# Amazon Lord of the Rings series; The Rings of Power **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** middle-earth, amazon-prime, tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [March 3, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497 "2019-03-03T20:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 48
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/943 "2022-10-04T01:48:14Z")
I think I’m leaning towards the “Halbrand is the future Witch-King” theory at this point. Going from canon, the Numenoreans are going to conquer the Southlands/Mordor at some point, and since Halbrand is already the “true king”, they’ll install him as their puppet, and he’s going to become increasingly tyrannical whenever Sauron starts exerting his influence over Pharazon - at which point he’ll be gifted one of the Nine Rings in order to better control the orcs and men under his rule. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/944 "2022-10-04T08:49:13Z")
Where is Angmar? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/945 "2022-10-04T09:04:37Z")
In the north ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/946 "2022-10-04T09:34:42Z")
The Witch King was already a Nazgul when he carved a Kingdom out of Angmar. It is on the west side of the northernmost portion of the Misty Mountains. Protected by Mountains on the North, South and East. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/947 "2022-10-04T10:58:22Z")
I know there’s a lot of people suggesting the Stranger is a future Nazgul, but they were already normal Men first, right? And do we know which Dwarves were given Rings? Might one be Durin Sr.? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/948 "2022-10-04T12:18:52Z")
Yes, Durin had a ring, canonically. None of the deserves became nazgul, however. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/949 "2022-10-04T13:08:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > None of the deserves became nazgul, however. Did anyone deserve it? 😄 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/950 "2022-10-04T13:09:50Z")
dwarves #$^\*&@ auto correct ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/951 "2022-10-04T13:17:00Z")
I would have liked to see a dwarf Nazgul, personally. As I may have said before, I feel like the dwarves kinda got less of the focus than they deserved in Tolkien’s work. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/952 "2022-10-04T19:52:47Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I would have liked to see a dwarf Nazgul, personally. Sauron found- to his dismay- the the Dwarves were resistant to being controlled by the Rings, and just got very greedy. It also looks like the Nine Rings worked only once. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/953 "2022-10-07T14:04:02Z")
Another lore-question, if I may: were pirates a concern during this time? Numenor having a Sea-Guard implies some concern about an attack unless it’s a ceremonial position, like the Swiss Guard (I know they actually do security, but I couldn’t think of a closer analog). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/954 "2022-10-07T14:49:31Z")
Númenor was a Sea faring nation that spent many centuries sailing the world and visiting Middle Earth. - The Ships started going to Middle Earth around **600** Second Age. - Around **1700** Númenor sent great help to the Elves and drove Sauron back to Mordor from Eregion. (Elven Smith’s near Moria) - Around **1800** Númenor made havens in Middle Earth. - **2280** they founded Umbar and by this time instead of coming to Middle Earth as teachers and with Aid, they came as conquerors. > **Maybe a spoiler, but unlikely. Click to open.** > > **3261** is when the great might of Númenor landed at Umbar, marched on Sauron and took him captive. Their Navy was suppose to be mighty. So no it wasn’t about Pirates. The Show Runners are not following much if any of the history we have. They’re doing their own thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/955 "2022-10-07T15:05:10Z")
AIUI, they’d decided to compress the timeline, so they didn’t need to introduce new human characters every episode. I understand the need, but I’m not too sure about the execution. I’ve decided to treat LOTR:ROP as I treated the movie _Constantine_ - it’s its own thing that happens to share some character names and plot points with the stories I know. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/956 "2022-10-07T15:28:41Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Numenor having a Sea-Guard implies some concern about an attack Did you miss the honking great sea-wyrm? Pirates aren’t the only potential threat. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/957 "2022-10-07T21:06:17Z")
I’m enjoying the show but of course, as a true Middle-earth nerd, I have a million nits to pick that I won’t bore you with. I like the Galadriel character, all in all, but she’s sometimes more annoying than inspiring. The actor who plays Arondir is definitely a standout; he has an innate nobility and strength that I really like. Just learned that he used to be on _Sesame Street_!: [Ismael Cruz Córdova | Muppet Wiki | Fandom](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Ismael_Cruz_C%C3%B3rdova) > [@Banksiaman](#): > > > [@DSeid](#): > > > > …and is why the ocean is always right? > > Cruel mistresses are always right. “The sea is always right” is maybe my favorite line of the series so far. There’s a lot packed into it, and it’s perfect for a maritime culture like Numenor’s. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > … it makes sense for the Show Runner to reverse engineer the Minas Tirith from Tolkien’s drawing and the movies to build their Númenor city. > > ETA: There might not be a Tolkien painting or drawing of Minas Tirith… Indeed there were. See the fourth pic here: [TolkienGuide - BnF Exhibition, October 22 2019 through 16 February 2020](https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=23013) And the third here: [https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Minas\_Tirith](https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Minas_Tirith) > [@Alessan](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > I’m growing to love Arondir. He really captures the feel of a Tolkien elf for me. I was fine with that chain scene. I hated Legolas bouncing around. > > Arondir apologizing to the tree before cutting it down was the most Tolkien thing ever. Agreed. A wonderful, quiet moment in such a bleak landscape of privation and near-despair. > [@MrDibble](#): > > …the hobbit _characters_ (not the general population) are mostly [of the larger Took clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit#Types), and hence, as Fallohides, fairer of skin and hair than the general population (and taller, even before two of them started juicing)… I laughed. > [@mordecaiB](#): > > > [@What\_Exit](#): > > > > Did you ever read [Tolkien’s] letter to the Nazis? > > Couple of extra words in that link. [This](https://www.good.is/amp/jrr-rolkien-nazi-letter-2639606054) one works. Thanks for that. Love that letter! As good as anything Churchill ever wrote in smiting the Reich. > [@DSeid](#): > > To me being inconsiderate is what “being a dick” means. Or at least doing a duck ish thing… Now, now. There’s no call for fowl play. I think the villagers deserve T-shirts after Halbrand reveals himself: MY KING RETURNED AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STUPID LAVA BOMBARDMENT. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/958 "2022-10-07T21:25:35Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > MY KING RETURNED AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STUPID LAVA BOMBARDMENT. Aces! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/959 "2022-10-07T21:30:56Z")
We just rewatched Fellowship. I see Galadriel’s personality continuity from ROP to LOTR in the scene where Frodo offers her the Ring. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/960 "2022-10-07T22:31:44Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > AIUI, they’d decided to compress the timeline, so they didn’t need to introduce new human characters every episode. I understand the need, but I’m not too sure about the execution. I’ve decided to treat LOTR:ROP as I treated the movie _Constantine_ - it’s its own thing that happens to share some character names and plot points with the stories I know. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/961 "2022-10-08T02:21:56Z")
I’m assuming Isildur didn’t really get inauspiciously crushed by a burning roof and will live on to fulfill his destiny of inauspiciously ambushed and killed by orcs after failing to destroy the Ring? And I’m guessing they qualified Galadriel “never seeing her husband again” instead of unambiguously declaring Celeborn dead (or simply not mentioning him at all) in order for him to appear later on? Otherwise, I kind of feel like that’s some pretty significant Tolkien canon to just shit all over. > [@susan](#): > > We just rewatched Fellowship. I see Galadriel’s personality continuity from ROP to LOTR in the scene where Frodo offers her the Ring. I’ve been thinking the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497/962 "2022-10-08T05:41:30Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > And I’m guessing they qualified Galadriel “never seeing her husband again” instead of unambiguously declaring Celeborn dead (or simply not mentioning him at all) in order for him to appear later on? > > Otherwise, I kind of feel like that’s some pretty significant Tolkien canon to just shit all over. I’ve heard they’re not allowed to contradict anything in LOTR ot The Silmarian, so I doubt Celeborn is dead in ROP. I will be the first to admit my Tolkien language knowledge is practically nonexistent. What language was The Stranger speaking as he was trying to heal the grove? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497.md?page=49)