We're already at the midpoint of the season! Rings of Power 2x04, “Eldest,” provided some of the most Tolkienian moments in the series so far.
This week, Kat supplies Isildur's Tragic Lore Dump, Wren gets so excited about Arondir she speaks at warp speed (don’t worry, we slowed it down), and we both defend Estrid with our lives. We also dive into all the lovely moments with the Stoors, the Ents, and THE Tom Bombadil, and explain why the Barrow-wight scene missed the mark for us. Listen wherever you catch your pods!
Here's a preview of our discussion about Arondir's arc in the show so far.
About the pod: Where the Shadows Lie is a Rings of Power fan podcast with Kat and Wren. Join us as we go wild about Season 2, dive into all of our favorite character arcs, speculate about future episodes, and celebrate the amazing cast and crew. This is a positive, analytical space for fellow Rings of Power fans—all are welcome!
Okay. I’ve got control of my feels and now I’m ready to talk about the first two episodes of RoP. Spoilery stuff under the jump, so be warned!
I’m going to get what I didn’t like out of the way first, because it’s a much smaller list than I thought it would be. Some of this is very, very nitpicky/from the perspective of a linguist, so YMMV. And that’s all cool!
Finrod’s hair. ugh, just. UGH. way, way too modern. broke my immersion immediately. Elrond’s and Celebrimbor’s hair I can learn to tolerate, but Finrod looked like he stepped out of a primary world hairdresser just last week. odd.
the introduction to the Harfoots was a little bit on the cheesy side
the whole “these warriors have earned their passage back to Valinor” thing was a little...I don’t feel it was extrapolated enough? After the War of Wrath, the ban of the Valar was lifted for the Noldorin exiles and Valinor was open to any of the Eldar who wished to leave Middle-earth. There was no ‘earning’ involved with it. Now, because the Professor umm’d and ahh’d about Galadriel’s personal ban, it could possibly work for her, earning her passage, but I think it would have been a little closer to canon if the warrior elves had been presented as choosing to go to Valinor, as they felt their personal duties on Middle-earth had been done.
the way the warrior band stood on the boat as it sailed. Did they...assume that position for the whole trip? I just. *gigglefit*
also puzzled as to why everyone apparently is required to wear white while in Aman...
me getting my linguist on: Poppy using the word “okay”. that jolted me out of immersion; “okay” has only been used in the primary world for the last couple of centuries; it’s distinctly modern and it’s so weird to hear it in a world where it wouldn’t even exist.
I still don’t like the costume designs for the elves (although in the series they admittedly look much, much prettier than in the trailers -- you can see the details of the fabrics and the accoutrements much better), Celebrimbor especially (I just...why would you want to make such a stately character look so dowdy? Especially if they’re being played by Charles bloody Edwards, for goodness’ sake!). And while I don’t have a problem with the design of the Southlander’s apparel, some of it -- especially Bronwyn’s (gorgeous) blue dress -- doesn’t look at ALL worn enough, and seems too bright. The Southlanders aren’t rolling in money or culture, rich fabrics should be out of their price limits, so to speak.
Now. WHAT I LOVED.
that cinematography. This series isn’t even eye-candy, it’s eye-HEAVEN. Everything is so gorgeous and sweeping. I’m incredibly partial to the elven places (someone take me to Lindon. NOW.), but holy crap Khazad-Dum was amazing, too! The look on my face during that entry scene was exactly the same as Elrond’s!
THAT. SCORE. Bear McCreary is a force of nature and criminally underrated.
I’m still not sure why, but the boat coming to Valinor (or approaching its borders, technically) scene made me tear up something dreadful. It was just...so beautiful. The music, the golden light, the birds that swirled around the ship, the parting clouds...
Elrond. Elrond, Elrond, ai, meldenya Elerondo. Robert Aramayo played him to perfection. You can see his youth and inexperience, but you can also see hints of the mighty elf lord that he will eventually become. And he really does seem as kind as summer, too! And...SO ADORKABLE. The way he lit up when he was told Galadriel had arrived. Their friendship is EVERYTHING. (So yeah, haters, he talks to her very directly because they’re close and he cares, so can we just let all this “how DARE he speak to Galadriel like that!” claptrap die already?
Galadriel. Holy crap, Nerwen, my beautiful girl. I love how we can see the side of her that Tolkien wrote about in Unfinished Tales, that fire she has in her belly, that horrific knowledge which will eventually be tempered into wisdom. Morfydd Clark’s performance was absolutely astounding -- how she managed to have that utter longing and yet tearing hesitation in the Valinor scene is beyond me, and it’s wonderful.
Celebrimbor. I just. Charles Edwards nailed him, his enthusiasm and his longing to do something of consequence -- not for himself, but for Middle-earth. Also, his whole “I like people who create things, I don’t care what race they are, I just wanna see the awesome” is just...so...pure. And that guarded sort of look he had when Elrond was admiring Fëanor’s hammer, like he’s quite conflicted about his heritage...goddamn, man. He has my whole damn heart and he can encase it in silver filigree and keep it forever. ♥
...oh I am gonna be a frickin’ MESS by the end of this, aren’t I.
The Harfoots. I was so prepared to hate them, but I was so pleasantly surprised -- they’re just like the hobbits of the Third Age, simply nomadic. There’s still that sense of family and community, the little sparks of adventurousness here and there, and they’re honestly adorable.
Nori. I was actually positive I was going to hate her and she’d annoy me to the sky, but she’s so cute! A cute, determined, scared but brave, wilful little sprite of a hobbit. There’s definitely something Tookish about her.
Dísa is A M A Z I N G. She’s warm, personable, friendly, bold, brash, larger than life, heckin’ gorgeous, and oh god I ship her and Durin so hard. Their relationship just...*clutches heart* I really get that their relationship is solid enough for her to be able to tell him in absolutely no uncertain terms that he’s being an ass, and she does NOT approve, but this doesn’t change her love for him remotely. (I wanna see the wee dwarves, too! More of their family in later eps, please please please!)
Oh, Arondir. He tries to remain so stoic, but his sorrow and worry is heavy around him like a cloak, and how Ismael Cruz Cordova managed to show that is just great. Also, him and Bronwyn! They barely held hands in either episode but it’s so obvious they’re helplessly in love -- emphasis on the helpless; they both know it can’t happen. But they love, love, love, they can’t help it. I have way too many feelings about them, way too many. (...they’re gonna break my heart, aren’t they? Well, I mean, technically everyone is going to, because, uh...Second Age and all, but.)
speaking of best mama bear Bronwyn: I love her hair, the braided-in-kerchief thing. I’m gonna try that on my own hair, I think.
loved the little name drops and hints here and there -- Elrond mentioning Fëanor, Durin and Dísa mentioning Aulë, etc etc. If you don’t have the rights to film it...just mention it! (So yes, the writers have delved into the lore, after all!)
Overall, 8/10. And I’m just. I’m so happy to be back in Middle-earth. The trailers and teasers don’t show how good it really is. I have never been that happy after finishing a TV episode of anything before in my life. I’m so looking forwards to the next five years! ♥
