Spoilers Lord of the Rings TV series

[JD]

I really can't see it being Waldreag, he just really doesn't feel like what I'd expect a human form Sauron to be like.
One possibility occurred to me a few days ago, Theo maybe he was literally reborn in human form and has no memory of who he was. It could explain why he was so drawn to and tempted by the Morgul blade pretty much from the moment he found it.

 

[thribs]

So THAT’S why it’s called Rings of Power. It all makes sense now.
Looks like everyone was right about who Sauron is. Even who the Stranger is now is rather obvious.
I liked the song at the end but it’s bit of a spoiler.

 

[FPAlpha]

What an amazing season finale - secrets have been revealed, some awesome action, truly heartfeld moments and LotR history unfolding in a glorious manner.

Can't wait for the next season!

 

[thribs]

The idea that Sauron was going to give up and it was Galadriel that drove him to go on is quite hilarious to me. That’s a big “whoopsie” on her part.

 

[FPAlpha]

The idea that Sauron was going to give up and it was Galadriel that drove him to go on is quite hilarious to me. That’s a big “whoopsie” on her part.

Spoiler: Season Finale

I don't believe for a second that Sauron was ever going to "give up" - he is a deceiver and evil through and through. He tried to deceive Galadriel but was unsuccessful.

 

[thribs]

He was so close as well. If he had more time, I think he could have got Galadriel to be his Queen.
I feel sorry for the guy.

 

[Skywalker]

I was hoping that the most obvious outcome was just a red herring, but alas, it wasn't.

Oh well, besides that I still thought it was a pretty solid finale.

 

[FPAlpha]

I was hoping that the most obvious outcome was just a red herring, but alas, it wasn't.

Oh well, besides that I still thought it was a pretty solid finale.

Occam's Razor strikes again - there were quite intriguing ideas floating around here but what happened made sense in the context of the show and its mythology.

Spoiler: Season Finale

I didn't believe the misdirect at the beginning when they belived they found Sauron but when actual Sauron/Halbrand started to give Celebrimbor advice about Mithril i immediately knew it was Sauron! I also loved the image when Elrond dropped the Mithril into the molten metals and for a short while it looked like Sauron's Eye foreshadowing what's to come.

And there is so much yet to come - Numenor's destruction, the forging of the Dwarven and Men rings, the establishment of the new kingdoms in Middle Earth and finally the One Ring. If they can keep this up it will be one hell of a show.

 

[saddestmoon]

Whoa! That was all kinds of epic!
A Fantastic season finale indeed!

Spoiler

I’m very glad now, my earlier recent thought, that Waldreg being Sauron, was proven incorrect!

Season 3 prediction… Elendil and Meriel! Watch that space romantically, I reckon!

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Looks like everyone was right about who Sauron is. Even who the Stranger is now is rather obvious.

It is? I had trouble following some of the dialogue and many of the subtitles were incomplete and not sync'ed well.

The Stranger seems to think he is Sauron, even though the sorceresses thought they'd made a mistake. He might be an Istar, I suppose, but he could be an element of Sauron given that he's being drawn to Rhûn. In the lore, Sauron does spend time there but that's in the Third Age after he's been defeated by Isildur. He appears to have powers that Halbrand doesn't, even though the original Mairon was a Maia.

If the Stranger is a blue wizard, where's the other one? The performance does remind me a lot of Christopher Lee as Saruman though. Getting twirled around by the Dweller and her staff is supposed to remind us of what movie Saruman did to Gandalf, but what if that's misdirection?

That the constellation (the "hermit's hat", if I heard it correctly) is only visible from Rhûn is a mystery to me. At this point in the Second Age, Arda should still be a disc. All the stars in one celestial hemisphere should be equally visible in the night sky from anywhere on the disc. Even if Arda were a sphere, it still would be a mystery. Rhûn is in the east, not the south.

Galadriel gave Finrod's dagger up without too much of struggle. It might have been cursed, but perhaps her rejection of Halbrand broke the link. Being forced to confront her nature though Sauron's invasion of her memories might well temper her into being more like movie Galadriel.

 

[FPAlpha]

It is? I had trouble following some of the dialogue and many of the subtitles were incomplete and not sync'ed well.

The Stranger seems to think he is Sauron, even though the sorceresses thought they'd made a mistake. He might be an Istar, I suppose, but he could be an element of Sauron given that he's being drawn to Rhûn. In the lore, Sauron does spend time there but that's in the Third Age after he's been defeated by Isildur. He appears to have powers that Halbrand doesn't, even though the original Mairon was a Maia.

If the Stranger is a blue wizard, where's the other one? The performance does remind me a lot of Christopher Lee as Saruman though. Getting twirled around by the Dweller and her staff is supposed to remind us of what movie Saruman did to Gandalf, but what if that's misdirection?

That the constellation (the "hermit's hat", if I heard it correctly) is only visible from Rhûn is a mystery to me. At this point in the Second Age, Arda should still be a disc. All the stars in one celestial hemisphere should be equally visible in the night sky from anywhere on the disc. Even if Arda were a sphere, it still would be a mystery. Rhûn is in the east, not the south.

Galadriel gave Finrod's dagger up without too much of struggle. It might have been cursed, but perhaps her rejection of Halbrand broke the link. Being forced to confront her nature though Sauron's invasion of her memories might well temper her into being more like movie Galadriel.

I think this season finale has shown that one need not complicate things too much. The Stranger was not sure who he really was, he thought about him being Sauron but as was evident with the fight he's not. Later on he had a talk with Nori where he spelled it out, he's an Istari what is in the common tongue a wizard. Now there are already people talking about if he's actually Gandalf based on a line he says ( If in doubt always follow your nose - said in LotR by Gandalf and here now too) and when he defeats the Mystics and before they explode we see Moths/Butterflies also connecting him to Gandalf.

It would make sense from the production point of view as Gandalf is a well known name, known to non fans who just watch a fantasy show and have maybe seen the movies at some point. Purists of course will blow a gasket as Gandalf didn't come to Middle Earth in the Second Age.

As to why he needs to go to Rhun is anyone's guess - the show clearly does its own thing and we are only sure of absolutely basic elements such as the Rings need to be forged ( 3 done, 17 still to go), that Sauron takes over Mordor and builds Barad Dur, Numenor will fall + Galadriel and Sauron will survive and Elendil/Isildur to the battle of the Last Alliance ( if that even takes place in the show, maybe in an epic show finale if it makes it this far). Everything else in this show is absolute fair game and after this season i wouldn't use the Appendices as any kind of reference point as to what should happen.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

In the lore, Sauron forges the rings of Dwarves and Men before Celebrimbor forges the Elven rings as protection against Sauron. Sauron then forges the One Ring in Mordor. I think Halbrand might have the rings of Dwarves and Men ready to go in his pouch. However, as you state, the Appendices are only a very rough guide to the events in this show. They had to sneak in the word "gift" in association with Halbrand as they don't have the rights to use "Annatar".

 

[FPAlpha]

In the lore, Sauron forges the rings of Dwarves and Men before Celebrimbor forges the Elven rings as protection against Sauron. Sauron then forges the One Ring in Mordor. I think Halbrand might have the rings of Dwarves and Men ready to go in his pouch. However, as you state, the Appendices are only a very rough guide to the events in this show. They had to sneak in the word "gift" in association with Halbrand as they don't have the rights to use "Annatar".

I don't think he has the rings already, it is a huge part of a show called "Rings of Power" My best bet is that in the following seasons we see Sauron travel across Middle Earth making contact with already established characters and screwing with them - we will see the forging of the Rings for the Dwarves and Men but all this needs to be built up gradually before everybody realizes what's up and the war starts with known results.

I am now curious if they will keep the Sauron actor - at this point only Galadriel and Elrond know the truth so "Halbrand" is free to roam. His next encounter with Adar should be interesting though

 

[FreezeC77]

When the fellowship was in Moria, Gandalf became lost and didn't remember the way. Then he said to Merry something like the air smelled better and "always trust your nose"

The Stranger is meant to be Gandalf. Which obviously does seem to put him in Middle Earth much earlier than the books would indicate. The wizards were sent in the Third Age and Gandalf was not even the first of them. Of course it is possible Gandalf is the ONLY one here and he then returns to Valinor at the conclusion of the show either by choice or defeated and that is used to explain the "I'm still too weak to face Sauron" reasoning as to why he initially opposed being sent to Middle Earth in the Third Age.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I have no doubt in my mind that the Wizard is Gandalf.
However he is yet to have a name.
And as we know he eventually goes by many names.
But in the Hobbit’s realm he goes by the most common one Gandalf.
And now we know where his affection for them comes from.
Nori almost looked like Frodo in that one shot. When they say under the tree.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I think Tolkien had one story idea where Olórin (aka Tharkûn/Mithrandir/Gandalf) visited Middle-earth in the First Age and then returned to Valinor before returning in the Third Age. It would be great to see the blue wizards though. I doubt Nori and the Stranger will be having a completely separate adventure in Rhûn as I don't really see how this would fit with the rest of the story.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

For me this show has now shown potential to surpass GoT which relied a lot on betrayal and shock reveals.
This is much more epic.

Are the three mystics vanquished now? They were briefly shown in wraith form, but they cannot be ring wraiths, it’s too early for those, right?

 

[FreezeC77]

I think Tolkien had one story idea where Olórin (aka Tharkûn/Mithrandir/Gandalf) visited Middle-earth in the First Age and then returned to Valinor before returning in the Third Age. It would be great to see the blue wizards though. I doubt Nori and the Stranger will be having a completely separate adventure in Rhûn as I don't really see how this would fit with the rest of the story.

Considering they are in the Greenwood perhaps season two sees an elf join their group. Thranduil is the only son of the King, put then so was Legolas when he joined the Fellowship. Perhaps they introduce Legolas' never named Mother as a character and part of the journey.

 

[Booji]

The season finale was my favorite episode so far. Got the identity of the Wizard right, but I was off on Halbrand. At least there were bread crumbs dropped that he was Sauron, so I don't have a problem with the revelation. I liked the Elven ring forging sequence. Looking forward to next season.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

The rings themselves are a clear departure from Jackson’s movie designs though.
Interesting, because at other instances they deliberately invoked the movies or outright used designs like the Balrog.