Incompetent Production?

[mescaline]

I've recently stumbled across this article which talks about the recent photos released by the studio. And it seems like the producers of the show didn't read the books.
What's really annoying about this (correct me if I'm wrong) is the fact that the series attempts to cover what happened in the Second Age, and up to my understanding is that the events of the Second Age are mostly detailed in The Silmarillion. And while they're covering events that occur in the Silmarillion, the producers decided to buy the rights to LOTR. It doesn't make sense, clearly they haven't researched the source material.

First up: Maxim Baldry stars as Isildur, a name that should sound familiar to LOTR fans. In Tolkien's writing, the young Númenórean will grow up to be one of the era's great tragic heroes, slicing the ring from Sauron's hand, only to ultimately fall under its spell of corruption. At this point, however, he's just a young sailor, following in his father Elendil's footsteps.

"He's one of the characters most ripe for deepening because everyone knows him," explains co-showrunner JD Payne, who created The Rings of Power with Patrick McKay. "He's most defined by his final, fatal decision to keep the Ring, when he has the chance to throw the Ring into Mount Doom and destroy Sauron forever, and he chooses incorrectly. We sort of said, 'How do we make that a tragic turn in an otherwise very human, relatable, and heroic arc?'"

I don't think they have to twist it in any way, the purpose of Isildur's decision is that he was fooled by his intuition that he could use The One Ring to the benefit of his people, just like Boromir thought it would (or so I think). It's just intended to show to show how close the Ring is to Sauron. They don't even mention how the Orcs killed Isildur as he was swimming in Anduin trying to escape from Orcs where they shot him.

Owen cautions that although readers may think they know how certain characters' stories end, the journey can still hold surprises. "There are signposts on the way," Owen explains. "Ultimately, those of us that know the lore know Elendil ends up helping to lead the Last Alliance of elves and men. But how he gets there? Tolkien hasn't written the man in three dimensions, and that's the gift of this [show]."

I think that was explained in Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan from the Unfinished Tales?

"When you see the set of Númenor, it's like you're walking through [Pharazôn's] mind," Gravelle teases. "When you see these epic statues and this wonderful masonry, you're walking through the mind of a person that's burdened by his own mortality and is very concerned about what legacy he's going to leave behind."


"Tonally, we wanted [Rings of Power] to reflect [Tolkien's] main story points of friendship and good and evil," Yip explains. "One of the ideas is: How far into the darkness are you willing to go to do the right thing?"

What do you think?

 

[Barrow Wight]

Fast forward to the recent trailer: Incompetent production, indeed, at least if measured by the actual writings that address the Second Age. Galadriel apparently is the focal point of the series (at least in the trailer), even though her role in the Second Age is only hinted at in the books. Her brothers died in the First Age, and whatever ice-climbing she may have done, a la the GOT Wall, would have been when the Noldor crossed the frozen north passage to get to Middle Earth---in the First Age. I'm sure the special-effects depictions of Numenor and KhazadDum/Moria will be striking, but there still will have to be competent stories told within those CGI settings.

 

[Radaghast]

There are about three pages in the Appendices on the Second Age but I don't think they'll be following that. They'll be mostly doing their own thing. There are over 20 characters created for the show.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

As I've said before, the very paucity of writing on the Second Age pretty much guarantees invented characters.

whatever ice-climbing she may have done, a la the GOT Wall, would have been when the Noldor crossed the frozen north passage to get to Middle Earth---in the First Age.

My understanding is that they're allowed to use some First Age material.

And welcome to the forum, Barrow Wight. 🙂
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https://thetolkien.forum/forums/new-members.58/

 

[Elthir]

Watch out for 🐾 city!

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

You mean this place?

Why? Something nefarious going on? 😳

 

[Elthir]

Ah! There could be paucity in there too . . . so we must keep vigilant

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I'd expect more pawsishness.

Ahem. Anyway. . .

I'm not sure how mescaline's quotes show the series is "twisting" the story.

But I admit I haven't even seen it yet. 😄