**Spoiler Warning** Rings of Power S1E7 - "The Eye"

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Gil-Galad

I feel like that scene felt really out of place; like why didn't Galadriel stay in the town to help everyone else? Instead she grabbed Theo and just left, and everyone was heading in the same direction anyways.

It might be a reshoot that was edited in for some reason.

In a way, the whole episode felt kind of like their little side-story: just a little bit off-kilter. In some ways, that kind of worked for the episode--half the characters (anyone in Mordor) is literally in shock, so it "felt" like the characters did, but at the same time it's just not good writing.

[Oddwen]

Oh no. Peril. Anyway.

"Trees don't talk!"
"SOME do!"

"the dwarves dug too greedily and too deep" for FRIENDSHIP (Hmmmm, is Disa getting a little greedy though?)

"How much longer until we are clear of this smoke (that nobody at all has coughed from)"

"Silver clam" ok that's a little funny.

It's a good thing Elrond has enough mithril to make an elven ring or three. That'll save all the elves just in the nick of time, but not before several fakeout deaths and reveals. I'm tired of fakeout deaths and reveals.


This episode was maybe the most meh of them all for me.

Originally Posted by Form

It'd be a bit of a downer

Aren't we all?


Halbrand's arc this episode was the longest fakeout death and reveal of them all. Also when are they going to address that Bronwyn and Theo are possibly the only healers in the village? When are they going to heal anyone????

[Gil-Galad]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

In a way, the whole episode felt kind of like their little side-story: just a little bit off-kilter. In some ways, that kind of worked for the episode--half the characters (anyone in Mordor) is literally in shock, so it "felt" like the characters did, but at the same time it's just not good writing.

Another thing I have been noticing is the inconsistency with Galadriel. Last week's episode with her stopping Halbarand from killing Adar ("We need him alive!") Then to her almost killing Adar.

And this week, we have seen her relentless bloodlust in killing orcs, then she tells Theo not to enjoy killing orcs.

I feel like they are trying to show character growth, but doing it in the most asinine way, like breaking the writers Cardinal rule of "Show don't tell".

[Boromir88]

Well, my friends who don't know the lore are still enjoying the series more than I have. It seems more like a world-building season for new fans, and not a season for folks like us.

But even they have said they don't get the purpose of teasing Isildur's death. Because they are at least familiar with the movies, and know he's not going to be dead. It was a poor choice of character to try to tease being dead. That is one of the essential problems of "prequel" movies and shows. In Kenobi, we all know Obi-wan, Leia, and Vader aren't going to die, so it's kind of difficult to have drama built around convincing the fans those characters are going to die. The Kenobi characters managed to navigate around those difficulties and make a fantastic Season 1. It left me wanting a Season 2, even though I know now it will probably be disappointing, because where does the show go from there? It was already a perfect conclusion to the Obi-wan/Vader tension. Rings of Power is not making good decisions by trying to fake us with Isildur's death and Celeborn's death. Celeborn is a little more niche, but Isildur has an iconic moment that even the non-hardcore fans remember. It's just silly to try to convince us he's dead.

That's all I have time for at the moment. As a Tolkien fan, Season 1 is rather dull. Episodes 3 and 4 were the strongest, but it's been regressing. I'm enjoying more my non-Tolkien friends think it's interesting and answering their questions than actually watching the series.

[Oddwen]

Who or what was the titular Eye?

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Oddwen

Who or what was the titular Eye?

Miriel's blindness? Durin Sr.'s "blindness" refusing to look upon the mithril?

[Lalwendë]

Apols, can't do quotes easily on a smartphone....

....Form - it doesn't make much difference how close you are to a volcanic eruption if there's pyroclastic flow/surge, it will still kill.

The other aspect of this is that the land wouldn't be permanently despoiled once the ash cloud dies down, in fact it would become very enriched soil and productive land. Either Mordor isn't a complete wasteland (and I do wonder where Orcs get food) or there are other reasons why it is. And even Orcs wouldn't be able to thrive breathing in toxic air from constant eruptions. I prefer Tolkien's hints that it's despoiled due to industry and environmental degradation.

Anyway, a better episode all round. The Harfoots are definitely what save it for me, though I instinctively don't like the Oirish accents. Their culture is weird, they have seasonal habits and can't think about exploring for a new place to live/forage, they are a bit Darwinian in leaving the slow/ill behind. But there's a curiosity in some of them that makes you see where characters like Bilbo come from, breaking the rules, trying something new. The naiveté of Nori in calling the weird trio over (personally I'd run a mile from three bald giants in robes) was frustrating, she would surely have learnt by now, but I suppose that's how they created a plot shift. I hope Lenny Henry stays with this project, he's endlessly watchable, love the guy.

I do not like this Mithril thing. I can see now where it's going, Celebrimbor will use that nugget to craft the Rings and heal the Elven kingdoms. Not quite what I'd hoped, having read the Osanwe Kenta and being interested in the idea of them being to aid in the Elves communicating. But OK it makes sense now. Finally.

Speaking of, where is Celeborn?

Durin is great. The dispute with his father and the relationship with his wife were very well written. And we heard about Dwarven women having beards! One little detail - I do like how the door to Moria is so small and unassuming. Like when you build a cave house in Minecraft and just put a tiny door on it to hide it 😂

Did that Balrog have wings?

It better not have.

[Boromir88]

I feel like I could complain a lot more, but it can just be summed up by the guy shouting in Monty Python's "Holy Grail"...Get on with it!

I don't mind slow burns, it's a refreshing break from the "edge of your seat" GoT shows, or even the way PJ's movies get. Where you don't really have the slower moments to breathe and reflect. I believe Verlyn Fleiger talks about this point with Tolkien, that there's a roller coaster ride. You're on the edge of your seat, at the top of the coaster, intense fast action, but you need the downtime too. You need periods of rest in Rivendell, Lothlorien, Ithilien. But at the same time, even in the rest periods, the story is still progressing. I can enjoy a slow burn, but I feel like there are more questions than there are answers at the moment. And even worse, the series is dragging out the answers in hopes that finding out the answers is irresistible. And I have to admit, it's not irresistible, because decisions to fake us out with Isildur's death is utterly pointless.

I think Form mentioned it should have been Anarion, and I completely agree. I'm normally not someone who thinks I know more than professionals in their own area of expertise. But it seems common sense if you want to create tension by making us wonder if a character is alive or dead, you had a perfect choice with Anarion. He doesn't appear in the movies. In the lore he dies during the Siege of Barad-dur. Heck even just kill him off Season 1 in the Mount Doom explosion, and Elendil can still be upset about a son dying. There we go, that's an interesting death I could buy. But no, let's force a pointless "oh no, Isildur's dead" plot, what's Elendil going to do?

If Season 1 doesn't end with Celebrimbor holding a hammer and forging some rings, then I will be in no hurry to watch Season 2. WCH posted a review in another thread that's basically my same thoughts. Once the glitz and glamor wears off, I spent most of Episodes 5 and 7 thinking of Monty Python and "Get on with it!"