The main objective of the first episodes of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ has been to place all the pieces on the board facing the inevitable battle against Sauron. Meanwhile, the Amazon series has also featured different key locations during the Second Age of Middle-earth and the characters called to be key at least during this season 1.
That’s something that comes back to ‘The great wave’although here it can also be seen that if the motto of ‘Game of Thrones’ was “Winter is coming“, here it should be” (The return of) Sauron draws near“. That only Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is convinced of his return, we have moved on to having more signs and characters convinced of it. Another thing is that the way of showing it has been especially memorable.
Watch out for episode spoilers from here on out.
Several open fronts
On the one hand, Galadriel continues to show that she understands very little about politics and the only thing that matters to her is achieving her goal. That determination that characterizes the character can be confused with arrogance, although here the most annoying thing is that skirmish with the soldiers of Númenor to later have access to the king. It is not a moment that becomes ridiculous -which did happen with the strange slow-motion moment of the third chapter-, partly because of how brief it is, but it is another reminder that the series takes great care of its technical and visual finish, but in the narrative it is clearly below.
Still, what’s annoying about his character is that he’s presented in such a way that it matters little to us that we know from the start that he’s right and that Sauron is coming back. It’s a strange decision on the part of the writers, since as a warrior she is convincing, but that impetus and rebellion are poorly channeled And it can mean that when the queen consort gets that big reveal she’s been waiting for, you don’t feel like you’ve really earned that much-needed help.
Interestingly, Galadriel’s best moments in ‘The Great Wave’ are the moments she shares with Halbrand (charles vickers), because the series has managed to create an attractive and engaging dynamic between the two.
Another strong point of ‘The Great Wave’ has been the scenes between Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Durin (Owain Arthur). It is not that I am surprised, since they were already the best of the second episode, but here it is reaffirmed that it is in those moments where ‘The Rings of Power’ best balances that clear tendency of the series to have dialogues overloaded in the dramatic and bordering on the lack of naturalness with the closest and most accessible moments, essential for the public to connect with it.
Incidentally, that plot has introduced into this universe the mithril, a precious metal that will bring great fame to the dwarves. The problem is that it will also be his undoing, although I am very curious if that will show up in ‘The Rings of Power’. On the one hand, Amazon has made it clear that we will see a balrog (the same one from ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’?) in this first season, but on the other hand it is something that does not fit temporarily, so I smell that it will end being a flashback.
Lights and shadows
The other great point of interest in ‘The Great Wave’ has been the presentation of Adar (JJoseph Mawle), a dark elf with evil intentions. Just a couple of minutes have been necessary for it to become clear that he is the most intriguing character in the series so far, and that his decision to free Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) is difficult to understand. Well, yes, in the plot it is necessary for what comes after, but what leads him to make that decision is what makes little sense.
For the rest, Isildur’s doubts and the dispute with his friends are something that is presented clumsily, but at least they seem to be settled here with that ending marked by optimism for what is to come. It’s never wrong to have a little light before the darkness comes, but the character of Maxim Baldy is being one of the weakest links in the series. I hope that changes.
Another frankly improvable aspect is everything related to the Southlands beyond Adar, since the humans who live there are the least interesting characters in the entire series -the only thing that can be salvaged is everything related to the morgul dagger, but more for what we know it represents because of how it is shown here-. In fact, I wouldn’t blame someone who is just waiting for that area to become Mordor. me at least I’m looking forward to seeing Mordor in its heydayand everything indicates that the first big event in that direction will happen sooner rather than later.
Visually, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ continues to exhibit unparalleled power, but in the scripts and in the presentation of its characters it still has a lot to improve. With everything, an episode with lights and shadows that promises to be the beginning of the end for the most purely introductory component of the series.
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