Rings of Power Season 2 Full Review | Fooled Me Twice (Doing Too Much & Not Enough)

Hey everyone, thanks for joining us today! We finally made it to the end of Season 2 of Rings of Power, and here is our full review and analysis of Season 2, something more insulting and yet slightly better than the first season...
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[@TheLeg4tus]

Statistically there must be quite a lot of people for whom this show is the introduction into Tolkien's world... what a shame

[@TETASARAIVACS]

If only it serves to pull those people into reading the books…

[@syntychiahintsin-tee-shaks2256]

@@TETASARAIVACSwe hope…nowadays, reading is too much of a chore for many.

[@TheJmlew11]

My friends had this as their introduction to pre Third Age Middle Earth. They genuinely believe that Gil Galad is a mini antagonist, or at the least a jerk. They also think that Elrond and Galadriel have romantic tension and that her whole mission in the second age is “I gotta kill Sauron.” They also have seen Numenor in almost entirely a negative light. It’s wild.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@syntychiahintsin-tee-shaks2256 I always suggest Andy Serkis’ audiobooks 😊

[@faustoutloud]

Yeah it's sad a guy at work thought this show was epic and never saw Lotr trilogy until he told me this I told him start that Trilogy immediately and he did came back and said wow what a difference that was the movies were 100× better and that world felt more real I cared for those characters more then this show I was so happy 😊.

[@Ka_T_ya]

It’s amazing how depressed Amazon’s Bombadil sounded even when singing .

[@ilari90]

He realized he has to be in this show, so lost all hope and happiness was drained out of him.

[@acrustykrab]

He has to worry about Voldemort

[@Ptaaruonn]

(This) Tom Bombadil is a depressing fellow.

[@AllanBeam]

It’s because Bezos wouldn’t give him a bathroom break.

[@Ka_T_ya]

Definitely getting the best comments here 😂

[@bethmarriott9292]

Schrödinger's Saruman: he either is or isn't Saruman according to the showrunners based on what they think the audience reaction is

[@maudyg_22]

They did the same with not Gandalf the first season so why not 😅. Shows some real good writing 😂

[@30noir]

@@maudyg_22 Yeah it's called 'make-it-up-as-you-go-along'. Very good writing.

[@Test-mq8ih]

And somehow Nerd of The Ring defend this messy piece of sh*t, and called everyone who criticize RoP as "troll"​@@30noir

[@30noir]

@@Test-mq8ih He's a paid shill. I used to be a subscriber before he sold out.

[@davidl9771]

It was complete and utter garbage, from start to finish.

[@ColinWilliamsRGB]

Amen.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Since the beginning of this show-wannabe I’ve been arguing that it should have been about Celebrían

[@allisonsantala7507]

Gilgalad is a street cone 🤣🤣🤣 such a perfect description of his role this season

[@Ka_T_ya]

The “ there is no canon debate “. Tolkien had multiple drafts ,some old ,some ditched ,other developed ,others published by him ,some by his son. But literally ,if Amazon had taken ANY version of those drafts of the story and the characters ( even though ,the 2nd age doesn’t have that many variations actually ) . I’d be fine with it . But they go completely AGAINST everything Tolkien wrote ,ever . And they have the chronology by years in the ROTK appendices , yet they didn’t use that as the foundation to build upon ? They have Galadriel’s personality in LOTR ,why change it ? And everyone else’s …… Like I wrote in another place ,pay that “ professor “ even more money ,and next he’ll tell you that Amazon’s nonsense is actually more canon than the published by Tolkien is.

[@eugene8498]

Of course there's canon, the effing Appendices are, and they couldn't even stick to those few pages, yet the soap opera they wrote is miles inferior. Their Númenoreans for example are weak morons who hate the elves for no grander reason than the pathetic "they take our job", only their also weak version of Pharazon in middle of S2 shows the desire to pursue immortality, and his weak son doesn't even understand it.

[@pinkace]

You can't know that they went against anything because WE HAVEN'T READ EVERYTHING. Tolkien kept changing things, to me that says he wanted his universe to be MALEABLE and for other people to CONTINUE TO ADAPT IT. Read the interview with Dr. Corey Olsen about that.

[@eugene8498]

@@pinkace Don't be kidding. Which version of Numenor is so weak and pathetic in Tolkien's writings? Which Galadriel is in love with Sauron?

[@eugene8498]

@@pinkace Have you read Tolkien's critics on Zimmerman's script? Yes Tolkien would like other (competent) hands, not one so stupid that would ruin or just alter his own writing.

[@eugene8498]

@@pinkace Do we need to read everything to know they went directly against the LotR books? How could you?

[@istari0]

I didn't think this season was better than season 1. There were parts that were and other parts that were worse. They continued piling on lore violation after lore violation and the plot holes got even bigger. And don't even get me started on Elrond kissing Galadriel.

[@TheJmlew11]

One of my favorite elves Cirdan is barely a cameo, and within that time he shaves his beard.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@TheJmlew11 So disappointing. And he should be much more active than that. Remember he was present when they defeated Sauron eventually in the Last Alliance

[@sandy-jn5rd]

almost like an ad for Braun 😅

[@AllanBeam]

I got so angry when he was shaving that that’s where I stopped watching

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@TheJmlew11 Círdan was also like a father figure both to Gil-Galad and to Elrond. A still young Gil-Galad was sent to live with Círdan by the Falas when Fingon went to war against Morgoth. Much later, after the Sack of Gondolin, Earendil lived with Círdan, who served as his Mentor. Even later, after the sack of the Havens of Sirion, Elrond was first taken captive and then raised by Maglor and Maedhros for a time, and after the intervention of the Valar, Elrond chose to remais an Elf and went to live with Gil-Galad and Círdan.

[@dogewanderlust4359]

Beard is 3 months old so it's not too bad. It will come back

[@carlosminetti3685]

Would’ve added an extra layer to Elrond and Galadriel’s hatred of Sauron if he’d made a pass at Celebrien. Also would’ve been cool to already see Galadriel as a wise mentor figure which would’ve worked to send Celebrien on the adventure as rebellious teen elf act against her parents who saw the war of wrath and don’t want her to get hurt

[@MenoftheWest]

Thanks to our Valar tier patrons and KZbin Members for continuing to support the channel and allowing for these reviews to happen! Ed Patterson, Comicnut64, Brian Hunley, Peter Sheppard, John Hume, Rhys Jenkins, Arthur, Merlin, Theodore, Andrew Carlisle, and Zoomi.

[@Novgord98]

Hey man, regarding your question on the kiss, I ve heard as a defence that they used the kiss in particular to embarass Adar and the orcs into looking away ( I don' t buy it, just wanted to let you know)

[@facefullofdirt]

I was always CONFUSED- *why and how-* a random group of shipwrecked "men" who traveled west of numemor- where are you going? Men cant go west- surely not to save a drowning Galadriel coincidentally?

[@Roihclem871]

Tolkein unangled does a great adaptation of what could have been

[@Groovegandalf]

I feel like I have developed a healthy way to watch this show without having expectations that are destroyed. I've simply come to view it as my opportunity to see high dollar representations of things that I've only read about in books my whole life. The story is nonsense, but seeing the things with this giant budget has been quite fun.

[@dmdebruijn]

Excellent review- finally the true sentiments of Yoystan and Royyon. They care about the Lore.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

“Durin, where was your army?” “Ah, I had to recall it cause I needed to talk with daddy”

[@pinkace]

He didn't, he DID send it in the end, he just delayed it.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@pinkace Yes, but not before many lives were lost while the whole Dwarven army was waiting for them to solve their beef. And he DID recall the army at that point

[@pinkace]

@@TETASARAIVACS so you agree, like I said, delayed not recalled. the dwarves actually showed up. He delayed them, yes. He had a good reason I think.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@pinkace He recalled the army. He apparently needed them to help with daddy. Long after that, he sent the army to battle. We know that the Dwarves eventually went to battle. Anyway Prince Durin let Elrond down.

[@pinkace]

@@TETASARAIVACS 'long after that'?? The army showed up the very next day. They were delayed one day. Watch the episode again maybe?

[@ben_jamin197]

I'm surprised the Asian elf didn't inexplicably turn up alive in the last episode like Arondir.

[@cmoneill]

She needs an origin movie STAT: The Legend of Boromina

[@chrisrydburg9741]

Was great hanging out in live chat with you all today. Thanks for the great conversation and work on putting reviews together all season 👏🏻

[@lordinquisitordunn336]

To those calling yoyston a shill he is not going into this like mauler or the rest of efap. He is a smart guy who doesn’t analyze/view/critique media in that fashion. Just because he says a few good things about the show doesn’t mean that he is a shill. He’s a good guy who’s just trying to be as honest as possible. If he were a shill he would be more consistently positive rather than saying this show is mostly boring and usually pretty bad. If you want someone to just roast this show and all the inconsistencies, efap and random film talk will suit your fancy. Yoyston is a hyper book fan with an extensive knowledge of the lore, and he’s just giving his honest opinion of the show.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

“Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin good forces have invented or made.” - J.R.R. Tolkien.

[@brucedewitt4994]

1:05:47 This tells you everything you need to know about this series. There is no hope for it and it needs to be canceled and forgotten.

[@HayMax22]

Always particularly appreciate your level conversations around this show. I hear far too many Tolkien channels who blast this show for the sake of blasting it and get very worked up. You're my go-to specifically for your fairness. Thank you for enduring this show for those who didn't want to.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

There’s literally NOTHING good in this series, so it’s hard to evaluate “fairness”

[@myinnerhobbit]

I'll echo this. I'm tired of the "This sucks wholesale" type of reaction. Overall, I'm going to pretend ROP is expensive fanfiction that sometimes hit the mark and felt like Tolkien.

[@ian-flanagan]

Often, any positives lose their value if the viewer isn’t immersed in the story. To me, its neither Tolkien, nor it’s own interesting story, so although so can logically identify positives like certain visuals, they’re worth about as much to me as a nice laptop wallpaper. As a fan of business management, it’s far more interesting to me to write off analysis of the show and analyse how this all happened behind the scenes over there in Hollywood.

[@tren380]

Completely ignore this fanfic show. They did such a huge disservice in S1, there was no way S2 would be better. Looks like I was right to not give them the clicks.

[@Don9872]

1:06:20 When Valandil was slain… and NEVER mentioned again in the last 3 hours of the season. Not to Earien who apparently was a lifelong friend, not to Isildur who was his best friend, not even a passing remark between Miriel and Elendil.

[@mekacorno3832]

Absolutely horrendous. It was shockingly bad.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

1:29:25 if i may add: Sauron also lucky that a meteor blasted the bridge to Eregion. Also that the Barrow Wights woke up to stop the messengers. Galadriel says those were Sauron’s work, but we didn’t see, did we

[@TETASARAIVACS]

And that our heroes kept forgetting they had horses!

[@sandy-jn5rd]

@@TETASARAIVACS 😆 what horses

[@Shwiggieman]

My impression from watching the first season was that this was a cobbled together, billion-dollar fanfiction. My impression from the half of the second season I actually watched (sorry, that's all I could stomach) was that it was teenager-level fanfic.

[@milosmarinkovic2853]

Can someone explain it to me why and how hasn't WB sued Amazon for the Balrog design they literally copied from the movies and put into this abomination of a show?

[@Ka_T_ya]

Because Amazon is paying Royalties for everything they use from the movies . Sadly they have the legal right to rip off the movies ,not just the books.

[@NewNew-qn7kh]

“Erm erm why can’t we have more litigation that would be cool!!” Do you have any idea how lame you sound? If they used a different design of the balrog you’d all be complaining about continuity.

[@anthonyhiggins7409]

@@Ka_T_ya that would explain some of the music at times and the use of the name Gandalf.

[@Ka_T_ya]

@@anthonyhiggins7409 I mean the name Gandalf they bought with the rights over LOTR and TH material. But anything resembling visually to PJ’s movies , a lot of phrases as well , they are paying royalties for and it’s even in the episodes credits . Rings of Prime is a corporate product that exists to boost Prime’s popularity and that’s why it bought one of the biggest IP’s ,and since the movies grew the IP even more , they of course need to give the same, at least aesthetics to some degree ,if they wanna capture any fans at all. Playing on the nostalgia of the casual movie fans that don’t know any better.

[@markgregorygacosta531]

Nerdrotic mentioned this on their stream that the only way Amazon got this exact design for the Balrog, was they must have acquired its license from WB. Which means they spent God-knows how much again just for that. Then you realize that they only showed it only for a few minutes of screentime, never to be seen again until maybe in season 5😂😂😂😂

[@paulturner4684]

This entire show feels like it was adapted by the people that brought us the DCEU.

[@faustoutloud]

The complete lack of heart and detail put into this show shows us why these Showrunners were the absolute worst for the job Jackson poured everything into his trilogy. Not only just Jackson but everyone working behind the scenes too everyone strived to be the very best and therefore they gave us the fans the very best and you could tell. You could see how much love and detail was put into the LOTR Trilogy. 😊

[@jeffreyschweitzer8289]

Arondir is in the wrong franchise. Clearly, like the Grand Inquisitor or Sabine Wren, he has two stomachs.

[@johns1625]

I was watching a video yesterday from LostChord regarding Tolkien's personal letters from 1958 regarding a proposed LotR screenplay written by someone named Zimmerman, and specifically the importance of canon. JRR responds to parts of his script very VERY unhappy with changes to the canon, including fine details like Gandalf "sputtering". It's very interesting to read in comparison to just how bad RoP is, and how they completely abandoned canon resulting in a soul-less expensive waste of time where nobody important is ever in danger and nobody faces consequences for literally anything.

[@rileycord1248]

RIP Adar, the only worthwhile character, Namárië nildonya.

[@anthonyhiggins7409]

He was definitely the most interesting character in the show and had the most depth. So much so he kind of feels out of place in a way.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

Team Adar !

[@travisspazz1624]

So whatever happened to respect the canon/lore?

[@anthonyhiggins7409]

@@travisspazz1624 it’s a different argument. You can like an aspect of the show whilst criticising it for not following the source material the way you think it should.

[@alseid8709]

"I think it's just a marketing ploy to get people to sign to Amazon Prime" - Joystan caught up to the strat all the streaming services have been using since Netflix started it. "We have this Marvel show, we have these Disney movies, we have this GOT/Witcher/LOTR thing", it's always been about that and not a god damn thing more.

[@thanasisvel]

Guys for those who dont have time or dont want to read the books, I strongly suggest you to listen to the audiobooks by phil dragash. They are free and they are on youtube. This guy did so much work and its truly amazing what he did.

[@TealWolf26]

Gondor has no remake. Gondor needs no remake.

[@dgibs8499]

Very disappointed. I was really hoping the stranger was a blue wizard. That would make the most sense. They crapped all over the Tolkein encyclopedia, timelines, events and characters.

[@MDK384]

charles edwards is a good actor. he was really good in the terror. he was just miscast as celebrimbor. you're right about the hobbit temperament. even in the show, he was happiest having his tea, looking out over the balcony, taking in the sunrise. It's not a perfect comparison, but he needed to be more like a Tony Stark type of character.

[@theemissary1313]

A review that speaks from the heart of the fans. Also, given that at least two actors left after first season for reasons 'unspecified' (Adar actor and that woman character who no one can even remember), I predict more will probably leave before season three of the sinking ship. Almost a certainty given it's only pencilled in for two whole years time, not even confirmed. Which speaks volumes.

[@Ka_T_ya]

I just saw a page on fb ,some independent journalist ,who actually wrote a positive review of the show . That journalist came out and said any other post he’s made ,gets no more than 1000 views reach . But the ROP post made in the hundred thousands views reach . And that person came out himself and said “ it’s obviously being promoted by Amazon ,because it’s positive for them”. So ,even if someone is not getting paid , the reality is this big corporation will grow and promote as a reward those who promote or praise their product . I’m not saying you are doing that ofc , you are the most balanced in reviewing . My opinion of the show is probably worse than yours . I do enjoy some rage YTing on it ,but the fact it’s being usually bashed for the wrong reasons by Ragetubers makes it pretty exhausting pretty fast . But honestly , I also truly don’t like the fan base the show is attracting , they are less educated even than the PJ movie fans ,but far ruder and far more delusional .

[@theemissary1313]

One of the things I love about Yoystan is his positivity and optimism. He embodies the sentiment of Tolkien. And even with all that, he only manages a high of 5/10 for any episode, and yet the galadriel/elrond kiss broke him. And you're right about the toxic fan base that is accumulating around this show as it is.

[@johns1625]

The rage bait youtubers who are hysterical about Amazon "trying to destroy Tolkien's legacy" are almost more cringe than the people who love the show. Like Amazon can't hire theater kids to make a bad show, it always has to be a malicious conspiracy to destroy masculinity or whatever 😂

[@pinkace]

I doubt that. The premiere of Season 2 was the most streamed show on the entire internet for a week, something like 350 MILLION views? I don't think they're sweating some online blogger's review LMAO come on.

[@Ka_T_ya]

@@pinkace it was definitely the most advertised on the internet . Streamed ? No. They were at #6 even under shows like “ the secret lives of Mormon wives “ lol…. And a show that costs a billion should have been #1 when streaming . Yet is not even close .

[@pinkace]

@@Ka_T_ya cool I’ll let Nielsen know you have a better system for tracking streaming than they do. Too bad I can’t share links on these comments sometimes it would be easier than responding to platitudes.

[@InkyMuste]

The thumbnail got me thinking, will we see the Nose of Sauron in S3? How about like the Chin of Sauron? There's lots of potential facial features from which Amazon can make more unforgettable original characters.

[@AlekTrev006]

😅 - this made me nearly drop my chicken tenders, when I started laughing after reading it - thx !

[@TheHiggybaby]

Great to see my memes spreading throughout the Tolkien community, Yoystan, haha!

[@mikaelw1991]

One of the very few things I liked this season was actually gandalf and Tom bombadil singing together, would have been a memorable moment if we actually cared about that story line...

[@christianefiorito3204]

If it ever happened then more rhen 3000 years later and in the old forest near the willywindle

[@pedro-e-o-lobo]

I wouldn't call that mumbling "singing"

[@mikaelw1991]

@@christianefiorito3204 agree!

[@JeffYPbPr]

"we"? don't speak for everyone fella.

[@thomassmart4227]

Tom Bombadil has negative credentials. He’s already failed with the dark wizard! He trained him and he turned evil. Just like Star Wars

[@Novgord98]

Tom Bombadil looks like Goldberry died in his arms.

[@eugene8498]

1:01:15 That's how people should know, unlike those hacks, Tolkien was a real writer and world builder who cared about his world and story. - We get annals and a "journal" of almost every day of the entire YEAR of the War of the Ring, about different characters journeying through different lands. And we get the map(s) with a scale! - What do these expensive and cheap shows have? Portals. With all that budget and that many staff working on their stupid script they won't even bother with time and travel.

[@bloodyneptune]

I've been calling him Serious Hagrid instead of Tom. And I cannot _believe_ they did my girl Shelob like that, the last daughter of Ungoliant is _not_ taking damage from Inceldur.

[@parhwy]

Firstly, thank you for the reasonableness and depth of insight you bring to this show, and more broadly to my understanding. Ive been following for 3-4 years now and always enjoy your info and the cadence of your voice - and Royyen too!! As well as the entertainment you give! Sadly, this show may not be the worst-worst of worst shows across time for even in that regard they failed in that because they had a few good characters (goodly created not morally good) and some good real/CGI scenery, and some good story-telling. And even those they corrupted and effed up as episodes progressed The money for this show would have been better used to give Amazon factory workers better pay and conditions.

[@janatman]

Well done, gentlemen! Despite all the hours of footage we got on the first two seasons, I don't think there's enough good dialog and material to create an interesting and coherent super-cut. As stated in your title for the review, there's not enough good build-up where it matters, so even cutting out all the extra plot lines and characters we don't care about won't actually leave us with a gem.

[@euskuplu]

Thanks Yoystan! It was really enjoyable to watch your reviews throughout the season, unlike the series. Even though we don't have the same opinions in every aspect, it is definitely one of the channels on KZbin that does this job most honestly and sincerely. I am also looking forward to your non-RoP content.

[@SifuOmega]

When they cancel ROP I'll be marking that day on my calendar and declare it a new Holiday every year hence until the SUN runs out of days.

[@faustoutloud]

Bro really said this season stayed closer to ghe books lol lmao hahaha haha omg bro the Showrunners threw the books in a dumpster and then poured gas on them then threw a lit tourch in lol they hate Tolkien's work and wanna change it for modern audience that aren't even the fans of this lore or this show lol these Showrunners faild at every turn they need to get fired and so does the entire staff of this show. This show is Garbage and will stay Garbage because the actors they got dont fit in this world and dont understand the lore and the actors HAVE to understand the lore to play the role to a key like the cast of the LOTR

[@darthmon26]

At this point I think I would do a better job at directing and producing this show and I have no experience whatsoever!

[@jonathonlapaglia3250]

The messengers were killed by the Barrow Wights. There were visual hints: their bodies got dragged away by the chains. Same chains that tried to drag Galadriel/Elrond

[@AnthonyDGreen]

What if the stranger isn't the Gandalf we know. I mean, it just means staff elf. That could describe anybody with a staff. Based on the dialogue between he and the dark wizard, they could still be the blue wizards. We know that one of the blue wizards brought the other as a friend and the dark wizard says the stranger convinced him to leave to utmost West, which isn't true at all of Gandalf and Saruman or Radagast or anyone else we're told about. Maybe that's the twist in the end that this is Gandalf the blue. This whole comment is copium.

[@syntychiahintsin-tee-shaks2256]

Before your time there was a sitcom called Family Matters. One episode the little sister went upstairs went upstairs and never came back. She wasn’t their star, Urkel. The show runners need to send the Rhun plot upstairs. They also need to bring Celeborn downstairs along with a sense of integrity to the source material.

[@j0b01231]

In terms of Amazon prime shows, did you enjoy fallout ? I had the vaguest understanding of the games having never played them and I LOVED that show. It was so well written, acted, and directed and, as far as I’m aware, it didn’t take a steamy dump on the lore.

[@AllanBeam]

I liked Fallout a lot. The power armor scenes with Maximus looked pretty janky and low budget but all in all it was good. There were lore issues but it was far more true to source than RoP.

[@ian-flanagan]

Severance is my favourite Apple thing by far I liked Fallout a lot, but the ending was kind of distracting because back in E1 I’d cynically given it about a 80% chance that the black female antagonist would actually twist and turn out to be a “misunderstood freedom fighter”, and sure enough, it is indeed the 2020’s…

[@countbalerionofhousetatter2624]

the worst thing about numenor is how the theme of death and immortality is absent. in LOTR, ar-pharazôn rails against the elves because they're immortal, and numenoreans deserve immortality too. in ROP, the elves are stealing our jobs. the whole thing is on such a lower level. bathos. flame-wars were pretty brutal back in the day. the newsgroups fought over whether balrogs had wings, whether we should go to war in iraq ... if they're worse now, they must be bloody indeed.

[@Abstracto107]

Nah man I hoped even would be good atleast but the ending was the worst... also everyone is lucky af or suicidal in this show 😂😂😂😂

[@dmdebruijn]

Im convinced right now the stranger is probably not alatar or murihnetar but might still be palando (romestamo).

[@DrCorndog1]

I'd probably listen to this while thing as a podcast, but I can't see myself watching a 2-hour review of a show I didn't even watch.

[@cmoneill]

The numenorian armor 1:02:00 has built in moobs

[@ebaymku]

This show is an absolute disgrace as both an adaptation and a general story. It REALLY SUCKS

[@valentine1713]

Rangs of Power

[@pettrabroen7547]

So basically Rings of Power is what not to do when writing a story.

[@jordanmince7613]

This show has got people thinking al pharazon will be the witch king 😂

[@dougmccarter3809]

If you didn't enjoy not-Gandalf being sucked into a tree, you're just not smoking enough weed. It can't salvage this train wreck, but it's something, even if Jackson already did it better.

[@dallasgaddy7113]

Honestly, don’t make a show you don’t have FULL rights to…

[@doomdr123]

This show is a complete insult to the professor himself. Can you imagine how ashamed of this he would be? Unbelievable. Taking someone else's work and completely perverting it for profit. These show runners are absolute 🤡!!!!

[@Mystic_Christopher]

Let's just call it for what it is. This show is bad. Nothing will top the original trilogy. What will help this franchise grow is great storytelling and writing. Period!

[@JackChurchill101]

Personally, I always wanted to see an HBO (or similar) funded five season adaptation of LOTR. Doing it right. (Maybe fine, combine the Frodo and Aragorn plotlines, rather than leaving then separate). Imagine spending two hours just to get the hobbits to Buckland. Then another two just to get them to the barrow downs. Then another two to get to weathertop'. Season one - up to rivendel. Season two - up to Rauros. Season three - up to helms deep and the black gate. Season four - up to passing of grey company and shelob. Season five - up to the end.

[@Don9872]

@@JackChurchill101I’d like to see a well done ‘War of the Ring’ tv series which could have the Lotr story as well as the other parts of the conflict in Mirkwood, lothlorien, dale, erebor etc maybe even some plot lines in the south/Harad or the east/Rhun with peoples from those regions resisting Saurons influence in those regions.

[@davidnorth4486]

Why the short hair???????????????

[@bloodyneptune]

Its the lack of sideburns that kills me

[@ismeju9997]

I like the actors and the music in this series. Sorry haters. I like Yoystan too.

[@Linnir]

Tar Miriel is also so passive in this show. She had two golden opportunities to keep/regain power: the eagle and sea serpent and didn’t either.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

Kemen is also all over the place. He likes Earien, but insults her dad and brother. What happens when he asks for her hand? Is he hoping to kill them off first? then marry Earien? Ok then.

[@antarfodoh]

I love Rings of Power! It makes my fanfic about friendly Orcs sound like Tolkien himself wrote it! 😂

[@alejeron2.077]

that photo is something else

[@TheTheKraven]

1 thing I wish the both of should have noticed is the show literally contradicting something they showed in season 1: At the beginning of season 1 literally when they are going over the history we see Sauron in full armor with a spear already having legions of orcs worshipping him and being under his command. SO WHY THE ****** DOES HE LITERALLY FAIL AT EVEN GETTING STARTED ON BEING A RULER OVER THE ORCS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEASON... This contradicts everything they showed in that scene... Did the writers themselves forget about this... or just changed it and hope nobody would notice?

[@JackChurchill101]

Well, that was Galadriel's narration. Maybe it was a flawed narration. Like that's how she thought of him. *If you want to bend logic you can, but it really shouldn't be left to the audience to try and explain why broken logic could hypothetically make sense.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

yeah, Sauron’s speech in the opening scene of s2 is so lame. 1. he was CONVINCING the orcs to make him new boss. Dude, who else is there to lead? 😅 2. If he had to ask, he lost already. The scene just set the stage for Adar to betray him so easily. 3. And Sauron is master deceiver, not in the habit of asking plainly. Why ask and be told no. Or so I think.

[@TheTheKraven]

@@sandy-jn5rd especially if you consider the Opening of season 1 aswell as the Lore... Like the orcs would and should have blindly followed him after being servants to Morgoth for years

[@sandy-jn5rd]

@@TheTheKraven yeah. He insults the orcs and offers himself as their deliverance. Ofc they killed him. I would. 😆

[@sandy-jn5rd]

@@TheTheKraven he knelt and looked up at Adar, and didn’t notice the backhand manner Adar was holding the crown. Seriously ! Sauron so dumb

[@denglongfist4270]

Dethklok Celebrimbor: Do you folks like Coffee…?

[@barryleslie7727]

Just finished the current series. I think I’m in the minority of people who enjoyed it. It’s shonky retelling of the second age events massively defies people and events. That said, they definitely tell their own version of events and this needs to be considered when watching. My only comment on the second season was that Charlie Vickers as Sauron was the standout performance. He pulled off the sympathetic, sadistic and malevolent aspects of Sauron to perfection. I definitely enjoyed this much more

[@stevenbryant6231]

I thought season two was a significant improvement over season one. To me the improvements were obvious. There was a tighter narrative focus, more consistent thematic tone, stronger acting, and noticeably enhanced cinematography. The visuals felt much more deliberate and immersive, and clearly aimed at matching the tone of the films. I had a lot of issues with season one, and most of the criticism seems directed at the show’s grandfathered reputation, which, to be fair, the show brought on itself. Still, I think people have a hard time in moving off their original stance, and it’s difficult to see the forest for the trees. It’s part of human nature and it is tremendously difficult to overcome our emotional biases when we’ve become firmly entrenched. Tolkien purists are an impassioned bunch, to say the least, but can also be quite rigid. In combination with the polarizing culture wars of today’s political climate, where both conservative and purist voices often amplify each other, it can make constructive discussion difficult. Unfortunately, these heightened emotions don’t always allow for reasoned debate or open appreciation of different interpretations.

[@Silversmith70]

Did Celeborn eventually come into the show? I don't remember seeing him but I was half watching while I worked.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

no, Galadriel only mentioned him in passing in s1e8 or 9, he went to war wearing an ill-fitting armor, she made a joke, and they said bye bye, and she hasn’t seen him since, like a thousand years ago. So in show-lore, she’s either still married or a widow, but no one knows. But she’s not looking for him.

[@Vorczar]

No. And thank God they didn't... For 10 seconds I thought they were going to reveal a healed Elf Adar was Celeborn.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

@@Vorczarsame 😂 I froze ! My trust level of the writers is that low, after the icky kiss.

[@jontastic]

I just checked amazon, no ROP action figures 😂. They don’t even have confidence of their show enough to try to cash in more 😂

[@kimhaas7586]

So I was thinking about what series I’ve seen in the past few years that had gifted show runners and story tellers and also had an other worldly ethereal quality with a great female lead who was both strong and wise. It was Station Eleven on HBO. Beautifully done. Plenty of good writing, the characters are very memorable. There’s excitement and struggle but not like MCU type stuff. And the world is our world but completely unlike our world. The series was adapted from the book and stayed pretty faithful to it in spirit but made changes that made the story better. Get them. Pay them whatever they want.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

1:06:20 i’m guessing Valandil ain’t dead either. He’d come back alive, because. 😂

[@Blong243]

Just to add to your tidbit of arguing and even fighting over opinions, the ultimate goal is to draw people to the books and grow our fan base. I may not like the show but if it gets people into the books then it's a win.

[@todd3695]

RoP showed us locations from the books and that was awesome sure but everything else was an insult to Tolkien

[@LucasGarcez-q3u]

I think there are nice visuals there. What I would like to see is a cut of the entire show fitted into the prologue of the original LOTR movies. Similar to what fans did to the Hobbit. I think with a voiceover, most of the dialogue cut, this series could be a nice addition to the original LOTR.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

just change the name of Galadriel to Celebrian, edit out all convos haha

[@educationalporpoises9592]

I actually am looking forward to the next season... but only because of Celebrimbor, Adar, Sauron, and the Balrog. And Celebrimbor and Adar are dead already sooooo not sure what that next season will hold. Hopefully they find one relationship that will carry the next season... Beyond that I kinda wanna watch the ship burn.

[@Ka_T_ya]

Started watching this review now , so might add random comments while watching . I think among everything else , they fuckedup with Adar . I think Adar could have made a bit more sense if he was a Boldog , not this self conscious elf from the awakening of the elves ,turned into orc ,somehow survived thus far with a soul ? If he was a Boldog ,that would have made him a Maia ,and his uprising against Sauron ,could have made more sense.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

He WAS a boldog. Tortured and deformed by Morgoth. An Elf being turned into an Orc. The nonsense of it is that although he’s older than the other orcs, he’s somehow “less orc” than them.

[@Ka_T_ya]

@@TETASARAIVACS Boldogs were Maiar ,though . The evil spirits that followed Melkor ,but were not embodied as Balrogs . And which were first only in spirit form before Melkor started breeding them with tortured elves ,beasts and later humans . The Boldogs existed to be direct orc leaders . What Adar is a nonsense .

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@Ka_T_ya Were them? In that case, if Adar was a lesser maia who had come with Melkor and served using the form of a big orc, when asked what he is he would answer “I’m an Uruk”, right? Although he said he was once an Elf born in Beleriand, or was it Arondir?

[@Ka_T_ya]

@@TETASARAIVACS yeah , Arondir said in Beleriand , Arondir is a Silvan elf, if he was born in Beleriand ,most likely was one of the Green elves who lived with or around the Sindar. Adar suggested he was from when elves first awakened ,if I’m not mistaking . But Adar also said he was once an elf tortured by Morgoth . While the Boldogs were never tortured ( nor were they elves ofc ) . Which is what created the big fail. If they truly bothered to research the lore , they could have made the characters actually believable and probable . But still, another Maia ,be it lesser than Sauron ,in the position as an orc leader, has far better logic to try prevent Sauron from taking his leadership of his orcs ,which are in a sense his children as the Boldogs were criss bred by Morgoth to create the orcs. But the saddest part is ,despite the nonsense they created about Adar ,when it comes to actual lore , in their show’s universe ,he was still not as bad as,the actual named characters like Galadriel, Elrond ,Gil-galad ,etc .

[@sandy-jn5rd]

I don’t know the lore, but just Adar as presented, the writers botched his ending. The show built up his idea of using Nenya with Morgoth’s crown, blend their magic, and kill Sauron. So the orcs go to war and he grabs Nenya from Elrond. THEN he never gets to show this plan, and no showdown with Sauron. And it was all I was waiting for. Kill Adar, sure, I understand he’s a made up character, but please, make his fight a good one.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

Since we are discussing the scatologic Rings of Power, shouldn't we have invited a gastroenterologist?

[@educationalporpoises9592]

126:40 I kinda disagree. I think Sauron saying "you think too much of me" was actually on point for him being manipulative. I think he was being fake humble, lol. I also think he switches between shape shifting and illusion a few times. On luck... yeah he's pretty lucky but there are a few points that I think are kinda mystified... like is it luck or is it because he's Sauron? Such as with the shipwreck, he may have been the cause. He lures evil enough that anything relating to evil stuff helping him out could convincingly be a mix of his cunning and evil identity. Same with the viewer's compassion for Sauron. It's all illusion... or at least that's how I'm reading it to stay hopeful lol.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

40:40 whether Dark Wizard is Saruman or not, he ended up so boring. Lame convo with Stranger, and more lame magic tricks.

[@RaijinSeme]

I don't understand why so many people say that this season was so better.. characters still shallow, dialogues are pretty trash, characters don't feel like they are their characters and looks so generic for such an expensive series.

[@iluvpepi]

Maybe make Phillipa Boyens the primary writers for the episodes.

[@driiifter]

I liked the ogre attacking the wall and I liked Durin's leap of sacrifice. Nothing else in both seasons is a memorable because there are no stakes or pay offs.

[@sandy-jn5rd]

sacrifice? i don’t get it, was it him or junior, so he lept for junior? what was leaping for

[@AnthonyBerkshire]

I stopped watching S2 after ep3. Did we get an answer why Isildur was hearing voices in S1? Was the Balgrog just beast like or did it something like a conscious creature?

[@jamesawwyea]

The last two episodes of S2 are worth watching imo

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Well, we find out that HE is the reason that got his mom killed. But nothing about the voices. Except if that is his mom’s voice, then maybe…

[@AlekTrev006]

Balrog is always really intelligent - as a Fallen Maiar (similar power level as Gandalf / Saruman / etc). Probably Intelligence-20 (at least) in D&D RPG terms 😅

[@AnthonyBerkshire]

@@AlekTrev006 and was he portrayed like this in RoP?

[@AlekTrev006]

@@AnthonyBerkshire he wasn’t portrayed as this in the original Jackson movies either - because he doesn’t bother to speak or such, even when facing Gandalf 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@travisspazz1624]

I haven't read the books, don't know the lore, and I had a blast with the show!! Feels like old school fantasy to me! Sauron a ruthless MFer. RIP to my boy Adar.

[@Don9872]

This is about the depth of analysis I’d expect from someone who likes the show.

[@travisspazz1624]

@@Don9872 thought the show is pretty straightforward, I don't need to deep dive analyze something to like it. Y'all purists really do hate that people like this?

[@Don9872]

@@travisspazz1624 quite the opposite, I find it hilarious that people think this show is good!

[@bulldogsbob]

At least this show has given you more LOTR content to talk about like the War of the Rohirriem movie will later this yea.r

[@loverandhun6508]

Last 2 episodes were SO BAD plus how the king and Elron get captured is so terrible story telling

[@dmdebruijn]

Is it still possible that the stranger is a blue wizard, like “ROMESTAMO”?

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@dmdebruijn nah, Tim Bambidull already said that Gandalf would eventually “fight both of them”. We can be sure it’s Saruman

[@dmdebruijn]

@@TETASARAIVACS thank you

[@TETASARAIVACS]

If Adar was actually a “father” to orcs, as someone to whom they would look up, he would probably be in a more advanced stage of “orc transformation”. There’s no sense!