First Impressions of the 4th Episode of Rings of Power Season 2

Here my First Impressions of Episode 4 of The Rings of Power Season 2.

► Disclaimer:
I have permission of the artists to use their art works.

► Artwork and special thanks to:

► Sources:
The Lord of The Rings (1954-1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Silmarillion (1977)
The Hobbit (1937; 1951)
Unfinished Tales (1980)
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien (1981)
The Peoples of Middle-earth (1996)
The War of The Jewels (1994)
The Book of Lost Tales Part Two (1984)
The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987)
The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986)
Morgoth's Ring (1993)
The Road Goes Ever On (1967) by J. R. R. Tolkien & Donald Swann
History of the Hobbit (2007)
The Nature of Middle-earth (2021)

Maps:
Amazon (John Howe)
Edited by: Murdo
Aman map by ThePhilosophersGames

► Mistakes:
-

► Playlists:
If you are interested in Tolkien's legendary fantasy Epic The Lord of the Rings and his related works, here some recommendations:

► Time Codes:
Intro - 0:00

► Social Media:
The Philosopher's Games / TPhGames / TPhLore aka Chris

► Of Games and Rings Podcast:

#RingsOfPower #LotR #LordOfTheRings

[poneill]

Episode was member-berry after member-berry, wraped up in Young-Adult level dialog (as usual)
- Elornd's Company running (horseless!) o'er mountains because they required a Jackson 360 aerial NZ mountain ridge member-berry (the Rohan foot-chase to rescue Merry and Pippin).
- The mud monster = member-berry for Jacksons Moria "Watcher in the water" (even lifting Gandalfs "Fouler things in the deep places" quote. How a muddy puddle in a wood is a "deep place of the Earth" I dunno)

[ArwenAreYouOK]

Totally agreed. Tolkien deliberately created Tom Bombadil as an anomaly in the world of Middle-earth, embodying the idea that not everything in a story needs an explanation. While many might expect a powerful character like him to play a crucial role, Tolkien resisted the urge to contrive a reason for his existence or impose limitations on his power. Instead, Bombadil's randomness serves as a reflection of the inexplicable mysteries that exist even in fantastical worlds. It's a bold choice by Tolkien to leave such a figure in the narrative without forcing him into the story's main arc, showing that not all things in life or fiction need to be fully understood or have direct purpose.

[Obez]

I'm pretty sure Bombadil was humming "the road goes ever on" at 8:13

[TheTolkienCurmudgeon]

"Sûza" is found on page 412 of "The Return of The King", revised hardback edition. I don't know about "Sûzat".

[Don]

This episode shredded my hopes that this show will ever actually be good. It manages to be dull and rushed at the same time. I think you’re being kind calling the fan service “references” when most of it is directly lifted from LOTR, it’s pretty much just plagiarism at that point. Only positives were the barrow wights and ents looked great, and Galadriel’s action scene at the end was kind of cool though quite nonsensical.

[theamazingbatboy]

Tom is definitely used in a way contrary to the books here but my concerns were entirely for the depiction of the character and the performance. Both of those were excellent and surprisingly subtle—Rory Kinnear is a terrific actor and his rendition of Frankenstein's monster in _Penny Dreadful_ made it one of my favourite modern tv characters. I was confused about his appearance in the Rhun section but I actually liked the explanation for this. It added to this version of his backstory in a smooth way even if it's something fans know the character was unlikely to ever do.

I think this depiction of him _had_ to have some wider plot purpose, especially with a show already fractured by many disparate storylines. A jolly, unconcerned and completely detached Tom Bombadil would've likely resulted in non book fans switching off and being confused. Having him as a weird little Yoda–Dagobah tangent, there to guide the Stranger to his own conclusions (and maybe give him a magic weapon) kind of sees him assuming the role of the Lady of the Lake and that's appropriate I think.

[sebastian_frodo]

The guy in the golden mask was called Brânk in the subtitles. I just wanted to know if that name rings a bell somewhere in the lore?

[bananamilksnake]

I love it all, I think it's great

[AnnoyingCritic-isrp]

Yes, It's the Lord of the Rings version of A Force Awakens.

[poneill]

If Payne & Mckay had any talent, and self- control to delay reward longer than an infant, they COULD have spent the first 2 seasons crafting a story of the Blues (DarkWiz and TheStranger!) and their failure-falling out, of Anatar infiltrating the Elves, of Numenor in it's grandure before before falling to Sauron's manipulations. But they couldn't. The needed instant reward and that required compressing all the big events of the second age together without earning them and delivering them immediately for instant gratification. They've ignored every opprotunity to build something with care, instead just compiling a checklist of film tropes and Jackson/Tolkien member-berries to be ticked off and draped infantile Young-Adult level dialog over it.

[poneill]

"So, he's a great big 'Grand Elf'", ..
Oh God, Oh God No, Please make it stop!

[bobsmith-jiuh]

You deserve a medal for watching this crap twice

[Spielkalb-von-Sparta]

Nothing against "fan service" if – and _only if_ – it is integrated organically in the plot of the show. Unfortunately, this isn't the case here at all. It just feels like checking boxes without any original inspiration.

Though the Barrow-wights looked pretty cool from the visual effects but the fight choreography was mediocre including the obligatory red shirt. Not so bad as in Galadriel's scenes taking on single handed against the orcs. That was really rubbish.

Her interactions with Elrond weren't _too_ bad, I guess.

However, don't have time to elaborate my thoughts, probably see you later at the live stream.

[phoule]

At least they got the atmosphere right, so I'm content.

[benjeffrey]

I had some hope after watching the first 3 episodes but after watching the fourth it has been shattered

[maximemilhau]

I hate being negative for the sake of it and i'm one of the few that liked the first season (because i was really quickly in peace with the fact that it's as you say a fanfiction) but boy oh boy did i hate this episode
I think that's mainly because it focused on plot point that i don't like to begin with (the harfoots/stranger and the isildur/arrondir/theo things) and double down with atrocious writing (that love triangle to come with isildur, estrid and the other dude is the worst)

[alexp]

Weird thing about the show is it's both boring and action packed. This wasn't as bad as episode 1 for me, which I thought genuinely terrible (20 minutes of a Sauron prologue that told us precisely nothing that was new), but had the same "meh" feeling as a lot of the mid-season episodes in season 1. AI Tolkien generator vibes with all the elements that were mashed together.

[JulioMartinsVerso]

Much of your criticism is about how much they are taking content from the original materials... but the main criticism of last season was that they are making things up... in other words, it really is very difficult to please everyone.

[SaintFort]

I'm someone who likes the show overall and enjoyed the first three episodes of the second season. However, I must admit that the fourth episode is underwhelming; it feels less focused than the first three. It feels as if it throws a lot of lore elements into the mix just to please fans rather than than to tell a good story (e.g. Barrow-wights, Stoors, and Ents); perhaps I'll appreciate this episode more when I can binge-watch the entire season. I'm also disappointed in this episode's lack of Sauron!

[liverly]

Definitely gave me fraggle rock feelies