Reality Sucks

Hawaii-born | Huge Tolkien/Marvel/Star Wars fan | IG & Twitter: @j_sumic808

[apollonui]

This is such a weird feeling. Going about your day to day life like normal but with the knowledge that there’s a very very slow moving river of lava coming down the mountain far above your hometown.

To be clear, it’s still VERY far away and no homes or structures are in any immediate danger as of yet (and won’t be for a while, unless the eruption migrates).

But as this eruption progresses, only time will tell where and how far this lava will go.

[apollonui]

Mauna Loa started erupting again. This is giving me major Kilauea 2018 flashbacks.

[apollonui]

I like that the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon is closer to how it’s described in the books but it makes it kinda funny to think that sometime in between HotD and Game of Thrones, someone in the Red Keep was like,

“You know what, this is a bit much. Let’s downsize it just a little.”

[apollonui]

I need a day or two to process that finale.

[apollonui]

Finale Sauron prediction

(Possible spoilers. I could be wrong)

Ok so… I still believe Halbrand is Sauron. The three Mystics want to join Sauron but my prediction is that they think the Meteor Man is Sauron.

They’re going to catch up with him and the line from the finale trailer will be spoken:

“You will be known at last for who you truly are, for you are Lord Sauron!”

And then he’s basically gonna be like, “What? No, i’m not, you’ve got the wrong guy.”

And then they’ll respond with, “If you’re not him, then where is he?”

<and then some dramatic cut to Halbrand or something>

Shortly after, the Meteor Man will reveal his name as “Olorin”.

I feel like there’s a possible chance Sauron won’t even get a massive grand reveal this season. If it’s not a grand reveal, it’ll be like a creepy, subtle implication at least.

A quiet cliffhanger, like the final shot being Halbrand sitting alone, staring into a fire and smiling, while he toys around with a ring that someone gave him.

[apollonui]

Super nervous about this series. The visuals are definitely there but some things just have me scratching my head.

[apollonui]

To anyone wondering, YES, i’ve seen Episode 7.

[apollonui]

Rings of Power Season Finale theories/prediction

WARNING possible spoilers: I COULD BE WRONG

So I have a bipolar relationship with this series. Love most of the visuals, except the costumes. Writing feels like a fanfic, but I’m still entertained. 

Anyways, straight to the point. The season is gonna end with Orodruin (Mount Doom) erupting. When receiving refugees to Ostirith in this last episode #4, Bronwyn says “That makes every village from here to Orodruin.”

Just a handful of shots in the trailers give it away:

The Southlands is gonna become Mordor eventually sooner or later.

At this point, I honestly believe Halbrand is Sauron. Makes sense, his eyeing of the blacksmith forges, the manipulating of Galadriel who in turn persuades The Numenoreans to war. His “supposed-King” backstory could just be a lie to get him back to The Southlands.

Adar doesn’t feel like Sauron. I’m sure he’s just one of Sauron’s high ranking servants. The Stranger/”Meteor Man” is Gandalf disguised as a red herring. I know the Istari aren’t supposed to arrive in Middle Earth until the Third Age, but the writers here clearly aren’t staying close to the source material. Plus, Gandalf is a popular favorite character of many. Easy cash-grab of a character.

The only character that I completely haven’t the faintest clue about is this one whom we still haven’t seen yet:

At first we all thought it was a guy but it’s being played by an actress. The gender of the androgynous-looking character hasn’t been stated yet.

As far as the revealing goes, I have the feeling it’s going to be a last minute reveal “shock-omg-this-is-supposed-to-be-a-twist” type deal with the fight ultimately leading up to Adar and Halbrand coming face to face with Adar kneeling before Halbrand who then does the dramatic big reveal. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole season ends in a massive cliffhanger. 

Fans aren’t gonna be happy because it means we’re not getting “Annatar” at all this season, but this ending really sets up a good intent from Annatar in the next/future seasons.

With the knowledge of Sauron’s return confirmed to everyone AND with Mount Doom’s eruption restarting, it will be a general assumption that Sauron himself is physically in Mordor. So while everyone is thinking he’s there, Annatar will then appear and basically tell everyone, “Hey, I have an idea on how to fight Sauron! Let’s make these rings with Celebrimbor’s massive forge tower!”

There is so much to cover in Tolkien’s Second Age so it doesn’t surprised me that a lot of it hasn’t happened yet, even with the whole condensing of events. I really wanted to see what the forging of the Three Elven Rings were gonna look like but I had the feeling one season wasn’t enough time to get to it.

Anyway, that’s what I think is gonna happen. Take it with a grain of salt. I could be wrong. We’ll see as more episodes come out. 

[apollonui]

Well then… Episode 6 really throws alot of my prediction off.

Still 2 more episodes and we’ve now seen like 99% of what the trailers show us.

[apollonui]

Rings of Power Season Finale theories/prediction

WARNING possible spoilers: I COULD BE WRONG

So I have a bipolar relationship with this series. Love most of the visuals, except the costumes. Writing feels like a fanfic, but I'm still entertained. 

Anyways, straight to the point. The season is gonna end with Orodruin (Mount Doom) erupting. When receiving refugees to Ostirith in this last episode #4, Bronwyn says “That makes every village from here to Orodruin.”

Just a handful of shots in the trailers give it away:

The Southlands is gonna become Mordor eventually sooner or later.

At this point, I honestly believe Halbrand is Sauron. Makes sense, his eyeing of the blacksmith forges, the manipulating of Galadriel who in turn persuades The Numenoreans to war. His “supposed-King” backstory could just be a lie to get him back to The Southlands.

Adar doesn’t feel like Sauron. I’m sure he’s just one of Sauron’s high ranking servants. The Stranger/”Meteor Man” is Gandalf disguised as a red herring. I know the Istari aren’t supposed to arrive in Middle Earth until the Third Age, but the writers here clearly aren’t staying close to the source material. Plus, Gandalf is a popular favorite character of many. Easy cash-grab of a character.

The only character that I completely haven’t the faintest clue about is this one whom we still haven’t seen yet:

At first we all thought it was a guy but it’s being played by an actress. The gender of the androgynous-looking character hasn’t been stated yet.

As far as the revealing goes, I have the feeling it’s going to be a last minute reveal “shock-omg-this-is-supposed-to-be-a-twist” type deal with the fight ultimately leading up to Adar and Halbrand coming face to face with Adar kneeling before Halbrand who then does the dramatic big reveal. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole season ends in a massive cliffhanger. 

Fans aren’t gonna be happy because it means we’re not getting “Annatar” at all this season, but this ending really sets up a good intent from Annatar in the next/future seasons.

With the knowledge of Sauron’s return confirmed to everyone AND with Mount Doom’s eruption restarting, it will be a general assumption that Sauron himself is physically in Mordor. So while everyone is thinking he’s there, Annatar will then appear and basically tell everyone, “Hey, I have an idea on how to fight Sauron! Let’s make these rings with Celebrimbor’s massive forge tower!”

There is so much to cover in Tolkien’s Second Age so it doesn’t surprised me that a lot of it hasn’t happened yet, even with the whole condensing of events. I really wanted to see what the forging of the Three Elven Rings were gonna look like but I had the feeling one season wasn’t enough time to get to it.

Anyway, that’s what I think is gonna happen. Take it with a grain of salt. I could be wrong. We’ll see as more episodes come out. 

[apollonui]

Oh dear God I think I kinda figured out how the season is gonna end.

I’m debating if I should post my whole theory in another post.

[apollonui]

And today I learned Jed Brophy plays the orc “Vrath” in Rings of Power, making him the only actor to be in all 3 of them.

[apollonui]

I have an awkward love-dislike relationship with this series so far, but I must say…

With Episode 3 out, it kinda feels like we’ve already seen a good 2/3rds-3/4ths of what’s been shown in all the teasers, trailers and promos.

It really makes me excited to think about what we haven’t seen yet.

[apollonui]

Someone I know said Gil-Galad looks more like a Roman Emperor than an Elven King.

I can’t unsee it now.

Anyway, Episode 3 tonight! Off to Elven Rome Lindon we go.

[apollonui]

The nerd in me is screaming like a girl from 2011 who just won tickets to a Justin Bieber concert. Make it happen. Makes me wonder what kind of a budget Season 2 must have to eye this type of casting.

[apollonui]

Super nervous about this series. The visuals are definitely there but some things just have me scratching my head.

[weasley-detectives]

I suspect Halbrand is Sauron. It fits with Finrod's earlier words to Galadriel, something about "touching the darkness". Plus the visual of them on the raft when they're found by the Numenorian ship - she's dressed in white, he's clad in dark clothing. And didn't Sauron wind up essentially manipulating the Numenorians to his ends? Certainly sets him in the right place. So yeah, I think it's just a juicing up of the Galadriel's vengeance arc.

[apollonui]

Honestly, the theory that Halbrand could be one of Sauron’s forms never even crossed my mind until I saw some of these reblogs. Lol. I’m really hoping, wishing and praying that isn’t the case but I hate the fact that there’s evidence that kinda supports it.

Ep. 2 SPOILER: It would explain why the sea monster allowed him to escape.

[apollonui]

Funny because i’m actually liking the series so far. Someone on this platform needs to chill out.

[apollonui]

I think it’s pretty safe to say we’re not getting any of these in Rings of Power. 😕 At least not in the first season anyway.

[apollonui]

Rings of Power thoughts

Two episodes in and to be completely honest, I'm really surprised. 

I went in fearing the worst and for me personally, I didn’t think it was that bad. Don’t get me wrong though, there are still ALOT of things that I didn’t like about it, and it’s probably the same things you’ve heard from everyone at this point. I really don’t want to jump on the extreme hate/criticism bandwagon because it almost feels like mob mentality, but there is truth to all our criticisms. I’m just super sick hearing and seeing it non-stop for like the past 6 months.

Considering how many characters they introduced, it was pretty well balanced and it doesn’t move along too quickly. The prologue in the first episode is told in such a way that it’s simple enough for the ordinary person who isn’t a diehard Tolkien fan to understand.

The visuals in terms of scenery, realms and cities are beautiful. Costumes are a hit and miss. Missed mostly for the Elves. Not a huge fan of the loose oversized gowns and robes. Not a circlet in sight. Some of the female Elves wear veils that cover their entire face. An unusual choice.

Making Bronwyn and Arondir a love story seems unnecessary but it is a good way to add a concurrent perspective into what’s happening elsewhere in Middle Earth. 

The acting tends to sway back and forth between being pretty decent to kind of CW-ish at times (especially with the Dwarves and Harfoots).

Of course, all the other things… The female Dwarves have no beards, the Elves look too much like Humans, Galadriel wasn’t meant to be a soldier, etc. It just feels weird seeing Galadriel get pushed around so much.

Overall, looking beyond the criticisms, I'm actually liking it so far. We still haven’t met all the characters yet and we’re only two episodes in. Hoping the rest of the season plays out decently.