The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power
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Its been a while, hasnt it?
Tolkiens fantasy could be convincingly brought to life.
The peace wont last long, however.
So oops, belated spoiler warning we know how this story will eventually end.
So isThe Rings of Powera project that will simply fill in the gaps?
Payne and Patrick McKay and directed by J.A.
Bayona (The Impossible,Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom).
Thats not to say thatThe Rings of Powerdoesnt relay the exposition with a tremendous amount of flair.
(Maybe Ents?)
It would be jarring if this version of Middle-earth looked radically different from the Middle-earth we already know.
Shadow of the Pastdoesnt quite begin with the Tolkien equivalent of the big bang, but it comes close.
The series opening line even has in the beginning in it: Nothing is evil in the beginning.
Thats an apt way to begin a Tolkien-inspired series.
Tolkiens world doesnt have the same moral murkiness of George R.R.
Kind of like a ship and a stone when you think about it.
The ship has a secret, Finrod tells her.
The most important truths, he replies, often are.
A brief Galadriel origin story follows.
It also leaves Galadrielquiteangry, hell-bent on revenge after Finrod dies in the struggle against Sauron.
Never mind the clues, including Saurons distinctive sigil.
One fight with a (really cool-looking) snow-troll and theyre ready to call it quits.
Its here thatThe Rings of Powerleaves Galadriels side for the first time.
It wont be the last.
In time, it seems likely that the series will draw its many characters and plot strands together.
But for now, its doing a lot of globe-trotting.
(Or, more accurately, map-trotting, given the machine used to show transitions.)
First stop: Rhovanion, the wilder lands east of the Anduin.
They do seem frightened of some dangerous creatures called Harfoots.
Whatever the case, they certainly seem alotlike Hobbits.
Theres no Shire to speak of for the Harfoots, however, or at least for this band.
They live a surreptitious floating existence, hiding their quaint, makeshift village from any passersby.
This, it would seem, will serve as a bit of foreshadowing for Nori.
Nobody goes off-trail, and nobody walks alone.
She hears this but obviously doesnt take it to heart.
Thats the bad news.
The good news: Elronds old friend Galadriel has arrived.
Shes still angry about her company turning against her, but Elronds sympathy only goes so far.
He kind of agrees that Galadriel went too far.
Its a high honor that doubles as a forced retirement.
But the look Galadriel shoots Elrond suggests that she feels her work here is far from over.
Celebrimbor is about to begin a new project of singular importance.
Celebrimbor emerges from the shadows to tell him, but well have to wait.
It is apparently dull work, at least when it comes to catching bad guys.
But like Galadriel, hes not so sure the bad guys have given up on Middle-earth.
(A return of the king, you say?)
Whats a suspicious/lovestruck elf to do?
Love can make you do strange things, however.
The one bearing Saurons sigil?
Bronwyn knows the place well.
The cow had been grazing close to her birthplace, a region known to have been sympathetic to Morgoth.
Theyre sure to find something of note in the ruins, but that will have to wait.
Its not the only strange happening afoot, however.
What lands from the skies, a man surrounded by flame, is stranger still.
As the episode ends, all Nori can do is look on in wonder.
Aramayo played a young Ned Stark onGame of Thrones.
Henry has been a high-profile actor and comedian in the U.K. since the 1980s.
Theyve worked together for years, often contributing without credit to projects likeJungle CruiseandStar Trek Beyond.
Is anyone else feeling a little winded after that episode?
Thats a lot of information to take in, right?
Still, its a pretty compelling hour that should allow future episodes to benefit from the groundwork laid here.
