Rings of Power finally broke me! My last review: S2 Episode 6

[@g.t.werber4476]

I hold your oath fulfilled . Go ,be at peace

[@Enerdhil]

It is now time to take the ship to the Undying Lands, where the lore is undefiled, for none that hold evil in the hearts may enter.

[@Enerdhil]

Council needs the healing of Irmo and Estë.

[@mohango9776]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Norderas]

Would love to see you continue on your version, "The Rings of Power should have been - A Second Age series". :)

[@DamnPictures]

[whooshing sounds]

[@niallgaffney2475]

Can’t wait for Gandalf to visit the valley of hats in season 3.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Lol

[@Yugemos]

Pretty sure that's how he finds out he's in Gryffendor.

[@catlinferris5970]

😅

[@Mo-hx8ls]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@aleksander8497]

When will he go on a guest to fully get his name?

[@lingricen8077]

“And then there is more crying…how else would the island drown?” 😂😂😂😂😂

[@CounciloftheRings]

We all know it's true

[@lingricen8077]

@@CounciloftheRings Plus our tears of laughter at how bad this show is Its the way you said it so casually that made it so funny as well

[@theoneandonlysoslappy]

Hysterical

[@The_Reality_Filter]

​@@CounciloftheRings The sea is, after all, always right..

[@MisterDougal]

That was better than any line the show runners came up with 😂😂😂

[@davidwebb6556]

Of all the channels that spoke the truth against Rings of Power, yours spoke the truest. Thank you for your service.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you! Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!

[@TimeGoes-b7x]

Yes, in a more direct concise least bloated manner.

[@iainhannify5533]

Bomb Tumbletit , nailed the character.

[@mattteomatei3610]

He did not The series may have flaws, but is decent at the least. Incredible as far as I'm concerned

[@TimeGoes-b7x]

@@mattteomatei3610 Jeffery!? 🧐

[@brian8130]

Totally understandable, they don't even deserve the negative attention anymore. Thank you for defending Tolkien

[@calistudent6335]

Agreed. When you spend time filling up comments of unrelated LOTR videos and discussion with obsessive hate about Amazon's attempted work, it's time to move on. Not any better than their level.

[@0jiro]

I again thank you for your service. It's admirable you could make it to episode 6.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you! 🙏

[@fueledbylove]

Actually it is episode #14 of the series.

[@Enerdhil]

​@@fueledbylove Yes, but he had two years to recover from Episodes 1~8😅

[@fueledbylove]

@@Enerdhil Ah, clever.

[@lynnm6413]

@@CounciloftheRings I couldn‘t even finish the first episode of Season 2…

[@tomasz9429]

"There is no lore. -10/10" Jesus wept...

[@Zikuth]

Hahahaha that was pretty accurate XD

[@chamuuemura5314]

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

[@nonamename4367]

No Lore = very bad ima cry lol

[@Enerdhil]

Jesus interceded for JRR.🙏✝️

[@Lrcorndog]

They don’t have rights to everything ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@GordonSmith-nd4oy]

Even as a generic fantasy show it has poor writing, poor direction, poor acting and poor production values. As an adaptation of Tolkien’s work, it is a travesty of both its content and underlying themes.

[@RobertoEarnywho]

i.think the greatest weakness is the plot. Acting Ok some good some weak. The production values are good , the story that puts the production into building a hobbit desert village or a staff valley , well see what i mean?

[@ralphdamianiart]

"Why doesn't it feel like Tolkien?" is the big question here, and I think the right answer is: "It wouldn't and won't ever feel like Tolkien." Tolkien is a product of his time and age-of his deep Christianity, of a post-imperialist Britain coming out of one great war and diving headfirst into another. He was a man of academia, raised on classic epics and romantic prose rooted in traditional values. In his later years, Tolkien was already haunted by the invasion of postmodernism, corporatism, and celebrity culture. Cut to these two American screenwriters in their early forties, coming fresh out of Yale, landing this job after working a decade as script doctors and assistants. Their entire lifetime experience has been shaped by postmodern literature and mass media consumption. Like most of us, they are hardcore fans of hit television shows and blockbuster cinema. They have no filmmaking experience, were born during the longest peace period in human history, and have never wanted for anything. Their most immediate concern is social injustice and wealth inequality. How could they possibly write about subjects like war, chivalry, theology, anthropology, or linguistics? Everything they write will inevitably be pastiche and mimicry. They are not scholars, travelers, or auteurs; they are just fans like us. And they have no substantial material to adapt-just footnotes and lines written for other stories. This could never work with this format and writing by committee.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Great insights, Ralph! I still think it could be adapted 'well' by people that respected Tolkien and wanted to tell it like he wanted. Not in the current political climate of Hollywood though, but maybe some day.

[@A5tr0101]

Even the films don't feel like Tolkein in that case, there is so much they missed. And so much included in rings of power actually. Tom Bombadil is arguably one of the most important and powerful characters. You can't claim to be a Tolkein fan if you shit on things that he created which inspire the show. Especially the characters, what they were doing. Who their alliances were, the materials to create the rings. All of this is juicy to me.

[@AlexSolaire]

​​@@A5tr0101 Personally I think the exclusion of Tom Bombadil in the movie was necessary. The movie would have suffered so much pacing in the first act.

[@Relixification]

​@@A5tr0101ADAPTATION. It's a fking thing. Your hate on such matters for the films completely makes your opinion invalid.

[@ncheltsov]

I will summarise your thoughtful insides - it doesn't feel lik Tolkien because it is total shit.

[@HelloTosho]

Lay down Your sweet and weary head The night is falling You have come to journey's end

[@brushylake4606]

You watched it so we don't have to. I'll pray for your mental health.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

You pray for this instead of going back in time and preventing WW2? Priorities of christians...

[@brushylake4606]

@@PROVOCATEURSK Oh, you're so funny...such a deep thinker...you really showed me up. smh You're probably a ROP fan, aren't you?

[@Enerdhil]

Yes 🙏 for healing and recovery.✝️

[@Enerdhil]

​@@PROVOCATEURSK The prayer is for Council, not the series and if you a problem with that then you have darker issues to deal with in your soul.

[@brushylake4606]

It was a joke. The show is such a dumpster fire that I was joking that it might emotionally damage him.

[@frankblack8573]

14 episodes! You are a true warrior. I surrendered after 15min...

[@MarcelNL]

2 days ago I got my first 4K tv. The first thing I decided to watch was LOTR in UHD, but the colors were crazy over the top. Then I decided to give Rings Of Powers a try. The colors were MUCH better........but that was absolutely the only good thing I could say about it.

[@rayalbion9637]

5 mins for me , I then knew it was going to be utter tripe

[@Terminator775]

Then I guess I take the crown because I didnt even watch 1 second of the show.

[@SergiuSalcau00]

same

[@Tedger]

3 eps 1st season.. the end.. tried roll it on backround while doing other stuff.. but it was so bad that had to end it..

[@thetownsend2990]

The shows shit. Thanks for the video though ❤

[@rudign]

Shit shows dont get renewed. clearly the majority of people wanted more.

[@matheusxavier9080]

@@rudignor they just have money to burn 💁🏻‍♂️

[@laurensb1b]

@@rudign it was never renewed because its Bezo's pet project funded with unlimitied Amazon money. They are gonna make 5 seasons regardless if anyone likes it or watches it. Any other show would have been axed after losing 90% of its audience in a season and a half.

[@DifferentMMO]

@@rudign The show is just an ad for Amazon Prime, nothing else. They try to get more subscribers with a big IP. Thats the only reason why it gets renewed.

[@rudign]

@@DifferentMMO Amazon needing more subs is the wildest thing you could’ve said

[@florpodesta561]

The stolen line, they made it mean the opposite of mercy. Of all the crimes, that was the greatest.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah

[@florpodesta561]

@@CounciloftheRings Pity you are not reviewing anymore... I would love hearing your review of Ep 7. It was the Best Worst Episode!!! Hilarious and nefarious.

[@Hemskelol]

I don't understand how anyone can sit through this honestly. I was actually excited for RoP before we knew anything about it, because Amazon has unlimited money and I assumed they would hire talented people whom worked on Peter Jacksons trilogy. When the first images dropped I instantly recognized it for what it is: woke dei propaganda, way too on the nose, terrible acting, and horrendous writing.

[@nonamename4367]

it got better season 2 have you watched it or only reviews?

[@troffle]

@@nonamename4367 You didn't watch the video on this very page, did you?

[@Yugemos]

@@nonamename4367 The DEI gets worse in Season 2... They put token diversity in every scene. The show is a California Cast for DEI reasons entirely.

[@Hemskelol]

@@nonamename4367 bot 🤮

[@paigemurray6700]

@@nonamename4367got substantially worse. I’ve suffered through every episode.

[@destroy-erase-improve9106]

My friend at work was praising this seasons first few episodes (he’s read the history of middle earth so I’m dumbfounded…). He came in last week and said “I just can’t do it anymore. It’s going nowhere. Does anything actually happen?”. My answer “I refuse to watch it so I wouldn’t know”.

[@Yersina.]

Thanks for reviewing this show as long as you did. You were one of the few who didn't turn towards fat jokes, jokes against women every chance you got I really appreciated your thoughts on the show, even with as little as it had to do with Tolkien

[@TimeGoes-b7x]

Yes

[@ChrisMisMYhandle]

Oh wow, you sound broken. I didn't even make it half way through the 1st episode, and that took 3 sittings. Im happy for your decision. Look forward to your other videos.

[@TheTolkienCurmudgeon]

I am glad you mentioned Corey Olson and his over-the-top sickening adulation of nearly everything about this show. I suspect he has some kind of agreement with Amazon. How else would he be able to employ loads of imagery and music from the series? If that is what he thinks scholarship is about, then he is doing damage to his own "brand" (Signum University). It's sad, really.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye, it’s quite sad, really

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

Your voice sounded even more weary & blasé than usual! 😅 Stay strong, we are counting on you!! Nay, we NEED you!

[@Enerdhil]

You are absolutely right. Council is the best at exposing all the lore violations and fan fiction flaws in TRoP. It is a shame to lose his review videos but he has plenty of must-see lore videos coming up.🙏😁👍

[@alcoholfueledgaming9431]

I just can't wrap my head around the fact that people think it's a good show and the 2 dbag show runners haven't been fired.

[@politicallycorrectindividu2867]

The negative scores always crack me up -5/10 😂

[@Enerdhil]

That's based on a scale of 1-10, where 1 means you like it the smallest amount possible.😂 Hate starts at -1. So 5-6 is average hate.🤣

[@georgiosFreeman]

This was the episode that broke me too. I managed to watch until now, wondering where they are getting with this. And now that they are finally progressing their narrative it is just unimaginable that they inspired themselves from the Legendarium. How much time I wasted with strangers online who tried to convince me and everybody else this show respects Tolkien. I wonder how these people are still feeling.

[@Jayako12]

I don't think those people really care, they are just parroting what they hear.

[@nonamename4367]

Na if this episode broke you how did you even survive episode 3-4 😂 like cmon

[@georgiosFreeman]

@@nonamename4367 It was clear they have zero respect for the lore, straight from the first minutes of the first season, when the High King sent Galadriel to Valinor because she would not give up looking for Sauron. It has been painful so far, but my curiosity has been able to balance my pain. Now I am no longer curious. They have managed to defile every single concept of Arda and even their made up things like Adar and his Orc rebellion.

[@kjellduteweert9262]

Oh i started laughing so hard when Diasa started singing, no jelling. My god that is so stupid. Great vid.

[@Yugemos]

Also, the Dwarfs would've had to leave the spot for like 5 minutes while the giant bats left, then resume moving diversity hire Disa.

[@domepuncher]

I've generally believed that even subpar time spent in Middle Earth is better than spent elsewhere. But this episode finally broke me as well. Unforgivable.

[@troffle]

To be fair, the question ought to be whether it's "Middle-earth" or "Bizarro Middle-earth" or "Middle-Hollywood".

[@aleksander8497]

Poor imitation of Tolkien's Middle Earth

[@zatchbell5678]

This is anti-middle earth

[@williamhowells7777]

Your reviews have been the most enjoyable aspect of Rings of Power. There is something comforting about commiserating with another about these episodic atrocities. I for one, will really miss your reviews. I would love it if you changed your mind and finished out the season. Thanks again for expressing the frustration that so many of us have been feeling...

[@lars88hm]

Not even the Valar can use the secret fire, but aperantly mr "Grand elf" can master it. It all makes so much sense now

[@tominiowa2513]

How Eru Ilúvatar let the Ainur use the power of the Secret Fire when creating Arda would be a topic worthy of its own video.

[@dinofelis9343]

Oh God. Grand Elf Grandelf Gandelf Gandalf

[@rodrigoconstantino]

I thought it was wand elf

[@Neon002121]

How you made it this far is beyond me. As soon as Galadriel decided to swim back to Middle Earth I noped out. I admire your fortitude.

[@CounciloftheRings]

I would have left the moment Finrod talked about why ships float and stones do not, hahaha. I lasted longer than I thought I would

[@Enerdhil]

​@@CounciloftheRings Yes. I think their point was that people in glass ships don't throw stones.🤪

[@gregorronckers7645]

You went above and beyond your duty by watching for so long. You have suffered enough. Rest now and be joyfull that you ll never have to watch it again. Time heals many wounds. Looking forward to your new video! I salute you

[@kengami]

too bad, because I really cherish your reviews since you are very much level headed in your thoughts. I can completely understand your decision though. One does feel a bit more violated after each episode...

[@Enerdhil]

I agree that Council's reviews are fantastic, but they are not worth the PTSD.

[@Quizum8]

Oh I agree 100%! But will miss these reviews nonetheless!

[@Quizum8]

Stolen so much dialogue: „Sauron rises in the West, the dark wizard in the East. Every soul in Middle-Earth is in peril. Will you abandon them to their doom?“ „Turn away now and you can never return to this path.“ The road goes on and on…

[@toodlepop]

no one wants to watch "game of the rings".

[@aunggatshah4243]

Myfordd Clark would need an actual ring of power to rebuild her acting career after this.

[@CounciloftheRings]

😂😂

[@Yugemos]

I wonder if the next villain in her career will get two extra S's added to his name. Sounds like she's impersonating a snake.

[@Enerdhil]

Would that be an engagement ring?💍🤣😂😆

[@aunggatshah4243]

@@Yugemos ssssssssauron hsssssss

[@luismancerapascual4608]

By the end of the episode i wanted to join Gollum and jump into the lava... I'm trying to be positive here 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Brilliant

[@hugomouro5909]

We thank you for your sacrifice. It's quite understable and somewhat expected. Funny you mentioned the Tolkien professor, I watched one of his videos and it's 50% explaining Tolkien via the books and 50% grasping at straws to find reasons for reasons about every event of the show. It's quite odd.

[@CounciloftheRings]

He is wrong to many times it's painful. I tried to watch one of his videos from season 1 and had to shut it down. I hope he enjoys his 30 pieces of silver from Amazon.

[@eglar86]

​@@CounciloftheRings yep. Although he is claiming to be a Tolkien scholar, he either gets a lots of things factually wrong or twists facts to support his pro-ROP arguments.

[@troffle]

@@CounciloftheRings if you recover your strength... well, it does sound as if the Mediaeval Professor who's falsely adopted the title of "Tolkien professor" needs to have HIS videos exposed and scoured by review...?

[@troffle]

@@CounciloftheRings Review HIS videos, we beg of you. Show just how deep his betrayal runs.

[@CounciloftheRings]

@@troffle it takes too long, even watching them. While the internet would love the drama where a self-proclaimed expert gets called out, it’s not worth my time currently. I find it more interesting to tell things as they are

[@gabrielcruz6752]

4:21 I now comprehend why it finally broke you. Olórin, the disciple of Nienna. Olórin, the humble keeper of Gnosis, Sophia and Estel that fulfilled the new approach in which the Valar helped Middle earth without the use of force or other authoritarian measures. Olórin, treated like this by Am4zon, is enough. Thank you for your work!

[@Enerdhil]

I think a lot of people are going to be shocked 😱 and enraged 🤬 when the Stranger turns out to be one of the Blue Wizards.

[@KnightRonin0103]

I completely understand. The RoP is an abomination.

[@politicallycorrectindividu2867]

This series is a literal shitshow

[@Enerdhil]

It's a 🤡 show that ---> a 💩 show.

[@YouTellemFrosk]

You’re not alone, I’m seeing plenty of the other content makers giving up. Problem is having to comment over and again that.. the dialogue, the majority of the direction and writing, and the lore; is pretty poor. Probably a wise decision

[@lucianotesta5019]

We share your pain. This is ridiculous.

[@jypsumfantastic]

Ah buddy! I guess I can't blame you. The show is torture to watch

[@timbotron4000]

The character of Earien is absolutely frustrating. It's her fault that her father is about to "die" but she is so incredibly sad. Her character makes absolutely no sense.

[@CounciloftheRings]

100%

[@yaroslavgerzhedovich6064]

Just wannabe Sansa Stark... but GoT had far superior acting.

[@BobbyBaloney]

Yes. The whole “Bend the knee” and jail scene felt like cheap copies of Ned Stark last moments in GOT.

[@timbotron4000]

@BobbyBaloney this whole episode was a rip off of other stories better than ROP...GoT and Star Wars

[@lancemanyon7618]

@@yaroslavgerzhedovich6064 correct, but Sansa Stark was a very mid character in a huge ensemble cast… she was like the 4th or 5h most interesting member of her own family.

[@danilokrdzavac6603]

Monthy Python a comedy is far more serious then this enormous hollywood turd

[@AnnieEC4]

Thank you for your service and for defending Tolkien

[@Shnickers123]

I used to like The Nerds of the Rings channel, but he has become just a shill and flat out covering for this horrible show, I love that you are Honest and pull no punches…True and Honest review of this badly written show…

[@anarionelendili8961]

I posted this to the Angry Joe Show: A couple of things about the Sauron Vision scene that bugged me... 1.) It was night when the orcs attacked, but the vision was full daytime with sunshine. Sure, it made for a nice visual contrast, but it also implies that Celebrimbor was so wrapped up in his work and his forge not having any openings to the outside world at all that he would miss that. Mind control handwavey, still, bothered me. 2.) Celebrimbor is standing there, out in the open, talking to Annatar, without a care in the world. Not one of the elves running around thought to maybe seek some help or solace from the two leaders of the city?

[@CounciloftheRings]

As usual - Logic: -10/10

[@Enerdhil]

Daylight comes through openings in the building where the forge is housed. Even if Celebrimbor was working his arse off, he still must have eaten. Surely he knows he ate dinner two hours ago, meaning evening. They could have easily had those visions inside the building. Galadriel was ushered to the raft and other places without moving. But they paid for an expensive statue of Fëanor and wanted to show it off before having it destroyed. Payne and McKay are so transparent.🙄

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I broke on this same episode. The previous episode was almost decent but this one... Tom Yodadil being a mentor to Lukedalf, spewing nonsense about the secret fire, and then misusing my favorite quote of the whole Lord of the Rings to mean something completely opposite (it's fine to let your friends die if it's for a good cause) just... It killed me. I can't watch this anymore...

[@CounciloftheRings]

Spot on!

[@Enerdhil]

When I first heard that Tom Bombadil would be in TRoP, fëar struck my heart because I had already seen what Payne and McKay are capable of doing with lore characters. Nevertheless, when I heard that Tom would be singing songs like he does in FotR, I became hope (Estel), but Alas! A leopard cannot change its spots and the dynamic duo cannot write dialogue for Tolkien characters. Tom Bombadil has been out of character all season. He goes perfectly with the Harfoots, Stoors, and the Rhûn storyline.

[@StrangeWayfarings]

It's almost 2 full seasons in now and there isn't a single character in the entire show that I would care if they somehow died. Not one. Not even one. It's awful.

[@frankvandorp9732]

The whole Elendil plot this episode was a blatant Ned Stark ripoff, with the difference that they removed all aspects that made Ned Stark's story impactful and made it lame instead (unlike Ned, Elendil stays true to his beliefs, unlike Sansa, Earien is acting out of her own agency instead of being manipulated, unlike Joffrey, Pharazon loses in the end and all heroes survive, and to top it off, what is supposed to be Elendil's most heroic moment gets ultimately stolen from him by girlboss Miriel).

[@niallgaffney2475]

Ned Stark with a sprinkling of Tyrion’s trial.

[@InkyMuste]

I genuinely feel that the world would be a better place if this show didn't exist. Props to you for sticking with this for as long as you did.

[@faustomadebr]

The moment they announced a show without even having the rights to that story, I was done...

[@JoSan3]

"Swallow your pride" said the same people who can't swallow their pride and think they can write better than Tolkien

[@annaanna1981]

Your review lifts my spirits. This has been pretty terrible - it is admirable that you have lasted so long and I will miss your sighs and ironic commentary

[@JulieWilliams-i9f]

You are so right!

[@ethanbrown7198]

Fantastic. May Tolkien be a light for you when all other lights go out

[@leoruivos]

I also think I will just abandon it after this episode. The tipping point for me was the whole Galadriel x Adar interactions. None of them make even the smallest shred of sense. This show is written by braindead DEI hires.

[@Jayako12]

Never before had I supported IQ tests being public, but that writing room must lower the world's average considerably.

[@Yugemos]

Galadriel is supposed to be a gnarly badass she-elf... and they made her into a dumb blonde Starbucks chick.

[@allenwilhelm7799]

It's so bad lol

[@johnw1743]

I feel your pain. After witnessing a blatant rerun of Yoda training Luke on Dagobah even my resolve is weakening.

[@aoisagara8475]

Just a reminder that Nerd of the Rings gave s1 ep 1+2 an 8/10. Let that sink in

[@CounciloftheRings]

Really? Jeez

[@Enerdhil]

That was after Matt got back from his all-expenses-paid trip to England to see the special trailer only seen by influencers who accepted Bezos' invitation.

[@zatchbell5678]

Shiiiiiiiiil

[@odd4824]

Thank you for getting this far! The door is shut!

[@parapendejadas4913]

My grandma always said: "No matter what they tell you in school, Tolkien was a she/he/her/they/it trans-gay-pansexual-non binary-black-asian-woman"...

[@toodlescae]

I salute you for lasting this long. I dropped out after the explanation of why a ship floats abd a rock sinks. My roommate fell asleep during episode 2 of Season 1 and slept through the rest..he never went back to watch more.

[@johnwiks2597]

It doesn't feel like Tolkien because it's written by people who hate Tolkien and everything he believed in.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yes, I believe you are right

[@Zensor0815]

You missed the opportunity to say "I find it hard en-Durin them"

[@CounciloftheRings]

lol

[@Yugemos]

One could say it's the bane of his existence at this point.

[@ksedillo2233]

I actually stopped at the part where the dwarf wife yelled and the bats came. I was done at that scene, so stupid.

[@anarionelendili8961]

So something positive... When I was watching it, the dialogue between Adar and Galadriel at the table actually sounded alright, like it was actually two people talking for a change. Granted, I only watched it once and the bar was almost down to the floor anyway, but still. And compared to Tom's stolen line butchering the meaning and the convulsions of the plot in Numenor, I didn't actively hate that scene. Although the whole how did the orcs remain unnoticed by the keen elven eyes while Sauron had time to gallivant to Khazad-Dum and back (as Angry Joe Show pointed out), I do not know.

[@RickkBlanc]

Man! Move this guy! Awesome video

[@MarkFilipAnthony]

Sad. I've been looking forward to your episodes. Best part of the series

[@anna_luin]

I've watched the episode now and fully understand why it broke you. Thanks for the reviews. Looking forward to upcoming non ROP content :)

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you! You've I'm excited to see how people react to it

[@clownofthetimes6727]

Respect.

[@Arcessitor]

This is AI-generated Tom/Gandalf exchange. Compare and contrast: The trees of the Old Forest rustled in the soft evening breeze, their leaves whispering secrets in a language older than elves. Birds chirped, and the sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the ancient woods. A gentle melody floated on the air, the sound of a voice as old as the hills, singing to the rhythm of the earth itself. Gandalf, now dressed once more in his grey robes, walked slowly along the edge of the trees. His staff tapped the ground lightly as he moved with purpose, yet his heart was not heavy as it had been in the days of war. He felt the world beginning to heal, but there were questions in his mind-questions that had lingered through the ages. As if in answer to his thoughts, the singing grew louder. Ahead of him, seated on a fallen tree, was Tom Bombadil. He wore his blue coat and his bright yellow boots, his hat adorned with a long feather swaying as he bobbed his head in rhythm. His eyes sparkled like sunlight on a rippling brook. “Hey dol! Merry dol! Ring-a-dong-dillo!” Bombadil sang, laughing as he spotted the wizard. “Old Gandalf is wandering, out in the green fields! What brings you, oh Greyhame, to my borders once more?” Gandalf smiled, his old eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “I had a feeling I might find you here, Tom. The world has changed much since last we met.” “Changed, yes, and still the same in many ways!” Bombadil hopped down from his perch, as spry as ever, and approached Gandalf, a wide grin on his face. “The birds still sing, the trees still grow. Seasons turn, wind blows. But the world beyond the woods, ah, that’s what troubles you, I think.” Gandalf chuckled. “As always, you are more than you seem. Yes, the world beyond your woods has been through much. The Dark Lord is gone. The Ring is unmade. But there are still shadows that linger-questions that remain.” Bombadil’s face softened, and for a moment, his gaze grew distant. He was not often serious, but something in Gandalf’s words struck a chord. “Ah, the long dark and deep waters. The old wounds of the world, scars that do not heal with the turning of the age. What weighs on your mind, Gandalf?” Gandalf leaned on his staff and sighed. “So much death, Tom. So much loss. Sauron’s evil claimed many lives-some innocent, some guilty. And yet... I wonder. What of those who perished in darkness? Could they not have been redeemed? Even Gollum, in the end, played his part in the undoing of evil. But there are others-those who did not have a chance.” Tom Bombadil’s eyes twinkled again, though his smile was softer now, filled with ancient understanding. He sat on a nearby stone, gesturing for Gandalf to do the same. “Ah, you ponder the great question. Life and death, who is worthy of what fate? A hard riddle for even the wisest of wizards.” Bombadil chuckled, his tone gentle. “You speak of mercy. Perhaps you, Gandalf, already know the answer, deep in your heart.” Gandalf sat beside him, feeling the quiet power of the earth beneath his feet. “I have always believed in mercy, yes. But sometimes, I question whether my choices were right. The lives that were lost... Could I have done more?” Bombadil reached down and plucked a single flower, holding it up to the fading light. “Old Tom knows this world well, Gandalf. The flowers bloom, the trees grow tall, but all things must fade in time. Some pass in peace, and others... by violence or hatred. Yet life is not something easily judged.” He turned, his bright blue eyes fixing on Gandalf’s. “Do you remember what I told Frodo, when he came to my house? The barrow-wight, a dark soul long lost, was sent away, but not destroyed. Evil may fall, but it may also rise again, in strange forms. And yet, not all dark things are beyond hope.” Gandalf nodded, his face thoughtful. Bombadil rose suddenly, casting the flower into the wind. “And so, dear Gandalf, do you ask yourself who deserves to live? Who deserves to die? It is a question beyond even the Valar, I reckon. For what is death but a door? Some who pass through it deserve life again, and some who live may not yet be ready for it.” The wizard’s breath caught. He turned to Bombadil, sensing the gravity of his words. The old forest-dweller paused, gazing out over the ancient trees, his voice quiet yet resonating with ancient wisdom. “Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Gandalf? Can anyone?” Gandalf was silent for a long while, the weight of the question resting heavily upon him. He had seen so much, fought so long, and yet even now, there were mysteries beyond his understanding. “No,” Gandalf finally said, his voice filled with both sadness and acceptance. “I cannot.” Bombadil turned to him with a smile, though there was kindness in his eyes. “And that, my friend, is why mercy is greater than wisdom. We cannot know the fates of all, but we can show kindness where it is in our power. That is the gift we can give to this world.” Gandalf nodded slowly, his heart lighter. “You are wise, Tom. Far wiser than many realize.” Bombadil laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. “Wise, perhaps, but still Tom Bombadil! Old Tom is just himself, and that is enough. Now come, Gandalf! The night is young, and there’s still time for another song.” And with that, Bombadil began to sing once more, his voice mingling with the wind and the leaves, while Gandalf sat in peaceful contemplation, the weight of the world eased, if only for a little while.

[@Arcessitor]

The prompt was "Okay, so, we're now Tolkien. I want you to write an imagined scene between Tom Bombadil and Gandalf, which ultimately ends with Bombadil being the first to do the "Some that death deserve life" quote. ' Now, it didn't quite get what 'being the first to' means, but take the earlier context of the scene out and this seems quite like something Bombadil could say in Tolkien's story.

[@annienglish4378]

You've done your duty, rest now. ❤

[@JulieWilliams-i9f]

"Lay down your sleepy head". This is a false illusion from Sauron.

[@Enerdhil]

​@@JulieWilliams-i9f 😈------>😴 Look out!!😱

[@oscarstainton]

Your reviews had the most clarity and concise understanding about storytelling and lore, still I don’t blame you for backing out. Thank you for putting 100% more time and effort into your videos than the shitrunners responsible for this damn disaster.

[@Zikuth]

You made good to stop there. I was close and started the next one. You have not seen what I have seen. A kiss between Galadriel and Elrond. I cannot unsee this. Last thing that I look. Wanted to deinstall windows

[@CounciloftheRings]

I knew it would happen. I wrote it on September 1st actually... They just hate the lore so much

[@parallelpinkparakeet]

WHAT?? Please tell me you're trolling 😣

[@jnsl1982]

You held out longer than most of us. We can but to leave this be and feel sad for the generation growing up thinking this is Tolkien.

[@konardkonrado7755]

There are few moments i turned it off but i forced myself to watch till the end - bombadill stealing gandalf lines from lotr - kraken is bigger than eagle so you know kraken is right! - dont tell anybody that there is lying dead body wide open before eveyone with carved letters on chest... - erendir a ''great elf'' suprised by orc standing behind him!! LOL and among countless of facepalms real cherry on pie is galadriel betraying her kind to an orc lord .... omg i could not stand it. this cant be for real they are trolling us really.

[@etistone]

I enjoy the roasting of this show since season 1 since I was so upset and disapointed by the butchering of Tolkiens universe. But now, more and more, I don't care. Let this sorry show fall into oblivion.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah exactly. Let it rot in the darkness where it belongs.

[@etistone]

@@CounciloftheRings Next to the russianTV version of LOTR. 🤢

[@nonamename4367]

Yikes just watch it lil bro you may like it. It’s like when a baby eats food they like but make a ugly face just to say no

[@etistone]

@@nonamename4367 I'm 40, I read the hobbit, the LOTR, with the appendix, the Simarillon, the unfinished tales 20 years ago. I loved Peter Jackson adaptation, that is how I discovered this universe. But I'm really not the target audience for this show, I think. I've seen a bit of it and it is not for me. I love watching house of the dragon though. So, it's not that I lost interest in this kind of stuff.

[@olaf3140]

No no, no oblivion until they've spent a billion on the full five seasons 😂

[@the2ndbreakfastclub]

As much as I don’t blame you for not wanting to make more reviews I must say that I’m going to miss them. You have consistently had the best, most insightful and honest reviews. The only thing that excites me about this show is looking forward to your reviews each week. Like I said though I don’t blame you, I personally stopped reviewing the show halfway through season 1. I couldn’t stomach watching each episode more than once to get my edits haha. Anyways thank you for the great reviews!

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you! 🙏 hopefully the other stuff will be even more exciting! Time will tell 😁

[@the2ndbreakfastclub]

@@CounciloftheRings I’m sure it will be… maybe even some new updates on KoA! 😉

[@twentyfirstidentity]

Stopped watching after episode 6 of season 1. Glad to know that with each new episode I'm more and more right.

[@visitingforgefather5997]

Wait, why would the King's Men and Ar-Pharazon leave anyones judgement up to the Valar? Isn't the whole deal with those guys the fact they hate the Valar and Elves because, in their arrogance and growing decadence, they were jealous of the Elves their immortality and despised the Ban of the Valar? Wouldn't they just go 'Screw the Valar Ar-Pharazon rules Numenor his judgment is the only one that matters.' Why did that scene with the Dwarf lady and her bat army, seriously the f*ck, even exist if Sauron gets his hands on mithril anyway? Why does that lady insist Elendil refuses to bend the knee out of pride? Has she considered that he probably swore oaths and in this world casually breaking oaths has consequences? Or maybe that he is just a man of principle? (Yes I know I'm expecting too much assuming these 'writers' and showrunners even understand what principles are.) Can't blame you for not even bothering anymore, hope you can recover from this mess.

[@Yugemos]

Because Diversity Disa needs screen time. They are coming with all kinds of nonsense scenes for her to be in.

[@visitingforgefather5997]

@@Yugemos Ah yes of course, silly me. It's not like there was any other way to give her screen time or a purpose in the plot. Imagine if they did something as silly as have her be ignored by Ar-Pharazon after he forcefully married her and saw no more value in her now that he was king of Numenor. Imagine doing something so silly as her making use of that arrogance by having her use the few servants and guards still, covertly, loyal to her as a small spy network in court to help Amandil, Elendils father, in his attempts to shield the Fateful Numenorians from the persecutions of the King's Men. Imagine them doing something so stupid like having her have a hand in Isildurs infiltration of the court to save one of the fruits of the White Tree, since she would know about her fathers prophecy that the line of Kings will last as long as the line of the Tree did.

[@Enerdhil]

I think the obvious answer to your first question is that in the history of Númenor, there has never been a survivor who came up out of the ocean. 100% had been eaten. In other words, it was supposed to be a death penalty but Eru or Ulmo or Ossë intervened to save Míriel. So she can marry her first cousin.😞

[@Enerdhil]

Apparently, Narvi gave some Mithril to Annatar. I guess he thought he was Celebrimbor.🙄

[@Enerdhil]

Eärien is supposed to be Elendil's daughter, but she clearly doesn't have a clue what kind of man her father is. She is the worst character in the whole series. She gets into the Architect Guild in Season 1, making her Dad very proud. She meets Kemen, Pharazôn's son, and likes him. From that point on, her relationship with Kemen and his father became more important to her than her actual family. We are supposed to think that she is mad at her father for allowing her brother Isildur to go to the Southlands to die. Then she gets promoted to girl-boss, but sux at it, as does Kemen suck at leading the King's Men. Those two should marry and jump into the sea for their honeymoon. I am sure the Sea Worm will treat them properly.

[@MattsFiefdom]

I feel you bud. I've been watching Rings Of Power with the mindset that it's non-canon fan fiction. It might not get everything right, but hey, if it's fun to watch why not watch it. I've never been too worried about it following lotr exactly. But this episode, yeeesh, the storytelling was awful. To name a few examples: - Sauron somehow fast travels to a different city during a siege. - 2 characters now apparently in love with zero setup. - Dwarf king goes from loving father, to greedy douchebag in

[@Cujo8600]

I appreciate your service. Go be at peace.

[@ash23neuro]

Ever since Galadriel jumped overboard and swam across Belegaer, I've been trying to get the best out of this show. I expected an interesting show about the events of the Second Age based on Tolkien's chronology, and what I got was a funny show featuring the imagined visions of showrunners/writers of questionable dramatic talent, woven into a timeline twisted at ill will...

[@alastairleith8612]

story: -6/10 → best film review ever.

[@MarQDog]

Trash writing, plot lines that wander aimlessly, NO FIGHTING just a bunch of standing around or sitting down talking. This is the worse show I remember watching and I’ve only done so to witness the desecration of one of the best stories ever written. I keep hoping they won’t sink even lower but I am always left surprised

[@westernmasswonderwoman3326]

I stopped watching in season 1 after the mithril abomination but I have enjoyed following along with videos like yours by other people who truly know and love Tolkien. Your videos stand out in that you don't indulge in some of the bashing others do, and I will miss that. However, your mental health and quality of life are far more important, and this show is poison to both those things. Thank you.

[@partyboi8773]

The "mithril abomination" was my breaking point too! Fortunately, we still have all Tolkien's books and this complete and utter shite does nothing to dim their luster.

[@westernmasswonderwoman3326]

@@partyboi8773 Yes!

[@AerialEmber]

I love how the closed captions say put your "bread" into it 🤣

[@emperorantares7951]

oh no man, your videos were great, i stoped watching in s1, but still was here for your reviews...I will miss this

[@rockinHurley777]

You shouldn't have wasted your time...we all know the show is crap.

[@politicallycorrectindividu2867]

The reviews are/were still entertaining though

[@TheMinskyTerrorist]

Good to hear that the Tolkien Professor is still a traitor. I stopped listening to him the first time he made an IGN video trying to generate cope for the show.

[@TheTolkienCurmudgeon]

Yes, well, his show "Rings and Realms" during the first season had to end up eating crow. The whole time they were saying that Halbrand was just a red herring and couldn't be Sauron. And then they got to S1E8! Oh, man! He and his co-host tried to employ comedy while backpedaling! But this season I have been mostly avoiding watching his stuff, although I admit I have watched some. When I do watch I feel almost nauseated. It's like, what's the only show worse than "The Rings of Power"? Well, it's Corey Olson's show "Rings and Realms"! However, I am wondering what he'll say about this episode. About S2E5 he appeared at least to begin questioning the whole shrine of the Faithful silly ritual for departed souls thing (which I also did not like) but then amazingly he came up with the absurd idea that the audience is supposed to not really like it or something. Now, I don't like the tendency of a lot of people these days to easily attribute base motives to people. But what exactly is going on with Corey Olson? From appearances one could think that he has sold out his critical faculties for the rights to use a bit of copywritten music and imagery from the Amazon series.

[@TheMinskyTerrorist]

@@TheTolkienCurmudgeon He had a change of heart about adaptations while doing all his english professor stuff. It helped him to appreciate the Jackson movies a lot more, which is a good thing. However more and more he started buying into the sort of postmodern view that an adaptation is supposed to change the original because it's impossible to faithfully adapt something. It's the same argument that all the trash localizers and translators use to excuse why they intentionally alter foreign works to suit their own politics and culture. From there it's a slippery slope where you start excusing everything in an "adaptation" like Rings of Power.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

I gave up after episode 4 of season 2. It is pure trash. Maybe if we stop talking about it they’ll cancel it.

[@IarwainBen-adar]

I feel you. I will finish this season but if they manage to make another season I don’t know that I can get through it. I suspect they will but season 4 and 5 won’t happen as per my own personal prediction.

[@CounciloftheRings]

I hope you’re right

[@bdleo300]

Rings of Parody

[@arsebusquets2436]

Nobody tosses a dwarf!

[@CounciloftheRings]

Unless it's your son... apparently

[@Enerdhil]

Your best and last joke about the dreaded series.

[@blaquemargin]

I actually gasped at the heresy. 😨 How dare!!

[@Enerdhil]

Which heresy? TRoP is a series of heresies strung together.

[@blaquemargin]

@@Enerdhil True, actually. There're too many to count!! 😭

[@charlesjunjulas822]

I agree! I have really tried to be patient and like this show. After this episode I am done. Terrible writing, poor characterization, and the farthest thing from Tolkien's vision. Galadriel working with Orcs? Feeding Numenorians to sea monsters? Celebrimbor is a weak mess. The Stoor scenes are pointless. The proud people of Numenor are band wagoner idiots. Dwarfs fighting with each other with shrieking songs and bats? What a stupid, boring, ridiculous mess of a script. I don't care about anyone in this series anymore. I'm going back to rereading the History of Middle Earth series rather than wasting my mortality on this junk

[@STÜDD_Music]

When Adar stole Saruman’s line more along the lines of “I have thousands of orcs/uruks” I just about lost it 😂😂😂

[@blogumlego601]

Too much crying in this show: tears, tears and more tears! No wonder Numenor sinks in the end. Good one, mate!

[@lunaboy1977]

This episode broke me as well. I couldn’t even hate watch until the end. Didn’t even finish it. It was so bad I think that that’s it for me

[@amandag5072]

Thank you for the reviews you have done. I only made it through the first episode of season one, I've only watched reviews since then. How you've managed to sit through that swill is amazing. As for those who still shill for this turd, shame on them.

[@mgwarner1]

I am very sorry to hear this is your last review. Your reviews are much more entertaining than the show itself. I understand that it’s too much for you, but you kept me thoroughly entertained and I appreciate the review that you did.