[tv trailer] The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

[Andrew_C]

Not watched this week's yet; reasonably happy with it over all.

 

However - last week's arrival of the good guys, just at the time the bad guys were likely to win, was more than a little "deus ex machina". Hope that's not too much of a spoiler.

[LeMarchand]

However - last week's arrival of the good guys, just at the time the bad guys were likely to win, was more than a little "deus ex machina". Hope that's not too much of a spoiler.

 

Maybe that's where

.

 

Loved this week's though it really felt like the final ep of the season. Will be a long wait for the next season...

[mikeprice]

I have watched the first few episodes

 

If you just ignore that it is supposed to be something to do with Tolkien

 

and work on the basis that it is based on what someone heard about the world that Tolkien created and told to his mate in the pub who was drunk but described what he could remember to the writers a few days

later

 

via a translator

 

 

and the writers had watched the LOR films but were tired and dozed through some bits

 

 

then watch it as something seperate based on a similar world but re-uses the same names of people and things and races

and just enjoy it for that

 

then it is OK

far better than a lot of Fantasy series I have seen

[Andrew_C]

Maybe that's where

.

 

Loved this week's though it really felt like the final ep of the season. Will be a long wait for the next season...

But the beacons had been lit, and Theoden knew where he was needed, and knew he needed to be there ASAP. And could have had scouts reporting...

 

Not just setting sail to get rid of an elf, with hundreds of horses in small boats etc. Of which there is a cartoon doing the rounds.

[LeMarchand]

But the beacons had been lit, and Theoden knew where he was needed, and knew he needed to be there ASAP. And could have had scouts reporting...

 

Not just setting sail to get rid of an elf, with hundreds of horses in small boats etc. Of which there is a cartoon doing the rounds.

 

Yeah, but he was probably waiting just the other side of the ridge for that perfect moment appear.

[Andrew_C]

This ship.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I have watched the first few episodes

 

If you just ignore that it is supposed to be something to do with Tolkien

 

and work on the basis that it is based on what someone heard about the world that Tolkien created and told to his mate in the pub who was drunk but described what he could remember to the writers a few days

later

 

via a translator

 

 

and the writers had watched the LOR films but were tired and dozed through some bits

 

 

then watch it as something seperate based on a similar world but re-uses the same names of people and things and races

and just enjoy it for that

 

then it is OK

far better than a lot of Fantasy series I have seen

 

See this is the bit that I don't get...

 

For all its faults, the show is a loving recreation of the second age.

 

Yes, they have adapted it for television, added some characters and contracted the timeline in order to better tell the story.

But in terms of the world itself, they've certainly done their research. The discussions between characters about historical events in Beleriand and Valinor are very well researched. The Dwarves' reverence for Aulë is a lovely touch.

Numenor looks every-inch the Atlantis-like gift of the Gods it was supposed to be. They've cleverly made the architecture very similar to that of Gondor, which makes it instantly familiar. The place also feels like a nation in decline. Far earlier than it should be, but that's to be expected given the accelerated timeline.

 

The makers of the show very clearly know the history of Middle-Earth in exquisite detail, and I appreciate that.

[mikeprice]

See this is the bit that I don't get...

 

For all its faults, the show is a loving recreation of the second age.

 

Yes, they have adapted it for television, added some characters and contracted the timeline in order to better tell the story.

But in terms of the world itself, they've certainly done their research. The discussions between characters about historical events in Beleriand and Valinor are very well researched. The Dwarves' reverence for Aulë is a lovely touch.

Numenor looks every-inch the Atlantis-like gift of the Gods it was supposed to be. They've cleverly made the architecture very similar to that of Gondor, which makes it instantly familiar. The place also feels like a nation in decline. Far earlier than it should be, but that's to be expected given the accelerated timeline.

 

The makers of the show very clearly know the history of Middle-Earth in exquisite detail, and I appreciate that.

 

Yes - I should admit that my comment was a bit over the top

 

(WHat ME???)

 

but tackling the whole of the second age was always going to be taking on too much

and the plot has to be based on certain characters that flow through

 

 

and it is a LONG time

 

 

I suppose that I mostly dislike the total changing og some of the characters - including Mithril is you can call a metal a character! - and the show horning of hobbits into the story

 

Numenor as a city is, as you say, appropriate in that it looks like Gondor in the films

but there is no real concept there of the grandeur of the 'race' and their power - it seems a bit like a normal city witha high opinion of itself and some kind of past with the Elves

 

Mind you I have not seen to the end of Sesaon one yet - I think I have 1 or 2 episodes to go so it might improve

 

 

and Elrond just grates - seems wrong to me - which may be just me

 

 

Mrs mikeprice has said she wants to watch it so that will be interesting as she has not read the Silmarillion and is very fussy about films and actors

e.g. her coming to watch James Bond films with me comes under the category of "no greater love than this"!!

 

so if she think it is weak without the background getting in the way then it will re-enforce my opinion

 

 

we shall see

[LeMarchand]

and Elrond just grates - seems wrong to me - which may be just me

 

It's the hair. Most of the male elves in RoP (Arondir being a notable exception) seem to be overly fond of sculpting their hair into weird shapes.

[AlistairB1983]

It's the hair. Most of the male elves in RoP (Arondir being a notable exception) seem to be overly fond of sculpting their hair into weird shapes.

I don't mind the hair so much, for me Elrond's issues are more to do with the squareness of his jaw/face as a whole. Maybe that's because it's just so different to Hugo Weaving's face.

[LeMarchand]

Well, I enjoyed that season. Shame it is possibly 2024 before the next. I really hope that the change of location doesn't mean it will look more like "Game of Thrones" than the LotR we are used to.

[paulkerton]

Well, I enjoyed that season. Shame it is possibly 2024 before the next. I really hope that the change of location doesn't mean it will look more like "Game of Thrones" than the LotR we are used to.

 

If it takes 2 years for it to come along, then they're going to see a massive fall off in interest. Its fine if its the last season of a GoT or something else with a huge fan base after 7 seasons.

2 yearly releases of LOTR:TROP will kill it stone dead. Once it got past the first few episodes, I really enjoyed it but I'm not going to keep track if its 2 yearly.

[LeMarchand]

They're saying that they'd rather it take longer and be great than rush it. That said, isn't that what GRRM has been saying for years? Even as a long time fan (pre ASOIAF) of his work, I have to say that "A Dance With Dragons" was poor.

[mikeprice]

Just watched the last episode and it was rather like an inverted Game of Thrones

 

got better quite a lot

 

seriously firmed up and came closer - but not exactly close - to the 'proper' events

but then cramming several centuries into a couple of episodes would be a stretch

 

but much better than I was expecting

 

some bits that I was not expecting

 

 

much better

 

 

on a personal basis

not sure 'Nori' should be called Elanor because the flower on Cerin Amroth (spelling???) are not known yet

 

but then I named my daughter after those flowers - and Samwise's daughter - so I might be biased

and $reasons

 

 

still much improved

[Andrew_C]

Broad brush comment:-

 

Not as good as LOTR, but better than the Hobbit.

 

Bits I like, the nods to what is to come ("the air smells sweeter" etc) but is does seem cramped chronologically. Understandable, but grates a bit.

[LeMarchand]

Season 2 coming August 29th.

 

[mikeprice]

Season 2 coming August 29th.

 

 

Good trailer

 

WHen I watch it - which I will - I must remember that it is BASED ON stuff that happened in the Tolkein books

with many of the same names

 

but not actually the same story - which annoyed me last time until I realised i had to go beyond that and accept it for what it is

[Andrew_C]

AND you may have seen that Peter Jackson et al are looking at "The Search For Gollum". As long as there aren't too many fights, or ****ing rabbits...

[synaesthesia]

AND you may have seen that Peter Jackson et al are looking at "The Search For Gollum". As long as there aren't too many fights, or ****ing rabbits...

 

what about potatoes? Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew...

[Andrew_C]

Spuds are fine - "Boscabel Bunnies" - NOT SO MUCH. Radagast wasn't supposed to be some kind of fool.

[mikeprice]

AND you may have seen that Peter Jackson et al are looking at "The Search For Gollum". As long as there aren't too many fights, or ****ing rabbits...

 

I am not holding up much hope

 

the phrase "step to far" might apply

 

if indeed it doesn't already

[LeMarchand]

It's ComicCon time.

 

[Arthur]

Season 3 teaser trailer.