Rings of Power S2 Episode 5 - HONEST REVIEW | Lord of the Rings on Prime

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thanks to all of you supporting the channel! Make sure to join one of the upcoming live-streams! It will be great fun, so join if you can 🤗🧙‍♂

[@johnatkinson7126]

The only reason it seemed better is because you couldn't see half of it it was so dark

[@Tar-Elenion]

@@johnatkinson7126 It was also missing the stranger storyline, the southland storyline, and *Galadriel only made a very brief, almost cameo, appearence and only at the very end. Coincidence...?

[@johnatkinson7126]

@Tar-Elenion no it's because like everything else they've no idea what continuity means

[@zirkalda9502]

The “ring tax” was also stupid because the Dwarves kept their rings secret so well that even close family did not know who held them until they were passed on their deathbed. I also doubt the Dwarven hoards were gained through blind robbery of their own subjects.

[@Enerdhil]

That was a fantastic find - noticing how the younger characters seem to know better than the older sister. I noticed something myself. Throughout this whole series there have been many incidents where authority has been ignored without any repercussions. Episode 5 has a few cases •Elrond runs away from his squad to give Gil-galad a message. It's an important message, but he left his warriors behind to possibly fight Adar's army. Yet, Gil-galad doesn't even inquire about that or chew him out for leaving his squad behind. •Eärien commanded her father to do two things and he didn't do either. Yes, she is his daughter, but she is Ar-Pharazon's spokesperson. Also no one obeyed Kemen's commands. Sauron started forging Rings even though Celebrimbor said NO twice. Only Valandil obeyed Elendil's command and he died for it.

[@Marcel_Four_Twenty]

the best thing about this episode: almost no galadriel and no half foots!

[@CounciloftheRings]

halfwits? 🤣

[@timothymartensen9040]

Probably the reason it didn't suck lol.

[@dougmphilly]

@@timothymartensen9040 i second this.

[@istari0]

"Not completely terrible?" Brilliant backhanded compliment!

[@daPMG]

The bar to clear has been lowered to the ground.

[@refl3ktor]

But weirdly true. I love Tolkien so much i really liked this episode because it was a lot less bad. I'm truly hoping they hit their stride and deliver some sixes or sevens! It's absolutely lore inaccurate, but it's ok once you accept this. You can still root for good action and acting

[@Fozzie1481]

Wait, why would you say that there's less characters teleporting around? This episodes destroys the very notion of time and space *the most* thus far. Rings and doors are supposedly crafted, sunshafts dug, crops resown, delegations of Dwarves travel between Moria and Eregion multiple times back and forth and while all this is going on, Elrond and the Orc army are theoretically on the move. Nothing fits in this episode, nothing makes any sense. How were they even getting the Doors of Durin in and out of this forge that has no openings big enough and sits at the top of a tower? How does nobody know about the giant natural cave a few metres away from the market? How doesn't Eregion know about that army so close to the city? Are there no people living between Mordor and Eregion? What has Gil-Galad done all these weeks or even months? This episode was awful.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Well, excellent points. I guess I compared it too much to the previous one where Elrond and Galadriel would teleport around every time we cut to them.

[@haha__hihi]

I also dont get how celebrimbor's messengers reach gil galad, while they've never met elrond or his party (why still celebrimbor doesn't know about the broken bridge?!), especially when the show explicitly told us that the northern way is 2 weeks long or something like that so he could not go that way if messengers arrived before elrond's party...maybe they used horses? :D but I also agree this was the best episode so far...shame they make sauron "smart" by making all around him stupid...lazy writing

[@Fozzie1481]

@@haha__hihi Where are the people, anyway? The humans? There should be settlements. Towns. Cities. PEOPLE!

[@whyukraine]

​@@CounciloftheRings They've set the bar so low, reaching up to touch bottom feels like progress.

[@niallgaffney2475]

“Why was the work on the rings so sloppy?” “My Lord, you made us craft those magic doors at the same time for some reason?!”

[@Luteole]

Don't think the fans will call you a shill, you are being honest and that is what people need to be focused on! Think your analysis is correct and score fair!

[@stevenv2190]

Better than "Nerd of the Rings"

[@fingolfin7295]

​@@stevenv2190that's a certified shill

[@dmdebruijn]

@@stevenv2190much better; people say “the nerd” took cash and promised to use phrased like “i was totally wowed by” and “i absolutely loved”

[@nalublackwater9729]

This one got closer to the lore. Instead of being in Pluto, now they are in the Asteroid Belt.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hahahaha great metaphor

[@chandran4799]

Not really, they just name dropped a lot of references. It doesn't become closer to the lore. Sauron is the one who instigates Ar-Pharazon into attacking the Valar, here he himself is getting those thoughts. 1500 years of tensions between the Kings men and the faithful compressed into one battle. No one is questioning how did Pharazon become king, the eagle came for miriel, it was blatantly obvious Durin's ring is behaving like the one ring, he is just acting like bilbo This is extremely poorly written and childish, but name dropping doesn't make it closer to the lore

[@johnatkinson7126]

Old tom is a merry old fellow his jacket is blue and his boots are yellow must have missed that tom babadil

[@johnatkinson7126]

Bombadil *

[@megaponful]

I think Durin is just becoming very greedy by himself. It's the ring that accentuates his greed, the ring itself has power, but the greed is all on Durin.​@@chandran4799

[@whyukraine]

Casting Jack Black as Al Pharaohson was genius.

[@rjb10101]

I live in Middle England, West of the North Sea, so to me The Sea is always Right.....

[@VolkerWendt-vq8pi]

Only when you move north 😂

[@haha__hihi]

@@VolkerWendt-vq8pi I mean, if you are on an island, the sea is always right :D maybe that's why it's a saying on Numenor?

[@LinskaV2]

Don't do geography man, there's too many Americans here.

[@haalandfilms1695]

I live in Norway, at the west coast. So the Sea is always Left

[@VolkerWendt-vq8pi]

@@haha__hihi good point I think. I live close Germany's North sea cost, so the sea is always straight ahead. Don't live on an island, that's why

[@denglongfist4270]

At this point, the Argonath will be statues of Isildur and Earien

[@CounciloftheRings]

😂😂😂

[@KeytarArgonian]

They will have her design them.

[@varvara3709]

Maybe she'll change her gender, becoming the first trans king of Gondor.

[@penguycs4593]

It's absolutely wild that in the middle of season 2 they finally decide to start doing the persecution of the Faithful after spending 0 minutes of screen time setting it up.

[@CounciloftheRings]

I totally agree!

[@oscarstainton]

Every time they cut to made-up Numenor characters like Earien and Kermit, I just expect them to become Nazgul at some point. But knowing the combined IQ of the writers is equal to room temperature in Celsius, they'll probably waste that too.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Kemen seems plausible, but I don't hope there'll be female Nazgûl XD

[@politicallycorrectindividu2867]

@@CounciloftheRingsThe Witch Queen of Angmar

[@oscarstainton]

@@CounciloftheRings After screwing up the Nazgul imagery with the witches from Season 1, I wouldn't put anything past them. Also, while writing this on my tablet the name "Kemen" reverted to "Kermit" by itself. I decided to leave it in since why the heck not?

[@politicallycorrectindividu2867]

@@oscarstainton he is a muppet after all

[@DrakeTimbershaft]

Kemen is just the sort of man who would desire one of the nine rings. He is a weakling who craves power. If Sauron offered a ring to Kemen with promises of power and immortality, Kemen would accept it without bothering to read the “fine print.” All we have to see now is if he can ride a horse well enough to be a Black Rider. But as everyone said in this thread, the writers don’t have the wits to put two and two together. They’ll just have Kemen drown with the rest of Númenor.

[@chandran4799]

The earlier episodes have really lowered your expectations. This is not more than 2/10 if you look at the entire narrative. 1. Why is durin getting all 7 rings? Who gave them? Why no mention of the remaining three clans who live in Khazad dum itself? 2. Why is the cave so close to the city market, and now there is a deep gorge which goes directly to Balrog? It is off by 1.5 age 3. Does Gil galad think Sauron has an army? He knows very well Halbrand was acting alone. Does elves have no scouts on their borders? Does eregion have no scouts or rangers on their borders? 4. Why is Durin's ring behaving like the One ring? if he is corrupted within weeks, how will the dwarves survive for another 2 ages, the entire point is that dwarves were immune to the corruption. 5. Celebrimbor is too dumb, he can't see the oh-so-obvious manipulation, and is he like a manager, giving orders? he is supposed to be learning and helping Sauron who learned from Aule, and sauron looks so helpless without celebrimbor 6. Too much DEI, you seem to be accepting it too easily 7. Numenorians were corrupted by Sauron to challenge the Valar, this doesn't happen overnight without Sauron's corrupting influence 8. Suddenly Kings men are attacking the Loyalists who are incapable of defending, this is 1500 years of slow decline being compressed in 3 episodes Too many logical loopholes, random stuff is happening, nothing makes sense. Look at this with the other stories combined, and this is 2/10

[@RealBigCliff]

A bit strange don't we all think that there is this massive unknown cave right below the market where they buy the crystal ball?

[@larryfishmas]

Nice, something to watch before bed that isn't the actual Rings Of Power show 😂😂😴

[@Gwangju1980]

A better focused and acted episode, but the bar is so low. I say this as a half Korean, it’s just so damn weird seeing Asians sprinkled in this show. It breaks the immersion immediately, and for what? So some extras can pay rent for a month? It’s bad enough the costumes look so stiff but all the diversity casting just makes this look like community theatre.

[@CounciloftheRings]

It's Amazon policy taken to the extreme. I have a feeling they created Mirdania only to check boxes, so there's more screen-time for women. It's just a theory though, but it seems odd she wasn't in season 1 at all. Not even mentioned.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Watching this series as "The Rings of Shannara", fully unrelated to Tolkien, this episode was actually somewhat enjoyable! Without the baggage of bad lore since to me it isn't set in Middle Earth or Arda, it lands as a 6/10 in my book. Definitely the best episode in up to now (both seasons included)

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye. I think it's one of the best ones - perhaps it will remain that way. I have some concerns what will happen in the upcoming episodes

[@calebwilkerson11]

Is this anyone else’s favorite channel for everything Rings of Power? Hands down the best review out there. Thank you for these.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you! 🙏❤️ appreciated!

[@arisenomega]

I liked that among the elven smiths, there was exactly ONE handsome guy! Wow, the first attractive elf so far in all of ROP!

[@CounciloftheRings]

Lol 😂

[@christianpoulsen4164]

Im abit confused about the scene where the sea guard are handing in their gear, is that not Lord Belzegar right behind "I forget his name", seen here at 7:07

[@CounciloftheRings]

I thought that for a second too. It just looks like him though. Maybe a lost brother?

[@christianpoulsen4164]

@@CounciloftheRings Haha, maybe, seems like they might have run out of extras, and just put him in line

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

11:37 Annatar "comforts" elf lady. Council of the Rings: "Too bad they are all too stupid, and can't figure out who the bad guy is." The weariness in your voice as you say this line is perfection! 🤣 Thanks again for another fabulous "review of ROP episode" video! 🙏💙🌿🧝‍♂️💍🦅✨

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

PS. You are not a shill! If and when they actually do some thing kind of correctly, it is absolutely necessary for you to point that out too. 🙏

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hahahha thanks! I had more to say about the Unseen world and the powers of rings in general, but I would have to make it short, which would only result in more questions and confusion, so I had to cut it out. Will you join the live-stream tomorrow? Cheers 🧙‍♂️

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@CounciloftheRings video about the unseen world, and the powers of rings in general sounds amazing! I did manage to catch your livestream, but it was near the very end! I can go back and listen to it now!

[@CounciloftheRings]

@@dronesclubhighjinks sure! I talk briefly about the Nature of Evil, which might be interesting, though I hope to cover it more in depth in a video (soon ish). Today I’m at a workshop about funding. I hope to get some financial support to make a mini-documentary “In the footsteps of Beowulf”. For centuries it was regarded just as a myth (a lie in some eyes). Yet it was discovered some time ago that the great hall of Hrothgar, Heorot (the inspiration for Meduseld), might be more than myth. 3 great halls were discovered near Lejre, where Hrothgar is believed to have ruled. In 2018 they finished a reconstruction of the greatest hall - so perhaps the closest we’ll ever have to the real Heorot. By chance or fate I grew up nearby in the lands Hrothgar ruled. I’d love to make a video diving into this, as Tolkien is all about truths found in myths. And as you might know; Beowulf was one of the most (if not the most) influential work to Tolkien’s writing. Truly fascinating stuff in my mind 🤗✨

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

​@@CounciloftheRings clearly it was fate that you should grow up in the lands nearby where Hrothgar ruled! Meduseld was an absolute work of art! The attention to detail demonstrated by every single person who worked in set design, costumes and armor, etc. would be very difficult to match and impossible to exceed. It was probably difficult to get the lighting correct inside the building but of course they did a spectacular job of that as well. A beautifully rustic as Hobbiton is and how grand and impressive Minas Tirith is (the front gate alone is absolutely magnificent), Meduseld is my favourite mortal set. I hope you get the funding you need to make this documentary! I’m sure you will let us know the details of how we can support you. Would it be any use to try applying to the local government for historical research funding? You could say it would help with tourism as well as being fascinating history that is truly unique in the world! Imagine how many Tolkien fans would be interested!! And how many of their kids they would bring with them who will become hooked! 🙏🍀🧙‍♂🩵

[@eugene8498]

1:30 How TH are they free of the sun's tyranny compared to the ground people?! Those mirrors don't seem to work at night either. They'd be in darkness at night, just like when their windows got shut down by rocks. Literally the stupidest lines of the season, almost comparable to the why-ship-floats talk.

[@eugene8498]

Correction, the stupidest so far of this season. The writers might be able to outstupid themselves somehow.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye. It makes no sense which is why I commented on it as well. It's so out of place

[@ottolehikoinen6193]

They have played as a Skyrim Vampire, I guess.

[@jaymeU2]

The fact that someone has to find three things that were ‘better’ than before, in a show that’s in the middle of its second season is still hilarious. It will never not suck. And craps all over Tolkiens work.

[@NickLaslett]

Obviously no hobbits and no Isildur story lines help this episode.

[@CounciloftheRings]

exactly, my thoughts!

[@refl3ktor]

Best episode so far! I like your deep understanding of the lore and i think your critical methodology is fairly and consistently applied. It's pretty simple, AMZN: the closer you stay to the professor, the better things go...

[@tomasz9429]

In the lore there is the Witch King of Angmar. In Amazon's Middle Earth for The Modern Audiences there will be Witch Queen of Angbang. Mark my words, I have seen things you have not seen.

[@cklambo]

Things are in motion that cannot be undone

[@b-wak]

Theo will become Theoden/Theodred’s ancestor and the founder of Rohan. F**k this show!

[@leakyabstraction]

The issue with the pickaxe prop is that it looks way too pristine for an axe that has been used; definitely should look dusty and grimy. I noticed it too instantly. Also, the king is holding it way too high, in a position that creates little leverage for the head.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah excellent point. It just also looks extremely heavy, but he swings it like it's not... in some awkward way that works, though it clearly shouldn't.

[@thespyingeyeofmordor]

15:14 Is that the Gwaith-i-Mirdain? Shadow of Mordor would do it better than this turd.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yup… it’s a bad joke really

[@TheJmlew11]

I agree it’s the best of the series. That said at its best ROP is painfully average or a bit below average. Disa chasing the stone into the cave was like a comedy sketch and so contrived. Also Numenor’s plot would have been so much more effective if we had any sense of the nation being great and faithful.

[@CounciloftheRings]

I totally agree, which is also why even "the best" can't get a 6 for me. That would indicate I'd be willing to watch it again, which I won't, haha.

[@TheJmlew11]

@@CounciloftheRings I would not be watching it now if it were not for a friend of mine who very much defends this as Toilken. What’s shocking is that he has read the Silmarillion. I don’t wish to gatekeep but this show feels very unToilken in nature. Not just for how it disrespects the lore, but also regarding how it seems to forego Toilken’s themes and values.

[@realtsavo]

@@TheJmlew11 Fanatics can easily use cognitive dissonance to ignore and disregard inconsistency and contradiction.

[@christianpoulsen4164]

I think this was one of the worst episodes, it had multiple points where it even contradicted itself, Durins whole speech about not being beholden to the sun, as they have worked to bring the sun inside is just utter drivel and proving that they are beholden to the sun. Messengers from Celebrimbor are supposedly able to get to Gil-Galad before Elrond even manages to get back to him, which is crazy. I thought the bridge was out and getting through the Barrow downs was more luck than anything for Elrond and Galadriel

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah the show always gets 0/10 for logic. It's a pattern that repeats over and over again

[@Atanalcar]

To be fair, Celebrimbor's messengers set out before Elrond even left Lindon… Which just means they probably should have met on the road, probably even before Elrond's party took the turn off to the bridge, thereby wiping out that entire plotline.

[@christianpoulsen4164]

@@moon-moth1 Its one of those things I cannot wrap my head around, surely to any person it should be obvious that, that speech was making no sense, surely they could have come up with another speech that didnt make the sun out to be a tyrant, but something along the lines of a blossoming friendship with the elves and that mithril shall once more be mined from the mountain depts, that trade shall once more flow or something like that, leaning into the building of greed. But no, instead we get a nonsense speech about not being beholden to the sun, while relying entirely on the sun to grow crops

[@frankblack8573]

You asked, so - what i think of this show would be considered a hate crime, not an opinion, so i follow the wise word of my granny: "if you have nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut!" Your reviews are the best on KZbin, no trolling and no shilling. Just fair points of view. Keep it up, well done. ❤

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you! 🙏❤️

[@TheShinnion]

Whoever was in charge of casting the actors should never be allowed to near a show ever again 😂😂

[@game_jinx]

this episode is only less horrible because they removed the hobbits. this episode alone costed millions....yet my children write better

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hahahaha I agree!

[@terrasur4168]

I saw somebody comment the theory that Adar will turn out to be Celeborn and that when Galadriel gets her ring back she will heal the corruption from him, and it almost immediately made far too much sense to me within the context of the show. Especially now that they are ‘teaming’ up and with her assuming him dead without us getting a timeline. I can only pray that they don’t sink that far…

[@ChrisMisMYhandle]

Respect for you making it through this series. 4 times ive tried to watch it, but im still only half way through the first episode. The harefoot and stranger scenes in particular just make me want to shoot myslef.

[@CounciloftheRings]

I would have quit after 5 minutes of s1 ep1, but have been going on because I promised to review the series. I'm not sure I'll review season 3, though.

[@DarthDevorin]

Best part of the episode: no halfwit halflings.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hear hear! Someone buy this man a beer!

[@NickLaslett]

Just saw on @LadyGravemaster recent ROP video her theory that Adar is Celeborn with amnesia, Galadriel will use the ring to heal him. Their secret daughter is one of the smiths working for Celebrimbor, the one that Sauron took a liking too and commented on her resemblance to Galadriel. This is exactly what they are going to do. It is the only mystery box, JJ Abrams style gotcha that can top Season 1 Sauron reveal. It is such a bad idea that I’m actually excited to see if they are really this dumb.

[@odd4824]

Thank you again for your honest breakdown!

[@SRMoore1178]

4.5/10. That seems fair. Be careful though, that's like a 10/10 for Amazon prime. You might be receiving a load of free gifts from them soon.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Trash? Perhaps it can be burned so I can keep warm in the winter

[@haha__hihi]

@@CounciloftheRings you will become a superfan :D

[@upschutt4842]

The One Ring called the Elven smiths the EAU (Elven Apprentice Unit)

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hahaha they certainly look like it

[@FlyfishermanMike]

In a story about making rings we've seen more boat craft than ring craft.

[@therealinformalmusic]

Without advocating for dwarven socialism, I find it hard to believe that the dwarves of Moria had markets with small, independent traders, taxation, and new-age stalls selling crystal balls. The economy of a dwarven king’s domain and the nature of the division of labour and victualling therein, surely, was more like that of a mediæval lord’s castle, than that of a mediæval free market town or, say, Lake Town under the Master.

[@LovehunterEU]

Best reviewer on KZbin LOTR wise! Keep it up!

[@CounciloftheRings]

Wow, thanks! I appreciate that!

[@ecthelionofthefountain8267]

I agree with your scoring. It's probably not enough to save the show but it's nice to know it has some decent elements. I don't like constantly hating a show based on something that means so much to me. I'm grateful of your honest review whilst also focusing on Tolkien's lore.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye. Nice to see just a few more lore easter eggs here and there, though many might not notice it anyway :P I have a feeling it's downhill from here though. It already feels rushed and the whole war hasn't started yet.

[@ecthelionofthefountain8267]

@@CounciloftheRings Yes, I think the appearence of the Harfoots and Galadriel will always make it worse.

[@jorgesoberon6866]

Durin was pickaxing the wall at chest level, but the gap opened far above, in the ceiling. That makes sense?

[@dw620]

Wolves licking at cradles is just... awkward. In mediaeval lore *werewolves* licking at cradles would make more sense but then, in Tolkien, the likes of Drauglin and Cararoth weren't the sort of werewolves the average viewer has in mind. That might've made a better lore check, though, and encouraged people to read the source material. : ) Heh... and then I read the transcript for the context and that's just a mismash throw-away even there, attempting to be Shakespeare-Tolkien. "We swore to keep serving. Now, you wish to be still while the wolves are licking the cradle? What did you see? In the palantír." Scriptwriters with a hyperactive inability to focus on one line of thought at a time? ;p~

[@andrewmccutcheon3870]

Brilliant review as always dude, outStanding review

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thank you!

[@hollyj4529]

I agree that this is the best episode of the 2 seasons. However, that is a low bar to hit. It was an improvement simply by omitting the Harfoots.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye, hahaha

Congrats for your channel and this review. As usual it’s totally objective based on facts and spot on. For a moment I thought you were gonna give it a 5/10 😂

[@CounciloftheRings]

I was actually close to, as I completely misunderstood the "Harry Potter scene". On a second look it just made it worse and I had to lower the score a little, haha.

[@Enerdhil]

That's what I gave it: 5/10.😅

@@Enerdhil How dare you! 😆

[@ChrisMisMYhandle]

I haven't seen season 2, so i'm basing this on reviews I've seen. It seems the writers have a fundamental misunderstanding of the rings. Either that or they're trying to turn them into what 'they think' viewers of the PJ movies thought the rings were. The most obvious evidence of this is how they made the elvern rings first. The fact that the rings are apparently 'evil' on their own despite the fact that Sauron hasnt yet crafted the one ring to control them is another. The way they portray the palantir (and everything else in this show for that matter) is just more evidence of this same misunderstanding. The result is a plot that constantly ties itself in knots. This combined with coubtless weak sub-plots that forever go round in circles, such as the blue-balling will they, wont they mithril plot from season one results in a story that's as retarded as it is rediculous. Combine this with the tortured metaphors, terrible acting, aweful CGI and action sequences and countles other problems the show has and you get the biggest flop in TV history.

[@natanoverduin8042]

I am the first reaction!🎉🎉

[@iamzod]

Best of the worst :P Really appreciate you covering it yet again!

[@anarionelendili8961]

As you said in your text description, the ring corruption of Durin III is extremely fast. And he is going at it in a very hamfisted way, too. Taxes? Forced tribute from the other Dwarves? Why would Celebrimbor & Annatar even give Durin all Seven? (As we know in the lore, it is Sauron who distributes them after the War of Elves and Orcs, with the possible exception of Durin's ring.) Anyway, there were enough bone-headed choices (the slavery to the Sun in particular was stupid as heck), but since it focused mainly on the intertwined stories of Eregion and Khazad-Dum, it actually felt that it was going somewhere, even though it was doing it as a breakneck pace (corruption, that is). The Numenor plot is feeling rushed as well, since it is condensing the oppression of the Faithful pretty much to Ar-Pharazon's crowning, and making it seem that Ar-Pharazon is already planning an invasion of the Undying Lands. The lack of Rhun/Harfoot plot helps a lot, as does the lack of Isildur plot to slow this down, even though it and the Numenor plot would be more suitable to interlace. Alas, that is probably where the next episode will focus, with the season ender being a two-parter attack on Eregion with lots of Galadriel. The show has shot itself in the foot so many times already and written itself into holes that it then had to write itself out of that I am not sure if you could even do a fan-edit of this and make it make sense. Like if you cut pretty much the whole of Season 1, and then focused solely on the Annatar/Eregion and Khazad-Dum plot lines, could you salvage something out of it? I still suspect not, but maybe it would be more watchable. One could then have the Numenor episodes on their own, again cutting most of Season 1 and Isildur plot, as well as Galadriel's involvement. And the Harfoots, the Strange and everything in Rhun thrown away completely. Make that into another show if you want, but they have nothing to do with the Rings of Power.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye, I totally agree. It's rushed overall, which is odd when season 1 was so slow and have the first of this season felt. I think they should have just cut out the Harfoots entirely, their story seems irrelevant to the rest of what's going on and the whole Isildur plot seems rather pointless as well. Sadly, for all of us, they'll get a lot more screen-time and drag down the show to new lows. You're possibly right about Galadriel having a big action moment in the two last episodes. I'm already sighing by the very thought of that. Cutting all that out really made this one episode, feel just slightly better.

[@anarionelendili8961]

​@@CounciloftheRings I mean, I think people who know the lore can agree that the showrunners dug their own hole by messing with the timeline and especially the sequence of events. Take away the hobbits and Gandalf completely, different show. Cut Halbrand and Southlands and Adar plots. Start with Annatar getting bounced from Linden, while Celebrimbor is making nice with the Dwarves of Khazad-Dum. Annatar gets to Eregion where there is a bit of plotting against Galadriel, and Celebrimbor chooses Annatar. Annatar helps Celebrimbor to make 16 elven rings (future 7+9), then have Celebrimbor make the Three Elven Rings on his own. Meanwhile Sauron is at Mount Doom making the One Ring, and then have him raising an army of orcs to attack Eregion. The show has already basically spent two seasons to get to this point, thanks to all the padding they have done. Alas, due to the changes they have made, editing it into something more coherent is not going to be easy, especially when the show is determined to keep stabbing itself in the foot: The Dwarven Rings are corrupted due to the fact that Celebrimbor lied (as far as he knows), so what does he do? Continue making MORE rings without addressing what is the underlying issue (in his mind). Won't those be corrupted as well? I think it was Alex in the AngryJoe that pointed out that the way easier way, and more lore-friendly way, for Sauron to get around Celebrimbor's reluctance to make rings for Men would have been simply say "You are right, so let's make more rings for the Elves, instead." As was his original plan in the lore.

[@andrewverrett568]

Yeah it's not sauron and a huge orc army that are going to destroy eregion. It's.... what's his name? The orc daddy, and his orc children are going to sack eregion and kill celebrimbor it seems? So bad. Especially because what is gonna happen to sauron as annatar? How is he gonna regain power of mordor at this rate? He still has to gain power of mordor, and claim himself lord of men then numenor gets upset and attacks mordor and captures him then he corrupts numenor and it gets flooded. All this shit they've done so far is not really preparing any of that from happening.

[@Paromita_M]

Nice discussion. I'm sitting this season out after being very disappointed by S1. Catching up through commentary like this video has been nice. Best wishes. 🙏🏽

[@dmdebruijn]

Very glad to be here. Very close to the Lore, Ánd respecting it.

[@kahekilimaui450]

Did you say: "Very Close To The Lore" ? Oookay 😉👌

[@dmdebruijn]

@@kahekilimaui450 i meant the Council video

[@kahekilimaui450]

@@dmdebruijn Gotcha, I was wondering whether you were talking about this or the show 🤔 😏👌

[@Enerdhil]

Absolutely spot-on analysis of Episode 5. It was way better than any of the previous twelve episodes we have had to suffer through. I would have given them a 5/10 (my second viewing) or 6/10 (my first viewing).😅

[@CounciloftheRings]

I started by giving 5/10, but I just really disliked the whole way Mirdania is fooling around invisible and basically trolling everyone. I still can't imagine what she was trying to do.

[@Enerdhil]

@@CounciloftheRings Mirdania the Troll?!! 😱 Watch out Annatar!!🤪

[@TheMattAMusic]

I actually enjoyed this episode! Excited for the next one.

[@whyukraine]

Thank Illuvatar we have the Rings of Power documentary series to set the lore straight. Valar know how many hands rewrote it even before Bilbo got his filthy little hands on it. Clearly Amazon's archeologists did great work.

[@hammerofscience534]

I thought the sea was always right, so his Mother should have died and she is walking the right path! And how did Gilgaddaddy get a message I thought the route was blocked?

[@CounciloftheRings]

The plot wanted the message to arrive 😂

[@DouglasRalston]

It's an Island! The sea IS always Right! And Left!

[@micasa8421]

They decided to read the books to some extent between s1 and s2

[@theflyingkaramazovbrothers6]

11:27 in fairness doesn't Gandalf say that there are many magic rings, some of which may have that ability to turn you invisible? (paraphrasing). I feel like the show does a lot of member berries but also references to lore or text that are kinda accurate but are executed poorly.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye, he does. It's also written that the Rings of Power would make the wearer invisible, with the exception of the Three. It doesn't seem to work on the Dwarves, though, which also makes sense given their *near immunity to their magic/ corruption.

[@reckross331]

Definitely not a shill

[@moritz272]

characters in this show do all look like people cosplaying these characters

[@CounciloftheRings]

Right! The costumes are really bad in general - especially the "Easterlings"

[@testdep]

ok glad to hear I'm not crazy for actually somewhat enjoying this show.. once I convince myself it has nothing to do with LoTR. It becomes enjoyable modern fantasy. only one thing I can't get used to is Pharazon Marx 😱

[@OliWinchester]

watched it in bed yesterday and I literally fell asleep

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hahahaha very understandable 😂

[@niallgaffney2475]

Disa drops the ball… I’m pretty sure they all do 😅

[@haldalorian]

One thing the show got right from the lore was the design of the crown (presumably of Durin's) on the Doors of Durin. It does follow Tolkien's illustration, which is different from the one shown in the Peter Jackson film. 😆

[@whyukraine]

@CounciloftheRings They've set the bar so low, reaching up to touch bottom feels like progress.

[@mrcat3493]

The design of the rings themselves are awful. It’s like no one in middle earth knows how to cut gems. They are big blobs of stone on a ring

[@CounciloftheRings]

Totally agree

[@gregorronckers7645]

I love your analytics but I'm just hating more and more what they are doing to the works of Tolkien. Its like a 5 year olds drawing of a woman and compared to the Mona Lisa...

[@CounciloftheRings]

Aye! It’s as far from Tolkien as anything. Funny you mention Mona Lisa. For season 1 I made a meme with her painting and the Mr. Bean version.

[@gregorronckers7645]

​@@CounciloftheRings, great minds think alike 😂

[@babayaga4783]

Yeah I actually thought this episode wasn’t so bad. I honestly hope it goes up hill from here but knowing this show I’m not getting my hopes up…

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah we know the halfwits will return, so it will most likely get worse

[@babayaga4783]

@@CounciloftheRings the halfwits make me want to die everytime they appear on screen

[@Enerdhil]

Just having the Stranger be Pallando Rómestámo and the Dark Wizard be Alatar Morinehtar would go a long way toward bringing this dumpster fire closer to the lore.

[@fr.andygutierrez5356]

Definitely much better episode, though I was still annoyed by Elrond and his squad teleport-sprinting on foot. Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone in their right mind would call you a shill 😂

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

Im just along for the bumpy af ride. Cant really get myself to get worked up anymore.. Star Wars, Marvel & season 1 of ROP killed me lmao

[@jameswoowaa479]

It’s Eru they give thanks to at the top of the tower not the Valar.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Right, it's what happens when you record the audio and get too lazy to say the line again, as you wrote it down. The correct line should include both. The Faithful remained loyal to both The Valar and Eru, so it's not incorrect, just needs the 'and Eru'. Cheers 🧙‍♂️

[@TimeGoes-b7x]

It was a better episode, I noticed this as well. But it's accidental at this point I'm sure, not intentional they've seen the light.

[@TimeGoes-b7x]

Yes no stars wars desert trek and no Galadriel was great. Kept waiting for them to drop in.

[@Ryansghost]

I know I'm being a bit nitpicky, but I don't think that Sauron would have used Eärendil as an example of a "great man" . Apart from that, best show ever lolol

[@CounciloftheRings]

I feel they mentioned him because they do so all the time

[@dougmphilly]

I agree the best episode in the entire series.

[@CounciloftheRings]

How would you rate the episode? 😁

[@dougmphilly]

@@CounciloftheRings part of the problem is that the bar was set so high by peter jackson's LOTR. but what if LOTR we only had the hobbit to compare this against. first, 5 points just for no stinkin' harfoots. i kinda like the entire dwarf tranche. i know some criticize the greedy bastard durin ii but wasn't greed the entire point of its effect on the dwarves? ask elu thingol what about dwarf indignation about greed? but that was greed towards elves or man. the rings jacked up their greed dwarf against dwarf. i know that this timeline seems awfully short but then this maybe just a taste of their corruption by the 7. i totally enjoy anything with adar, my favorite character. the implication that he is among the first corrupted elfs made into an orc gives the writers enough rope to explore tolkein's can the orcs be good, redeemed, or just live and let live theories. the numenor is a bit off for me. ar-pharazon seems too distant, i think he should be much less of a schemer and more of an outfront and in the open with his designs and plans to conqueor the world. it is a 6.

[@tominiowa2513]

The show would have been better if after Galadriel jumps off the ship into the Belegaer Ocean, every following episode would have been nothing but her swimming.

[@Rawnervzz]

Most of the fans are not completely wavering about it making fun of it is just more of a phenomenon I just want to say I don’t think they would’ve showed him looking at the stone if he wasn’t going to use it it’ll probably show Sauron destroying numenor and goes to stop him and self fulfilling prophecy met

[@johnnycage112]

Uploading at 1am? I'm here at 2am so who am I to say?

[@CounciloftheRings]

It's noon here, but I'm mainly uploading now, as another video will come out tonight and then two live-streams tomorrow. I had to spread things out a bit. Cheers 🤗🧙‍♂️

[@quanto14]

The only reason why it is not completely terrible is because Guyladriel is not in in ( until the last 2 minutes)

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah, it's certainly an improvement, haha

[@Enerdhil]

Yes. Her only scene made me laugh. The viewers are supposed to believe that the height and muscle mass difference between Adar and Galadriel is an optical illusion. 😆🤣😂

[@eugene8498]

13:39 Yeah, while watching that scene, I was silently shouting cliché, so predictable inside, but still I was moved, I was angry, I so wanted Kemen dead.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah there's a ton of clichés in the show in general, but a cliché isn't bad in it self. I mean the evil uncle wanting to murder the king is sort of a cliché, yet when Scar killed Mufasa it was a truly great scene. So while predictable, I think the scene worked well. You could feel sad for Valandil and Elendil, and it became even easier to hate Kemen.

[@jakemartin9084]

Honestly cant wait to see everyone on numenor die cause most of those characters suck. Elendil is fantastic though and isildor is growing on me.

[@hyvakoira]

Time is still screwed. They make the new rings and the new tax laws faster than Elrond (a useless elf who can't get himself a horse) ran back to Lindon 😅

[@CounciloftheRings]

Hahahaha true

[@fozy2349]

This was a tough episode for me to get through. The dialogue between sauron and celebrimbor.

[@Cristov123]

Another thing, why would an Elf turn invisible wearing a ring? They're immortal. I thought only the mortal ring wearers would go invisible as it would take them to the spirit world, but elves are pure immortal beings so they can already perceive the unseen world. Maybe I'm wrong, can anyone speak to this lorewise?

[@NickLaslett]

I’m just watching KZbin recaps. But this episode looks just as dumb as all the others. The few things ROP has to land is why and how the rings were made and then how and why they got into the hands of who wore them. Doesn’t have to be lore accurate, but dramatically satisfying. In this area ROP fails spectacularly, it is just all so stupid and contrived.

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah it's far from perfect and still not good, but compared to the previous episodes, I think it's an improvement.

[@ottolehikoinen6193]

​@@CounciloftheRingsso 2/10 storywise. Ok. We need more Harfeet to get you back in line.

[@dmdebruijn]

Do you worry “Yoystan” and the Men of the West took sponsoring money?

[@CounciloftheRings]

No I don’t, but I’m surprised he enjoyed the episode so much. I commented the same on Twitter yesterday, actually when he said he received huge backlash. 😄

[@KeithShearman]

I enjoyed it, 7/10

[@KevinTierney]

It takes the advice not to cram 5 stories into one hour, but it also still relies way too much on an idiot plot: where the only reason things progress is because nobody asks questions or talks. There's some interesting dynamics here at work, but its weighed down by the idiot plot

[@CounciloftheRings]

What really surprises me is how fast things were going in the episode. Nothing happened in the first 4 wpisodes and suddenly everything needs to happen in this one. It's impressive how the show can both feel slow and yet rushed.

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

Interesting : Disparu (the other KZbinr bashing RoP) thought it was the worst episode so far

[@hugofernandes2930]

To be fair Disparu is very good at nitpicking episodes and spotting incongruity but he’s no lore expert , also if you think this episode was the worst what would you think about the one last week

[@YouTellemFrosk]

@@hugofernandes2930indeed! Way back at the very start of S1 with the usual players wanting to neg the show and make content it was clear they all barely knew anything about the books and the lore, but were aware LOTR fans were angry so they needed to bandwagon for clicks. Me, and I’m sure many others, threw them a bone by making comments to help them - Galadriel appearing in places she never went to, too much Durins, scenes 1000s of years out of place etc etc. Now they seem a bit more confident. 😂 I think some, like Nerderotic could be grateful and send me a cheque 😂

[@VhagarQueenHoaryOldBitch]

yes, because disparu is a rage baiting grifter.

[@CounciloftheRings]

No offence to him, but isn't he simply disliking everything he covers? He doesn't strike me as knowledgable about the lore or Tolkienian themes, either. But just be clear; It being the best of both seasons does not equal to good - which the end score of 4.5/10 should also indicate.

[@YouTellemFrosk]

@@CounciloftheRings I think that’s a given. Negative commentary does seem to garner more hits, that’s for sure. To be fair to Gary and The Drinker et al, way back they did admit to being sparked into following and commentating on the Amazon mess based on their seeing LotR fanbase incandescent over this show, while really not understanding exactly why. They do seem more enlightened now. But I’ll give them a pass, what they really want, especially The Drinker, is for better media, and less Woke. Which is fine. Anyhoo, thanks for the review. I’m not watching it myself, I just don’t want it in my life ffs 😜

[@glennjackson100]

I give and will continue to give this show the benefit. But that fuckin scean where she went on a "oh no my ball" adventure !!! Silly, stupid and lazy writing to introduce what I assume will be a balrog ..... honestly it was just bad slapstick comedy

[@CounciloftheRings]

Yeah it's hard to imagine how it could be worse

[@Kru-Lu]

I find this episode the most repulsive cause how dumb it was. What a pyramid of nonsense. Watching 4 episodes took its toll as well.

[@jesperburns]

I switched this episode off halfway through (not the first time)

[@RaverX88]

I love the dwarf king ring stone.❤😮

[@visitingforgefather5997]

Man they really want to do Durin III dirty as fast as possible. I fully expect them to completely f*ck up the siege of Eregion, at this point the Elrond would have been send with a army, aid would have been called for from the Dwarves of Durins House and Elves of Loth Lorien.

[@CounciloftheRings]

They'll definitely get it all wrong - unless it for some reason drags on for years (it can certainly feel like that).

[@visitingforgefather5997]

@@CounciloftheRings If this march of Saurons army does somehow drag on for years that would be hilarious honestly. Since if I remember correctly, please correct me if I'm wrong, didn't the armies of Elrond, Durin III and Amroth fail to make an impact during the siege itself because Saurons army marched quicker then all had anticipated? I really wouldn't put it past these 'writers' to mess that detail up if that was the case.

[@matp8493]

Good balanced review that - thanks for watching this trash for us 😊

[@CounciloftheRings]

Thanks for watching the video and commenting! 🙏

[@brushylake4606]

"...not completely terrible..." Well, that's certainly a...comment.

[@genin69]

At this point in time can we stop calling it rangs of power cause its not anymore. Its something completely different. It's a complete new IP.