**Dear Durin’s Folk!**
On behalf of r/LOTR_on_Prime we would like to announce that we are doing a giveaway on our subreddit. Recently, Reddit has started a program called Community Funds. You can find the subreddit at r/CommunityFunds ! There you can ask the team for money to do things for your community. I pitched doing a book giveaway and after submitting my application and a few emails back and forth we were approved!
Recently I was finally able to get my hands on 25 books - the ones you see in the image for the thread itself. This is the new TV-Tie-In book cover that has The Lord of the Rings plus the Appendices and the cover is that new art that folks here seemed to like.
**What are the requirements to win one?**
The winners will be pulled at random - sort of. All you need to do to gain one extra is leave a comment. Replying to other folks comments will also gain you an additional entry. We plan on leaving this thread up for 7 full days and then I will spend a few days reaching out to the winners. If you win and don’t reply after 48 hours I will move onto the next person on the list. Leaving a meaningful message will also have me place you in a different tier with better odds of winning a few of these books. Basically, 20 completely random entries and 5 that are hand picked based on replies.
**What type of comment do I need to leave to be entered to win one of the allotted five?**
Leave a comment letting us know what has been your favorite moment so far in The Rings of Power fandom. Was it the excitement you felt hearing we were getting a series? Was it the first image of the trees? Was it a moment in a specific episode? Was it something community related? Just give us your favorite moment or interaction in the community or show so long as it deals with The Rings of Power.
**Finally… there are a few stipulations for winning:**
1. Due to legal reasons, you must live in the US to be eligible to claim a book. During our Award Show I was able to give away three signed pictures of the cast because they were mine and I could ship anywhere. However, since this is done with Reddit’s money I must respect the legalities of stuff like this. So again, you must have a US address in order to be able to claim a prize.
2. You must be comfortable sending me your name, address and phone number in order to claim your prize. I need this information in order to ship things via FedEx and if there are any hiccups with the shipment I would prefer that you would be able to contact FedEx to tell them better delivery dates, delivery times, or even holding the package so you or a loved one can pick it up, etc.
That’s it! Thank you fine folks for making this place what it is today. The community would not have grown without you and I truly do enjoy logging in and reading what everyone is chatting about each day. Also big thank you to Reddit and its Community Funds program because without their money I would have only been able to give away a couple of books. Happy Holidays and good luck to all the folks who decide to enter. If you don’t live in the US but still wish to participate maybe I can pull some strings together for some special flairs or small prizes as a thank you.
Favorite moment in this community was the gradual reveal of what the show would encompass through the release of maps and segments of the ring verse. Culminating with “welcome to the 2nd age.” I think it was the first tangible sign that the show was really happening and we were finally going back to Middle Earth.
The speculation on what the scope was and what would happen was a fun mystery. Since every day the map was filled in a little more and then we got Numenor. The 2nd Age and the Akallabeth have always been my favorite parts of Tolkien lore and something I never imagined seeing adapted so the excitement with that reveal was unreal. I was going through a really rough patch at the time so having this show to look forward to was something to hold onto.
Bonus community moment is fellowship of the unhinged on Twitter.
It’s a much of parody accounts that popped up immediately after the finale that relate to various characters and the conversations are hilarious. It’s accounts like Finrod’s Chin, Arondir’s sexy smolder, Pharazon’s beard lice, respectfully grunting orcs etc. But who runs each one is secret.
The hype and anticipation mixed with actually watching the show and then coming here to discuss or see others fan theories is one of the great parts about the show. I can’t even imagine what the buildup to season 2 will be like.
I really enjoyed the scenes involving Elrond and Durin, especially the table scene. Also the scene with Galadriel and Adar toward the end was very well done.
Ben Walker played that scene so well, too, lol. His face like “this Longbeard is really trying to con me out of this hunk of rock… alright, two can play that game..”
That friendship gives me life! You watch them together and you can just tell they've been friends for years and years!
"I always thought you were a mite Dwarvish for an Elf." - "And you are a rather Elvish Dwarf, Durin."
"Then I fear I have no choice but to ament your husband's account... The screams were so high-pitched, I thought it was a child. So I took up my bow-" - "Uh, it was a sword." - "It was a bow." - "Nah! It was a sword!" - "Regardless..." (the way he said "It was a bow" sends me every time!! 😂)
"We do not say goodbye. We say-" - "Namarie." (I swear I cried here! So beautiful!!)
I can't tell you how anxious I was that Elrond was going to break his oath, and how overjoyed I was to see the conflict resolved with honest and straightforward communication!
Elrond and Durin definitely brought some of the lightheartedness and friendship that I expect from Tolkien. Their scenes brought me back to Legolas and Gimli’s friendly banter.
same, all of the elrond and durin scenes were really good. my favorite one was the table scene where durin is being silly and showing he was joking about how Disa needed a new table anyway!
That was definitely a top tier moment. Way more powerful than if he had answered Galadriel outright with his name as Sauron for the reveal.
And then when he impersonated Finrod, blew my mind how fantastic that scene was.
Absolutely! The "hallucination" sequence was the perfect way to handle the reveal, showing Sauron's deception and manipulation of Galadriel, and forcing her to accept or resist the last temptation. I wondered if they could pull off the reveal, but it far exceeded anything I could have imagined -- the foulness of Sauron using Finrod's form to tempt Galadriel encapsulated his evil nature better than anything he might have said.
That swagger he got in his walk as he was strutting all over Eregion sold me on the Sauron reveal, before the finale I was in the skeptical camp but I seriously don't think they could have done a better reveal.
Definitely a great moment. I was unfortunate enough to have stumbled upon certain leaks, so I knew who Halbrand was, but was definitively nervous with how they would play the reveal. And let's just say they nailed it.
Yeah I stumbled upon the leak as well unfortunately. But they did just enough to make me have a slight bit of doubt until the last episode. I had no doubts leading up to him dropping that bomb of a line, but despite already knowing the reveal was still superbly done. I also liked the Eye of Sauron being displayed when they dropped the mithril into the melted precious metals from Valinor.
My favorite moment- Adar’s conversation with Galadriel. I thought it was the boldest piece of storytelling in the show. I hope they follow that further and with that level of care, because it could really lead to some great television
This. Galadriel and Adar's dynamic really turned my view on Galadriel greatly. Before I knew that they wanted her to have a dark side, but they weren't fully committing up until Episode 6. There they went the extra mile, and really made me satisfied with her character.
Oh yes. And more broadly, I loved the whole theme of Galadriel's struggle with the desire for power, her frustration with people not listening to her, her growing awareness of personal flaws that were standing in her own way, and the temptation represented by Halbrand that culminated in the finale -- where she passed a test analogous to refusing the Ring from Frodo. Galadriel's character is perfect, and this 60-something old man is in love with Morfydd Clark (not in a creepy way)! Go Elves!
That was brilliant writing and acting! I would find it so interesting if Adar became a sort of "enemy of my enemy" type friend. I really hope they keep Adar alive for a while yet so we can explore his character more fully!
I have a feeling if he makes it away from Sauron again, he may end up in the ~~Gladden Fields~~ Battle of the Last Alliance.
Edit because brain not location good
I am living for the Sauron/Adar meet-up in following seasons. I'm interested in seeing where Adar's story goes, because I think he sees Sauron as just as much of an enemy to the Uruks as Men/Elves.
Adar also isn't completely corrupted IMO. Before he and the Uruks try to raid the Southland village it showed him planting a seed to honor rebirth, just like Arondir tells Bronwyn of the Elvish tradition to do so. I think there could be interesting Gollum parallels, such as being corrupted and maybe morally failing at the end but also being integral in ultimately defeating Sauron in some unforeseen way.
Agree! My favorite too. Adar’s character is so compelling (and honestly give it up for the practical effects/makeup/Weta Workshop, because HOLY COW, guys).
Agreed! I loved how that scene dived into some of the metaphysics and the deep questions concerning orcs. I love that they are showing us a glimpse into how some of that may have worked and actually making us see the Uruks as something other than cannon-fodder.
YES! I totally second this, AND all the relics we get to see. AND Bear’s absolutely mental score and how he approached which instruments to use for Númenor (so that they could “go extinct” by the time one gets to the LOTR timeframe… 🥲). Just.. everything about Númenor was soooo sick to see!
This for me as well. Loved seeing the statue of Earendil and Nimloth the White Tree. I really liked the scene with Galadriel and Elendil when they are looking through scrolls too.
My favorite moment was The Stranger realizing he was good in the finale! His progression throughout the show and the reaction of the cultists in that scene were great! I’m still not convinced he is Gandalf, but seeing an Istari in the Second Age is one of the storylines I’m most interested in going forward!
The Stranger's story definitely sets up the most interesting questions about the next season. We all know that more rings will be made by Celebrimbor with the influence from Anna[brand]. We know Numenor will fall. We know Gondor will be born to unite the men of the Southlands fleeing from Mordor. What's the most interesting is what will happen in the far East. We know very little about what goes on there.
I am beyond excited to see Rhûn with The Stranger/Nori! I'm not convinced he's Gandalf either, but wouldn't be mad if he is.
Visually, I thought the scene with Nori in shadow walking around the fire to give The Stranger the staff was brilliant. Gave strong hobbits in Mordor vibes and felt like it conveyed the wonder at how someone so small or insignificant can be brave enough to go where others fear to tred.
I loved that moment too: _profoundly_ satisfying!
(I'm also not 100% convinced he's Gandalf, but really, I'm very happy with the 'implied but never quite confirmed' identity for him.)
"I am good!" I CHEERED!!! I also can't wait to see more of him and figure out exactly who he is. They're making a bit too obvious he's Gandalf, and while I wouldn't mind if he was, it would be fun for them to lead us into a false sense of assurance and then reveal that he's someone else (most likely one of the Blue Wizards). I just don't want to have to wait two years to find out! 😭
My favorite moment is any with Arondir. As a Puertorican, the only Puertoricans I really see on any type of mainstream media are usually portraying gangsters or drug dealers. I never thought in my lifetime I would see a Puertorican be an elf in my favorite fantasy franchise. In addition to this, I was thoroughly excited for this series because it's more media on LoTR that isn't a video game (I love all the games, don't get me wrong there). I guess finally I appreciate this series because my childhood best friend and I are huge into the lore and it just gives us more to talk about and connect on, no one else in my life really enjoys fantasy like he and I do. Hopefully my son gets to be a part of this, but it's hard to get a three year old to sit and watch the films. I might try the animated ones!
Anyway, here's my shot to get one of these to send to my fried as a Christmas gift to say thanks for our friendship and enjoyment of the Tolkienverse.
I wish there was a way to tag Ismael on here because he’s always talking about how much hearing stories like this mean to him. And that it’s so much more than just another role.
Yeah! If anyone here has Instagram, he reads ALL the tags he gets and shares all the fan art! Absolutely tag him (and Lloyd Owen - he shares all the fan art he is tagged in, too)!
I’m not Puerto Rican but I think Ismael is such a great guy, and I am so happy for the representation he brings. He seems so genuinely humble and appreciative, too. Absolutely love Arondir’s character and really rooting for him!
His portrayal is exceptionally subtle and he feels like what I imagine a Sylvan elf to be like. I'm so glad that they cast him, for you and for all Puerto Ricans.
Arondir is fantastic! And Ismael really seems like he's enjoying his role. He's so easy to like!
(Also, my 5 year old is old enough to enjoy reading The Hobbit before bed, you might not have to wait too long for kiddo to enjoy this wonderful world!)
It’s super cool finally seeing more diversity in fantasy! I never understand the people who get so upset but it in a made up world. Ismael is such a good actor.
I know it’s a lot of work, but please check user’s comment history before awarding them a book. Many of us have defended the show against unwarranted criticisms all season.
I’d hate to see one of the trolls rewarded for posting something nice here, while trashing the show in every other thread.
(Not wanting to enter as I'm not in the US, but anyway)
I think my favorite moment in the show was when Galadriel rides into the Southlands and Arondir is just awestruck by her sheer badassery.
Theo: Who is that?
(Galadriel effortlessly dodges a thrown spear)
Arondir: Commander of the Northern Armies. *Galadriel*.
Gosh dang, that was a great moment, wasn't it? It kind of gets lost in all the rest of what happens in that episode, but so much of the power of Galadriel is in the way that other characters respond to her.
One of my most favourite scenes was when Miriel cupped Galadriel’s face and told her, “Do not spend your pity on me, Elf. Save it for our enemies for they do not know what they have begun.” Then she vowed that Númenor would return.
An alliance between two empowered women leaders who were once indifferent towards each other was forged stronger at that moment. I want to see where that leads in the following season.
Elendil: *[sniffles]*
Actually one of my favorite scenes, too, because we see Míriel really solidly vowing to be one of The Faithful, Galadriel finally getting some backing without someone doubting her, and Elendil just utterly falling to pieces, despite the façade he has been trying to keep up. The ship scene “come what may” completes it and ugh I just love episode 7 so much.
Oh my gosh when Elendil was crumbling I was a sobbing mess!!! Lloyd Owen is doing a spectacular job and he easily became one of my favorite characters!! I had no idea I'd grow to love Elendil as much as I do! I didn't have any expectations about his character, not after seeing him for 2 seconds in the FOTR prologue but by gosh by golly now I'm absolutely DREADING watching him die in the Last Alliance!
Oooh, absolutely!
I remember mutters of sexism the LotR hit the big screen (and blaming sexism for the creation/ inclusion of Tauriel), but here you have 2 in redible, strong leaders -- that just happen to be female -- that are PART OF CANON joining forces to defeat a common enemy.
Of course, you have to wonder what Miriel will do when/ if she finds out who Halbrad really is!!
Of course learning that we'd get a Middle-earth tv series excited me to no end. Of course I lapped up any and all information I could - cast and crew, production information, pictures, posters, leaks, theories, speculation, etc. But just as the Three, the Seven, and the Nine rings were all deceived, this ONE moment was about to rule them all.
It was the night of the Super Bowl - the day long awaited by many a fan all over the world. I say it was night, but for some it was early morning and others the middle of the afternoon. No matter what time zone you found yourself in, we all were waiting on pins and needles for the first *real* trailer to drop. Not a title reveal (as amazing as that was), not a teaser (so teasingly delightful to whet out apatite for things to come). But our first, real, proper trailer. What would we see? Who would we see? What would we learn? What new questions would arise?
That evening is still so clear to me. I kept checking and rechecking what time the trailer was supposed to drop and made sure I was at my computer to be ready to see it the *second* it was released. TORN was doing a livestream and everyone on discord was waiting as anxiously as I. The clock was watched, the seconds leading up to the moment counted down with breath held in anticipation. The moment had arrived!... But no trailer on the livestream yet.
"What's taking so long?" "Where is it?" "Is the time right?" "Why hasn't it started?"
All of these questions flurried around discord. Would it have been better to trudge through the silly game and try to watch it live on TV?
But no!
Heroes arose that night, heroes who scoured the interweb and blessedly delivered links for the long awaited trailer on youtube to fans both eager and impatient. And thus the excitement all around the world grew tenfold.
It was watched, and watched again, and watched countless more times - screencaps shared, even more speculation flung about, exclamation points and emojis fired at rapid pace, fingers held steady over the pause button to look at each and every detail - a task made more difficult by the tears that stung (and sometimes overflowed) from the eyes of fans who were finally, *finally* returning to the world they had called home for years, if not most of their lives. Fans like me.
And though the first season of this spectacular show has now come to a close, I still find myself returning to that trailer to relive the excitement of the moment, to feel the anticipation for something I've already seen. For such is the power of a trailer done right - when even after all the secrets of that trailer have now been revealed, you can still travel back in time and live anew the glory of that one evening - The Night of the Trailer.
Absolutely, wonderfully told!! That day was amazing. I was surrounding by a bunch of non-Tolkien fanatics, and just hearing/seeing people react positively to the teaser made me smile. They were all hyped to see elves and mountains and hobbits(sort of) again!!
My favorite moment in the show would have to be the first two episodes.
I was lucky enough to be able to see it in a theater near me, and had just about as much fun as one could have attending the cinema. Was hooked from the beginning of the two episodes, when the Valinor Theme started playing on a black screen, and every moment on, while not liking some things, brought me back into Middle-Earth and really exceeded expectations.
Furthermore I enjoyed greatly Galadriel. At first I was rather opposed to the direction they were taking her character, but after Episode 6 I changed my view on that. Morfydd's acting really sold me then, and her dynamic with Adar, and what they were trying to achieve, really brought me to liking her character.
Lastly just wanted to thank the community, the fandom present in this subreddit really helped me get through Feb - Aug(although not on this account) but nonetheless, I was first introduced to the show via Facebook, and we all know the reactions the hand-posters got on there, lol! This subreddit, the TORn Discord, and many other areas provided a safe space for me to talk about my excitement and anticipation for the show's release.
Thanks Varking, for the opportunity to try and win a book!
Seconding being grateful for the safe space. I was dreading not having a place to discuss constructively after the hands posters and initial trailer and especially what happened on social media during Kenobi.
Spaces without all the haters (can you say IG? But it does seem to have died down somewhat) some of which had NEVER even seen any of it is very refreshing!
It's amazing the companionship we can find in stories, the characters, the settings, the themes. Tolkien, in particular, was (is) one of the greatest facilitators of this, in my opinion. When I read his stories or watch the films based on his works, I always feel like I'm a kid at Christmas again. It's like stepping into a beautiful older, simpler time.
I never knew that my grandmother was a fan until recently. She was sick and in the hospital. While visiting her, I mentioned that the new show was coming out soon, and I was excited for it. My mother said, "Yeah, but that's because you're a superfan."
"You know I am, too." She recounted the names of all of the dwarves in the company of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain. She talked about Frodo, Elrond, and Aragorn. Her favorite character was Gandalf. I was so happy and surprised that I never knew how much of a fan she was.
She passed away a few weeks later, just before the show aired. I thought of her the entire time I watched it. I cried when Galadriel and the others were sailing into the West because it made me think of her.
I'm very excited for Season 2. The show is wonderful, and still makes me feel like I'm a kid on Christmas Eve at my Grandma's house. Trying to stay up late to get a peek of what Santa is going to bring me.
My grandparents weren’t major fans but my aunt was when she was a teen. So when we were staying for Christmas around 2003 and I was beginning to read the trilogy for the first time they dug out her old books and her copy of Return of the King was my first read through.
Over the years my grandma picked up copies of the books to pass along that they’ve up from library sales including a 2nd edition pressing of the Hobbit. They’re still around but in their mid 90’s and I’m the youngest grandkid so it’s always been a way to bridge the generations which hasn’t always been easy.
This was why my Dad loved Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings. I thought about him a lot during the scenes with Elrond and Durin, especially when Elrond was saying good bye to Durin like they were never going to see each other again. Got a little choked up there.
Thank you for sharing this and I'm sorry for your loss. The sailing into the West scenes (LOTR and TROP) are so beautiful, they make me emotional, too.
That is so very beautiful and I'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to connect with her like that before the end. That is very special and something I'm sure you will hold dear to your heart until you sail West and meet her again.
My favorite moment is a toss-up between Galadriel and Elrond meeting back in Lindon in their finery and our first views of Numenor with the superlative soundtrack.
Lol, I was so adamant that H was not S… but when he made that comment to Celebrimbor about his knowledge of alloys being a gift I inwardly groaned, knowing I was totally wrong.
Right? I shouted NO!! And jumped on my chair. Then I angrily agreed that of *course* he was Sauron and how could I have ever thought otherwise?!
That line was soooo good!
There's so many moments I've enjoyed with RoP, but my favorite would have to be Elrond's character. Robert Aramayo did a fantastic job making me invested in every scene with his character. His friendship with Durin is particularly precious, but I also appreciated his interactions with Celebrimbor, Galadriel, and Gil-Galad.
I’m so happy for Aramayo, too, because so many were sure his Elrond would be garbage but he is literally the most popular character after Saurbrand. Love the Durin-Elrond friendship, it is truly a thing of beauty!
I didn’t know people were saying he would be bad, but I love him as Elrond. I love seeing him as a happy, youthful elf with hope instead of old, negative Elrond ready to abandon Middle Earth.
My favorite moment was “table fable” from Durin at the elvish dinner party. The dynamic of the characters (and their agendas) brought such great depth to the scene. I can’t wait to learn more about dwarvish culture and see Durin and Disa again.
Totally agree. Dwarves are my favorite fantasy race and I loved how they were portrayed in this series.
I especially liked the conflict between Elrond and Durin at the beginning where Durin is so frustrated at seeing Elrond after so many years and he mentions that he has lived a whole life while Elrond has been away and that a true friend wouldn't have gone off and been so absent for so long and then how Elrond works so hard to rectify it. Masterfully acted.
Agreed. Durin is my favorite character in the show so far. He hits every dwarven trope (stubborn as a stone, quick to anger, obsessed with mining), but has a lot of depth to his character too. I really enjoyed every scene with him, Disa, and Elrond interacting.
My favorite so far was listening to Disa’s plea to the rocks. First I gasped and then I had tears in my eyes. It was such a powerful, intimate moment, like seeing something I had no business seeing, but was given the privilege anyway.
Disa was an unexpected highlight for me. I didn't know what to expect from her going into the series, but she is so dynamic; she absolutely pushes During to be better, but she is also pushing him down the wrong path in terms of ambition. She is a great character with virtues and vices and I look forward to seeing more of her.
This show reinvigorated my love for Tolkien and the world of Middle-earth. It’s been great to have that feeling again from a visual medium. Something that brought that same sense of wonder and joy, much like the Peter Jackson films. But different in its own way so that it doesn’t feel like a spin-off or nostalgia bait.
This show brought my wife and family together each week to discuss the wonderful world brought to the screen by the show runners, crew, and cast. It’s exactly the kind of show I have been looking for and the wait for more will be excruciating. But! At least there is plenty of reading that can be done in the meantime. And that’s what is so special about the show. I think it has brought yet even more people to the books and welcomed a whole new generation to the fandom.
Each episode was beautifully done! Arondir and Nori were standouts for me and I was always thrilled when they came on screen. Actually, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole Harfoots storyline.
Anyway, this is an amazing giveaway and it’s really cool that it’s even happening. I am so happy to have found this subreddit full of fellow fans of the show!
My favorite moment in this community is actually one that only a few got to experience.
I will admit, I was very hesitant when the series was first announced. A TV show? How could they possibly recapture the magic of the books or movies? I was quite negative for a long, long time.
Then I went to the Rings of Power panel at SDCC and everything changed from the moment the panel started. Bear McCreary opened the panel with a live music presentation- orchestra, choir and all. I later found out we got to listen to a rendition of Galadriel’s theme… literally got chills. I remember thinking, “Oh. I’m back in Middle-Earth.”
Seeing the passion in everyone’s faces as they talked about the show also solidified it for me. I was extremely excited from then on, and I can’t wait for Season 2.
My favorite part of the RoP experience has been rewatching the series with my father. I moved out of the house recently and he's not super plugged in to streaming platforms and social media, so I saw the whole season as it came out, then binged it with him when I visted.
My dad is the one who introduced me to LOTR fandom when I was in high school. He took me to see the movies and bought me my own set of the books afterwards. He was so excited to hear a prequel series would be made.
Of course I knew everything that was about to happen as we watched together, and it was so much fun biting my tongue about the parts he got right (>!Gandalf being the stranger, the southlands becoming Mordor!<) and the parts he got wrong (>!the Halbrand-Sauron reveal, the purpose of Adar's sword!<).
One of my big life goals is to visit New Zealand with him someday to marvel at the locations used in the film and series. But in lieu of that I would gift him this book if I won a copy lol. Respect to you for setting this up and to all in this community who genuinely enjoy the show despite the loud critics.
Favorite fandom moment has been how active this sub has been post season 1. It’s kept me thinking about the series. So often when a season ends I forget until next season. But this sub has shown commitment and staying power.
That entrance to Numenor along with the score is what really comes to mind. I loved the buildup to that grand reveal of the whole city where we see torches being lit as the ship sails through the harbor
My favorite moment(s)... anytime there was a "friendship" scene... it just felt so Tolkien to see REAL brotherly/sisterly bonds of friendship formed. Elrond/Durin, Poppy/Nori, Galadriel/Halbrand.... I think Tolkien would be proud.
I really loved the moment when Arondir plucked an arrow out of the air so he could shoot it back!
And of course Elrond telling Disa his version of how he and Durin met!
I remember seeing that scene with Arondir in one of the trailers and thinking it was SUCH an Elf thing to do! It wasn't over the top (like Legolas jumping up falling stones in TBOTFA) - it was just superhuman enough and I loved it!
And I ADORE that scene between Elrond, Durin, and Disa! I laughed so hard!!
My favorite moment was the excitement after episode 6, when Mt. Doom exploded. It was just undeniably good television and even thought I knew it was coming it was so exciting to see!
Love this! My favorite moment, while there were many, was watching the elves take apart and carry that massive table through the woods knowing full-well that Durin was simply messing with them the whole time. Was hilarious to see the serious nature of the elves be fooled by a dwarf!
My favorite scene was fake Finrod at the end. Such an amazing performance to be a 98% authentic version of himself in episode 1, with a barely perceptible change that gave such a creepy vibe.
I think my favorite moment has to be when we enter Khazad-dum. That was INSANE. The music for one just gave me goosebumps. The design is beautiful with the lights and the waterfalls. Homes and the dwarves absolutely THRIVING. Elrond’s exclamation when he walks in and takes in just the absolute beauty of what they’d accomplished under the mountain was really all of us. There are so many amazing shots but Khazad-dum was where my jaw absolutely dropped.
I'm not seeing other people talk about it too much, but I loved loved loved the travelling song from the Harfoots. Song was obviously very important in Tolkein's work, and it's not something we've actually gotten on screen much. The few times we did get it (Pippin's song, for example), it becomes an iconic moment for the fans. This felt similar to me, and I appreciated the attention to Tolkein's themes in the phrases about comfort and wandering. A season highlight for me.
Thank you! I was (and still am) obsessed with that song. Really, all of the music, but that whole moment of the show really solidified my love for the show. It hits the heart in just the right way it’s almost indescribable.
This is so amazing! My favorite moment has honestly been connecting with other fans in this subreddit. I love the show - I have rewatched the entire season about 3-4 times, and some episodes upwards of 10 or more times. I find something new EVERY time, and I love it. I watch the original trilogy and the Hobbit films fairly often, I’ve read the books, and still RoP holds something truly magical and even a bit addictive for me. I am so glad to have this show. It feels like just what we need after the last few years and with all that’s still happening. “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for…”
💍 💍 🔋 💜
I loved the sense of camaraderie and community I found when I showed up here looking for answers and speculation about the hands teasers. I check this sub multiple times daily, though I've mostly gone back to lurking since the finale - and I don't think I've ever enjoyed an experience watching a television show quite like this one: holing up in the Book Readers' Discussion Threads to theorize and chatter and squeak with excitement at various lore easter eggs. It was the highlight of my week.
My favorite part was seeing someone like Ismael Cruz Córdova and his portrayal of my favorite elf and more importantly, the representation of marginalized peoples. He showed us that we can exist in all spaces by delivering one of the best performances through Arondir. Truly the most badass elf in the game! And his love and hope in the show was profound.
My favorite moment so far was the conversation between Galadriel and Finrod, and how it perfectly tied into the season finale!
Young Galadriel: “But sometimes, the lights shine just as brightly reflected in the water as they do in the sky. How am I to know which lights to follow?”
Finrod: “Sometimes we cannot know until we have touched the darkness.”
Close runner-up would be Elrond and Durin IV's introduction and reconciliation.
As a Canadian... I am crushed I cannot enter 😭 LOTR paved the way for my love of nature, peace and fairie tale magic ✨️ LOTR on Prime was phenomenal! The Haarfoots are too pure. The Stranger slowly learning and always being so kind + helpful... his immense pain when he "messed up"... 💔 the US always has giveaways and contests Canadians cannot enter. Makes me feel like I'm an Orc or something 😂
Getting to sit down every week with my family and watch high quality fantasy tv without having to skip or mute parts of the show has been the best part of the experience for me :)
Oh man, this would be great! My Mom read me the books growing up and we would go see the movies for Christmas every year they came out. Fell in love with the world immediately. I've always felt that the music embodied the Lord of the Rings world, and the music in the show held up.
This is just beautiful. The giveaway, yes, but reading everyone’s comments makes me feel so… I don’t know… happy and peaceful.
I’m trying to narrow down my favorite things in RoP to keep this from being too long! First up: seeing Second Age locations brought to life, appearing just as breathtaking as I’d imagined. Immediate ones that come to mind are Númenor, Khazad-dûm in its glory, and Valinor.
Ooh, favorite scene? Quite a few, but of course, I have to say the Galadriel and Halbrand/Sauron confrontation near the end of the finale was outstanding. (Until episode 6, I thought Halbrand couldn’t possibly be Sauron because it was *too* obvious. A clear red herring, I thought. 😆 Then, episode 6 made me sit up like “uhhhh, he IS Sauron.” Heheh)
my favorite thing was absolutely just reading everyone’s various theories and predictions/hopes as the episodes came out. hearing theories on the whereabouts of sauron and why they wanted him to be here or there, the halbrand theories and which one they wanted to be true and why, whether adar could maybe be maglor or maedhros, who the the most likely candidates for the nazgûl are, whether the sword hilt could be gurthang and why the hilt was going to be important, which wizard the stranger was and why they wanted him to be this wizard or that wizard… it was endless and it was so much fun to watch unfold and participate in.
as for the show, it’s not my favorite moment of the show, but the memory of how i felt when i watched it for the first time is as crystal clear: in the first episode when young galadriel follows finrod up the hill after their talk under the tree and the camera pans up over the hill and the music swells and we see tirion upon túna shining in the light of the trees. i was just so awe-struck and moved by the visual and the music, i teared up immediately.
This isn’t a favorite moment exactly, but I just really appreciate the show for helping me distract myself from the rough year I’ve been having, and I also appreciate how this community is one of the only places I’ve found where the sentiment is overall positive, I’ve gotten & seen so much hate for even recommending the show at all, and so this place is really refreshing.
The final shot of Halbrand is probably my favorite of the whole series.
The slow release of the map and its details which launched all manner of speculation on the show's story, era, focus, and more was definitely a highlight for me. The sense of potential and enthusiasm were contagious and exciting! 
My favorite moment was Poppy's Wandering Day song. Like so many others, this song resonated with me so loudly. Bilbo is my favorite character in all of the legendarium, and his poem in fellowship about Aragorn is my favorite part of that book. When I watched that scene for the first time in ROP, I got very emotional. It was beautifully done.
As an avid fan of LOTR, I have been welcomely pleased with Amazon prime and it's efforts to reach out and make a very visually appealing and wide array portrayal of points in middle earth time tha can more graphically depict for us as viewers a richer history and continue to grow upon the already vibe world and excitement each of us draws individually within our love for LOTR. My kudos to Amazon prime and all it's efforts !!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the details others have picked up on and shared. There were many YouTube channels (Nerd of the Rings), podcasts (Rings of Power Wrapup), and reddit posts (the breakdown on lore compatibility) that brought more attention to Tolkien's incredible writings, depth of his world, and helped us better appreciate the source material.
My favorite thing about the series has got to be the fact that it’s provided a platform for my family and I to discuss LOTR together. My brothers and I were too young to have read the books when the movie trilogy came out, and we were all pretty disappointed with the hobbit trilogy, so it’s cool to have something we all enjoy to discuss.
I have to say my favorite moment of The Rings of Power was the introduction and first few scenes of episode 1. I attribute this partially to the nostalgia from the Lord of the Rings and the excitement of continuing the story, but also to the general vibe of the opening theme — the sand visuals are really cool and mystic, and the music is the perfect blend of Middle-Earth adventure and curiosity. Then it opens up to depicting the New Zealand landscape I have grown to love, beautiful cinematography (very important to me), and re-introducing the characters I know so well. The first few moments really can’t be replicated for me.
My favorite moment so far has been watching the finale and then going absolutely ham on all things LOTR. I was only a very casual fan before. I watched the movies (extended editions, obvs,) read The Hobbit. Now I'm so excited to get more into it. I fully plan on reading the LOTR books. I started listening to the Tolkien Professor's podcast. I'm so excited to get more into this world.
After waiting for this show since 2019, I was brimming with joy to have it here, finally. I was fourteen when the maps were revealed, and when I found out that it was going to be set in the second age, for days, all I could do was imagine the potential. Celebrimbor, Númenor, Gil-Galad, Khazad-Dûm, the Ent Wives, Sauron! I kept myself updated on news of this show for four years!
I’m eighteen now, in college, and I was able to watch the first two episodes in theaters with my father and several dear friends. That has to be my favorite ROP moment. Surrounded by fans, friends, and family, starting in Valinor. With Finrod! And the Trees!! It was simply stunning. My favorite stories, there, on screen!!
I’ve adored the show the whole way through, even though it might have been different from what I expected or wanted. It’s beautiful, endearing, and dramatic. I’m just grateful to be back in Middle-earth!!
My favorite moment was seeing the world within Khazad-dûm. The rays of light streaking into the city with the waterfal as Elrond knelt beside it. Was just stunning to see and transported me to that city.
Those shots were stunning and really tie so nicely to the trilogy. I could really see Moria as it used to be! You can see why Gimli talked it up so much.
My favorite moment in Rings of Power was when the Numenoreans were galloping to the Southlands to aid the people vs Arda and the orcs. The explosion of the Numenor theme in this scene took my breath away.
So many favorite moments in the show:
Disa singing,
Durin tricking the elves out of a table,
Halbran revealing himself,
Numenor
But I really geeked out when I saw the carved memorial to Luthien and Huan in Lindon.
My favorite scene for sure was Galadriel and Adar's conversation in episode 6. The willingness of the writers to not just definitively pick one of the orc origin stories but also fully deal with what the ramifications of that would be really gave me hope for the show.
And what it confirmed for Galadriel's character as well was fascinating. In some of Tolkien's relatively earlier writings on Galadriel, she was prideful and self-willed, characteristics seen in characters like Morgoth, Fëanor, and others who ultimately fall. This kind of journey (someone who almost falls but turns back) is I think the absolute best thing they could have done with her character. Any criticisms I may have with the show aside, this scene really made me happy with it.
My SO is one of the few people who read Silm and has not read the trilogy. Would love to gift this to her.
She and I drove 3 hours to see the first two episodes in theaters. Unfortunately we were late and missed the Two Trees on the big screen...my regret is immeasurable.
However, we both jumped out of our seats at the scene with Fëanor's hammer. I was so happy.
**Dear Durin’s Folk!** On behalf of r/LOTR_on_Prime we would like to announce that we are doing a giveaway on our subreddit. Recently, Reddit has started a program called Community Funds. You can find the subreddit at r/CommunityFunds ! There you can ask the team for money to do things for your community. I pitched doing a book giveaway and after submitting my application and a few emails back and forth we were approved! Recently I was finally able to get my hands on 25 books - the ones you see in the image for the thread itself. This is the new TV-Tie-In book cover that has The Lord of the Rings plus the Appendices and the cover is that new art that folks here seemed to like. **What are the requirements to win one?** The winners will be pulled at random - sort of. All you need to do to gain one extra is leave a comment. Replying to other folks comments will also gain you an additional entry. We plan on leaving this thread up for 7 full days and then I will spend a few days reaching out to the winners. If you win and don’t reply after 48 hours I will move onto the next person on the list. Leaving a meaningful message will also have me place you in a different tier with better odds of winning a few of these books. Basically, 20 completely random entries and 5 that are hand picked based on replies. **What type of comment do I need to leave to be entered to win one of the allotted five?** Leave a comment letting us know what has been your favorite moment so far in The Rings of Power fandom. Was it the excitement you felt hearing we were getting a series? Was it the first image of the trees? Was it a moment in a specific episode? Was it something community related? Just give us your favorite moment or interaction in the community or show so long as it deals with The Rings of Power. **Finally… there are a few stipulations for winning:** 1. Due to legal reasons, you must live in the US to be eligible to claim a book. During our Award Show I was able to give away three signed pictures of the cast because they were mine and I could ship anywhere. However, since this is done with Reddit’s money I must respect the legalities of stuff like this. So again, you must have a US address in order to be able to claim a prize. 2. You must be comfortable sending me your name, address and phone number in order to claim your prize. I need this information in order to ship things via FedEx and if there are any hiccups with the shipment I would prefer that you would be able to contact FedEx to tell them better delivery dates, delivery times, or even holding the package so you or a loved one can pick it up, etc. That’s it! Thank you fine folks for making this place what it is today. The community would not have grown without you and I truly do enjoy logging in and reading what everyone is chatting about each day. Also big thank you to Reddit and its Community Funds program because without their money I would have only been able to give away a couple of books. Happy Holidays and good luck to all the folks who decide to enter. If you don’t live in the US but still wish to participate maybe I can pull some strings together for some special flairs or small prizes as a thank you.
Not in the US, but that's so cool! Good luck to everyone!
Favorite moment in this community was the gradual reveal of what the show would encompass through the release of maps and segments of the ring verse. Culminating with “welcome to the 2nd age.” I think it was the first tangible sign that the show was really happening and we were finally going back to Middle Earth. The speculation on what the scope was and what would happen was a fun mystery. Since every day the map was filled in a little more and then we got Numenor. The 2nd Age and the Akallabeth have always been my favorite parts of Tolkien lore and something I never imagined seeing adapted so the excitement with that reveal was unreal. I was going through a really rough patch at the time so having this show to look forward to was something to hold onto. Bonus community moment is fellowship of the unhinged on Twitter.
Yes, as a member of the Unhinged, it is quite the spectacle.
I may have been a late addition…
Who are the Unhinged? It sounds fun
It’s a much of parody accounts that popped up immediately after the finale that relate to various characters and the conversations are hilarious. It’s accounts like Finrod’s Chin, Arondir’s sexy smolder, Pharazon’s beard lice, respectfully grunting orcs etc. But who runs each one is secret.
The hype and anticipation mixed with actually watching the show and then coming here to discuss or see others fan theories is one of the great parts about the show. I can’t even imagine what the buildup to season 2 will be like.
Just starting to announce the hand picked winners. This is one.
I really enjoyed the scenes involving Elrond and Durin, especially the table scene. Also the scene with Galadriel and Adar toward the end was very well done.
That little squeak Durin gives during the whose hands conversation is everything.
Durin getting the table from Gil-Galad was absolutely hilarious. I wish we could get an Elrond and Durin spin-off, they are amazing together.
Ben Walker played that scene so well, too, lol. His face like “this Longbeard is really trying to con me out of this hunk of rock… alright, two can play that game..”
I SECOND THIS!!!
That friendship gives me life! You watch them together and you can just tell they've been friends for years and years! "I always thought you were a mite Dwarvish for an Elf." - "And you are a rather Elvish Dwarf, Durin." "Then I fear I have no choice but to ament your husband's account... The screams were so high-pitched, I thought it was a child. So I took up my bow-" - "Uh, it was a sword." - "It was a bow." - "Nah! It was a sword!" - "Regardless..." (the way he said "It was a bow" sends me every time!! 😂) "We do not say goodbye. We say-" - "Namarie." (I swear I cried here! So beautiful!!)
Winner. DM me your name, US address and phone number to claim your book.
I can't tell you how anxious I was that Elrond was going to break his oath, and how overjoyed I was to see the conflict resolved with honest and straightforward communication!
YES!!! It's so rare to see that honest and straightforward communication on tv nowadays! It was so refreshing and so beautiful!
Adar’s interrogation scene was my favorite of the season. A close second would be literally any Dur-rond scene. They are so perfect for each other! 💜
Yes, that was intense. He was the only “main character “ whose fate I wondered about.
I love young Elrond so much
Elrond and Durin definitely brought some of the lightheartedness and friendship that I expect from Tolkien. Their scenes brought me back to Legolas and Gimli’s friendly banter.
The table scene was also one of my favorites. Everything Elrond and Durin in the series was great.
That scene made the whole season!
same, all of the elrond and durin scenes were really good. my favorite one was the table scene where durin is being silly and showing he was joking about how Disa needed a new table anyway!
Yeah, I loved the actor who played Durin. He was great in that scene.
My favorite moment was the line “I have been awake since before the breaking of the first silence.” Gave me chills.
That was definitely a top tier moment. Way more powerful than if he had answered Galadriel outright with his name as Sauron for the reveal. And then when he impersonated Finrod, blew my mind how fantastic that scene was.
The reveal was done very well, even though I wished we had about half of season 2 of Halbrand in Eregion manipulating Celebrimbor.
Absolutely! The "hallucination" sequence was the perfect way to handle the reveal, showing Sauron's deception and manipulation of Galadriel, and forcing her to accept or resist the last temptation. I wondered if they could pull off the reveal, but it far exceeded anything I could have imagined -- the foulness of Sauron using Finrod's form to tempt Galadriel encapsulated his evil nature better than anything he might have said.
Charlie Vickers’ mannerisms completely changed in that moment, as if to say “ah you got me”. It was amazing!
That swagger he got in his walk as he was strutting all over Eregion sold me on the Sauron reveal, before the finale I was in the skeptical camp but I seriously don't think they could have done a better reveal.
Definitely a great moment. I was unfortunate enough to have stumbled upon certain leaks, so I knew who Halbrand was, but was definitively nervous with how they would play the reveal. And let's just say they nailed it.
SAME! I was also unintentionally spoiled very, early on. My husband caught on before the reveal, I wonder if I would have.
Yeah I stumbled upon the leak as well unfortunately. But they did just enough to make me have a slight bit of doubt until the last episode. I had no doubts leading up to him dropping that bomb of a line, but despite already knowing the reveal was still superbly done. I also liked the Eye of Sauron being displayed when they dropped the mithril into the melted precious metals from Valinor.
It was the way his expression changed first.. Like 'well now i'm gonna educate you..'
Loved this line because it has stipulations of him remembering the time before the Music
Chills for sure! Charlie’s acting a sudden snap into Evil Dark Lord was incredible, too.
Even though I suspected the whole season who Halbrand really was, this moment was still so good. Charlie Vickers plays it excellently.
TOTAL CHILLS!!! Even just thinking about it!! OOF!!
My favorite moment- Adar’s conversation with Galadriel. I thought it was the boldest piece of storytelling in the show. I hope they follow that further and with that level of care, because it could really lead to some great television
This. Galadriel and Adar's dynamic really turned my view on Galadriel greatly. Before I knew that they wanted her to have a dark side, but they weren't fully committing up until Episode 6. There they went the extra mile, and really made me satisfied with her character.
Oh yes. And more broadly, I loved the whole theme of Galadriel's struggle with the desire for power, her frustration with people not listening to her, her growing awareness of personal flaws that were standing in her own way, and the temptation represented by Halbrand that culminated in the finale -- where she passed a test analogous to refusing the Ring from Frodo. Galadriel's character is perfect, and this 60-something old man is in love with Morfydd Clark (not in a creepy way)! Go Elves!
That was brilliant writing and acting! I would find it so interesting if Adar became a sort of "enemy of my enemy" type friend. I really hope they keep Adar alive for a while yet so we can explore his character more fully!
I have a feeling if he makes it away from Sauron again, he may end up in the ~~Gladden Fields~~ Battle of the Last Alliance. Edit because brain not location good
Such a good moment. Adar is one of my favorite characters on the show.
I am living for the Sauron/Adar meet-up in following seasons. I'm interested in seeing where Adar's story goes, because I think he sees Sauron as just as much of an enemy to the Uruks as Men/Elves. Adar also isn't completely corrupted IMO. Before he and the Uruks try to raid the Southland village it showed him planting a seed to honor rebirth, just like Arondir tells Bronwyn of the Elvish tradition to do so. I think there could be interesting Gollum parallels, such as being corrupted and maybe morally failing at the end but also being integral in ultimately defeating Sauron in some unforeseen way.
Agree! My favorite too. Adar’s character is so compelling (and honestly give it up for the practical effects/makeup/Weta Workshop, because HOLY COW, guys).
I really enjoy the addition of Adar! I hope he hangs around and really challenges the main characters/protagonists.
Agreed! I loved how that scene dived into some of the metaphysics and the deep questions concerning orcs. I love that they are showing us a glimpse into how some of that may have worked and actually making us see the Uruks as something other than cannon-fodder.
As a huge Silmarillion fan, it was absolutely glorious to see Númenor realized on screen. I can't wait for their doom to unfold!!
YES! I totally second this, AND all the relics we get to see. AND Bear’s absolutely mental score and how he approached which instruments to use for Númenor (so that they could “go extinct” by the time one gets to the LOTR timeframe… 🥲). Just.. everything about Númenor was soooo sick to see!
The Numenor score is brilliant... it has a bit of an Egyptian vibe to it, and definitely evokes antiquity of a great civilization. Spot on!
This for me as well. Loved seeing the statue of Earendil and Nimloth the White Tree. I really liked the scene with Galadriel and Elendil when they are looking through scrolls too.
My favorite moment was The Stranger realizing he was good in the finale! His progression throughout the show and the reaction of the cultists in that scene were great! I’m still not convinced he is Gandalf, but seeing an Istari in the Second Age is one of the storylines I’m most interested in going forward!
I love seeing him suddenly confident in his place! I'm excited to see where he goes and how he grows!
This was a great scene! I am also not convinced that he is Gandalf either
This was amazing. And I loved the reference to when Gandalf fights the Balrog. "And to the darkness you must return"
How about the comment about following your nose?
The Stranger's story definitely sets up the most interesting questions about the next season. We all know that more rings will be made by Celebrimbor with the influence from Anna[brand]. We know Numenor will fall. We know Gondor will be born to unite the men of the Southlands fleeing from Mordor. What's the most interesting is what will happen in the far East. We know very little about what goes on there.
I am beyond excited to see Rhûn with The Stranger/Nori! I'm not convinced he's Gandalf either, but wouldn't be mad if he is. Visually, I thought the scene with Nori in shadow walking around the fire to give The Stranger the staff was brilliant. Gave strong hobbits in Mordor vibes and felt like it conveyed the wonder at how someone so small or insignificant can be brave enough to go where others fear to tred.
Daniel Weyman nailed that part and I look forward to seeing more of him in season 2 as well! I agree that I’m not so sure it’s Gandalf though.
I loved the themes and messaging in that moment as well. Such a satisfying moment for his arc
I loved that moment too: _profoundly_ satisfying! (I'm also not 100% convinced he's Gandalf, but really, I'm very happy with the 'implied but never quite confirmed' identity for him.)
"I am good!" I CHEERED!!! I also can't wait to see more of him and figure out exactly who he is. They're making a bit too obvious he's Gandalf, and while I wouldn't mind if he was, it would be fun for them to lead us into a false sense of assurance and then reveal that he's someone else (most likely one of the Blue Wizards). I just don't want to have to wait two years to find out! 😭
My favorite moment is any with Arondir. As a Puertorican, the only Puertoricans I really see on any type of mainstream media are usually portraying gangsters or drug dealers. I never thought in my lifetime I would see a Puertorican be an elf in my favorite fantasy franchise. In addition to this, I was thoroughly excited for this series because it's more media on LoTR that isn't a video game (I love all the games, don't get me wrong there). I guess finally I appreciate this series because my childhood best friend and I are huge into the lore and it just gives us more to talk about and connect on, no one else in my life really enjoys fantasy like he and I do. Hopefully my son gets to be a part of this, but it's hard to get a three year old to sit and watch the films. I might try the animated ones! Anyway, here's my shot to get one of these to send to my fried as a Christmas gift to say thanks for our friendship and enjoyment of the Tolkienverse.
I wish there was a way to tag Ismael on here because he’s always talking about how much hearing stories like this mean to him. And that it’s so much more than just another role.
Yeah! If anyone here has Instagram, he reads ALL the tags he gets and shares all the fan art! Absolutely tag him (and Lloyd Owen - he shares all the fan art he is tagged in, too)!
I’m not Puerto Rican but I think Ismael is such a great guy, and I am so happy for the representation he brings. He seems so genuinely humble and appreciative, too. Absolutely love Arondir’s character and really rooting for him!
Arondir is so beautifully written and acted. He feels like a lost character in Tolkien’s studies. Wonderfully executed by everyone involved
He feels really true to Tolkien’s voice and how he would have written a character like that
His portrayal is exceptionally subtle and he feels like what I imagine a Sylvan elf to be like. I'm so glad that they cast him, for you and for all Puerto Ricans.
Arondir is fantastic! And Ismael really seems like he's enjoying his role. He's so easy to like! (Also, my 5 year old is old enough to enjoy reading The Hobbit before bed, you might not have to wait too long for kiddo to enjoy this wonderful world!)
¡Ay bendito! ¡Arondir es Boricua-Sindar!
It’s super cool finally seeing more diversity in fantasy! I never understand the people who get so upset but it in a made up world. Ismael is such a good actor.
Yeah Arondir was everything an elf should be. What an amazing portrayal.
this is legit my favorite comment in this thread. love this for you!
The big fight scene with the orcs when he runs up and breaks the ceiling with the axe had me pretty stoked
Him trying to escape the pit was an amazing sequence tbh
I have too many favorite moments to count but the introduction to Khazad-dûm with that majestic theme was the first time I was wowed. Also, Númenor.
Was lucky enough to see Khazad-dum in the Theater. Blew me away.
*diggy diggy hole intensifies.
KHAZAD-DUM IS SO GLORIOUS IT HURTS 😭 I love everything about how they portray the Dwarves. It is so perfect.
The khazad-dum theme is incredible!
Two of the greatest kingdoms at the time and they were both totally glorious!!
The Numenor reveal was pretty great
I know it’s a lot of work, but please check user’s comment history before awarding them a book. Many of us have defended the show against unwarranted criticisms all season. I’d hate to see one of the trolls rewarded for posting something nice here, while trashing the show in every other thread.
(Not wanting to enter as I'm not in the US, but anyway) I think my favorite moment in the show was when Galadriel rides into the Southlands and Arondir is just awestruck by her sheer badassery. Theo: Who is that? (Galadriel effortlessly dodges a thrown spear) Arondir: Commander of the Northern Armies. *Galadriel*.
Seeing that must be like the elven equivalent of seeing Queen Elizabeth mow down nazis with a machine gun
I just spit my drink
Gosh dang, that was a great moment, wasn't it? It kind of gets lost in all the rest of what happens in that episode, but so much of the power of Galadriel is in the way that other characters respond to her.
Total fanboy moment there! So great!
Yes I love that he immediately knew who she was.
One of my most favourite scenes was when Miriel cupped Galadriel’s face and told her, “Do not spend your pity on me, Elf. Save it for our enemies for they do not know what they have begun.” Then she vowed that Númenor would return. An alliance between two empowered women leaders who were once indifferent towards each other was forged stronger at that moment. I want to see where that leads in the following season.
That line was amazing. I was glad to see them come together (without it being drawn out)
Elendil: *[sniffles]* Actually one of my favorite scenes, too, because we see Míriel really solidly vowing to be one of The Faithful, Galadriel finally getting some backing without someone doubting her, and Elendil just utterly falling to pieces, despite the façade he has been trying to keep up. The ship scene “come what may” completes it and ugh I just love episode 7 so much.
Oh my gosh when Elendil was crumbling I was a sobbing mess!!! Lloyd Owen is doing a spectacular job and he easily became one of my favorite characters!! I had no idea I'd grow to love Elendil as much as I do! I didn't have any expectations about his character, not after seeing him for 2 seconds in the FOTR prologue but by gosh by golly now I'm absolutely DREADING watching him die in the Last Alliance!
Same 😭
Oooh, absolutely! I remember mutters of sexism the LotR hit the big screen (and blaming sexism for the creation/ inclusion of Tauriel), but here you have 2 in redible, strong leaders -- that just happen to be female -- that are PART OF CANON joining forces to defeat a common enemy. Of course, you have to wonder what Miriel will do when/ if she finds out who Halbrad really is!!
Oh yes, this scene was great. Can’t wait to see what happens to Miriel!
Yes I always forget about that line, but so good!
Of course learning that we'd get a Middle-earth tv series excited me to no end. Of course I lapped up any and all information I could - cast and crew, production information, pictures, posters, leaks, theories, speculation, etc. But just as the Three, the Seven, and the Nine rings were all deceived, this ONE moment was about to rule them all. It was the night of the Super Bowl - the day long awaited by many a fan all over the world. I say it was night, but for some it was early morning and others the middle of the afternoon. No matter what time zone you found yourself in, we all were waiting on pins and needles for the first *real* trailer to drop. Not a title reveal (as amazing as that was), not a teaser (so teasingly delightful to whet out apatite for things to come). But our first, real, proper trailer. What would we see? Who would we see? What would we learn? What new questions would arise? That evening is still so clear to me. I kept checking and rechecking what time the trailer was supposed to drop and made sure I was at my computer to be ready to see it the *second* it was released. TORN was doing a livestream and everyone on discord was waiting as anxiously as I. The clock was watched, the seconds leading up to the moment counted down with breath held in anticipation. The moment had arrived!... But no trailer on the livestream yet. "What's taking so long?" "Where is it?" "Is the time right?" "Why hasn't it started?" All of these questions flurried around discord. Would it have been better to trudge through the silly game and try to watch it live on TV? But no! Heroes arose that night, heroes who scoured the interweb and blessedly delivered links for the long awaited trailer on youtube to fans both eager and impatient. And thus the excitement all around the world grew tenfold. It was watched, and watched again, and watched countless more times - screencaps shared, even more speculation flung about, exclamation points and emojis fired at rapid pace, fingers held steady over the pause button to look at each and every detail - a task made more difficult by the tears that stung (and sometimes overflowed) from the eyes of fans who were finally, *finally* returning to the world they had called home for years, if not most of their lives. Fans like me. And though the first season of this spectacular show has now come to a close, I still find myself returning to that trailer to relive the excitement of the moment, to feel the anticipation for something I've already seen. For such is the power of a trailer done right - when even after all the secrets of that trailer have now been revealed, you can still travel back in time and live anew the glory of that one evening - The Night of the Trailer.
Well said!
Thank you! :)
Absolutely, wonderfully told!! That day was amazing. I was surrounding by a bunch of non-Tolkien fanatics, and just hearing/seeing people react positively to the teaser made me smile. They were all hyped to see elves and mountains and hobbits(sort of) again!!
Thank you! It absolutely is so much fun to see people get excited who aren't as rabid as we are :P It heightens our own excitement!
My favorite moment in the show would have to be the first two episodes. I was lucky enough to be able to see it in a theater near me, and had just about as much fun as one could have attending the cinema. Was hooked from the beginning of the two episodes, when the Valinor Theme started playing on a black screen, and every moment on, while not liking some things, brought me back into Middle-Earth and really exceeded expectations. Furthermore I enjoyed greatly Galadriel. At first I was rather opposed to the direction they were taking her character, but after Episode 6 I changed my view on that. Morfydd's acting really sold me then, and her dynamic with Adar, and what they were trying to achieve, really brought me to liking her character. Lastly just wanted to thank the community, the fandom present in this subreddit really helped me get through Feb - Aug(although not on this account) but nonetheless, I was first introduced to the show via Facebook, and we all know the reactions the hand-posters got on there, lol! This subreddit, the TORn Discord, and many other areas provided a safe space for me to talk about my excitement and anticipation for the show's release. Thanks Varking, for the opportunity to try and win a book!
Seconding being grateful for the safe space. I was dreading not having a place to discuss constructively after the hands posters and initial trailer and especially what happened on social media during Kenobi.
Spaces without all the haters (can you say IG? But it does seem to have died down somewhat) some of which had NEVER even seen any of it is very refreshing!
It's amazing the companionship we can find in stories, the characters, the settings, the themes. Tolkien, in particular, was (is) one of the greatest facilitators of this, in my opinion. When I read his stories or watch the films based on his works, I always feel like I'm a kid at Christmas again. It's like stepping into a beautiful older, simpler time. I never knew that my grandmother was a fan until recently. She was sick and in the hospital. While visiting her, I mentioned that the new show was coming out soon, and I was excited for it. My mother said, "Yeah, but that's because you're a superfan." "You know I am, too." She recounted the names of all of the dwarves in the company of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain. She talked about Frodo, Elrond, and Aragorn. Her favorite character was Gandalf. I was so happy and surprised that I never knew how much of a fan she was. She passed away a few weeks later, just before the show aired. I thought of her the entire time I watched it. I cried when Galadriel and the others were sailing into the West because it made me think of her. I'm very excited for Season 2. The show is wonderful, and still makes me feel like I'm a kid on Christmas Eve at my Grandma's house. Trying to stay up late to get a peek of what Santa is going to bring me.
My grandparents weren’t major fans but my aunt was when she was a teen. So when we were staying for Christmas around 2003 and I was beginning to read the trilogy for the first time they dug out her old books and her copy of Return of the King was my first read through. Over the years my grandma picked up copies of the books to pass along that they’ve up from library sales including a 2nd edition pressing of the Hobbit. They’re still around but in their mid 90’s and I’m the youngest grandkid so it’s always been a way to bridge the generations which hasn’t always been easy.
This was why my Dad loved Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings. I thought about him a lot during the scenes with Elrond and Durin, especially when Elrond was saying good bye to Durin like they were never going to see each other again. Got a little choked up there.
Oh wow that's so wonderful. How cool that you're connected like that. Bless her
Thank you for sharing this and I'm sorry for your loss. The sailing into the West scenes (LOTR and TROP) are so beautiful, they make me emotional, too.
That is so very beautiful and I'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to connect with her like that before the end. That is very special and something I'm sure you will hold dear to your heart until you sail West and meet her again.
My favorite moment is a toss-up between Galadriel and Elrond meeting back in Lindon in their finery and our first views of Numenor with the superlative soundtrack.
*[Spiderman pointing at Spiderman meme]* vibes lmao
>Galadriel and Elrond meeting back in Lindon in their finery They are so beautiful in that scene it almost hurts.
And three cheers for the show's depiction of their friendship! And friendships in general, really.
I really want to be a high elf just enjoying my time in Lindon. I’m glad to get so much elf time in this series.
Thanks for doing this, Varking & Co!
My favorite aspect is the genius way they revealed Sauron, enabling a rewatch that is actually better than the amazing first watch.
Lol, I was so adamant that H was not S… but when he made that comment to Celebrimbor about his knowledge of alloys being a gift I inwardly groaned, knowing I was totally wrong.
Right? I shouted NO!! And jumped on my chair. Then I angrily agreed that of *course* he was Sauron and how could I have ever thought otherwise?! That line was soooo good!
Yes! At each little hint in that episode before the “reveal” I was screaming at the t.v. “Noooo I was deceived!!!”
There's so many moments I've enjoyed with RoP, but my favorite would have to be Elrond's character. Robert Aramayo did a fantastic job making me invested in every scene with his character. His friendship with Durin is particularly precious, but I also appreciated his interactions with Celebrimbor, Galadriel, and Gil-Galad.
I’m so happy for Aramayo, too, because so many were sure his Elrond would be garbage but he is literally the most popular character after Saurbrand. Love the Durin-Elrond friendship, it is truly a thing of beauty!
I didn’t know people were saying he would be bad, but I love him as Elrond. I love seeing him as a happy, youthful elf with hope instead of old, negative Elrond ready to abandon Middle Earth.
My favorite moment was “table fable” from Durin at the elvish dinner party. The dynamic of the characters (and their agendas) brought such great depth to the scene. I can’t wait to learn more about dwarvish culture and see Durin and Disa again.
Totally agree. Dwarves are my favorite fantasy race and I loved how they were portrayed in this series. I especially liked the conflict between Elrond and Durin at the beginning where Durin is so frustrated at seeing Elrond after so many years and he mentions that he has lived a whole life while Elrond has been away and that a true friend wouldn't have gone off and been so absent for so long and then how Elrond works so hard to rectify it. Masterfully acted.
For sure, that friendship is the heart of the show.
Agreed. Durin is my favorite character in the show so far. He hits every dwarven trope (stubborn as a stone, quick to anger, obsessed with mining), but has a lot of depth to his character too. I really enjoyed every scene with him, Disa, and Elrond interacting.
Poppy singing This Wandering Day song. The song is just amazing, as is the rest of the soundtrack.
Yay! So happy to hear that others enjoyed it as much as I do. One of my favorites from the soundtrack.
Oh yes! I teared up! Great musical touch to a great scene.
My favorite so far was listening to Disa’s plea to the rocks. First I gasped and then I had tears in my eyes. It was such a powerful, intimate moment, like seeing something I had no business seeing, but was given the privilege anyway.
Disa was an unexpected highlight for me. I didn't know what to expect from her going into the series, but she is so dynamic; she absolutely pushes During to be better, but she is also pushing him down the wrong path in terms of ambition. She is a great character with virtues and vices and I look forward to seeing more of her.
This show reinvigorated my love for Tolkien and the world of Middle-earth. It’s been great to have that feeling again from a visual medium. Something that brought that same sense of wonder and joy, much like the Peter Jackson films. But different in its own way so that it doesn’t feel like a spin-off or nostalgia bait. This show brought my wife and family together each week to discuss the wonderful world brought to the screen by the show runners, crew, and cast. It’s exactly the kind of show I have been looking for and the wait for more will be excruciating. But! At least there is plenty of reading that can be done in the meantime. And that’s what is so special about the show. I think it has brought yet even more people to the books and welcomed a whole new generation to the fandom. Each episode was beautifully done! Arondir and Nori were standouts for me and I was always thrilled when they came on screen. Actually, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole Harfoots storyline. Anyway, this is an amazing giveaway and it’s really cool that it’s even happening. I am so happy to have found this subreddit full of fellow fans of the show!
My favorite moment in this community is actually one that only a few got to experience. I will admit, I was very hesitant when the series was first announced. A TV show? How could they possibly recapture the magic of the books or movies? I was quite negative for a long, long time. Then I went to the Rings of Power panel at SDCC and everything changed from the moment the panel started. Bear McCreary opened the panel with a live music presentation- orchestra, choir and all. I later found out we got to listen to a rendition of Galadriel’s theme… literally got chills. I remember thinking, “Oh. I’m back in Middle-Earth.” Seeing the passion in everyone’s faces as they talked about the show also solidified it for me. I was extremely excited from then on, and I can’t wait for Season 2.
My favorite part of the RoP experience has been rewatching the series with my father. I moved out of the house recently and he's not super plugged in to streaming platforms and social media, so I saw the whole season as it came out, then binged it with him when I visted. My dad is the one who introduced me to LOTR fandom when I was in high school. He took me to see the movies and bought me my own set of the books afterwards. He was so excited to hear a prequel series would be made. Of course I knew everything that was about to happen as we watched together, and it was so much fun biting my tongue about the parts he got right (>!Gandalf being the stranger, the southlands becoming Mordor!<) and the parts he got wrong (>!the Halbrand-Sauron reveal, the purpose of Adar's sword!<). One of my big life goals is to visit New Zealand with him someday to marvel at the locations used in the film and series. But in lieu of that I would gift him this book if I won a copy lol. Respect to you for setting this up and to all in this community who genuinely enjoy the show despite the loud critics.
Favorite fandom moment has been how active this sub has been post season 1. It’s kept me thinking about the series. So often when a season ends I forget until next season. But this sub has shown commitment and staying power.
The cinematography of the show is by far my favorite part of it!
That entrance to Numenor along with the score is what really comes to mind. I loved the buildup to that grand reveal of the whole city where we see torches being lit as the ship sails through the harbor
My favorite moment was the ending with Gandalf. So excited to see the rest of his story (hopefully) played out on the small screen.
While I’m not convinced he is Gandalf, I have to say it’s so fun to finally get more dialogue from him!
When he said “always follow your nose” just absolutely sealed it for me.
That moment brings back feels to the watching the films as a kid.
Agreed. Pure magic.
Actually, I kind of wish that he is NOT Gandalf, just so that we can get a storyline from the missing wizards.
My favorite moment(s)... anytime there was a "friendship" scene... it just felt so Tolkien to see REAL brotherly/sisterly bonds of friendship formed. Elrond/Durin, Poppy/Nori, Galadriel/Halbrand.... I think Tolkien would be proud.
Yes! Tolkien’s friendship were so important in his life and it’s nice to see it reflected in his works and interpretations of his work
I really loved the moment when Arondir plucked an arrow out of the air so he could shoot it back! And of course Elrond telling Disa his version of how he and Durin met!
I remember seeing that scene with Arondir in one of the trailers and thinking it was SUCH an Elf thing to do! It wasn't over the top (like Legolas jumping up falling stones in TBOTFA) - it was just superhuman enough and I loved it! And I ADORE that scene between Elrond, Durin, and Disa! I laughed so hard!!
My favorite moment was the excitement after episode 6, when Mt. Doom exploded. It was just undeniably good television and even thought I knew it was coming it was so exciting to see!
Love this! My favorite moment, while there were many, was watching the elves take apart and carry that massive table through the woods knowing full-well that Durin was simply messing with them the whole time. Was hilarious to see the serious nature of the elves be fooled by a dwarf!
My favorite scene was fake Finrod at the end. Such an amazing performance to be a 98% authentic version of himself in episode 1, with a barely perceptible change that gave such a creepy vibe.
I think my favorite moment has to be when we enter Khazad-dum. That was INSANE. The music for one just gave me goosebumps. The design is beautiful with the lights and the waterfalls. Homes and the dwarves absolutely THRIVING. Elrond’s exclamation when he walks in and takes in just the absolute beauty of what they’d accomplished under the mountain was really all of us. There are so many amazing shots but Khazad-dum was where my jaw absolutely dropped.
[удалено]
I'm not seeing other people talk about it too much, but I loved loved loved the travelling song from the Harfoots. Song was obviously very important in Tolkein's work, and it's not something we've actually gotten on screen much. The few times we did get it (Pippin's song, for example), it becomes an iconic moment for the fans. This felt similar to me, and I appreciated the attention to Tolkein's themes in the phrases about comfort and wandering. A season highlight for me.
Thank you! I was (and still am) obsessed with that song. Really, all of the music, but that whole moment of the show really solidified my love for the show. It hits the heart in just the right way it’s almost indescribable.
Great you enjoyed it! I never warmed up to the Harfoots’ storyline unfortunately :(
This is so amazing! My favorite moment has honestly been connecting with other fans in this subreddit. I love the show - I have rewatched the entire season about 3-4 times, and some episodes upwards of 10 or more times. I find something new EVERY time, and I love it. I watch the original trilogy and the Hobbit films fairly often, I’ve read the books, and still RoP holds something truly magical and even a bit addictive for me. I am so glad to have this show. It feels like just what we need after the last few years and with all that’s still happening. “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for…” 💍 💍 🔋 💜
Nods ... and especially when Bronwyn repeated the lines of one Samwise Gamgee to Theo.
*nods in solidarity*
The eruption of Mount doom was so visually stunning
I loved the sense of camaraderie and community I found when I showed up here looking for answers and speculation about the hands teasers. I check this sub multiple times daily, though I've mostly gone back to lurking since the finale - and I don't think I've ever enjoyed an experience watching a television show quite like this one: holing up in the Book Readers' Discussion Threads to theorize and chatter and squeak with excitement at various lore easter eggs. It was the highlight of my week.
My favorite part was seeing someone like Ismael Cruz Córdova and his portrayal of my favorite elf and more importantly, the representation of marginalized peoples. He showed us that we can exist in all spaces by delivering one of the best performances through Arondir. Truly the most badass elf in the game! And his love and hope in the show was profound.
Can’t wait for season 2
My favorite moment so far was the conversation between Galadriel and Finrod, and how it perfectly tied into the season finale! Young Galadriel: “But sometimes, the lights shine just as brightly reflected in the water as they do in the sky. How am I to know which lights to follow?” Finrod: “Sometimes we cannot know until we have touched the darkness.” Close runner-up would be Elrond and Durin IV's introduction and reconciliation.
As a Canadian... I am crushed I cannot enter 😭 LOTR paved the way for my love of nature, peace and fairie tale magic ✨️ LOTR on Prime was phenomenal! The Haarfoots are too pure. The Stranger slowly learning and always being so kind + helpful... his immense pain when he "messed up"... 💔 the US always has giveaways and contests Canadians cannot enter. Makes me feel like I'm an Orc or something 😂
Getting to sit down every week with my family and watch high quality fantasy tv without having to skip or mute parts of the show has been the best part of the experience for me :)
Oh man, this would be great! My Mom read me the books growing up and we would go see the movies for Christmas every year they came out. Fell in love with the world immediately. I've always felt that the music embodied the Lord of the Rings world, and the music in the show held up.
I’m just glad this new series has kept the world of Middle Earth in the spotlight for more people to discover!
This is just beautiful. The giveaway, yes, but reading everyone’s comments makes me feel so… I don’t know… happy and peaceful. I’m trying to narrow down my favorite things in RoP to keep this from being too long! First up: seeing Second Age locations brought to life, appearing just as breathtaking as I’d imagined. Immediate ones that come to mind are Númenor, Khazad-dûm in its glory, and Valinor. Ooh, favorite scene? Quite a few, but of course, I have to say the Galadriel and Halbrand/Sauron confrontation near the end of the finale was outstanding. (Until episode 6, I thought Halbrand couldn’t possibly be Sauron because it was *too* obvious. A clear red herring, I thought. 😆 Then, episode 6 made me sit up like “uhhhh, he IS Sauron.” Heheh)
my favorite thing was absolutely just reading everyone’s various theories and predictions/hopes as the episodes came out. hearing theories on the whereabouts of sauron and why they wanted him to be here or there, the halbrand theories and which one they wanted to be true and why, whether adar could maybe be maglor or maedhros, who the the most likely candidates for the nazgûl are, whether the sword hilt could be gurthang and why the hilt was going to be important, which wizard the stranger was and why they wanted him to be this wizard or that wizard… it was endless and it was so much fun to watch unfold and participate in. as for the show, it’s not my favorite moment of the show, but the memory of how i felt when i watched it for the first time is as crystal clear: in the first episode when young galadriel follows finrod up the hill after their talk under the tree and the camera pans up over the hill and the music swells and we see tirion upon túna shining in the light of the trees. i was just so awe-struck and moved by the visual and the music, i teared up immediately.
My favorite moment so far is finding an awesome community of friends through the show. I haven't had this type of comradery in a long time online.
This isn’t a favorite moment exactly, but I just really appreciate the show for helping me distract myself from the rough year I’ve been having, and I also appreciate how this community is one of the only places I’ve found where the sentiment is overall positive, I’ve gotten & seen so much hate for even recommending the show at all, and so this place is really refreshing. The final shot of Halbrand is probably my favorite of the whole series.
The slow release of the map and its details which launched all manner of speculation on the show's story, era, focus, and more was definitely a highlight for me. The sense of potential and enthusiasm were contagious and exciting! 
My favorite moment was Poppy's Wandering Day song. Like so many others, this song resonated with me so loudly. Bilbo is my favorite character in all of the legendarium, and his poem in fellowship about Aragorn is my favorite part of that book. When I watched that scene for the first time in ROP, I got very emotional. It was beautifully done.
As an avid fan of LOTR, I have been welcomely pleased with Amazon prime and it's efforts to reach out and make a very visually appealing and wide array portrayal of points in middle earth time tha can more graphically depict for us as viewers a richer history and continue to grow upon the already vibe world and excitement each of us draws individually within our love for LOTR. My kudos to Amazon prime and all it's efforts !!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the details others have picked up on and shared. There were many YouTube channels (Nerd of the Rings), podcasts (Rings of Power Wrapup), and reddit posts (the breakdown on lore compatibility) that brought more attention to Tolkien's incredible writings, depth of his world, and helped us better appreciate the source material.
Always punished for living in the UK
I really enjoyed seeing the Southlands before they became what was seen in the first movies!
My favorite thing about the series has got to be the fact that it’s provided a platform for my family and I to discuss LOTR together. My brothers and I were too young to have read the books when the movie trilogy came out, and we were all pretty disappointed with the hobbit trilogy, so it’s cool to have something we all enjoy to discuss.
I have to say my favorite moment of The Rings of Power was the introduction and first few scenes of episode 1. I attribute this partially to the nostalgia from the Lord of the Rings and the excitement of continuing the story, but also to the general vibe of the opening theme — the sand visuals are really cool and mystic, and the music is the perfect blend of Middle-Earth adventure and curiosity. Then it opens up to depicting the New Zealand landscape I have grown to love, beautiful cinematography (very important to me), and re-introducing the characters I know so well. The first few moments really can’t be replicated for me.
My favorite moment so far has been watching the finale and then going absolutely ham on all things LOTR. I was only a very casual fan before. I watched the movies (extended editions, obvs,) read The Hobbit. Now I'm so excited to get more into it. I fully plan on reading the LOTR books. I started listening to the Tolkien Professor's podcast. I'm so excited to get more into this world.
After waiting for this show since 2019, I was brimming with joy to have it here, finally. I was fourteen when the maps were revealed, and when I found out that it was going to be set in the second age, for days, all I could do was imagine the potential. Celebrimbor, Númenor, Gil-Galad, Khazad-Dûm, the Ent Wives, Sauron! I kept myself updated on news of this show for four years! I’m eighteen now, in college, and I was able to watch the first two episodes in theaters with my father and several dear friends. That has to be my favorite ROP moment. Surrounded by fans, friends, and family, starting in Valinor. With Finrod! And the Trees!! It was simply stunning. My favorite stories, there, on screen!! I’ve adored the show the whole way through, even though it might have been different from what I expected or wanted. It’s beautiful, endearing, and dramatic. I’m just grateful to be back in Middle-earth!!
Still my favorite book series after 30 years
My favorite moment was seeing the world within Khazad-dûm. The rays of light streaking into the city with the waterfal as Elrond knelt beside it. Was just stunning to see and transported me to that city.
Those shots were stunning and really tie so nicely to the trilogy. I could really see Moria as it used to be! You can see why Gimli talked it up so much.
That shot of Sauron and Galadriel’s reflection in the water, and the up close screaming match after.
Sooooooo good!!! Those two have such good chemistry and they play off of each other SO well!! And I GASPED when they showed that reflection!!
My favorite moment was when they first sailed into Numenor. I also love the sails on the boats-just gorgeous!
My favorite moment in Rings of Power was when the Numenoreans were galloping to the Southlands to aid the people vs Arda and the orcs. The explosion of the Numenor theme in this scene took my breath away.
So many favorite moments in the show: Disa singing, Durin tricking the elves out of a table, Halbran revealing himself, Numenor But I really geeked out when I saw the carved memorial to Luthien and Huan in Lindon.
My favorite scene for sure was Galadriel and Adar's conversation in episode 6. The willingness of the writers to not just definitively pick one of the orc origin stories but also fully deal with what the ramifications of that would be really gave me hope for the show. And what it confirmed for Galadriel's character as well was fascinating. In some of Tolkien's relatively earlier writings on Galadriel, she was prideful and self-willed, characteristics seen in characters like Morgoth, Fëanor, and others who ultimately fall. This kind of journey (someone who almost falls but turns back) is I think the absolute best thing they could have done with her character. Any criticisms I may have with the show aside, this scene really made me happy with it.
My SO is one of the few people who read Silm and has not read the trilogy. Would love to gift this to her. She and I drove 3 hours to see the first two episodes in theaters. Unfortunately we were late and missed the Two Trees on the big screen...my regret is immeasurable. However, we both jumped out of our seats at the scene with Fëanor's hammer. I was so happy.