brief thoughts on the rings of power

I am enjoying it very, very much.

I think it’s thoroughly true to the spirit of Tolkien’s creation, even when it diverges wildly in details. (I.e. if Jirt aka Jolkien Rolkien were writing it today, I think he would include POC characters and more female characters, if for no other reason than his work wouldn’t achieve any sort of popularity if he didn’t. And I think he would totally bow to that stricture, because the man might’ve been misogynist and racist by today’s standards, but he wasn’t stupid.)

Also, all of the POC characters are brilliantly acted and wonderful to watch, and they make Middle-Earth *more* real to me, not less.

I wish Morfydd would open her mouth when she speaks, but she is an excellent embodiment of willful, wild, driven, and violent Second Age Galadriel.

I think The Stranger is Gandalf. If I’m right, this is a MAJOR departure from Jirt’s lore, and I am okay with it because VISUAL STORYTELLING HAS REQUIREMENTS THAT DIFFER FROM WRITTEN STORYTELLING; that’s also why I was fine with the exclusion of Bombadil in Jackson’s stuff.

I adore youthful “Isil” and can’t wait to follow the trajectory of his becoming the surly “no”-sayer.

I also can’t wait to see all the doomful things Celebrimbor will do with that giant forge.

Númenor is GOR-GEE-OUS.

I have no idea which character is really Sauron, or if he has even shown up yet.

And finally, I think Halbrand is going to end up as the Witch-king of Angmar, which is just heartbreaking.

P.S. I think I’m gonna re-read THE SILMARILLION for fun.

YES.