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.
Where is Angmar?
In the north
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.
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.?
Yes, Durin had a ring, canonically. None of the deserves became nazgul, however.
Did anyone deserve it? 
dwarves
#$^*&@ auto correct
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Did you miss the honking great sea-wyrm? Pirates aren’t the only potential threat.
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
“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.
Indeed there were. See the fourth pic here: TCG - BnF Exhibition, October 22 2019 through 16 February 2020
And the third here: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Minas_Tirith
Agreed. A wonderful, quiet moment in such a bleak landscape of privation and near-despair.
I laughed.
Love that letter! As good as anything Churchill ever wrote in smiting the Reich.
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.
Aces!
We just rewatched Fellowship. I see Galadriel’s personality continuity from ROP to LOTR in the scene where Frodo offers her the Ring.
Same here.
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.
I’ve been thinking the same thing.
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?