Rings of Power Season 2 Teaser BREAKDOWN

We've just gotten our first look at season two of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power! As usual, I'm going to dive through every image and talk about the lore and give my predictions and observations!
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[@NerdoftheRings]

What did you think of the teaser? Did it increase your hype level (wherever it may have been prior)? Favorite/least favorite moment?

[@j-dmachado4349]

Oh yeah, absolutely hyped! Least favourite moment: mystery goo. Most favourites: the Sacking of Eregion, Annatar, a dwarven ring of power, and the elven rings of power on Galadriel’s, Círdan’s and Gil-Galad’s hands! I also loved seeing a Great Eagle, fingers crossed it’s featured wisely 🤞🏼

[@Indopator]

THE FLICK OF THE WRIST AND THAT FINAL SHOT 😫😫😫😫 WE ARE SO BACKKKKK

[@glockparaastra]

Looking forward to it! I was surprised as I thought we’d only see this next year.

[@michaels7325]

It increased my hype to start the Andy serkis read LotR series again.

[@ConkerKing]

Listening to Andy Serkis reading the Battle of Unnumbered Tears and its aftermath only make me weep for what we could have got if only the Tolkien Estate weren't such curmudgeons.

[@jeansalomon8225]

Sauron puts on Clark Kents glasses Elves: Who's that?

[@2senz]

😂😂😂

[@Spock4771]

He is a shapesifter

[@dg7523]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Are they not going to recognize him??!!?! It’s the blonde hair. They’ll be mesmerized by it.

[@NeighborhoodItalian]

Sauron puts on a cheap wig 😂

[@rifway22]

@@dg7523 Outside of Galadriel and Celebrimbor, nobody knows Halbrand, he's a nobody in season 1

[@princelexvlogs]

Galadriel: "But they were all of them deceived for another WIG was made."

[@Me-pu1kp]

Do you wear Wigs?

[@Utaeru]

Go comment that crap on the original teaser, this video is for serious discussion.

[@xKinjax]

@@Utaeru the creator of this video clearly disagrees with you considering how many joke comments and comments about wigs he's liked. I would tell you to go suck a lemon but you're clearly sour enough already.

[@dheijnemans]

In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged, in secret, a Master Wig to control all others. And into this Wig he poured all his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. One Wig to rule them all.

[@tando6266]

@@Utaeru I take it you missed the let it go joke in the video....

[@countpicula]

Elves: “WAIT!? Who’s there!” Sauron: [puts on a wig] Elves: “huh, must have been the wind…”

[@Omnilatent]

Gil Galad and Elrond, though: !

[@fitmcdeezy8778]

😂😂😂😂

[@tedb8138]

glad you can see one pic and know the whole story.

[@fitmcdeezy8778]

I thought for sure there would be more butt hurt replies. I'm disappointed

[@MarloGoodsbye]

Reminds me of the Hobbit 2003 videogame where we're sneaking through the elven king's halls as Bilbo

[@arahman137]

"Galadriel's pretty crazy behavior in season 1 ..." - Understatement of the day

[@aramisone7198]

Its feminism at its finest ,go to have some wokism in the the story.

[@rocknroll1973]

​@@aramisone7198 or you know, character development. Because how else does she become that wise? What she just knows everything from the start? No. Gotta have her learn and grow as a character. Otherwise galadriel is one dimensional. And makes her a better character

[@joshxamanda]

@@rocknroll1973well said dumb people can’t understand that

[@josepnebotrius872]

​@@rocknroll1973 you know it wouldn't happen you know: Girl bosses have no flaws so they needn't to improve.

[@rocknroll1973]

@@josepnebotrius872 you need to get out more. Stop listening to rubbish like nerdrotic

[@BilRib14]

nazgals 😂😂😂

[@robbiedobbles]

I couldn't remember if that was a new name or not as it's been so long since season 1!

[@darthvegan435]

@@robbiedobbles pretty sure it was used to describe them last season...

[@muhammadnanda5768]

I think because they all are galls😂

[@Nick-rs5if]

NO STOP! 😂

[@billyt7081]

There's Nazguys, so to be equitable, we need Nazgals.

[@thomasb.anderson8113]

dom moneghan towards halbrand: do you wear wigs? have you worn wigs? when will you wear wigs?

[@AmyBrueckman]

I love how one of the biggest superficial gripes with ROP was short haired elves so right away Amazon was like HERE LOOK, A LONG WIG. HAPPY NOW???

[@amandalogan89]

😂 The deep lore returns

[@ashleytaylor7621]

@@AmyBrueckman i dont think that was the main issue

[@able7732]

It’s almost as if you people are mad that he didn’t grow is hair himself… or maybe you’ve never seen a wig before…

[@Debbielein8190]

Lmao 😂😂😂

[@jonathandollin8604]

“ Elsa singing let it go…” nice!

[@Halafas]

I don't think they are "correcting" anything in regards to Galadriel. This is just the continuation of her arc.

[@gunkulator1]

Revenge plots are ultimately unsatisfying.

[@citizen_wayne]

@@gunkulator1 Speak for yourself lol

[@xer1000]

Ok I'm a casual fan of lotr and I'm curious as to why this can't be part of her arc? Can't there be a time in her life where she was like this and then certain things change her?

[@sabineb.5616]

​​@@xer1000, well, considering that Amazon's Galadriel is an adult woman who is supposed to be married at the time and will eventually become Elrond's mother-in-law, the beginning of her arc isn't exactly credible. But I think the main problem with Galadriel is, that the writing was so terrible. It wasn't done skillfully at all. Just try to remember her sudden suicidal jump from her ship to into the ocean, where she met just by chance this really cute guy called Halbrand who saved her life, and because there is a mutual attraction, they kind of stay together during the first season. But when they did this really neat arts-and-crafts project with Celebrimbor in the final episode, the cute guy who had saved Galadriel's life, turns out to be HalRon instead of Halbrand - and he is actually the second most evil being of the Tolkien universe. The most evil guy is HalRon's former boss Morgoth. But instead of telling her elven pals ASAP that HalRon who had walked around freely in the forge, might've been engaged in industrial espionage and maybe doing tjings a lot worse than this, Galadriel decides to keep her mouth shut and hopes that everybody will just forget about the guy who called himself Halbrand. This doesn't really make a lot of sense! If you want to toss the lore aside in order to try something new and unexpected, it needs to make sense, and it should be done skillfully. But unfortunately that wasn't the case at all! For me this pretty much ruined the foundations of the show. This cannot be undone anymore!

[@xer1000]

@@sabineb.5616 thank you for a reasonable answer!

[@stamoslouis]

Annatar arrives to teach Celebrimbor more about alloys...

[@johnglue1744]

And wigs.

[@evam4182]

😭😭

[@Vondarkstar]

Rings were already made and the ‘gift’ was given in season 1.

[@christianstark2381]

And introduces wearing your hair long to elvendom.

[@andremedaglia350]

​@@Vondarkstar in the 1st season they did only the 3 rings for the elves...

[@KansasCitian]

I just hope they can do a much better job of capturing the scale necessary to make the events of the show actually feel as important as their characters treat them. Last season's big world ending battle ultimately involved one small village of like 100 people.

[@Niekvw]

Given there will be a siege of eregion, I think this will become much better in this season.

[@martinksk88]

@@Niekvw They will call it a "siege" with only 100 people and the rest cgi...

[@Thescott16]

Wish they'd start over with decent writers and a better cast...

[@Niekvw]

@@martinksk88 gosh you people are all full of bad faith aren't you.

[@Niekvw]

@@Thescott16 keep wishing harder, it won't get you anywhere, I'd suggest you start spending that energy wishing for things that aren't going to happen on something useful instead

[@Sandnan_der_gruene_Pilger]

"But they were all of them deceived for another WIG was made. For in the lands of Modor Sauron crafted his master WIG. One WIG to fool them all, one WIG to blind them, one WIG to fool them twice and in the Darkness bind them." JRRT

[@billygoods22]

The tied up person with the sea monster could be Numenor starting to make human sacrifices (or a vision of the future of Numenor making human sacrifices).

[@kongspeaks4778]

Maybe they sacrifice Miriel

[@SimpleDesertRose]

I'm looking forward to Elsa singing Let It Go for the orcs 😂😂

[@Dantick09]

The wigs never bothered me anyway

[@SimpleDesertRose]

@@Dantick09 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@blacksheep9505]

Orcs aren’t bad guys they are just misunderstood as with all bad guys in current media.

[@SW-fn7cl]

Amazing comments 😂

[@Cuinn]

Galadriel: Avengers, ASSEMBLE!

[@adamswierszcz5586]

Don't forget about Venom also!

[@isaacm2374]

Have people only started watching movies in 2010? The revolving surrounding heroes shot has been around for decades. Even the Lord of the rings trilogy used it. It's not a Marvel creation.

[@travisspazz1624]

​@@isaacm2374you can always tell when people are under the age of 30 on the internet.

[@Cuinn]

@@isaacm2374 It's... a joke. :)

[@DavidNewmanDr]

John Steed never said that.

[@stephenbarkley964]

Sauron: I'm Sauron. Celebrimbor: *changes passwords on all their devices Sauron: I am not that other guy, (point to hair) but he did forget to do a few things. Can I barrow your forge? Celebrimbor: Alright, here is the login info.

[@Omar_listenin]

I can't help but think more effort was put into this teaser breakdown than to the writing in all of season 1

[@gffg387]

Amazon on this teaser: "Galadriel, Harfoots, Fake Gandalf? Don't know what you're talking about."

[@tkreelman18]

HAHAHA facts dude just deleted that section

[@CelebornGaming]

And I’m here for it lol.

[@misterhoobomaster]

Harfoots got left behind.

[@DontReadMyProfilePicture566]

Don't read my name!

[@jessemillan1385]

The stranger is a Blue Wizard.

[@TheEvilHubert]

The darkness has returned

[@chrisleighton8498]

This had me laughing. Ty

[@Quandal3Dingl3]

"It will spread to every corner of the land"

[@PraetorianG2004]

Very edgy

[@Leprechaunproduction]

Somehow... Rings of Power returned.

[@shawnthompson2303]

He never went anywhere. 🔥👁️🔥

[@swordmonkey6635]

At this point, I'm waiting for the RoP writers to give Frodo a cameo appearance in this 2nd Age story.

[@1966bustabeat]

The creature under the water resembles the "worm" that attacked the ship and survivors that Galadriel had joined with Halbrand after she abandoned the ship to Valinor.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Knife licking by baddies has become kind of a meme by now.

[@citizen_wayne]

It's been a meme for 50 years. Just ignore it lol

[@michaelh3800]

I was just disappointed that the teaser didn't end with a cheery "Ring a ding dillo!"

[@ashleytaylor7621]

i was just disappointed

[@TheTheKraven]

I'd rather not have them butcher good ol' Tom aswell

[@titobeme]

Perhaps a future trailer will have a close up shot of yellow boots skipping towards the beleaguered Elves fighting the Wights? One can always dream. 😊

[@williamflattener4257]

Justice for Tom Bombadil

[@johnw1743]

Honestly, if they put Tom Bombadil in this I'd forgive them all of Season 1. Maybe.

[@fylraen]

Remember when galadriel jumped off a boat near valinor and swam back to numenor only to find sauron on the ocean, that was so cool

[@zacharycollins9485]

"A demon of shadow and flame. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"

[@jorssu13]

Are you talking about the balrog or this show?

[@user-wi9gg6wp6f]

@@jorssu13 lmao

[@axelf4515]

shadow and trash...

[@TbV-st8ef]

when my grandpa (am old fan of lotr) finished rings of power, he stood up, laughed for 2 minutes nonstop, then said "evil cannot create, it can only corrupt" and then went to bed

[@user-wi9gg6wp6f]

@@TbV-st8ef 💀💀

[@undead8393]

>Amazon: releases Rings of Power Season 2 trailer *>HBO, 2 hours later: RELEASES HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SEASON 2 TRAILER*

[@bentlohse1715]

They know how a Fantasy show should be done.

[@PraetorianG2004]

@@bentlohse1715 Not really

[@travisspazz1624]

Okay but I was kind of underwhelmed by season 1 of House of the Dragon..

[@bentlohse1715]

@@travisspazz1624 Well its a lot of setup before we can get into the Civil war. But some Performances where really fantastic. I understand what you mean tho. I know where it is going so i was just intetested to see how they setup that entire plot.

[@travisspazz1624]

​@@bentlohse1715despite the internet telling me I'm wrong, I actually kind of had more fun with rings of power, warts and all. 🤷‍♂️ HOTD time jumps really through me off, along with many of the plots just feeling like Game of Thrones going through the motions. I thought the episode when the King dies was the best one.

[@Willie_Dickins]

I don't absolutely hate this series like some people do, but hear me out... Sauron is able to change form at will. There is no way they used the same actor for Annatar as for Halbrand, but just gave him a wig 😂😂😂

[@andremedaglia350]

Judging by this trailer, Amazon has listened a lot of the fans critiques... they create a way to retcon the history towards what is canon... By this teaser, my analysis is that: Sauron as the shapeshifter he is, uses his human form to figure it out how create the rings, once he complete the 3 elven rings and discover that it works, he present himself as Sauron to Galadriel and "fled" to Mordor, so she would chase him while he infiltrates as Annatar without any suspicious and complete his plan with the other rings.

[@kenthehobo]

"Somehow Sauron has returned"

[@Christrulesall2]

((Shudder)) Please, bruh. Dont do it...😖😂

[@funkfamily4165]

I never saw it coming😅

[@hassamlatif1169]

To be fair, that does happen alot in the silmarillion.

[@matthewlook3597]

Returned? He never left?

[@Cloofinder]

*orcs come flying in from Catapults* "THEY FLY NOW?!" "They fly now"

[@davidjones272]

Re: the Balrog. I can see it being used as a way of killing Durin 3rd: Having his ring corrupt him and leading him to aggressively mine mithril. But being in the deeper chambers when it's discovered and dying as a consequence. My guess is that he and those with him will seal themselves off from the rest of Khazadum to save it from the Balrog, (creating the sealed chamber referenced in LOTR) but as a consequence it's existence won't be known by the wider population and it will go back into hibernation until it's rediscovered in the 3rd age.

[@TheJmlew11]

So the wider population won’t know about their king being dead?

[@starrynight6268]

@@TheJmlew11 To be fair, back in Fellowship of the Ring, no one knows Balin is dead and where are the dwarfs that moves to Kazah-Dum for the past 5 years until Gimli returns to Moria

[@TheJmlew11]

@@starrynight6268 That’s not the same at all. Of course those outside of Kazadum would not know about Balin’s death. But the above comment suggests that there would be two separate groups WITHIN Kazadum. One with the king and one that is somewhat cut off for whatever reason. And that this second group would have no way of knowing about the other. That’s insanity.

[@acommoncommenter9364]

That sounds like the stuff they would make but please no.

[@davidjones272]

@TheJmlew11 Of course they would know their king was dead, but it would be assumed to be because of a mining accident/natural disaster, not because of a Balrog. Also, it's not like Dwarves don't have a habit of just having their leaders wander off and disappear. Thrain pretty much vanished off the face of the earth prior to the Hobbit, even Thorin had no idea where he was until Gandalf found him in Dol Guldor.

[@vishwashah54]

I think the eagle could be coming from Valinor carrying the message from Manwë that Númenoreans shouldn't try to sail to the undying lands.

[@darrengladden4681]

Glad you called out about the Blue Wizards. In the first season dialogue, it was suggested that there was more than one Istari by the Nazgals, and it did seem there were two comets in S1.

[@michaelpace99]

Tom Bombadil is going to save the Elves from the Barrow Wights

[@Cloofinder]

This would be a great opportunity for him to finally be seen on screen.

[@SW-fn7cl]

​@Cloofinder please Eru no 😂

[@gilgamesh8334]

lmao Galadriel and Elron don't need saving from some puny Barrow Wights

[@SiriProject]

That could produce an arguably better series ngl

[@jennieteen]

That would be pretty dope, ngl

[@redmo11]

Thumbs up for the Treebeard quote :)

[@Rasklo93]

The Fortress eminating Ice could also be Gundabad or Angmar's fortress. Since it was stated it was in the farthest north. And Isildur taking the path of Shelob would lead him right out to where he would build Minas Itilth later.

[@andremedaglia350]

IMO, Celebrimbor's vision is Feanor - his spirit burst in flames by his death - and this would be a trick of Sauron to compel him continue the crafting of the rings of power...

[@scotty455]

Does it seem crazy to anyone else that they are going to use the Annatar storyline since they already did that in season 1 with Halbrand? I mean in season 1, Sauron already assumed a fair form, and used it to infiltrate the elves during which time he learned about ring smithing from Clelbrimbor. So are they just going to do the exact same storyline again in season 2 but with this time with Annatar?

[@acommoncommenter9364]

Yes, but I think they aren't gonna do the exact same thing. I think season 2 will just include some shots of Annatar doing Annatar things but I don't think it's gonna be represented as a storyline which is sad given they also represented 'Annatar' storyline in season 1 very superficially.

[@danzafrir2900]

I'm also VERY confused. Best guess is that Sauron won't be going into Eregion in that form as they already know him there, so he'll use his fair visage to infiltrate and corrupt other kingdoms.

[@josepnebotrius872]

I won't watch it to guess it myself. Is a mystery box I won't open myself.

[@cosmicjohn174]

One wig to rule them all

[@travisspazz1624]

Thought it was Matt Smith for a second.

[@Capt_Spork]

One wig to find them

[@DontReadMyProfilePicture566]

Don't read my name!

[@qui-gonjay2944]

@@Capt_Sporkand in the blondeness bind them

[@fingersTitan]

Sam - I wish I had a wig. Gollum - Wigses? What's a wigses precious? Sam - W-I-G-S. Style them, perm them, stick it on your head. Wigs.

[@anotherdrummingenigma2882]

Do you wear wigs?

[@Jared-iw3vy]

Will you wear wigs?

[@mohamedsaleh516]

When will you wear wigs ?

[@gandalfthegrey7146]

“The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real things of its own.” -Frodo in The Return of the King.

[@lucasspielmann4387]

I still think this show should’ve been the origins of the witch king since his origins aren’t really known. Halbrand fights Sauron to take back Mordor as a king of Mordor but eventually becomes enslaved by a ring of power that Annatar presents him as the rings are given to powerful sorcerers, warriors and kings. It would’ve worked perfectly with the numenor arc and we could’ve seen someone else be Sauron.

[@casinirecords4463]

I agree, Halbrand being the witch king instead would have made much more sense

[@robertabblebaum7813]

There could have been so many stories that would have been better than what we got in the first season :/. I almost feel like one of the issues is that they've got all these stories beats they know they need to hit, but only have about, what 60ish hours in which to tell them over 8-10 seasons? If they had done the Witch King route, which you're right, probably would have been a better story, it would have given the actors more room to breathe and also not given fans too high of expectations of characters we already know.

[@lucasspielmann4387]

@@robertabblebaum7813 exactly. It would’ve been an original spin on the lore that we know while also introducing another perspective of a pivotal character in LOTR. They still could’ve done the war of the elves and Sauron, fall of Khazdum, numenors fall (they allied with Halbrand to attack and retake Mordor and capture Sauron and then everything that happens on numenor happens, and then finally the war of the last alliance with the ring being cut from Sauron’s hand as it flips up into the air in slow motion roll credits

[@benedictwallis5820]

Just shut the show down. Cut their losses and ended it now.

[@Nerd_Detective]

I was really hoping for that - or for Halbrand to at least become one of the other Nazgul. I suspect we will see a prominent human character this season that will ultimately become the Witch King before the show is done, once the rings have been taken by Sauron. Since the Stranger is headed east... I also suspect we might meet Kamul on that journey. Perhaps even a tragedy where the Stranger (who I am confident is a blue wizard) befriends a lord of the East only for that hero to be corrupted by a ring of power.

[@tombombadil1262]

NOTE: Cirdan is not the only elf to have a beard. He is the only elf to reach the age where an elf should have a beard. Mahtan is the other (also redheaded, very rare for those who don’t know)

[@bennettkeel5075]

I’ll be honest… I REALLY like Elrond in this show. His performance and character are well done and he’s a well rounded character! And considering how weak the writing was last season, I can appreciate the things they did somewhat well. Elrond, the dwarves, and Adar were my highlights from last season

[@gunkulator1]

Elrond with Durin is the only bright spot in the show. Annoyingly, Elrond has little to do among his own people.

[@mythal0620]

Thanks for the unbiased dissection of the trailer and the “Behind the Scenes” video. Personally - mind you, Tolkien nerd for almost 50 years and quite thoroughly familiar with the world - I don't have such problems with “Rings of Power”, even if I don't think everything about it is well advised. I think your interpretations are justified and well thought out. I'm not sure about the “Stranger” though - during the first season I thought it might be Eärendil (the connection to stars), but maybe you're right about the Blue Wizards. But if it is Gandalf, I would find that disappointing. Anyway, I'm looking forward to August 29th!

[@tar-elenionmaranwe1275]

Mahtan: "Elves did not have beards until they entered their third cycle of life. Nerdanel's father [cf. XII:365-66 n.61] was exceptional, being only early in his second." Vinyar Tengwar 41

[@StrawberrySoaps]

Something ironic: I watch the show and thought it was pretty good. Then I started watching your content and learned more about the lore and completely reversed on the show. Unless I hear there are major improvements, I probably won’t be watching this season.

[@nerobruno]

Just don't watch these breakdowns and you can enjoy the show. It's that simple a choice.

[@MortalJupiter]

I know a lot of people who don't know about Middle-Earth Lore would have been a tad confused but they really should have recast him as Annatar. If they didn't know then it would have been a 'shock' or at least misleading to people. Just putting on a wig is mad funny haha

[@1rishpotat0]

Probably my favourite part about the show is the absolute banger job they did on the dwarves. The Hobbit Dwarves sucked, and it was so refreshing to see some genuine-feeling dwarves in LOTR after the trilogy.

[@captaincrunch6500]

"I'm not Sauron I'm totally a different guy...." "Ah well obviously, your hair is completely different than Sauron's so I believe you."

[@SugarHigh7278]

Círdan wasn’t the only elf to have a beard - Fëanor’s father in law Mahtan also had one

[@NerdoftheRings]

Oh snap! I totally forgot about him! Great catch!

[@meteorman6167]

Annatar using the force to kill the elves guarding him is so lame

[@rickoshay5525]

Even JRR might have made a mistake. Too much beer when writing maybe. Facial hair simply looks wrong on Elves.

[@unnamed6419]

Lol TWO of them actually kind of look like elves now! And one of them isn’t even an elf, he intentionally looks more like themselves than they do😂

[@Eastern1]

The "Things" From Wednesday had more depth in character than any from the S1 ROP

[@MyFatherLoves]

Your viewpoint is a breath of fresh air. There's so many people just spewing hate about anything and everything. I didn't think RoP was anything special but I love LoTR.

[@Nibba1965]

If you love LOTR then RoP should not even be put in the same context

[@Gort_the_surf]

It’s hard to believe the original was almost 2 years ago

[@derekstiles5801]

It’s harder to believe they continued it.

[@WadeWilson-]

Yeah they should wait another 2 years and spare us.

[@josepnebotrius872]

Did you miss it?

[@erikhendrickson59]

It's hard to believe the original

[@nodarkthings]

hard to believe how utterly hideous it was.

[@lukebradshaw4378]

I was hyped after watching the trailer for season 1, only to be disappointed. For this season I am going in expecting disappointment, and hoping for something better. If so, there has to be major changes this season. I just want the show to respect Tolkien and his Lore.

[@BridgeTROLL777]

There will be no changes same writers and producers with same mindset. "Lets put our own spin on the forefront", feminism, inclusivity, and all the other trendy topics in media (not among fans and not in source material) that when it takes precedence over good relatable story where all characters are human and "flawed", and precedence over source material, it ruins franchises.

[@elib7502]

​@@BridgeTROLL777 Inculsivity isn't the issue. It's bad writing, nonsensical plot devices, and a lack of respect for the source material.

[@BridgeTROLL777]

@@elib7502 that culture and those adjacent concepts intersectional feminism, inclusivity, pandering are the issue when they take PRESEDENCE OVER the source material and story, which they generally do in popular franchises nowadays. The failure of rings of power season 1 is definitely created by that culture. If you want inclusivity thats fine, as long as it isnt the main point and comes after the story in priority, which it usually doesnt do since this "woke" feminist culture insists that its propaganda is the priority. A good example of "inclusivity" is the new Hellraiser, superb movie, everyone loved it. It had a lead trans actor, wouldnt even know when watching the movie. No pandering, and real life virtue signaling, story came first and it was great..

[@allthatishere]

​@@BridgeTROLL777I don't really get all of the "woke" people keep yelling about. What was woke here, exactly? I remember someone telling me there was a black lesbian scene in season 1, and unless I missed that episode when I watched it 2 months ago, I didn't see it anywhere? I guess they were mad about there being a black elf?

[@Tweed_Tone]

There will be absolutely zero change. Look at what the writers have said. They already went against anything Tolkien with season 1, they are doubling down with season 1. I’m amazed with how they are war speeding through the timeline with events. Nothing of this show feels like Tolkien or even the PJ films. I’m glad they aren’t connected at all to those films or the real Tolkien lore. They can be their own non canon fan fiction

[@JacksunHaden]

“He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.” -J.R.R. Tolkien via Gandalf. [Go back to the Shadows!]

[@mattgilbert7347]

I'm looking forward to the "Glee" inspired episode featuring a huge cast of Elves singing "The Real Sauron Shady"

[@maxpower7113]

I may be incorrect but I believe the writers said that they didn't have the rights to the Anator storyline and that's why he wasn't included in season 1. I do know that they were given more access to use Tolkein's work between seasons so maybe this is a course correction they were unable to do in season 1.

[@marjoe32]

THIS

[@vbm4780]

This is a theory that the internet created all by itself. The writers never ever mentioned which rights they had or didn't have. Telephone game.

[@vbm4780]

And there is a video on this channel (I think it was the review of season 1 by NOTR) where he plays a video of some high-level producers for the show saying they didn't include Annatar because they considered it a bad story... yes, they actually said that. So the rights were NEVER the problem; it was arrogance. They thought they could write something better than Tolkien... guess that turned out very badly, which is why they changed course now.

[@maxpower7113]

@@vbm4780 thank you for the correction. Specifically I remember from the official podcast, the show runners admitting they wished they could've been closer to the source material but we're hamstrung by rights issues, they did promise that Season 2 would be far closer to source material. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if a producer made the call to axe Anator. At least they learned the error of their ways.

[@josh29221]

gripes with the time compression aside, i'm glad i was right when I called there there would still be an Annatar story. It looks like this season is going to do some damage control on the first, and I hope it tells a successful story.

[@rand0m508]

Galadriel finding out his real identity seems hard to undo though. Her keeping it secret would only make her even less sympathetic to viewers, and many already dislike her version of Galadriel

[@josh29221]

@@rand0m508 i feel like he'd probably appear less 'Halbrand' to the elves, but obviously the same actor is portraying the character. Idk, I'm not all that mad that they're not drastically changing the appearance - though i do expect a drastic change when he gifts a ring to Durin, as i assume he'd show up as a dwarf. Remember, the elves are on alert for a man, the vast majority wouldn't bat an eye at a fellow elf. I also expect that he's there during the siege of Eregion to do some absolutely insane violence to Celebrimbor.

[@ronwhite4583]

I'm in the same boat. But I just don't know how they pivot successfully after the Halbrand reveal. IMO making the audience aware of something so obvious yet watching the characters get duped is just a frustrating watch, because you're above the story being told at that point. I think the Halbrand character not being a Witch King kinda fucked them in the long run. But I am hoping they are cooking up something.

[@LordTelperion]

The siege and fall of the capital city of Ost-in-Edhil is one of the most pivotal moments of the second age, with the Army of Lindon arriving to reinforce Eregion's forces, but still unable to win the day, culminating with Celebrimbor defending the great doors of the House of the Mirdain from Sauron's forces and ultimately falling in one-on-one combat with Sauron himself. Not sure how Amazon will depict this, as their version of the grandson of Feanor isn't really the bristling-with-power High Elf battle-mage you'd think he'd need to be to fight Sauron even for a few seconds.

[@joshcoles1255]

One of my main concerns is still Gil-Galad, I really need this show to give him his flowers! He’s one of the main characters of this age and an integral part of this story, I really hope he gets more screen time and becomes someone we actually root for and feel sad for when he eventually… you know. Overall I was really let down by season 1 I didn’t hate it but it didn’t really feel very Lord of the rings to me personally it just felt like any other fantasy show. I really hope this upcoming season could turn that around because it’s a shame I don’t feel the same sort of hype that I do for HOTD S2 which also dropped their trailer yesterday. Coming from someone who grew up preferring the LOTR lore etc to GOT it’s a shame there doesn’t seem to be the same care poured into this show as that one.

[@Mets4Barth68]

Charlie Vickers as Sauron is becoming one of my favorite things about this very troubled series. It’s one of those things where even if they keep butchering it, he’ll still be my Sauron. Also, PS, nows the time for a live watch party of the 2009 Hunt for Gollum fan film

[@tombombadil1262]

If only you knew what you were missing. What we could’ve had is is just so much cooler

[@nicholasstensson9699]

Agreed. Charlie Vickers is carrying the show hard. Though it’s not exactly a good thing that I want the villain to win 😂

[@Mets4Barth68]

@@tombombadil1262thanks for the condescending reply, Tom, but I was just saying how much I like an actor. You Tolkien fans are unforgiving. This is exactly how Star Wars died.

[@ryansaintz2575]

@@Mets4Barth68 Star Wars died with bad films dog. Don't be mad at fans who don't like bad films. Lol

[@Mets4Barth68]

@@ryansaintz2575 no, it died from juvenile adult fans, and you kinda just proved that, lil buddy

[@tezcatlipocagrande2231]

Morgoth taught Sauron what he knew of mandos domain, and Sauron taught the which king, it would make sense if sauron was practicing necromancy at this time if not an interesting choice.

[@ClaytonStone895]

Galadriel’s destructive behavior changing is the whole point of season one. The showrunners and Clark talked about it a bunch, so it isn’t a “course correction,” it’s her story arc.

[@TheMostTruth]

Well it might be now 🤣

[@schafn]

I think it is plausible that Sauron is able to re-enter Eregion even though he was revealed at the end of Season 1. He's a master of disguise so he could just change his shape and come back as another guy. This would have been more believable if they had used a different actor who looked completely different rather than just making some superficial changes to the first iteration of Halbrand.

[@404-redirect]

I'm excited, I prefer having some sort of LOTR content over nothing at all. I also enjoyed it more the second time around, it doesn't have to be that serious.

[@jonathanbrown5892]

I have an ominous feeling that Pharazon is just moments away from turning around and killing that eagle with his sword 🗡️ as a means to emphasise a departure from the ways of the Eldar and Valar 😮

[@ruthhartling3067]

That was my impression, too

[@ChristmasLore]

Same feeling. So probably intended....but is it what's gonna happen or a just a blatant red herring?

[@jonathanbrown5892]

It would be shocking if he did - perhaps to both casual fans and the die-hards, but effective. I’m assuming Pharazon will have more screen time this season as they build the Numenor power struggle narrative. I can’t wait to see how they tackle it!

[@kdryan21]

Get this straight once and for all. RINGS OF POWER IS NOT TOLKIEN!

[@EQOAnostalgia]

Mu Rangz and sheit.

[@victorllisterri1322]

Sauron and all his trickery while being in elf-disguise in-between the elves was the main thing I was interested in since before the first season aired, so I am excited about finally being able to see it! - And also more tea about the Rings, more Khazad-Dum, more Celebrimbor, more Elrond, more Númenor, and a clearer storyline with the (hopefully blue) Wizard!

[@dogwhistle8836]

It feels like the writers are just wig in it

[@arslanakhter3034]

I didn't understand one thing that if Halbrand was there in season 1 among the elves and he forged the rings, galadriel came to know about his true name and he fled to mordor, now Halbrand in elven wig will come back to forge more rings? Or is it in the past or flashbacks? I'm so confused

[@taylormorrow7560]

Love the breakdown. In regards to the “he’s been here the whole time line” I believe Sauron took other forms before Halbrand, perhaps had something to do with the vision that saw Galadriel banished to the lands of the undying? By separating her from her people, he knew he would be able to deceive her into trusting him as she would be entirely alone.

[@charleshiga4655]

I REALLY hope Amazon does the right thing and make the Stranger one of the Blue Wizards! Although the Age is wrong, they were the first of the Istari to arrive in Middle-Earth not Mithrandir.

[@robertabblebaum7813]

Maybe they course corrected and are going with the Blue's, but I guarantee you in the first season that was meant to be Saruman.

[@charleshiga4655]

@@robertabblebaum7813 interesting, it was my understanding that Gandalf was the only wizard to have really interacted and commingled with Hobbits. Saruman only became aware of them after Gandalf’s unusual interest in the small folk. That’s when Saruman began to spy on the Shire before he sent his goons to overtake them. The Stranger has a very Gandalf-like admiration of the Harfoots whereas Saruman has a rather dismissive and disinterest altogether of the Hobbit race.

[@GerardHammond]

I think he is Saruman

[@charleshiga4655]

@@GerardHammond that would be the final nail in the coffin for me and kill any interest I had left in this series 😄

[@sbashir9460]

My main pleasure from S1 was through your episode breakdowns and now we have this. Thanks again and of course I will be watching S2! Here's to hoping it works out.

[@Gandalf1of9]

Not the only known elf with a beard. When the Noldor who were taken as slaves by Morgoth were later freed the Elves looked at them with wonder as they had been aged like mortal men: bearded, grey haired, and their faces were lined. Long stress and suffering can cause an Elf to age. And Círdan the Shipwright was sworn to stay in Middle-Earth until the last elf sailed for the blessed lands.

[@Ire-mw9cc]

I am carefully optimistic. If the writers have learned from at least some of their (many) mistakes in season 1, season 2 could be a real improvement. Season 1 I think showed potential, even if it ended up being really disappointing. Definitely enough potential to show in a second season whether they actually learned.

[@jmyers90]

I feel like the “he worms his way inside your minds” line was spoken by King Durin. To me, it kinda sounds like his voice

[@MarcoMartinez-si9ye]

I was reading most of the notes of J.R.R. Tolkien, and he writes that Sauron takes the "image of man" in most of the ages. Probably Annatar might have looked like an elf, but is not written, only that he looks "fair" and "repentance" under the guise of Annatar. Probably to fool the elves, he would look like them, but for a fact he would have the image of a man when he went to Numenor and corrupted those people, because the Numenorians hated the elves and would not allow an elf to control them. Remember, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that Sauron took the name as King of Men during the end of the second age. So Sauron having the image of a Man is more likely like Halbrand then an elf.

[@director5193]

As far as I can remember, Ar-Pharazon knew he was capturing Sauron and on Númenor they knew who their prisoner was. But yes, it is written in the history of Middle-earth that he looked like a man taller than any other man on Númenor

[@edwardkania9622]

I thought the slime may have been the balrog. Gandalf describes him as a thing of slime during his chase and battle through the depths after their fall in Moria.

[@edwardkania9622]

Oh and I think Pharazon will kill that eagle.

[@sophisticatedknuckledragge650]

God, I would love to get an in-depth origin story of the witch king

[@Gragnash]

Yeah. Just not told by these writers.

[@mikekram2199]

There is already a witch king origin story. It's in the silmarillion. You should read it. It's by an author called JRR Tolkien. I don't think Amazon cares much for his work. Or that's the impression a lot of us fans get.

[@sophisticatedknuckledragge650]

@@mikekram2199 there are huge gaps in the the witch kings origin and lore that I would love to be explored more in depth, similar to HBO filling in gaps during house of Dragon … I too know how to read and know Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.

[@sophisticatedknuckledragge650]

@@Gragnash sadly I agree , I have what seems like forever wished for Tolkien to get a long running series that allows for fully fleshed out characters and storylines like Tom Bombadil , the scouring of the shire etc by someone like HBO. Idk why Hollywood over complicates things Tolkien did most of the work for them.

I've been refreshing your channel since 8:30am this morning 🤣

[@DontReadMyProfilePicture566]

Don't read my name!

[@scottmaybee]

I'm looking forward to a new season where the purpose of each episode is to build up the next episode until the episodes run out.

[@markusd9759]

I just wanna see my boy Sauron in full armor! That teaser in Season 1 made me hyped. Let him smite some elves with this sick spear.

[@TholinGamer]

Couldnt this dark crawling thing in the beginning of the trailer be Ungoliant with her web of darkness approaching the two trees (we saw them at s1) with Melkor? Ofc that only stands as a possible flashback since RoP is S.A

[@amasterofone]

That's what I was thinking

[@DontReadMyProfilePicture566]

Don't read my name!

[@paulalbertstern]

I guess it could be a flashback but it better not be a second age reference

[@Old_Goth_Lady]

I was thinking it was Ungoliant as well!

[@cassieo]

I also thought of Ungoliant. I think it would be great if they did show more of Valinor and the Two Trees. That one shot in S1 of the dimming of the Trees was just a morsel of history we all wanted to see more of.

[@dktrox]

Needs a phone booth for Halbrand, I mean Sauron, to change.

[@gradearawk]

My guess is that while we can tell Anatar is Sauron, he is disguised to the elves.

[@ChristmasLore]

Which makes no sense. Just change the actor.

[@gradearawk]

@@ChristmasLore but the already did the disguised Sauron thing. I can imagine people not liking them doing twice.

[@andres9112]

Plot twist: The southlanders marry the loyal numenorians and establish Gondor.

[@PigsXing]

I'm REALLY excited! I think this season will shed light on many peoples season 1 complaints and be great. Woo Annatar!

[@Dantick09]

I don't think I can endure this, I had forgotten about the nazgals

[@gordoning76]

Yeah I also ditched the video when he mentioned them lol

[@jerrytruckn]

lol. Please don’t

[@AquASnK_Gaming]

There is one more elf with a beard in the legendarium, feanor marries his daughter.

[@rexmagi4606]

*Season 1 feedback hits* Amazon: Ok, send in Annatar and the barrows wights to save our ass.

[@alexbeardsley751]

could that be a Nameless Thing we saw in the depths?

[@user-vy4ro1wl5q]

Possibly 😮

[@zyazahr2808]

na bro im pretty sure thats venom

[@starrynight6268]

@@zyazahr2808 Venom is one of the nameless things created by Morgoth

[@Cloofinder]

Not the watcher in the Water but a creature among the nameless things

[@RLMTrey]

@@starrynight6268 Morgoth is not the creator of the nameless things.

[@ageoflove1980]

The one thing the show did do very well in the first season were the visuals in my opinion. Especially the landscapes and cities. Apart from the story and characters, this alone made the show worth my time. This trailer really shows that they are showing some restaint with the CGI and im happy so see the images have a realistic feel to them and are not overly "plastic" looking as bad CGI often gets.

[@krow5099]

CGI hasn’t been the same since GOT tbh 😢

[@ageoflove1980]

@@krow5099 Well yeah but that's a heck of a high bar. No its certainly not at that level, but its more than enough to convincingly be a Tolkienesque world. I know lots of people disagree and think everything about the show is bad, but like I said, I enjoyed the visuals

[@gilgamesh8334]

I completely disagree. Wide shots of CGI cities? Yeah they were good but the world itself doesn't feel lived in and real. It feels like set pieces, and don't even get me started on the costume designs...

[@ageoflove1980]

@@gilgamesh8334 When I was young, even before the first Lord of the Rings movie came out, I always had a passion for the fan art. I consider this show to sort of be that. Its just fun to watch all these legendary locations come to life. I do get your point about the costume desgin, I would have preferred a more worn-out, battle used style, they look a bit too much like costumes.

[@davidbailey6563]

In other words the football was crap but the stadium looked good and I liked the new home kit.

[@AndreiGheorghe-hh2ce]

The scene from the trailer where Sauron appears in fair form is not as Annatar. Its just the fall of Eregion, hes there to claim the 3 rings of power. Celebrimbor already knows that Halbrand is the Dark Lord by now

[@director5193]

Yeah, I think it's just a common elf disguise to get through the siege.

[@Charlatan-Parodyman]

This is like someone breaking down a Gallagher show. “Then he grabs a hammer, you think he’s going to smash the watermelon but out of nowhere, he smashed the pumpkin! I was getting pumpkin vibes and obviously so was Gallagher!”

[@TheZebbsonchannel]

updated youtube like 50 times for this video

[@DontReadMyProfilePicture566]

Don't read my name!

[@MarieS610]

Sameeee

[@jessedeville]

22:27 In LOTR movie, Gandalf says "They are not all accounted for, the lost seeing stones. We do not know who else may be watching." It's possible this may be one of the lost stones.

[@InfinityToPlanck]

Ignoring everything in the appendix or even the text of the books themselves like the show likes to do I guess thats an explanation. But the Palantiri were a gift to Amandil (Elendil's father) from the elves of Westerness (Valinor) the exact number given is unknown however Elendil took seven with him after the Fall of Numenor this is the key point their were simply no Palantiri in Middle Earth prior to the Fall. Given they were almost certainly made by Feanor it would be extremely weird for any of them to end up in Khazad-Dum even if we pretend it is an entirely unrelated Palantir to the ones Elendil had. Even ignoring all of that the unaccounted for bit that Gandalf is referring to is that most of the seven's whereabouts by the time of the Lord of the Rings is unknown. Where they were prior to being lost is known for all seven but in some cases it has been almost two thousand years since lost so Gandalf is simply urging caution. In this instance, like usual, he was very correct as it turned out Sauron had gotten at least one. Most likely the one in Minas Ithil when it was captured by his armies and turned into Minas Morgul more than a thousand years prior to the start of the book.

[@robertabblebaum7813]

@@InfinityToPlanck I mean... the way they decided to 'origin story' mithril makes me think they wouldn't really care about how man palantir there are or where they came from. However, if we're going to play that game, perhaps perhaps Celebrimbor had one in Eregion as kind of a radio system, and maybe so too does Gil-galad, or even Elrond. And perhaps after the fall of Eregion in which it seems like Elrond and the dwarves are going to take part in, one of those palantiri are gifted to Durin IV. Or maybe we'll find out that Elf + Balrog + Tree + Lightning also = palantir? Ugh.

[@MagusMarquillin]

It's not a palantir. Look at it, it's wider then it's tall and it's got color. It's a pot or urn or something.

[@balashibuyeeter2704]

The palantiri stones weren't going to be lost until thousands of years later after this show ends, after the formation of gondor and arnor. So uh I don't think they're lost yet.

[@jarretanderson6467]

@@InfinityToPlanck Attention everyone, I can confirm this dude knows his lore. Well done. One more annoyance to point out, In S1, Miriel says something to the effect of "all the others are lost" as Galadriel is about to touch it which could sadly mean that within the show lore, a freakin' Palantir could actually be in Khazad-Dum...I am getting angrier the more I think about it. Also, Galadriel states "I have touched a Palantir before"..........No you haven't. Sure, we could ignore lore written by the creator himself or better yet, we can try to fill in the gaps that aren't there and let the viewer assume Galadriel touched a Palantir in Valinor when all we've seen is the 9 year-old looking Galadriel in Valinor...make it make sense Amazon.

[@benjaminhollon7474]

Maybe Celebrimbor was throwing those rings into the fire to melt them down in order to make the 9.

[@Albtraum_TDDC]

I gave you a like, even though I think that's stupid, because the show is stupid enough to do this. What did they run out of Mithril again?

[@pzalterias5154]

The balrog showing off early would be the one change to the lore that wouldn't annoy me. If there's a chance that we can see the balrog destroying Khazad-dûm on screen, that's in this show, and I'll take it.

[@arnebenne]

I love how Halbrand looks so much more like Annatar than he did in season one. It's darker than the first season. The special effects don't compete with the effects we saw in the Peter Jackson films, or James Cameron's Titanic film.

[@ashleytaylor7621]

he was never annatar in season 1......

[@DonTangosDungeon]

The Orcs never looked better

[@josepnebotrius872]

And there is tech of 25 and 30 years ago. Though more CGI is not always better.

[@misterhoobomaster]

Have a huge problem with this show like many others but I also (for some reason..) enjoy watching it because it's fun to talk about and watching videos like this. Appreciate the breakdown & positivity on this channel! Look forward to seeing all the breakdown per episode!

[@mimimaitri1]

Same. I can’t not watch it, but I’ll probably be screaming at the screen the whole time. Even if I liked all their weird choices to the cannon, they just aren’t good storytellers imo. So disappointing.

[@rageagainstmyhatchet]

Yes, the show is largely rubbish, but it does unite people to discuss real Tolkien more often, and it does unite people to debate competent film making. So, not all bad Shame Amazon don't know that half the people who finished season 1 were hate watching for the debates.

[@DontReadMyProfilePicture566]

Don't read my name!

[@krow5099]

If y’all don’t like it don’t fuking watch but don’t go spamming your crap on other people’s channels I swear I got the first season of folks not liking it but S2 it’s getting ridiculous

[@misterhoobomaster]

@@krow5099 I said I had huge problems with the show but also enjoy watching it. I also said that I like the positivity on this channel (as I am also not a guy who blindly hates EVERYTHING about the show just because I have huge problems with it) You can relax.

[@jrsilva85]

I liked it. Made me even more excited for it. I loved season 1 personally and this looks better than it already.

[@GiuseppePaone]

ur cope so hard, it's trash series.