The Rings of Power Explained: The Second Age Timeline | Lord of the Rings Lore (w/ Matt Caron)

The Rings of Power takes place in the Second Age, thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings. The Second Age itself is over 3000 years. With so many characters and stories taking place throughout the course of the entire Second Age, the timeline of The Rings of Power can be difficult to nail down. Join Nerdist as we delve into the history of the Second Age so that you’ll have everything you need to know before starting The Rings of Power.
Watch Part 1 - The Peoples of Middle-earth: • The Rings of Power Exp...
Watch Part 2 - The Characters of The Rings of Power: • The Rings of Power Exp...
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[@matthewrobertson9689]

Anyone still unsure of how lore breaking the show is should just go to the Tolkien gateway online. Type some names in and read the Second age timelines. Shouldn't take long. The rings haven't even been created yet and we are seeing Isildur?!!

[@HeidiBird]

RIGHT?!

[@KainMcnab]

I know right?! WHY DIDN'T THE SHOW AGONIZINGLY RECREATING THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF LORE?!?!?111111one Fuck you people are pathetic.

[@AB-ee5tb]

Maybe it’s a different isildur?

[@greytiger10]

I think there could be large time jumps between each of the 5 seasons with some cast not being in other seasons as they would have died of old age.

[@hint1k]

If I were the screen writer I would suppress the events of the 2nd age into something like 25-30 years and keep the established characters instead. These big time gaps make sense in mith like books, but don't really add anything in the movies and shows

[@FalconX88]

It's fascinating how this video based purely on some scenes from the trailer explains this better than the series itself.

[@nickschaps4022]

Well now that we are 4 episodes in I believe it is apparent how jacked up the timeline is

[@stevensolomon9512]

Yes. Durin III alive at the same time as Elendil, Miriel, and Pharazôn; the Rings apparently still not made; Galadriel “searching for Sauron” at a time when he should be gaining in power in Númenor and his location well known. So, are we approaching the year II 1500 or are we nearer to the Downfall (about 1600 years later)? I don’t think flashbacks/flashforwards can explain the time gap, because the various subplots APPEAR to be contemporaneous.

[@matthewrobertson9689]

The rings haven't even been created yet....and we are seeing Isildur?! Lol.

[@moonsofix]

Obviously the show plays with the timeline A LOT, but I think they did it in the best way they could to tell a coherent story, I still think this show gets WAAAAAY too much hate

[@blacksabbathmatters]

When the truth is,....you just like things that suck.

[@moonsofix]

@@blacksabbathmatters who shat in your cocoa puffs?

[@blacksabbathmatters]

@@moonsofix this show did,...along with every other woke nightmare out there.

[@moonsofix]

@@blacksabbathmatters what does woke even mean lol. Stay salty, hope to see ur NON WOKE ARYAN POWER script someday

[@blacksabbathmatters]

@@moonsofix you know exactly what it means, shoving virtue signaling into content to the point where that is all the focus is on...carrying societal baggage over into entertainment to the point where the actual art or creative aspect of acting/screenplay writing/production/development take a back seat to the agenda.

[@brizzle3947]

The time compression issue will make it so that not even the producers are going to be able to answer when this takes place.

[@scambammer6102]

they don't care. why should they?

[@user-my4lf4bx6v]

@@scambammer6102 because its litterallly they job lmao

[@AlfonsoRiveraJr]

I don't care how complicated this storyline can be, it couldn't have been better presented by yourself in explaining the lore. 👍🏼😎

[@TheBirchView]

Ignore the online hate, make up your own mind. “Do not be so eager to deal out death in judgment, for even the very wise cannot see all ends.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

[@Rommulo35628]

You don't have to be "wise" to see the shitty agendas this show gonna shove down your throat from the get go.

[@maxpain9388]

Made my mind up . And I think this series is going to be epic

[@user-my4lf4bx6v]

I did And the series, although slightly improving per episode,is at most underwhelming

[@Phi1618033]

It's apparent that the showrunners are drastically compressing the timeline, which would be much more practical.

[@user-my4lf4bx6v]

No,it litterallly fucks everything up From nonsensical change of order of events, from extremely change of the background of major characters, it only creates problems

[@Phi1618033]

@@user-my4lf4bx6v Is that what you said when you pitched that idea to Amazon? I'm sure they met with you considering all the screenplays you've written.

[@TheLightningeater]

@@Phi1618033 ah yes convenience that thing that always makes good art. Three generations of numenor would of been better than whatever this mess of a fan fiction is. Or just write an original story.

[@Phi1618033]

@@TheLightningeater "Would _have_ been"

[@TheLightningeater]

@@Phi1618033 damn you're (joking) mastery of grammar makes my statement invalid

[@edb6525]

Thank you Nerdist for explaining Tolkien's lore accurately and respectfully :)

[@mechtime]

The show is likely going to compress and mix chronology. It's the only way, even with 5 seasons, to handle thousands of years of events. It's not going to be a purist take in terms of chronology, events, motivations, etc. I hope it will stay true overall to the map of lore and endpoints. LOTRs as a movie was hard to do but timeline ways, manageable because it takes place over about a year. Covering the Second Age, choosing which events, and not compressing and mixing, would likely be challenging from a story-telling POV. It's not accident that Tolkien mostly wrote history-like texts.

[@StealthDiablo]

A big part of telling it accurately will not exist, Amazon doesn't own the rights to The Silmarillion only the rights to the Hobbit and The LOTR Trilogy. Sadly this adaptation cannot be accurate. Amazon has renewed Rings of Power for 5 season which suggests that they already have a story in mind, even if they were to buy the remaining rights from the Tolkien estate.

[@ryansunderman8764]

@@StealthDiablo interesting because in the newest episode they mentioned silmarills

[@StealthDiablo]

@@ryansunderman8764 They have appendices from the Lotr trilogy that briefly going into the first age

[@gr8tbigtreehugger]

Spit my coffee out at Poe Damaran edit!!! 🤣

[@fernandesrdsf]

Thank you, i though for a moment that i got crazy...hahaha

[@jordancrawford3923]

Great breakdown 👏🏿

[@ZBxRaptor92]

The edits with Gollum, maaaan are fucking me up looool, those arms

[@LMB943]

Great video and information.

[@yyndsai]

Thank You I understood something to watch this series.

[@HeidiBird]

Crap! It is as I feared. It's been a while since I brushed up on my LotR lore, but I was thoroughly thrown by the timelines in the series, unable to get them to make sense - and it seems with good reason. Especially the presence of Elendil did not add up. Never mind the they forged the 3 rings in one afternoon and forgot about the other 16 entirely. Damn, do I wish you had been right about the trailer featuring scenes from all over the 5 seasons of series...

[@DerpASherpa117]

LAWD DEM RANGZ

[@ziib123]

the final shot will be Ring falling into the river!

[@IcefisherTenacity]

I’ve already accepted that this story is not a carbon copy and that’s okay, if there’s some time compression and the second age is a millennium shorter I can live with that.

[@blacktemplarbrotherlucius1935]

Given that the show runners and cast have all taken a collective shit on Tolkien, these not much compassion.

[@aleisterbroley900]

Have you accepted that none of these characters or events have even the least thing to do with Tolkien, other than the names?

[@zz7073]

No movie adaptation is a carbon copy (though copies aren't a bad thing). This is just a money grab and it's a terrible adaptation because it disrespects the author and his world.

[@malcomtroll719]

@@blacktemplarbrotherlucius1935 Care to explain been the offended snowflake you are why the show runners and cast have all taken a collective shit on tolkien? We get your offended and upset (like all snowflakes are), and you are probably on your period and need an safe place, but if you could calm down your panties for like 2 seconds it would be wonderful to hear your insight on why this show won't be great. Even if you an snowflake lol.

[@malcomtroll719]

@@aleisterbroley900 Well, if the names of the characters are the same what tolkien wrote then they are the same characters lol. So, what have you got to be upset, angry and offended about? If your such an crybaby snowflake, maybe you need to find your safeplace?

[@hskrgrad]

I had the pleasure of attending a fan pre-screening of the first two episodes at my local Cinemark theater Wednesday evening and this series is going to be great!

[@annaboo27]

I’ve loved the deep dives! Thank you!

[@davect01]

Gonna be a fun series even if they don't follow the established timelines

[@blacktemplarbrotherlucius1935]

Then whats the point?

[@zz7073]

Nah, I respect the author and his world he built. Not this money-grab, spit in his face trash.

[@malcomtroll719]

@@zz7073 And why is this series an spit in his face, money grab trash? Care to explain snowflake?

[@danmathews9376]

The rings were made 1600 years into the second age

[@ccan_max5285]

So far it's great

[@chivoloks28]

Somehow Sauron has returned 😂😂

[@davidfeston4370]

I like it when daddy nerdist spoils me...

[@TheTrueBobDole]

The only think you need to know is that this is NOT Tolkiens work.

[@jorgea.galvan4050]

Maybe it's like the witcher on Netflix. Where they show different timelines at the same time.

[@perer005]

Good stuff

[@a.scottanderson4490]

This is a very decent run down on what Tolkien wrote, and given the trailer, what the show runners must have done to make any sense of it. Surprise! They spent a billion dollars making no sense of it, they just jammed together everything sauron did over 3000 years - go into hiding, come back, make the rings, corrupt Numenor - into about three weeks of narrative And throw in disgusting hobo hobbits just cuz. It's like making Cleopatra the CEO of Microsoft "based on history"

[@Slowekistan]

I GOTS DEM RANGS (SHE GOT DEM RANGS) DEM RANGS OF POWAH (OH LAWD) SAID I GOTS DEM RANGS (YEAH GIRL) DEM RANGS OF POWAH (OH LAWD)

[@BoundlessTruths]

Your 8 minute video is more entertaining than the show itself.

[@unclemike3003]

Isildors age makes it fairly easy. But they don't seem to be accurately following Tolkien work anyway

[@3X0SK3L3TON]

I wanna see the Bright Lord in the series

[@deathswitch2404]

As much as i do too, those games arent canon at all, Celebrimbor wasnt an evil man, he was just fooled by Sauron and was killed when he realised what he'd done.

[@djtripmix]

More Matt Caron please, let him out of his cave

[@DimitriNosarev]

I loved the part when Galadriel declared: "There is a tempest in me, because I am quadruple vaccinated and six times boosted against Covid-19 and that is why I can do what I can do!" - hot tears started streaming down my cheeks. What a truthful telling of Tolkien's masterpiece! So brave!! 11 out of 10 👌

[@JohnWick-zl5oc]

its 2 years before the forging of the rings, so 1500-ish mid point of 2nd age for the main plotline wich is the creation and story of the rings, however the other plotlines may not nec occur at the same time, but may converge later in the series

[@wavetactics13]

The showruuners said they didn't want to do nonconcurrent plotlines back in February with the Vanity Fair article. They confirmed there that the timeline was compressed as well. If Galadriel meets Isildur, Elendil, or Miriel in the next episode then we know the 2nd age is near its end.

[@user-my4lf4bx6v]

@@wavetactics13 And sadly,you are right

[@frankmorton514]

GET ME DEM RAAANGZ!

[@richardthompson7431]

SHILL POWER ACTIVATED!!!

[@malcomtroll719]

And why is he an shill? Because he isn't an snowflake like you are? Lol. I say you`ve ACTIVATED snowflake power there. Hence why your an manchild lol.

[@AjSchmitty]

Oh, now I’m more confused. So have the rings been created yet in this series?

[@noreng4933]

No, they haven't :) We will likely see them being created, maybe even in the first season. The creator is the elf Celebrimbor, who we already met in Ep. 2

[@AjSchmitty]

@@noreng4933 you’re a damn legend. Thanks!

[@CrusaderSoul]

Excellent explanation but the pronunciation of some names is plain bad.

[@stubbysidwell]

I miss Hardwick. He could come back and just bowl! I loved those charity bowling videos he made.

[@thebattleofpelennorfieldsp6081]

SA 3250?

[@christianefiorito3204]

This is not middle eart but once upon a time in California. It has nothing to do with Tolkiens reason for qriting the Legendarium, not with his values or ideas. It is inde3d the novel that he never wrote but his tslentless envious grandson Simon. I willwatch it through the eyes of reviewers with a little humor. Otherwise it will destroy my Roman Catholic eternal soul.

[@aliendead7580]

I watched this to the end unlike house of the dragon, got bored after 20min. I enjoyed It even though its non-fan fiction

[@TheBloodsuger150]

You should’ve kept watching HotD because it very good.

[@joecamps1119]

Ultimate POOOOOOOOOWER!!!!

[@alex_macieira]

There's nothing to explain. This show shouldn't be canon.

[@ZanePerson]

Agreed

[@IcefisherTenacity]

Then don’t I do not care. For me I’ll make my decision ya know AFTER I SEE IT!

[@Rommulo35628]

This.

[@Rommulo35628]

@@IcefisherTenacity You don't have to actually put a turd in your mouth to tell it suck... but.. More power to you?

[@zachward97]

The show is not cannon there is no “shouldn’t”

[@kenshyomaster408]

Everything is proved with a montage of images and explanations or hints. I got the Bathroom scene in She Hulk, Hulk's foreshadowing, the Baxter building, characters foreshadowing. This is all serious work and I want everyone to know what I have discovered. All I ask is first: to be able to send my research and you judge if it worth it or not. I know it worth it and I know that everybody wants to know too. Second and last: I want to be named on my work you will present. That's it!

[@meganhuggins7494]

There is no Lord of the Rings lore in this entire ‘thing’ 😖😖😖

[@kurt5312]

Did the writers of the rings of power even read the books?. Idk show makes no sense

[@liliyanosarev627]

It began with the forging of the great films. Threads were given by Tolkien, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. Rights were granted to Jackson, great miner and craftsman of the mountain of lore. And nine, nine hours were gifted to the race of men, who above all else, desire quality. But they were all of them deceived, for another show was made. In the land of Amazon, in the fires of Mount Prime, the Dark Lord Bezos forged in secret a master flop. And into this show he poured his money, his greed and his will to dominate all film. One show to ruin them all.

[@davidemorricone3967]

ok.

[@jgodden8022]

Get a life.

[@kenshyomaster408]

I leaked my info on the She Hulk series to the Cosmic Wonder. So if you see is channel come with something new on the bathroom scene and Hulk's monitor. It was all me!

[@rocketraccoon1976]

The Rings of Power explained: Tolkien FanFiction.

[@lulululu8045]

why are you explaining something that is irrelevant for the rings of power show? they are ignoring tolkiens lore and are creating their own fan fiction. stop trying to push this garbage show tyvm.

[@asahel980]

I dont think the series will follow stictly the book.

[@MrDJOfficial]

This guy is the hottest LOTR fan ever. Can I get his number, pls?

[@Trogderpinator]

Its a cheap imitation that tries ever so hard to be Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy, but fails at every front. The forerunners even go so far as to use scenes from Peter Jackson's trilogy with memorable characters and races in thinly veiled attempts to garner some form of loyalty from those who enjoyed the LOTR trilogy, we see the eagles and the Nazgul, the Ents, the ever-present hints of Gandalf falling from the sky in the second age even though he was in Valinor during this time. Galadriel is seemingly not the sorceress diplomat that was trained by valar themselves, but treats her scouting party like shit (who by the way all get wiped out by an ice troll even though they're meant to be veterans of a thousand battles - naturally the strong womans Galadriel kills the troll without breaking a sweat all by herself), and who listens to no council from anyone, even the king. We have race-inserted characters which make absolutely no sense given that none of the other members of their people have the same melanin count - which makes sense if you understand which populaces Tolkien used as inspiration for his grand tales. The wardrobe department was seemingly borrowed from a CW title and the CGI looks like a cheap 1 hour movie only aired on the Sci-fi channel after midnight. Isildur apparently now has a sister because you know, more strong female characters. The Harfoots are what appear to be the most sickening and distasteful society to be a part of, where "Our hearts are bigger than our feet", until you sprain an ankle in which case we'll leave your entire family behind to die and then write your name into a book and laugh about the way you died when next we migrate. This show is hot trash, and anyone who knows the source material and respects Tolkien's work can't objectively deny that.

[@danielpartida1439]

Those were dragons fighting the eagles in the first episode. Not Nazgul. The Nazgul didn't exist in the First Age.

[@kitsune8460]

you know its messed up when people had to come to this video to know what the heck is going on. that's why house of the dragon is better as it follows the source material making it less confusing.

[@TheLightningeater]

Where is celeborn? Where is Galadriels daughter? How is Elron chatting to galadriel like shes not 1000 years older than him? Also, there cant be the oath of Fienor as clearly the kinslaying never happened. It's a average/show and an awful adaptation. Next time if you gonna make a 2nd age show, make sure you get the rights to the 2nd age and not an appendix.

[@user-my4lf4bx6v]

Bruh, since they only had the rights to the appendix, they could have done a great show based on the gondorian civil war

[@danielpartida1439]

I think the last thing we need is another Third Age story of Middle Earth. Since we can't have a First Age movie or series, we might as well have one that takes place in the Second Age.

[@tinynuggins1029]

Anything based on George R.R. Martin's books are good. The Lord of the Rings book and movies are especially good.

[@Vassago1913]

I'll go ahead and take this chance to unsubscribe. Nerdist is shilling hard for RoP

[@Ayeshteni]

Ok Mister Butthurt. Have fun.

[@thelordofgifts5343]

It’s Trash 🗑

[@malcomtroll719]

You`ve seen it already have you snowflake?

[@muhammadnanda5768]

Amazon realy realy realy realy mess it up!! even they doin more than the director who broke terminator movie in 2019 do, even Galadriel lead an army of Spartan now, geez i want spit this shit up🤢🤢

[@Alucard9692010]

The Rings of Power does not take place in middle earth, it takes place in a mutilated and twisted else world middle earth

[@malcomtroll719]

Well it does take place in middle-earth lol. Suck it-up buttercup lol.

[@boxingboa]

It’s is terrible.

[@malcomtroll719]

And why`s that then? Care to explain snowflake?

[@williamwhitehouse8214]

@@malcomtroll719 Funny when leftists try to use the rights words. Though it doesn't really surprise me considering leftists only know how to steal and have no idea how to create.

[@oatmealgenocide7270]

​@@malcomtroll719 look who didnt read the book lmao

[@foreverraining1522]

how can anyone be interested in this mind-numbing convoluted nonsense.

[@KeianhhnaieK]

#BoycottAmazon What a disservice to the source material moreover, to the fans. #Awful

[@amberlambert7040]

Woke

[@clarechaddon2545]

# Boycott rings of power

[@Rommulo35628]

Wait. Why do you care about how a fanfic fits in the oficial timeline?