only in shadows, his face not exposed quite yet
Seek: ‘My brother vowed to seek him out and destroy him… but Sauron found him first,’ she says, as she’s seen standing over his corpse
She adds Sauron branded his flesh with a symbol, which even the wisest among them could not discern.
‘And there, in the darkness, his vow became mine,’ Galadriel says, while clutching her brother’s dagger.
‘To the ends of the earth we hunted Sauron, but the trail grew thin. Year gave way to year, century gave way to century, and for many elves, the pain of those days, passed out of thought and mind,’ she says in voice over.
Symbol: She adds Sauron branded his flesh with a symbol, which even the wisest among them could not discern
Dagger: ‘And there, in the darkness, his vow became mine,’ Galadriel says, while clutching her brother’s dagger
We see the icy kingdom of Forodwaith, a.k.a. The Northernmost Waste, as Galadriel explains that many elves began to believe that Sauron was just a memory and the threat had ended.
As the shot moves closer on the icy peak, we see Galadriel hopping onto an icy sheet, sticking her brother’s dagger in the ice.
‘I wish I could be one of them,’ Galadriel says as she scales the icy peak, with others seen scaling behind her.
Ice: As the shot moves closer on the icy peak, we see Galadriel hopping onto an icy sheet, sticking her brother’s dagger in the ice
Peak: ‘I wish I could be one of them,’ Galadriel says as she scales the icy peak, with others seen scaling behind her
Galadriel gets to the top first and consults a crude map, as Thondir (Fabian McCallum) comes up to her.
‘This company has followed you to the very edge of the world, but none who ever dared search for this last stronghold has never found anything,’ he adds.
He says that it has been years since the last Orc was seen, adding, ‘Is it not possible the other commanders are right and our enemy is no more?’
Thondir and Galadriel: Galadriel gets to the top first and consults a crude map, as Thondir (Fabian McCallum) comes up to her
Galadriel doesn’t answer as he suggests they should camp there before starting the journey home, but she only says, ‘We’re losing light’ and continues onward.
Night has fallen as they move ahead with torches as Thondir tries to get her to stop when one of the company has fallen.
Thondir says there is nothing out there and they should have been there by now, when lightning strikes and they see a massive castle ahead of them.
Camp: Galadriel doesn’t answer as he suggests they should camp there before starting the journey home, but she only says, ‘We’re losing light’ and continues onward
Castle: Thondir says there is nothing out there and they should have been there by now, when lightning strikes and they see a massive castle ahead of them
‘We are there,’ Galadriel says as they journey inside the castle, with Galadriel saying this is where the Orcs gathered after Morgoth’s defeat, adding, ‘Far more must have escaped than we eve imagined.’
One man in the company says his hand is beyond feeling, as Galadriel insists that this place, ‘is so evil our torches give off no warmth.’
She leads them on to another place deeper inside, saying it is ‘colder than the rest,’ as a huge hand moves as they pass.
No warmth: One man in the company says his hand is beyond feeling, as Galadriel insists that this place, ‘is so evil our torches give off no warmth
Galadriel approaches an icy wall which she punches through, telling her company to bring the wall down as they find a path inside.
They find skulls inside and tables for medieval experiments, and Thondir opens a door and find an orc skeleton embedded in the wall.
‘These Orcs were meddling with the powers of the Unseen World,’ Galadriel explains, adding it was ‘some dark sorcery of old,’ wondering what its purpose was.
Skull: They find skulls inside and tables for medieval experiments, and Thondir opens a door and find an orc skeleton embedded in the wall
Thondir says the purpose was ‘lost to the ages’ and whatever happened here happened long ago… as a solitary snowflake falls on the table… which somehow sizzles and dissolves.
Thondir hand Galadriel some water, pouring over the table, revealing the mark that was embedded on her brother.
‘Even stone cannot hide the mark of one whose very hand is flame unquenched,’ Galadriel says as she sees a vision of Sauron’s mark in flames.
Mark: Thondir hand Galadriel some water, pouring over the table, revealing the mark that was embedded on her brother
Mark: ‘Even stone cannot hide the mark of one whose very hand is flame unquenched,’ Galadriel says as she sees a vision of Sauron’s mark in flames
The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power: What did the critics say?
The Guardian
Rating: 
The visual splendour of this rich, gorgeous Tolkien drama will make you gawp throughout it makes House of Dragon look amateur.
I love Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) the fighter. She is valiant, flawed and haughty, as bloody-minded as she is brilliant, scarred by the horrors of war.
This is enormously enjoyable TV, a cinematic feast.
Entertainment Weekly
Amazon’s prequel is kind of a catastrophe.
It takes six or seven things everyone remembers from the famous movie trilogy, adds a water tank, makes nobody fun, teases mysteries that aren’t mysteries, and sends the best character on a pointless detour.
The Independant
Rating:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sets out its sprawling epic fantasy credentials right from the off: even its title seems like it could be split into multiple instalments.
While The King Of Power might be a brand new story, it still has plenty of authentic Tolkienesque charm to go along with the best production value money can buy.
Variety
From this prelude onward, The Rings of Power narrative adopts a solemn and awestruck approach.
The first two episodes are admirably concise and compelling in their introductions.
Empire
Rating:
Lavish and sweeping, The Rings Of Power puts its money where its mouth is.
The immensely fun Dwarves are Scottish-tinged and larger than life, canny and caring all at once.
It might take a second to get accustomed to these new characters, but the signs are that it will be worthwhile.
NME
Rating:
‘Don’t the great tales never end?’ asks hobbit Samwise Gamgee during a slower moment in The Lord Of The Rings. He’s talking about his own journey through J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy world – but he might as well be referring to the franchise itself.
As a start, this is an excellent one.
The Times
Rating:
Despite the inventiveness that the creators have had to deploy to populate Tolkien’s world with fresh, non-canonical characters, the whole thing has the vibe of terrified executives carrying an exceedingly expensive vase across a slippery floor.
Perhaps two episodes aren’t enough to judge, and we are indeed gearing up for the greatest and most gripping fantasy TV series ever made. But I’m certainly not there yet.
The Mirror
Rating:
I’ve got a pretty good inkling of how Amazon is hoping to make its money back. By flogging thousands of expensive big screen TVs – so viewers can truly appreciate the full cinematic wonder of this J.R.R. Tolkien masterpiece.
The special effects in this prequel could very well blow his Peter Jackson’s pair of Tolkien trilogies out of the water – and that’s before we’ve even seen the most spectacular of the promised battle scenes.
The Sun
Rating:
It’s ok but not wizard.
It is the beautiful New Zealand scenery, intricate sets and fantastical costumes that are a major highlight of the first two episodes. They are a happy distraction from the plot and characters, which come thick and fast.
The history behind this series is rushed through at such a pace only JRR Tolkien devotees could properly keep up.
What is clear, though, is that Amazon Prime Video has found someone truly precious in lead actress Morfydd Clark.
‘He was here. Sauron was here,’ Galadriel exclaims, telling the others to ‘rest while they can,’ adding they will take their search further north at sunrise.
Thondir wonders why they’re going further north as Galadriel explains the mark was left as a trail for orcs to follow, and the last time she saw it was on her brother.
An argument ensues between Thondir and Galadriel, with Thondir saying they exceeded their orders months ago and they should go home and take counsel with the High King.
North: Thondir wonders why they’re going further north as Galadriel explains the mark was left as a trail for orcs to follow, and the last time she saw it was on her brother
‘I promise you there is not a soul in our company that yearns for home more than I,’ Galadriel explains.
‘Until we are certain every trace of our enemy is vanquished, I can never return,’ she tells him.
One member of the company, Rian (Kip Chapman) keeps exploring throughout the castle as we see what was attached to the huge hand earlier: a Snow-Troll.
Home: ‘I promise you there is not a soul in our company that yearns for home more than I,’ Galadriel explains
The creature chases Rian back where the rest of the company waits with bows and arrows, but it hurls a huge chunk of ice at them and takes them out.
Galadriel finds this troll decimating her company, before she literally launches herself into battle and makes quick work of the troll, delivering the death blow with her brother’s dagger.
Thondir says they should have never come here and Galadriel says they leave at first light, as Thondir unsheathes his sword.
Never: Thondir says they should have never come here and Galadriel says they leave at first light, as Thondir unsheathes his sword
‘Then you shall do so alone,’ he says, as he lays his sword down, ass do all of the other men in her company, as we go back to the mark of Sauron on the table, before the title card is shown.
The episode transitions to Rhovanion, the Wilderands East of Anduin, where we meet two hunters (Kenneth Ransom and Tom McCathie) carrying large antlers.
They are making small talk when a creature rustles behind them, as the older hunter says it’s more likely a Harfoot.
Hunters: The episode transitions to Rhovanion, the Wilderands East of Anduin, where we meet two hunters (Kenneth Ransom and Tom McCathie) carrying large antlers
The younger hunter says he’s making it up as the older hunter wants to get back before sundown.
We see a number of diminutive harfoots – one of the breeds of Hobbits – come out of hiding, with elaborate hiding places to disguise them from anyone passing by.
Marigold (Sara Zwangobani) is seen calling for Nori (Markella Kavenagh), as the Harfoots seemingly prepare for a feast.
Harfoot: We see a number of diminutive harfoots – one of the breeds of Hobbits – come out of hiding, with elaborate hiding places to disguise them from anyone passing by
Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) is seen flipping the pages of an ancient text, when something he sees startles shim.
‘Travelers? This time of year?’ Sadoc asks, as Malva (Thusitha Jayasundera) says it’s a ‘bad omen,’ adding the last time they had travelers that early was the Great Frost.
She insinuates that was a very bad season but Sadoc dismisses them, says they just got lost, as we transition to Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith), who talks about Nori.
Sadoc: Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) is seen flipping the pages of an ancient text, when something he sees startles him
Largo: She insinuates that was a very bad season but Sadoc dismisses them, says they just got lost, as we transition to Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith), who talks about Nori
We see Nori with a bunch of kids, as one complains they aren’t supposed to go out this far, as they continue exploring.
They finally find what Nori was leading them to – a grove full of bushes with fresh berries, though one of the children finds a rather large print in the mud.
A clearly distraught Nori tells the child that it’s just a dog, since dogs love berries, but Nori tells them to go.
Nori: We see Nori with a bunch of kids, as one complains they aren’t supposed to go out this far, as they continue exploring
She tells them first one to camp gets the first pie at Harvest Fest, telling them not to tell anyone they were there, as we get a glimpse of the huge creature that made the print.
The episode transitions to Elrond (Robert Aramayo), who is writing a story of some sort, when he is interrupted by an attendant (Shelley Waddams), who tells her that he cannot attend the next session, for elf-lords only.
She adds that his friend as arrived, which excites him and says, ‘Why didn’t you say so’ and hurries off.
Friend: This is in Lindon, the Capital of the High Elves, as we see the friend Elrond was expecting is Galadriel
This is in Lindon, the Capital of the High Elves, as we see the friend Elrond was expecting is Galadriel.
Elrond greets her and says Lindon receives her with grace, mentioning she is now the commander of the northern army and ‘Warrior of the Wastelands,’ joking he expected her to arrive caked in mud and blood.
She tells him that Sauron is still out there and that she intends to ask the King for a new company, but Elrond says she has only just arrived.
Sauron: She tells him that Sauron is still out there and that she intends to ask the King for a new company, but Elrond says she has only just arrived
He says he wants to hear about her and her harrowing journey but she says he’s become such a politician and she wishes to speak to the king directly.
He tells her that it was not her company that defied her, but rather her who defied the High King by refusing to place any limit.’
‘Rather than dwell on your insolence, test him again and you might find him less receptive than you might have hoped,’ he says gingerly.
Journey: He says he wants to hear about her and her harrowing journey but she says he’s become such a politician and she wishes to speak to the king directly
She asks plainly if he will arrange an audience or not, and he says if it’s still her wish after the ceremony, than she shall have it.
Back at the Harfoot village, Nori returns to her father Largo, who asks if she heard about the travelers, which excites her.
She’s sad that she missed them but he says if she would stick closer to home she wouldn’t.
Nori: Back at the Harfoot village, Nori returns to her father Largo, who asks if she heard about the travelers, which excites her
Marigold asks Nori if she went out to the old farm again, which Nori admits she did, adding they never get travelers or wolves this early, as Nori wonders if there is trouble down south.
Marigold asks what concern that is of hers, but Nori asks if she has ever wondered what else is out there?
‘I can’t help but feel there are wonders in this world beyond our wandering,’ Nori says, but Marigold says elves shave forests to protect.
Concern: Marigold asks what concern that is of hers, but Nori asks if she has ever wondered what else is out there?
She adds the Harfoots are free from the worries of the world, adding, ‘nobody walks off trail and nobody walks alone. We’re safe. That’s how we survive,’ though Nori is clearly discouraged, as Marigold tells Nori to help her father.
Before she does, though, she hands a fresh berry to her mother, who smiles.
Back at Lindon, Elrond and Galadriel are watching the High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) honor Galadriel’s former company.
Honor: Back at Lindon, Elrond and Galadriel are watching the High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) honor Galadriel’s former company
The High King says their journey proves their days of war our over and their days of peace begin, though Galadriel clearly doesn’t believe that… though she takes her golden wreath anyway.
The High King says as a measure of their gratitude, they will be escorted to the Grey Havens to dwell for eternity, the Undying Lands of Valinor.
‘At last, they are going home,’ the High King says, as the audience applauds, though Galadriel shoots a glance at the king.
Gold: The High King says their journey proves their days of war our over and their days of peace begin, though Galadriel clearly doesn’t believe that… though she takes her golden wreath anyway
Galadriel looks at a statue honoring her late brother, carved into a tree, while clinging his dagger, when Elrond brings her some wine.
‘It is said that wine of victory is sweetest,’ Elrond says, but Galadriel says she doesn’t feel victorious.
Elrond says her brother will be proud, as Galadriel says she remembers when the statues were first carved, and she always imagined she would be there.
No victory: ‘It is said that wine of victory is sweetest,’ Elrond says, but Galadriel says she doesn’t feel victorious
Elrond says it is a gift from her king, but she reveals, she will refuse his gift and continue her journey.
‘My brother gave his life hunting Sauron. His task is now mine. I go to seek the enemy that escaped us in the north, alone if I must,’ she says.
He says he shared the ‘mystery sigil’ of Sauron with the king and says that just because she found it doesn’t mean she’s any closer to finding Sauron.
Sigil: He says he shared the ‘mystery sigil’ of Sauron with the king and says that just because she found it doesn’t mean she’s any closer to finding Sauron
‘It’s over. The evil is gone,’ Elrond insists, as Galadriel asks, ‘Then why is it not gone from here?’ as she covers her heart with her hand.
She insists he has not seen what she has seen, and that evil does not sleep, ‘it waits and in the moment of our complacency it blinds us.’
Elrond asks if seeking the enemy will satisfy her, and if she’s wrong, would she lead more elves to die in far off lands?
Evil: She insists he has not seen what she has seen, and that evil does not sleep, ‘it waits and in the moment of our complacency it blinds us’
‘How many more statues would you add to this path?’ Elrond asks, saying that no one in history has refused the call out West and if she refuses it may not come again.
He says in the Blessed Realm whatever is broken in her can be healed, telling her that if any rumor of a threat she speaks of is proven true, he, ‘will not rest until it is put right.’
‘You have fought long enough, Galadriel. Put up your sword,’ Elrond says, though Galadriel asks what she would be without her sword?
Southlands: ‘What you have always been, my friend,’ Elrond insists, as the episode transitions to The Southlands – The Lands of Men
‘What you have always been, my friend,’ Elrond insists, as the episode transitions to The Southlands – The Lands of Men.
We come across a village where everyone comes out of their homes when two archers walk through, one of whom suggests a winning strategy in a chess-like game, which proves successful.
The archers walk into a butcher shop, as one reveals himself as the elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova), who reveals he has been gone a fortnight, as Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) welcomes him, while Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) pores over a satchel.
Arondir: The archers walk into a butcher shop, as one reveals himself as the elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova), who reveals he has been gone a fortnight, as Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) welcomes him, while Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) pores over a satchel
Waldreg explains what has happened in town in the fortnight he’s been gone, as Bronwyn picks up her satchel and leaves.
Arondir asks what about the poisoning, but Waldreg says it was poison grass, a fellow he says only weeds will grow in his field.
Arondir keeps asking about it, when Rowan (Ian Blackburn) calls him ‘knife-ears’ and tells him to ‘let it go.’
Fortnight: Waldreg explains what has happened in town in the fortnight he’s been gone, as Bronwyn picks up her satchel and leaves
‘The lot you lump us in with died off a thousand years ago. When are you people gonna let the pasts go?’ Rowan says.
‘The past is with us all, whether we like it or not,’ Arondir says as Rowan says their true king will return and pry us under their pointy boots.
Waldreg tries to punch Rowan, but Arondir stops him, which surprises Rowan as Arondir picks up the cup Rowan knocked out of Waldreg’s hands.
Waldreg asks if there will be anything else, as Arondir leaves the tavern, going over to talk with Bronwyn, asking him to give her his hand.
Talk: Waldreg asks if there will be anything else, as Arondir leaves the tavern, going over to talk with Bronwyn, asking him to give her his hand
She places a small container in his hand, which he opens and spreads out in his hands, surprised to discover they are alfirin seeds.
He says he hasn’t seen that flower since he was a child, as she says she had to trade with a healer who was passing through.
She asks if there are healers in his kind, and he says there are but they’re called artificers, and that since their wounds heal naturally, so their labor is to ‘render hidden truths as works of beauty.’
Child: He says he hasn’t seen that flower since he was a child, as she says she had to trade with a healer who was passing through
Waldreg opens the door and startles them, as Arondir goes on his way, meeting the other archer elf, Medhor (Augustus Prew), who asks if there is anything to report but Arondir says nothing out of the usual.
Medhor insinuates they will get in trouble if Arondir keeps trying to pursue anything with Bronwyn, adding that only twice in history where a pairing between elves and humans have been attempted, and both times it ended in death.
Medhor asks why he keeps persisting pursuing Bronwyn, when they’re interrupted by an elf (Nicholas Fousstellis), who tells them the High King has declared the days of war are over.
Medhor says all the outposts are being disbanded and they’re leaving, though Arondir clearly seems conflicted.
Revion (Simon Merrells) climbs up to one of the lookout posts where he finds Arondir, asking if he’s taking a last look.
Revion: Revion (Simon Merrells) climbs up to one of the lookout posts where he finds Arondir, asking if he’s taking a last look
‘Seventy-nine years I’ve been stationed here. I suppose I’ve grown accustomed to it,’ Arondir says.
Revion says there are some men whose veins are still darkened by their enemy, but Arondir says that was a long time ago.
He asks Arondir what he was before the war, as he says he was a grower, as Revion says his life will begin anew.’
Revion says that he kept watch not because of what their ancestors once did, ‘but of who they still are,’ saying he should be ‘grateful’ never to see them again.’
Bronwyn: Bronwyn is in her home with her son Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), who is mixing fire root, saying there are mice ‘scratching and scraping,’ when they see Arondir arrive
Bronwyn is in her home with her son Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), who is mixing fire root, saying there are mice ‘scratching and scraping,’ when they see Arondir arrive.
Theo quickly gets angry, asking what ‘that sort is doing here’ as Bronwyn goes out to see him.
She asks where his company is and he says they are likely searching for him now, as she asks him to say what he came to say.
Theo: Bronwyn is in her home with her son Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), who is mixing fire root, saying there are mice ‘scratching and scraping,’ when they see Arondir arrive
Before he can do so, Theo says there is a man to see her as she goes inside to the front door, where a man named Tredwill (Peter Tait) asks if she can heal animals.
Arondir comes around the house to help, as Bronwyn examines him as the farmer says the cow wondered east.
Arondir tries to milk the cow as a brown liquid comes out, as the farmer says the cow may have wandered as far east as Hordern.
Heal: Before he can do so, Theo says there is a man to see her as she goes inside to the front door, where a man named Tredwill (Peter Tait) asks if she can heal animals
Cow: Arondir tries to milk the cow as a brown liquid comes out, as the farmer says the cow may have wandered as far east as Hordern
Arondir stands and gathers his bow as Bronwyn asks where he is going. He says it’s a day’s journey and she insists on going with him.
Theo meets up with Rowan, who head into a barn as they pull a board out, as Rowan asks if it’s true about her mom with Arondir and he says it’s a lie.
Rowan says that’s why his father run off, as Theo pulls something from under the barn – the remnants of an ancient sword… which has Sauron’s mark.
Sword: Rowan says that’s why his father run off, as Theo pulls something from under the barn – the remnants of an ancient sword… which has Sauron’s mark
As soon as he looks at the mark, it glows a fiery orange as Theo is clearly mesmerized by its power.
Galadriel is seen on a ship heading West with the rest of her company as Elrond is back home and says her search is beyond their sight.
Gil-galad reveals that he foresaw that if Galadriel’s search would have continued, she may have, ‘kept alive the very evil she sought to defeat.’
Mark: As soon as he looks at the mark, it glows a fiery orange as Theo is clearly mesmerized by its power
Ship: Galadriel is seen on a ship heading West with the rest of her company as Elrond is back home and says her search is beyond their sight
‘For the same wind that blows out a fire may also cause its spread,’ he says, as Elrond asks if he thinks the evil does exist.
Gil-galad says to set his mind at peace and what he did was right for Galadriel and all Middle-earth.
Elrond says it’s hard to see what’s right when friendship and duty are mingled.
Right: Gil-galad says to set his mind at peace and what he did was right for Galadriel and all Middle-earth
Gil-galad says they must look to the new sunrise asking if he knows the work of Lord Celebrimbor?
Elrond says he is the greatest of Elven-smiths and he’s admired his work since he was a child.
Gil-galad says he is about to embark on a new work of ‘singular importance’ and it’s been decided that Elrond will be working with Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), who arrives.
Arrive: Gil-galad says he is about to embark on a new work of ‘singular importance’ and it’s been decided that Elrond will be working with Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), who arrives
Back in the Harfoot village, Nori spies on Sadoc, asking him to tell him what is wrong and he says the skies are strange.
Arondir and Bronwyn continue their journey as he asks how familiar she is with the people of Hordern and she says she was born there.
He says those people have an especially strong loyalty to Morgorth, which upsets her, insisting there are ‘good people there.’
Spy: Back in the Harfoot village, Nori spies on Sadoc, asking him to tell him what is wrong and he says the skies are strange
‘That’s why I’m here with you, instead of the Watchwarden. You’re the only kind touch I’ve known all my days in this land,’ he tells her, as they notice something.
They scale the cliff’s edge and find the village on fire as the episode transitions to the Sundering Seas where Galadriel and the rest are having their armor removed.
Someone tries to take Galadriel’s brother’s dagger and she won’t let go, but she eventually releases it, as singing birds fly overhead.
Fire: They scale the cliff’s edge and find the village on fire as the episode transitions to the Sundering Seas where Galadriel and the rest are having their armor removed
Suddenly the sky opens up and a bright light shines upon them, as Galadriel looks back at her dagger, as she hears her brother asking why a ship can float and a stone cannot.’
A fiery projectile flies through the sky as the elves watch, indifferent, seemingly sending Galadriel and her company to their death.
Back on the ship, as they get closer to the light, Galadriel backs towards her dagger as Thondir tries to stop her, asking her to give him his hand.
Galadriel: Suddenly the sky opens up and a bright light shines upon them, as Galadriel looks back at her dagger, as she hears her brother asking why a ship can float and a stone cannot’
She reaches for it but looks back at the dagger, as it’s revealed what Finrod whispered to her, when she asked what light to follow: ‘Sometimes we cannot know until we have touched the darkness.’
Thondir keeps reaching for Galadriel but she’s seen diving out of the boat with her brother’s dagger, just as it explodes and disappears into the sea, as she’s left floating alone.
A gold leaf falls next to Gil-galad, though it starts spreading black, as Nori comes across the fiery wreckage… as she sees a man in the midst of the fiery wreckage as the first episode comes to an end.
Look back: She reaches for it but looks back at the dagger, as it’s revealed what Finrod whispered to her, when she asked what light to follow: ‘Sometimes we cannot know until we have touched the darkness’
Fiery: Nori comes across the fiery wreckage… as she sees a man in the midst of the fiery wreckage as the first episode comes to an end
The second episode – Adrift – reveals an intricate title sequence that shows particles of gold flowing into one another and forming different shapes.
The second episode begins where the first left off, with Galadriel alone in the sea, looking up at the sky before swimming to shore.
We go back to Nori as we get a closer look at the man (Daniel Weyman) – credited as The Stranger – left in the fiery wreckage, who is naked with long white hair and a full white beard.
Swimming: The second episode begins where the first left off, with Galadriel alone in the sea, looking up at the sky before swimming to shore
Stranger: We go back to Nori as we get a closer look at the man (Daniel Weyman) – credited as The Stranger – left in the fiery wreckage, who is naked with long white hair and a full white beard
Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) finds Nori, telling her to get away from there, as Nori falls into the flaming wreckage… and notices that the fire isn’t hot.
She gets closer and closer to the naked man and touches his face, but he doesn’t wake up.
Poppy says he’s dead but the man stands up and grabs her hand, as the debris starts somehow floating around him as he locks eyes with Nori, when all the fires suddenly go out.
Poppy: Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) finds Nori, telling her to get away from there, as Nori falls into the flaming wreckage… and notices that the fire isn’t hot
Fires: Poppy says he’s dead but the man stands up and grabs her hand, as the debris starts somehow floating around him as he locks eyes with Nori, when all the fires suddenly go out
He collapses back in place and the fires start again, as Poppy adds, ‘Your mom’s gonna kill you,’ but Nori says she’s not gonna tell.
Nori says they can’t leave him like that or the wolves will get him, adding, ‘It’s not who we are,’ as Poppy says, ‘That’s not who you are.’
Nori asks her to help carry him but Poppy asks how they’re supposed to carry a ‘giant.’
Not tell: He collapses back in place and the fires start again, as Poppy adds, ‘Your mom’s gonna kill you,’ but Nori says she’s not gonna tell
Carry: Nori asks her to help carry him but Poppy asks how they’re supposed to carry a ‘giant’
Sadoc, Malva and Marigold are all discussing what to do, as Sadoc says they are safer in camp than out, but asks them to keep an eye out.
‘Malva’s right. This does not bode well,’ Sadoc says as the women head back.
Sadoc keeps looking but doesn’t see a cloth being taken as Nori and Poppy transport the naked man in an old cart.
Discussing: Sadoc, Malva and Marigold are all discussing what to do, as Sadoc says they are safer in camp than out, but asks them to keep an eye out
Nori and Poppy argue about doing this as Poppy thinks they will get in trouble, but while they argue the stranger rollss down the hill as Nori and Poppy chases after it.
They make him a fire and pull a cloth over him so he won’t be found, though his feet are sticking out.
Poppy asks why Nori is doing this and she says she feels like it’s her responsibility.
Cart: Nori and Poppy argue about doing this as Poppy thinks they will get in trouble, but while they argue the stranger rollss down the hill as Nori and Poppy chases after it
Responsibility: Poppy asks why Nori is doing this and she says she feels like it’s her responsibility
‘He could have landed anywhere but he landed here. I know it sounds strange but somehow I just know he’s important. It’s like there’s a reason this happened. Like I was supposed to find him. I can’t walk away from that. Not until I know he’s safe. Can you?’ Nori asks Poppy.
Poppy relents and says she won’t tell anyone as Nori jokes giants eat Harfoot’s that can’t keep a secret.
Bronwyn and Arondir light torches as they explore the fiery wreckage of the town they saw at the end of lasts episode.
Can you: ‘He could have landed anywhere but he landed here. I know it sounds strange but somehow I just know he’s important. It’s like there’s a reason this happened. Like I was supposed to find him. I can’t walk away from that. Not until I know he’s safe. Can you?’ Nori asks Poppy
Secret: Poppy relents and says she won’t tell anyone as Nori jokes giants eat Harfoot’s that can’t keep a secret
Arondir notices there are no bodies or no wounded as Bronwyn says maybe they all fled, as Bronwyn says the home they’re in are Ciaran and Hana’s.
They find a large hole that leads to an elaborate tunnel, as Arondir says this was ‘no ground-shake’ and Bronwyn insists no man would have dug that tunnel.
He tells her to go warn her people as he goes and sees what’s down there, as they share a tender moment before he leaps down.
No bodies: Arondir notices there are no bodies or no wounded as Bronwyn says maybe they all fled, as Bronwyn says the home they’re in are Ciaran and Hana’s
Warn: He tells her to go warn her people as he goes and sees what’s down there, as they share a tender moment before he leaps down
The episode transitions to Eregion – Realm of the Elven-Smiths – where we see Fearnor’s hammer, which wrought the Silmarils, as Elrond admires it with Celebrimbor looking on.
Elrond says it’s strange that one object could, ‘create so much beauty… and so much pain.’
‘True creation requires sacrifice. They say that Morgorth found the Silmarils so beautiful, that after he’d stolen them, for weeks, he could do nothing but stare into their depths,’ Celebrimbor says.
Eregion: The episode transitions to Eregion – Realm of the Elven-Smiths – where we see Fearnor’s hammer, which wrought the Silmarils, as Elrond admires it with Celebrimbor looking on
Beauty and pain: Elrond says it’s strange that one object could, ‘create so much beauty… and so much pain’
He adds that it was only after one of his own tears fell upon the jewels, ‘and he was faced with the evil of his own reflection’ that the ‘reverie was finally broken.
Celebrimbor says that Feanor’s work, ‘nearly turned the heart of the Great Foe himself,’ and laments that his work has accomplished nothing of that sort.
Elrond says his work has ‘turned my heart’ and the heart of many elf, but he says he aspires to do, ‘far more than that.’
Work: Celebrimbor says that Feanor’s work, ‘nearly turned the heart of the Great Foe himself,’ and laments that his work has accomplished nothing of that sort
Heart: Elrond says his work has ‘turned my heart’ and the heart of many elf, but he says he aspires to do, ‘far more than that’
He says that an age ago their kind brought war to these shores and now he wants to ‘fill them with beauty.’
‘To grow beyond petty works of jewel-craft and devise something of real power,’ Celebrimbor says.
Elrond asks what he plans to craft, as Celebrimbor says ‘what’ is on the horizon and he has come to help him achieve, ‘the how.’
Celebrimbor brings out some plans, as Elrond notices it’s a tower, which the artisan explains can ‘host a forge more powerful than any ever built.’
Horizon: Elrond asks what he plans to craft, as Celebrimbor says ‘what’ is on the horizon and he has come to help him achieve, ‘the how’
Celebrimbor says the things they could create could change Middle-earth as Elrond asks what the problem is.
‘I need it completed by spring,’ Celebrimbor says acknowledging it would take a ‘workforce greater than any ever assembled.’
Celebrimbor says the High King cannot provide a workforce so he sent Elrond instead, who asks if he’s considered looking for partners, ‘outside our own race?’
‘How far outside?’ Celebrimbor asks, as the episode transitions to Khazad-Dum – the Realm of Dwarves.
Completed: ‘I need it completed by spring,’ Celebrimbor says acknowledging it would take a ‘workforce greater than any ever assembled.
Outside: ‘How far outside?’ Celebrimbor asks, as the episode transitions to Khazad-Dum – the Realm of Dwarves
Elrond adds their prince, Durin (Owain Arthur), is an ‘old and dear friend’ and he’s almost like a brother.
Celebrimbor asks if Durin would grant him access to their workshops, as Elrond insists they would be welcomed with open arms.
A small portal opens in the door with an armored dwarf asking what they want, as Elrond says he seeks an audience with Prince Durin… but the dwarf says ‘No’ and closes the portal, confusing Elrond.
Friend: Elrond adds their prince, Durin (Owain Arthur), is an ‘old and dear friend’ and he’s almost like a brother
Access: Celebrimbor asks if Durin would grant him access to their workshops, as Elrond insists they would be welcomed with open arms
No: A small portal opens in the door with an armored dwarf asking what they want, as Elrond says he seeks an audience with Prince Durin… but the dwarf says ‘No’ and closes the portal, confusing Elrond
Elrond tries again but the elf only says his judgment has been rendered, though Elrond goes close to the door and says, ‘I invoke the Rite of Sigin-tarag,’ and the door immediately opens.
Dwarves come out of the door as Elrond says he will rejoin him in Eregion, adding, ‘You are a master of your craft, my friend. Allow me a few days to work mine.’
The dwarves lead Elrond inside the majestic land, as dwarves start chanting at his arrival as he’s lead to Durin.
Invoke: Elrond tries again but the elf only says his judgment has been rendered, though Elrond goes close to the door and says, ‘I invoke the Rite of Sigin-tarag,’ and the door immediately opens
Inside: The dwarves lead Elrond inside the majestic land, as dwarves start chanting at his arrival as he’s lead to Durin
Elrond starts to engage in pleasantries with Durin, but instead Durin addresses all of the dwarves around him.
‘The Elf Elrond has invoked the Rite of Sigin-tarag. The Dwarven test of endurance,’ Durin explains as the dwarves cheer.
Durin explains if the elf forfeits he will be banished from all elven lands forever, as they begin the challenge – to break massive rocks with their hammers.
Durin: Elrond starts to engage in pleasantries with Durin, but instead Durin addresses all of the dwarves around him
Rocks: Durin explains if the elf forfeits he will be banished from all elven lands forever, as they begin the challenge – to break massive rocks with their hammers
Durin splits one in half on his first try, as Elrond does the same.
Back in the Harfoot village, Nori goes to check on The Stranger and finds he’s gone… though she finds him nearby, studying the Earth.
She approaches him and he lets out a scream that creates winds powerful enough to bend trees as Nori tries to explain that she helped him.
Split: Durin splits one in half on his first try, as Elrond does the same
Gone: Back in the Harfoot village, Nori goes to check on The Stranger and finds he’s gone… though she finds him nearby, studying the Earth
Scream: She approaches him and he lets out a scream that creates winds powerful enough to bend trees as Nori tries to explain that she helped him
A voice is heard whispering in The Stranger’s head as the wind ceases and the man goes to his knee as Nori says she won’t harm him if she won’t harm her.
He seems to agree as she shows him a sign for her name as she asks what his name is… but he can’t seem to remember.
She pulls out some food and shows him how to eat as he starts eating everything she has.
No harm: A voice is heard whispering in The Stranger’s head as the wind ceases and the man goes to his knee as Nori says she won’t harm him if she won’t harm her
Back at the village her father calls for her, as Poppy looks on worried, while Nori tries to understand this large man.
He grabs a stick and starts drawing things in the wood, while, back at the village they try to erect some sort of shelter… but the rope snaps and the brunt of the weight falls on Nori’s father Largo, who ends up breaking his ankle.
Meanwhile, The Stranger tries furiously to draw something for Nori, and he keeps repeating, ‘Ure… Mana’ but she can’t understand.
Drawing: Meanwhile, The Stranger tries furiously to draw something for Nori, and he keeps repeating, ‘Ure… Mana’ but she can’t understand
Poppy comes running for Nori and The Stranger tries to attack her but Nori stops him as Poppy says her father is hurt.
She goes to check on him and Nori gets upset that she wasn’t there as the others ask if he can still ‘migrate’ but Nori and Poppy both leave.
The episode cuts back to Galadriel, swimming by herself in the sea, when she’s spotted by several people on a crudely-devised raft as Abigail (Virginie Laverdure) pulls her up.
Stop: Poppy comes running for Nori and The Stranger tries to attack her but Nori stops him as Poppy says her father is hurt
Abigail: The episode cuts back to Galadriel, swimming by herself in the sea, when she’s spotted by several people on a crudely-devised raft as Abigail (Virginie Laverdure) pulls her up
Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) says, ‘The tides of fate are flowing. Yours may be heading in or out.’
Eamon (Berynn Schwerdt) gives her some water, but before she takes more, he wants answers, asking how she got there.
‘I was separated from my ship,’ she says when she asks if she’s seen it – The Worm, as they realize she’s an elf.
Tides: Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) says, ‘The tides of fate are flowing. Yours may be heading in or out’
Eamon: Eamon (Berynn Schwerdt) gives her some water, but before she takes more, he wants answers, asking how she got there
She sees it soon enough as the massive sea creature, as Galadriel swims out, leading the worm away from the ship, though the worm still destroys it.
Galadriel is alone in the water looking for the worm when she sees Halbrand rowing a small part of the raft.
He asks what she’s called and they exchange names as he asks, ‘What’s our heading?’
Halbrand: Galadriel is alone in the water looking for the worm when she sees Halbrand rowing a small part of the raft
Back at Khazad-Dum, Elrond and Durin are still engaging in their endurance battle, though Elrond’s hammer snaps over the boulder.
He’s handed a new hammer, but he lays it down, ceding victory to Durin.
‘A dog may bark at the moon, but he cannot bring it down. Take your leave,’ Durin says, as Elrond asks if he would escort him to the exit.
Hammer: He’s handed a new hammer, but he lays it down, ceding victory to Durin
Escort: ‘A dog may bark at the moon, but he cannot bring it down. Take your leave,’ Durin says, as Elrond asks if he would escort him to the exit
Elrond says the changes in the city is ‘remarkable’ but Durin is still icy towards him, when he reveals why: he hasn’t seen him in 20 years.
While Elrond dismisses it as an insignificant amount of time, Durin begs to differ, saying he missed his wedding and the birth of his kids.
‘Twenty years may be the blink of an eye to an elf, but I’ve lived an entire life in that time, a life you missed,’ Durin says, turning away from Elrond.
Icy: Elrond says the changes in the city is ‘remarkable’ but Durin is still icy towards him, when he reveals why: he hasn’t seen him in 20 years
Insignificant: While Elrond dismisses it as an insignificant amount of time, Durin begs to differ, saying he missed his wedding and the birth of his kids
Elrond says, ‘Congratulations on your wife, your children. I hope you can come to forgive me. I would like very much to apologize to your family as well.’
A grumpy Durin leads Elrond into his home, saying he’s allowed one apology to his wife Disa but he’s not staying for dinner.
Disa (Sophia Nomvete) is more than happy to see Elrond, giving him a big hug. He says he’s there to apologize for not visiting sooner and Disa insists he is staying for dinner.
Congrats: Elrond says, ‘Congratulations on your wife, your children. I hope you can come to forgive me. I would like very much to apologize to your family as well’
Hug: Disa (Sophia Nomvete) is more than happy to see Elrond, giving him a big hug. He says he’s there to apologize for not visiting sooner and Disa insists he is staying for dinner
His two children come down wearing his two massive heads as they whisk the children off.
Disa explains how she met Durin, explaining the mining process in the mountain, as she explains he kept checking up on her.
Durin smirks he should have been at the wedding, as Elrond tries to explain his proposition while Disa says they need to find a way to mend their friendship.
Heads: His two children come down wearing his two massive heads as they whisk the children off
Dinner: Disa explains how she met Durin, explaining the mining process in the mountain, as she explains he kept checking up on her
Elrond says he sees Durin planted the seedling, which he explains is from their Great Tree in Lindon, ‘the very symbol of our people’s strength and vitality,’ as Disa says he tended to it like his ‘third child.’
Elrond gets up to leave, saying he fears he has ‘overstayed’ his welcome, but Durin tells him to stay and asks to hear his proposal.
The episode transitions to the raft with Galadriel noticing a symbol on a satchel Halbrand has around his neck.
Third child: Elrond says he sees Durin planted the seedling, which he explains is from their Great Tree in Lindon, ‘the very symbol of our people’s strength and vitality,’ as Disa says he tended to it like his ‘third child’
Overstayed: Elrond gets up to leave, saying he fears he has ‘overstayed’ his welcome, but Durin tells him to stay and asks to hear his proposal
Halbrand doesn’t believe she was ‘separated from her ship as they start to argue, but they find a common ground.
She asks if she blames elves for being stranded like this and Halbrand reveals, ‘The way I see it, it wasn’t Elves that chased me from my homeland. It was Orcs.’
This catches Galadriel’s attention, as she sees the vision of Sauron’s flaming mark, asking where his home was.
Orcs: She asks if she blames elves for being stranded like this and Halbrand reveals, ‘The way I see it, it wasn’t Elves that chased me from my homeland. It was Orcs’
Vision: This catches Galadriel’s attention, as she sees the vision of Sauron’s flaming mark, asking where his home was
He says, ‘What’s it matter. It’s ashes now,’ as Galadriel says she grieves for him and those he lost, which surprises him.
She asks what’s around his neck, if it was the mark of her people’s king, and she says she can help him reclaim the throne for his people.
She asks where the enemy can be found and he plainly tells her The Southlands, as she insists to tell her whose banner they fight under and she wants him to take her to their last known location.
Southlands: She asks where the enemy can be found and he plainly tells her The Southlands, as she insists to tell her whose banner they fight under and she wants him to take her to their last known location
He simply sits down and says, ‘I’ve got my own plans, elf,’ as they see a storm coming in the horizon.
Bronwyn comes rushing back to her town and tries to warn everybody, including Waldreg, of what happened in Holdren, though they don’t believe her.
Waldreg says he will not have this gossip but Bronwyn thinks they need to leave as Waldreg insists they aren’t inviting the elves back and having them gone is a relief… ‘for most of us anyhow,’ as Bronwyn sees the eyes of everyone there on her.
Warn: Bronwyn comes rushing back to her town and tries to warn everybody, including Waldreg, of what happened in Holdren, though they don’t believe her
Back in her home, Bronwyn’s son Theo sits by the fire when he hears creaking under the floorboards.
He starts smashing up the floor with a fireplace poker, thinking it’s mice again…but he sees the eyes of an Orc, which startles him.
Arondir is crawling in the tunnel when he notices a huge claw in the dirt as he hears something and crawls after it.
He sees a huge creature and starts crawling the other way, into a waterway which comes up on the other side, as Arondir waits… as arms pull him from behind.
Bronwyn gets back home and finds her house in disarray… with a huge hole in the floor as she calls after her son.
A small door in the wall opens as she finds Theo inside, he tells her to get help and go as he closes the door.
She hides inside a closet as an Orc climbs out of the hole and carefully looks around.
The troll attacks Bronwyn as she and Theo try to fight it off, with varying degrees of success.
Theo tries to hang the creature but the rope snaps, though Bronwyn finally cuts off the Orc’s head… which she presents to Waldreg and the rest of the townsfolk.
‘If there are any of you who want to live, we make for the Elven tower at first light,’ Bronwyn declares.
Back at sea, Halbrand and Galadriel are struggling to keep their raft together amid a violent storm.
Galadriel tells Halbrand to tie himself to her when the storm knocks her into the sea… though Halbrand dives in after her.
He ties a rope around her and discovers her brother’s dagger and seems to take it from her… when they’re seen coming up above water, swimming towards their raft.
They make it on board together though she doesn’t seem to be aware her dagger is missing.
Dagger: He ties a rope around her and discovers her brother’s dagger and seems to take it from her… when they’re seen coming up above water, swimming towards their raft
History: The show made history long before the first two episodes debuted on Thursday evening, since it’s considered the most expensive series ever
Front runner: Both the studio and the estate started offering the television rights to the franchise to streaming services, with Amazon quickly becoming a front-runner
Back in the Harfoot village, The Stranger stands alone at night, as Nori and Poppy come to check on him as he stares into the stars.
Nori says she wanted to help him but she’s sorry, as The Stranger looks back at him, staring at their lanterns, which Poppy says uses fireflies.
The Stranger is enchanted with the fireflies, as they fall into his hand, seemingly speaking to them.
Nori wonders what he’s saying to them but Poppy says she doesn’t speak firefly.
Nori notices he is fashioning the fireflies into a constellation, as Nori realizes he wants them to help him find those stars.
Five seasons: Amazon also struck a deal with the Tolkien Estate and the Tolkien Trust where they are believed to have given the green light for upwards of five seasons of the show
Billion-dollar show: With an estimated production commitment of between $100 million and $150 million per season, Amazon is expected to shell out $1 billion for the production costs and the rights, when all is said and done
Creators: The series was created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, who had previously only worked on 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond as uncredited writers
Galadriel: There will be characters fans will recognize, though, most notably Galadriel, played in the LOTR movies by Cate Blanchett, with the much younger version played Morfydd Clark
‘I’ve never seen those stars before, but I’ve got a pretty good idea where I can find them,’ Nori says.
Durin is talking with his father, saying Elrond doesn’t know, as Durin says he trusts Elrond.
They go to a wooden box as it’s opened in front of Durin and his father, but we don’t see what’s inside.
Theo pulls the ancient broken sword out from under his bed, admiring it… when the blood from a cut on his hand starts travelling out of his hand and into the sword, which starts flaming and mysteriously fusing itself together.
Bronwyn asks if he’s ready and he says he is, as they join a huge delegation of traveling humans.
Back at sea, Galadriel wakes up on the raft with Halbrand, as a mysterious man whose face isn’t seen is seen looking down from a ship, as the second episode comes to and end.
New episodes: The new episodes will roll out simultaneously across the globe, with the first two episodes dropping on Thursday at 6 PM PT/9 PM ET/2 AM UK
Final six: The final six episodes will roll out weekly at 9 PM PT/12 AM ET/5 AM UK, with the finale of the eight-episode season arriving Thursday, October 13 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power: No turkey, however bloated and stupid, could ever be big enough to convey the mesmerising awfulness of Amazon’s billion dollar Tolkien epic
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power
Rating: 
Turkey is not the word. No turkey, however bloated and stupid, could ever be big enough to convey the mesmerising awfulness of Amazon’s billion dollar Tolkien epic.
This is a disaster dragon – plucked, spatchcocked, with a tankerload of Paxo stuffed up its fundament, roasted and served with soggy sprouts.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (Amazon Prime) is so staggeringly bad, it’s hilarious. Everything about it is ill-judged to a spectacular extreme.
The cliche-laden script, the dire acting, the leaden pace, the sheer inconsistency and confusion as it lurches between styles – where do we start?
Review: The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power is so staggeringly bad, it’s hilarious. Everything about it is ill-judged to a spectacular extreme (Galadriel played by Morfydd Clark)
Let’s start with the budget: a billion dollars. Let that sink in. One thousand million bucks, about £860,000,000, such a colossal investment even for Amazon that industry rumour says the brand is gambling its entire future as a film production company.
If this show fails, say insiders, executives could be forced to shut down Amazon Studios.
The book rights alone cost $250 million. And what did Amazon get for that? This is not a remake of Lord Of The Rings or The Hobbit. This is a prequel, based on the appendixes – the reams of footnotes dumped by J.R.R. Tolkien at the end of his Rings trilogy, chronicling millennia of turgid historical fantasy. That’s right… the unreadable bits.
Panned: The cliche-laden script, the dire acting, the leaden pace, the sheer inconsistency and confusion as it lurches between styles – where do we start? (pictured an Orc)
Whoever thought that was a wise buy must have been smashed out of their minds on miruvor, the elvish liquor.
There’s no doubt we can see the budget. It casts a throbbing glow over the screen like a chestful of gold. Ultra-high definition computer graphics paint ivory cities in mountain passes and conjure gigantic monsters in palaces of dark magic.
But magnificent visuals are meaningless if nobody knows who the audience is meant to be. And it’s impossible to guess whether The Rings Of Power is meant for children, for hardcore fans or for general viewers – because it fails them all.
Risky business: If this show fails, say insiders, executives could be forced to shut down Amazon Studios (pictured Durin IV played by Owain Arthur)
One fight sequence features elf princess Galadriel in acrobatic action against an angry troll, who pops up from off-stage like an adversary in a Dungeons & Dragons boardgame.
Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) cartwheels and whirls her enchanted sword before despatching the giant fiend with a bloodless blow. It’s highly stylised, like a Japanese manga cartoon.
An episode later, the healer Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) and her son fight an orc, and this time the violence is as brutal as anything in Game Of Thrones.
How much! The book rights alone cost $250 million. This is a prequel, based on the appendixes – the reams of footnotes dumped by J.R.R. Tolkien (pictured Poppy Proudfellow played by Megan Richards and Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot by Markella Kavenagh)
They stab it, spear it, run it through, hang it and finally saw through its neck with a knife – before Bronwyn, soaked in blood, displays the head as a trophy. Small children and persons of a nervous disposition should not watch.
Then the tale flies back to the Harfoots, prehistoric hobbits that wear garlands of acorns and dress in rags, as though they’ve escaped from the set of Worzel Gummidge.
Led by Lenny Henry as Sadoc, the Harfoots talk in a garble of Jamaican, Irish and Zummerset accents. They’re loveable and funny, in a slapstick way. Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) trips on an expedition to scrump blackberries, and falls flat in a puddle.
When she lifts her muddy face to the camera, like Oliver Hardy, she sighs, ‘Enchanting.’
Harfoot-land is cute… until old Mr Brandyfoot slips and snaps his leg, with a crack that would make the cast of Casualty wince.
Opinion: Whoever thought that was a wise buy must have been smashed out of their minds on miruvor, the elvish liquor
One disconnected style follows wildly after another. A static scene in which elves journey by ship is conceived as a PreRaphaelite painting – each actor stock still in silver armour, swords clasped to their chests, long hair rippling, eyes fixed on the horizon in pious awe. Inspired by a flock of birds, they lift their voices in a heavenly choir.
There’s a lot of this quasi-religious imagery. The first episode begins with a cod Bible reading: ‘There was a time when the world was so young, there had not been a sunrise, but even then there was light.’
Popular culture invents blether like this to replace real religion. It’s scientology for the superhero movie era.
‘Year gave way to year, century gave way to century,’ the narrator continues, and already this reviewer was giving way to laughter. Soon, every fresh clunker provoked such hoots that I had to keep pausing to gather my composure.
‘It is said that the wine of victory is sweetest for those in whose bitter trials it is fermented,’ says the elf Elrond (Robert Aramayo) to Galadriel. And I’m off again.
Graphics: There’s no doubt we can see the budget. It casts a throbbing glow over the screen like a chestful of gold. Ultra-high definition computer graphics paint ivory cities in mountain passes and conjure gigantic monsters in palaces of dark magic [pictured L-R) Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), Galadriel and Elrond (Robert Aramayo)]
‘If but a whisper of a rumour of the threat you perceive proves true…’ he goes on, until I’m weeping with laughter.
Bronwyn and her boyfriend Arondir the elf share some marvellous exchanges: ‘I must follow the passage,’ he tells her, pointing to an underground cavern.
‘You don’t know what’s down there!’ she cries.
‘That,’ he replies portentously, ‘is the reason I must go.’
Without a shred of irony, Galadriel declares to her elf platoon, ‘The order is given! We march at first light!’
She can’t have seen the wonderful skit by Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in The Trip, where they spend a car journey wondering why warriors in terrible historical dramas always ‘leave at first light’ (‘They never leave at 9.30-ish.’)
Bronwyn hasn’t watched it either. She urges villagers to flee: ‘If there are any of you here who want to live, we make for the elven tower at first light.’
Even when there’s no dialogue, some of the acting is abysmal. Galadriel’s elf patrol, caught in a snowstorm, battle their way across the screen with their arms outstretched like a troupe of mimes.
At least they’re not talking. Most of the elf scenes are rigid, as two characters in robes take it in turns to dump mounds of exposition over each other’s heads.
‘An alliance with the dwarves would be the diplomatic achievement of the age,’ Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards from Downton Abbey) tells Elrond.
Cue a visit to dwarf-world, where Elrond challenges the prince (Owain Arthur) to a rock-breaking competition. One of them hits a rock with a hammer! Then the other one hits a rock with a hammer! This goes on for some time.
If the cast list seems a little obscure, that’s intentional. Aside from Sir Lenny, the only well-known star is Peter Mullan, who plays the king of a dwarfs.
Hiring an experienced and subtle actor, even if he is in a massive prosthetic nose and filmed to appear four feet tall, might seem canny decision.
It isn’t. Mullan’s talent simply highlights how woeful everything and everyone else is. The effect is like sticking Richard Burton in an am-dram pantomime.
Burton was famously expensive, of course. Cleopatra, in which he starred with future wife Elizabeth Taylor, cost $31m… the most expensive film ever, in 1963.
Think of it – a mere $31m! That would barely buy you a pair of Lenny Henry’s hairy fake feet.
Failed: But magnificent visuals are meaningless if nobody knows who the audience is meant to be. And it’s impossible to guess whether The Rings Of Power is meant for children, for hardcore fans or for general viewers – because it fails them all
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