The Fall of Numenor – A Review

“The Fall of Numenor” is a compilation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings about Numenor and the Second Age of Middle-earth. It is edited by Brian Sibley and is the most recent of a
number of compilations of Tolkien’s various writings centred around his created mythology. Examples of earlier works include “Beren and Luthien” and “The Fall of Gondolin” (to mention but two) which were edited and compiled by his son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien.

The raw material, if I can call it that, of these compilations has seen print in various works edited by Christopher, in the form of “Unfinished Tales” and the multi-volume “History of Middle-earth”. Although these works organise Tolkien’s writings (which in the mind of the author were not for publication) chronologically and to a degree thematically, because of the way in which the source material was created – because Tolkien reworked or “retold” much of the material – it has been something of a challenge to get a consistent narrative of any of the stories. Thus the decision was made to re-organise the material into something resembling a narrative, recognising that total consistency of the storyline or the characterisation was not going to be achieved. In many respects the project has been successful, presenting readers with a compilation of otherwise scattered material and the ability to understand the creative process and at the same time enjoy the product of Tolkien’s creative effort.

The passing of Christopher Tolkien, whose last contribution was “The Fall of Gondolin” has not meant the end of the work. “The Nature of Middle-earth” was an edited compilation by Carl F. Hostetter and was published in 2021. Brian Sibley’s compilation of Tolkien’s writings on the Second Age -“The Fall of Numenor” is the latest offering.

The organisation of the material is based on Tolkien’s “Tale of the Years” which is a chronology of the events that preceded the narrative of “The Lord of the Rings” and the chronological entries are supplemented or expanded from Tolkien’s various sources. In addition to providing a history of Numenor the actions of the Dark Lord Sauron are woven into the story, as is the tale of the forging of the Rings of Power. Although the Rings do not feature with any prominence in the tale of the decline and fall of Numenor, Sauron’s part in the story is essential. Although the Dark Lord is more closely associated with the conflict with the Elves of Lindon led by Gil-Galad the involvement of the Numenoreans with the affairs of Middle-earth resulted in Sauron being taken to Numenor (or was his presence there part of his cunning master-plan). Once there he proceeded with the corruption of the Numenoreans which led to the attempt by Ar-Pharazon to travel to and reach the Undying Lands. This breach of the Ban of the Valar led to the destruction of Numenor. Sauron’s bodily form was destroyed but in spirit form he returned to Middle-earth and took up the One Ring.

The “faithful” Numenoreans, led by Elendil the Tall and his sons Isildur and Anorien sailed from the wreck of Nemenor and established the Realms in Exile in Middle-earth. The final conflict with Sauron which saw the end of the Second Age and the loss of the One Ring brings the narrative to an end.

The chronology set out by Tolkien covers thousands of years so necessarily the tale is somewhat episodic in form and where there are expansions – such as the tale of Aldarion and Erendis – the material is inserted at the appropriate chronological spot. Most of the material about Aldarion and Erendis comes from “Unfinished Tales”.

There is little need for editorial comment, which is kept to a minimum. What is helpful is that much of the narrative is fleshed out from other sources including “The Lord of the Rings” so that the reader has an editorially complete picture of the subject matter at hand.

Much of the style to tale telling is in Tolkien’s “grand manner” which characterises the narrative in “The Silmarillion”. Readers familiar with that work should have little difficulty with “The Fall of Numenor” but those looking for a narrative similar to “The Lord of the Rings” will be disappointed. Tolkien’s “grand manner” is characteristic of most of the writings about the First and Second Ages. Those seeking an expansion of “The Tale of the Years” chronology will be well rewarded. Bringing all the material into the compass of a single book and in such an organised form is extremely helpful. In addition, as I have suggested, the hand of the editor is very light. Sibley has organised the material with care and, as an editor should, has allowed Tolkien to speak for himself.

“The Fall of Numenor” is a welcome addition to the Tolkien library. I describe it as thus because for me the Tolkien Canon are those works published while Tolkien was alive or which was in preparation when he passed – thus “The Silmarillion” is included. However, the timing of publication is interesting if only for the fact that the very same story that is told in “The Fall of Numenor” is the subject of Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings:The Rings of Power”.

The release of the book must be a huge source of frustration for the show runners of the Amazon project because what they can use (and for television only) is the material within the covers of “The Lord of the Rings”. None of the material dealing with the Second Age which has been published elsewhere – like “The Silmarillion” or “Unfinished Tales” for example – can be used. Thus, the details of the story line in “Rings of Power” must be derived from LOTR or from the imagination of the writers. I am sure that the writers must look greedily at “The Fall of Numenor” but with great frustration, knowing that, like the Undying Lands to the Numenoreans, the content is forbidden them.

Of course, the publishers will benefit. Interest in “The Rings of Power” will drive those who are keen to know the detail to consult – and hopefully buy – “The Fall of Numenor”. And that will spark debate as the inevitable comparisons between text and imagined adaptation are compared and contrasted.

I know there was a body of thought that rejected Peter Jackson’s adaptation of LOTR saying that it was not true to the text, or that pieces had been missed out. One immediate problem with “Rings of Power” is, as I have suggested elsewhere, the compressed time line. Readers of “The Fall” will find a more majestic development of Numenor with clear line towards decline and fall which is all going to occur rather too suddenly in “Rings of Power”. And that is just a beginning. The detail will provoke its own debates and discussions and I imagine that gatherings of Tolkien aficionados either in person or online will have fertile ground for lengthy debate.

But as I have said, the book is a useful addition to the library, presents the material in a coherent and logical form and is a most enjoyable read. It is recommended that readers set aside a few hours to really immerse themselves in the text. This is not a book for reading a paragraph at a time.

1 January 2023.

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“The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” The First Season Review

I reviewed the first four episodes of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” in September 2022.

The first series is completed and is available on Amazon Prime. In this review I shall make a number of observations about the series which could amount to “spoilers”. Readers are warned.

By the end of the first series we have seen the creation (or ruin) of Mordor by a bizarre combination of fire and water, the creation of the three Elven Rings (Vilya, Nenya and Narya) and the appearance of Sauron (who had been present for some time in the guise of a Deceiver). In addition the Stranger who fell from the sky, and who is possessed of enormous power, has decided to head east of the Greenwood in the company of Nori the proto-hobbit. The forces of Numenor lead by Tar-Miriel the Regent Queen and Elendil, prompted by Galadriel, have landed in Middle-earth, encountered and overcome the Southern band of Orcs and have installed Halbrand as the Returned King of the South. However, in the creation (or ruin) of Mordor Tar-Miriel has been blinded and the future of her rule is therefore in question.

I expressed some concern in my earlier review about the truncation of the time line. I was prepared to allow for narrative flow and the nature of adaptation in my earlier review, but the compression of events creates its peculiar difficulties with Tolkien’s chronology which demands a scope of centuries. What has happened is that everything seems to have tumbled in on top of one another without an opportunity for the  audience, or indeed the characters, to react to the impact of the various events.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that Tolkien aficionados will be aware of the content in “The Silmarillion” and “Unfinished Tales” along the “The Children of Huirin”, “Beren and Luthien” and “The Fall of Gondolin”.  Then there are the various retellings and narrative developments in the multi-volume “History of Middle-earth”(The “Fall of Numenor” which is directly relevant to the series and edited by Brian Sibley has only very recently been published).

Because of the arrangements that were made between Amazon and the Tolkien Estate only a very limited amount of material is available for use, and the show-runners have to fill in some rather large gaps – gaps for which information is available but because of licensing arrangements cannot be used.

Thus we get hints of a deeper time, a long past history, an enormous conflict between the Elves and the powers of Evil in the form of Morgoth, but as to the detail of Morgoth’s villainy, the making of the Silmarils (and what they were) by Feanor, their theft by Morgoth and the fearful acts of Feanor seeking the Silmarils driven by deep revenge there is but a hint. But these aspects are vital to an understanding of the events of the Second Age.

We receive hints of the Bliss of Valinor, a land without stain and a place of retreat for the Elves but we are not informed of the fact that while Elves have a duality of nature, the Race of Men have the Gift of Men – death – and cannot pass into Valinor – with one exception.

The glory of Valinor is hinted at when Celebrimbor is attempting to make the Three Elven Rings. He requires metal of a quality unknown in Middle-earth. Galadriel surrenders the knife given her by her brother Finrod (she did in fact have three other brothers and she was a niece of Feanor himself) which is melted down and provides the purity of material required.

At the beginning of the series Galadriel is on a quest for Sauron whom she believes survived the overthrow of Morgoth – but of that overthrow once again we get a hint. Importantly we are not told that in fact the land of Numenor was granted to the faithful Men as a reward for their part in the overthrow of Morgoth. Nor are we told of the prohibition on the Men of Numenor sailing westward to Valinor the peaks of which can be seen over the ocean.

In the First Age one man only set foot on Valinor – Earendil, bearing a Silmaril who sought the aid of the Valar in the war against Morgoth. That aid was forthcoming, but Earendil was not permitted to return to the land of the living and was places as a Star in the heavens by the Valar – The Flammifer of Westernesse.

Earendil is of critical importance in the “back story” to the Rings of Power yet because of the paucity of material in “The Lord of the Rings” that back story cannot be developed as it should be. Earendil was married to the elf-princess Elwing the White. They had two children – Elros and Elrond. After the defeat of Morgoth the children were given a choice of the race to which they wished to belong. Elros chose his “Race of Men” side and became first King of Numenor, taking the name Tar-Minyatur. Elrond chose his Elven side. Once again this is hinted at in comments by the way, but the familial connection between Elrond and the Royal House of Numenor has fallen by the wayside.

From time to time this deeper background is mentioned but only in passing. We are thrown into a sequence of events that obviously has a significant precursor, but the details of that precursor are unknown. Once again the problem lies in the fact that the show runners are limited in the material that they can use. It must be very difficult, I suppose, to have references to Earendil in LOTR and be limited to using those but knowing that there is a huge trove of information available in material elsewhere. But that material is unavailable because the rights have not been purchased.

This then demonstrates the first major difficulty that the first season and indeed the series faces – the material that they can use is very limited indeed. The hints that appear in LOTR and in the Appendices requires a large amount of imagination to fill in the gaps. I suppose a further difficulty lies in the fact that imagination cannot be let to run riot, especially when much of the material which could fill in the gaps is available elsewhere but unusable because of licensing arrangements.

One of the critical questions that the first season answered was “who was Sauron?” The show runners posed a number of tantalizing alternatives. Was he the Stranger, possessed of considerable power, who fell from the sky and was taken in by the proto-hobbits? Was he one of the curious  menacing three white witches? It turned out that in fact they were Seekers for Sauron who mistakenly identified the Stranger as Morgoth’s servant, and the Stranger eliminated them.

Was he, then, the master of the Southern Orcs – the fallen elf Adar. That was fairly easily dismissed. The final revelation that Halbrand was Sauron was a little hard to work out. Part of the problem was that Halbrand didn’t exactly have the charisma (or maybe a better term is menace) for the Dark Lord and Morgoth’s most faithful lieutenant.

But upon reflection finally identifying Halbrand as Sauron was in the nature of finally revealing a deception. That is consistent with the approach that Sauron adopted when he manifested himself as Annatar – the Bringer of Gifts. His entire approach was one of deception, even to the point of claiming to be the lost King of the Southern Lands (which later became Mordor). At one stage, while working as a smith in the forge of Celebrimbor, he makes reference to a gift – a subtle hint to his identity as Annatar.

It is a bit difficult to work out what Sauron is about. What are his objectives. That he was involved at least in the early stages of Celebrimbor’s quest to find a solution for the problems that beset the Elves in Middle-earth is a little concerning, yet he was not in any way involved in the creation of the Three Rings. And indeed the creation of the Three seems to be more a matter of accident than of part of a greater ring-making design.

Tolkien tells us that the Elves of Eregion made the Three in secret, but I always had the impression that this was contemporaneously with Sauron’s master-plan to create Rings for the peoples of Middle-earth that would be linked to the One that was forged in the fires of Mt Doom.

So far there is no sign of the Seven Rings for the Dwarves nor the Nine for Mortal Men. And indeed the last episode of the first season ends with Sauron entering the newly formed land of Mordor which was previously the South land of which he claimed to be King.

Clearly there is a lot more to come and I imagine that subsequent seasons will address the issues of the forging of the Seven, the Nine and the One. It must not be forgotten too that Sauron is humbled and taken to Numenor where he works his evil and his deception that brings about the downfall of the Land of Gift.

Clearly there is more scope for this in subsequent seasons, but one of the problems that the show runners are going to face is one of their making and that is the one to which I have made reference – that of time compression. How they will be able to fit all that is to come within their time scale and yet maintain the integrity of Tolkien’s vision will be a challenge.

The Dwarves and the proto-hobbits caused me some problems in the sense that the way that they were portrayed had elements of a caricature to them. Clearly the visual appearance of the Dwarves owed much to the way in which some of them were portrayed in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” films, particularly to the large proboscis-like noses. I thought that this was a bit overdone.

The proto-hobbits too had elements of caricature to them. We know from the Prologue to “The Lord of the Rings” that the hobbits began as a migratory people who ended up in the Shire. We know that they were based on the archetypal English yeoman based in the country rather than in a larger town or village. But the prot-hobbits were not only bucolic but downright eccentric. They seemed to bumble about in a chaotic manner with very little structure in what they did. Their attitudes were those of extreme rustic primitivism to the extent of having foliage in their hair. This may have been designed to bring a light-hearted element to the show but there is humour on one hand and downright caricature on the other. If the proto-hobbits are going to play a role – and I suspect that they are – it might be better if they “wise-up” a bit and drop the bucolic caricature.

As things stand by the end of the first season the split between the main body of the proto-hobbits and the adventurous Nori has taken place as Nori accompanies the Stranger to the East. The Dwarves maintain their tenuous relationship with the Elves – especially the friendship between Elrond and Prince Durin and the discovery of mithril (and the existence of the Balrog in the dark depths of Khazad-dum) has become the central feature in that relationship.

I wonder if the mithril has been invested with a bit too much significance in “Rings of Power”. In “The Lord of the Rings” it was a thing of wonder, often hinted at when it was discovered that Frodo was wearing a suit of mithril mail.

However, the “Rings of Power” took the significance of mithril to an entirely different level and not one that I am sure is justified. There is a suggestion that somehow mithril has within it the light of a Silmaril or perhaps even of the Two Trees of Valinor.

It is dealt with in the following way:

Elrond recounts an apocryphal tale called The Song of the Roots of Hithaeglir. This song claims the origin of mithril to be when an Elf-warrior and a Balrog fought over a certain tree in the Misty Mountains that contained the light of the last Silmaril. It was then that lightning struck the tree, sending out tendrils of ore into the roots of the mountains beneath. Gil-galad and Celebrimbor believe this tale to be true, and furthermore that the remnants of the Silmaril’s light in mithril could save the Elven race from fading and being forced to return to Valinor.

This is an interesting concept but has no substance in the sources. There is no suggestion anywhere in Tolkien’s writings that there was a tree in the Misty Mountains that contained the light of a Silmaril – nor anywhere else for that matter. The light of the Trees of Valinor was captured by Feanor in the Silmarils and that is as far as it went.

The closest one could get to any suggestion of ethereal light is that the Elves of Eregion made an alloy from mithril called ithildin (“star moon”), used to decorate gateways, portals and pathways. It was visible only by starlight or moonlight. The West Gate of Moria bore inlaid ithildin designs and runes.

The Elven Ring Nenya (The Ring of Adamant) was described as being made of mithril and set with a “white stone”, presumably a diamond (this is never stated explicitly, although the usage of the word “adamant”, an old synonym, is strongly suggestive). The ring was wielded by Galadriel in Lothlórien, and possessed radiance that matches that of the stars. Frodo Baggins was able to see it by virtue of being a Ring-bearer.

So the first season ends with a number of pieces in play. The scene has been set for further developments in following seasons. It would be idle and unprofitable to speculate on what might happen although we do know that Pharazon the Numenorean Chancellor usurps the throne of Numenor, becomes Ar-Pharazon the Golden, humbles Sauron and brings him to Numenor. He falls under Sauron’s sway and leads an expedition to Valinor, the Undying Lands, whereupon his fleet is destroyed and the Valar call upon Iluvatar to destroy Numenor which sinks beneath the waves.

Sauron in spirit form returns to Mordor and resumes residence in the Dark Tower, Barad-Dur. Seven ships, bearing the Faithful, Elendil the Tall, his son Isildur and their followers, sail to Middle-earth to establish the Kingdoms in exile. The Seven Dwarven Rings and the Nine for  Mortal Men doomed to die are yet to be crafted, as is the One.

I have focused in this review upon certain aspects of the first season. As I suggested in my earlier review of the first  four episodes there are beautiful moments in the series that capture my imagining of Tolkien’s creation. This continues throughout the first season. The visual renderings are remarkable and the wreck that leads to the formation Mt Doom of Mordor is quite spectacular. As I observed in my earlier review, much is owed to Jackson’s earlier visualization.

The rendering of Numenor – a civilization of power and magnificence – is excellent and some of the scenes in Lindon capture the Elvish interrelationship with nature. The Dwarf realm of Khazad-dum is likewise magnificently rendered and the series succeeds visually if nothing else. As earlier observed there are some casting issues that I have which grate a little. I didn’t see Celebrimbor as a somewhat effete alchemist – rather a hands-on smith and inheritor of the craft skills of Feanor. Gil-Galad remains a disappointment.

The cast and crew went back to work in early October 2022 filming this time in the UK rather than in New Zealand. Although Covid interrupted the first season filming which took 18 months to film, there can be no doubt that many of the special effects and other production values would have taken time.

The head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke has said they are not willing to rush and she told Variety

“We want the shortest time possible between seasons, but we want to keep the bar just as high. So it’ll take what it takes but there’s been some urgency around moving quickly, which is why these guys have been writing all through their hiatus. We’re moving fast.”

Season 2 may be out in late 2023 (one wonders if like the release of the books Amazon holds to a September release date) but early 2024 would probably be more realistic. It will be interesting to see how Season 2 develops the story.

Concerning the Rings of Power and the Second Age

This is a first impression overview of the first four episodes of Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”.

The title of the production is interesting in itself. It incorporates the title of Tolkien’s best known work but in the second part defines the focus of the show that is intended to spread over a number of seasons.

The story-line covers the events of the Second Age of Middle-earth after the defeat of Morgoth. It deals with the relationship between the Elves, the Men of Numenor (the Edain) and the people of Middle-earth including the Harfoots who are a community of what could be described as proto-hobbits.

The material for the series is drawn from the Appendices to “The Lord of the Rings” and from hints and snippets that appear in the text of the book. The reason for this, and for the fact that no material is drawn from any other of Tolkien’s works (published posthumously) is because Amazon purchased the television rights only to “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” and for these rights paid the Tolkien Estate the sum of about $250 million. This was quite a price to pay for the rights – for television only – to the material in the Appendices and the background material that may not have been used in Sir Peter Jackson’s movies of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. The material “The Silmarillion”. “Unfinished Tales” and “The History of Middle-earth” was not included in the transaction.

The series, as the title suggests, focusses upon the rise of Sauron, the “Lord of the Rings” and of the making of the twenty Rings of Power. Although we are on episode four of eight of the first season, Sauron has not yet appeared in person but in the traditions of Tolkien’s story-telling is a dark rumour.

Galadriel, a Noldorin Elf of high lineage, is convinced that following the overthrow of Morgoth – the fallen Valar and Sauron’s overlord – that Sauron is still at large and ready to carry on the evil work of his master. The first episode opens as Galadriel, leader of the Elven armies of the North, seeks for Sauron in the frozen wastes of Forochel. There are hints of his presence – the occasional sign or icon associated with the evil one.

There can be no doubt that evil is a real presence in Middle-earth. To the South there are Men who sympathized with Evil and there are orcs who have embarked upon a building programme and who are also seeking a relic – a sword in fact –  which has been found by a young Southling named Theo.

What must be remembered is that this is an adaptation of hints of a story that appear in the Appendices and in the text of “The Lord of the Rings”. Liberties have been taken. Galadriel, who appeared in “The Lord of the Rings” as a powerful, wise but flawed Elven Queen, is in “Rings of Power” proud, haughty and impulsive but lacking in the hidden power possessed by the later Galadriel. Was this power conferred by the Elven Ring? I always was of the view that Galadriel’s power was natural.

The action takes place towards the end of the Second Age and one of the players who later falls under the thrall of Sauron and whose decisions led to the Fall of Numenor is already named – Pharazon, Chancellor to the Queen-Regent of Numenor, Miriel. At the end of the fourth episode the decision has been taken for the Edain, led by Galadriel and Elendil, to lead an expedition to Middle-earth.

The reality was that Numenor had involved itself in the doings of Middle-earth for some time, and Sauron’s rise and his physical manifestation preceded the events the subject of the series. In addition, by the time of Miriel and Pharazon, the Rings had been forged by Celebrimbor, Sauron had built Barad-Dur and had overrun and in turn been driven out of Eriador by a Numenorean expedition.

As I say, this is an adaptation and time-lines have been compressed. In the interests of telling the story and the constraints of the medium such liberties are understandable. Tolkien absolutists will be outraged. But then Jackson left out Tom Bombadil and the episode at Barrow Downs from the movie of “The Lord of the Rings”. Adaptation allows for many departures from the text – and admittedly, the text for the Second Age purchased by Amazon is limited indeed.

Perhaps what is more important is whether or not the series is true to Tolkien’s vision. Does it contain many of the underlying themes that are present in his other writing and especially “The Lord of the Rings”. In many respects the answer must be yes.

One of the characteristics of “The Lord of the Rings”, and indeed all of Tolkien’s writing, is its depth. The reader (or viewer in the case of the movies) quickly realizes that the action portrayed is a part of a longer and deeper story. This is consistent with Tolkien’s goal of developing a mythology for England and in line with his expressed theories about the creation of a Secondary World.

Even although we are in the thick of the action right from the start (although the first two episodes are rather pedestrian) we become aware that we are a part of a much deeper story. Hints of this depth come through from time to time. The title of the first episode “The Shadow of the Past” echoes the title of chapter 2 of Book 1 of “The Lord of the Rings – indeed to the very letter.

The Dwarves are suspicious of the Elves – there is a story there. Galadriel in Numenor recites her heritage and her origins which goes back thousands of years. She is one of the High Elves – one of the Great families.

Elrond explains his lineage to Prince Durin when he swears to keep the secret of mithril “I swear on the memory of my father, Earendil the Mariner” – He is the son of Earendil the Mariner who, wearing a Silmaril on his brow, crossed to Valinor and persuaded the Valar to contend against Morgoth. He could not return to Middle-earth but was set as a star by the Valar.

Later in episode four Elrond explains what it was that Earendil did.

“My father single-handedly sailed to Valinor and convinced the Valar to join the war and vanquish Morgoth. So great were his deeds that the Valar lifted him beyond the bounds of this world to forever carry the Evening Star across the sky.”

These hints appear in “The Lord of the Rings”. At the Council of Elrond, Elrond says

“Earendil was my sire, who was born in Gondolin before its fall; and my mother was Elwing, daughter of Dior, son of Luthien of Doriath”

and Frodo hears the poem of Earendil recited by Bilbo to the Elves in Rivendell. Earendil is described as

“for ever still a herald on

An errand that should never rest

To bear his shining lamp afar

The Flammifer of Westernesse”

This sense of depth is critical and is well-represented by Earendil for he is a link throughout the story. Not only was he responsible for the intervention of the Valar in the war of the Elves, Men and Morgoth but he is the father of two key characters.

The two sons of Earendil were given a choice. They could be mortal or accept the deathlessness that came with being an Elf. One of Earendil’s sons, Elros (later called Tar-Minyatur) elected to be mortal and was the founding King of Numenor. The other, Elrond, chose to be an Elf.

At the point in the story that Elrond reveals this to Prince Durin he connects with a distant and almost mythological past but also provides a link to the future that we read and see in the “Lord of the Rings”. Furthermore his daughter Arwen, who marries Aragorn in “The Return of the King” links back to the great intermarriages of Elves and Men – those of Beren and Luthien and Idril Celebrindal of Gondolin and Tuor.

I have focused upon Earendil for a reason. In my “The Song of Middle-earth” Chapter 8 is entitled “The Importance of Being Earendil”. He is a key figure – a link between the reality of life on earth – suffering, privation, hardship – and the Bliss of Valinor and the Undying Lands. He was born flesh and underwent apotheosis to virtual godhead and immortality. He is one of the living myths of Middle-earth and the star that shines upon his ship Vingilot (built of timber felled in Nimbrethil) as it sails the heaven is the wonderful and glorious light of a  Silmaril.

This link with a deep past and with a continuity for the future occurs from time to time within “The Rings of Power.” Another example can be found with the Tower of Watch in the Southlands that is abandoned by the Elves. (A northern equivalent may be found in Amon Sul or Weathertop in the Weather Hills in Eriador.) This is the tower where Arondir is based and where the people of the South village take refuge when the Orcs begin their rampage through the Southern Lands.

It seems that the Southern Lands are without a king who in fact is in exile in the form of Halbrand who rescues Galadriel after she casts herself into the Sundering Seas.

The king in exile is a familiar theme of myths and folk-tales. Indeed Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings” provides an example. There are occasions when Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers) displays similar behaviours to Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortenson in “The Lord of the Rings”) especially the way he give an upward and serious look. We know little of Halbrand but from snippets throughout the story the South Lands were protected by Elves (who are similar to Faramir’s Rangers) based in the Tower. What is effectively a demobilization takes place when the Tower is abandoned and many of the Elves depart for the Uttermost West. Yet there are still sympathizers with the Darkness dwelling in the South and the name of Sauron still conjures up terror.

I have already referred to Sauron as a rumour. This connects to the “Lord of the Rings” approach to Sauron who, along with the name of the Black Lands, Mordor, is even able to send shivers among the hobbits, safe in the Shire. In “The Lord of the Rings” a sense of evil is introduced not only by the tale that Gandalf tells Frodo in the chapter ‘The Shadow of the Past’ but by the visitations of the Black Riders (Nazgul) who introduce the reader to the real terror of Sauron’s evil.

By episode four of “Rings of Power” we have evidence of Sauron in the various icons that are present, from the map that Galadriel locates in the Western part of Numenor and from the hilt of the sword found by Theo and which becomes manifest when given blood. Interestingly the actor playing Sauron does not feature in any of the cast lists for “Rings of Power” which suggests that for this season at least he remains a rumour. It is doubtful that he can be named Annatar, the Lord of Gifts for he does not have that name in the material the rights of which were purchased by Amazon. That name for Sauron appears only in “The Silmarillion”.

The role of Adar (played by Joseph Mawle) has yet to become clear although he controls the Orcs of the Southlands and has Elvish ears. Whether he is a corrupted Elf or the Witch-King yet to be corrupted remains to be seen, although that said, the Witch-King was one of the Nine mortal men who fell under the sway of the Nine Rings. There is no doubt that Adar is at best a Sauron sympathizer and at worst one of the Dark Lord’s lieutenants.

The depth of the tale is also revealed when Galadriel introduces herself to the Regent Miriel and the Court of Numenor.

“Galadriel of the Northern Realm, daughter of the Golden House of Finarfin, Commander of the Northern Armies of the High King Gil-Galad’.

Prisoner though she might be there is no doubting that she is an elf of high lineage and power. She demonstrates this in episode four when she demands of Miriel to see the King Tar-Palantir.

“Then I have little choice but to ask for another, one of Numenor’s true ruler, your father the King”.

Once again Galadriel demonstrates a level of power and expectation and although she is confined in a cell, nevertheless she does get to see the King and also the Seeing Stone, the Palantir, which is in the King’s tower. This is one of the Seven Stones that accompanied Elendil and Isildur after the wreck of Numenor – “Seven Stars and Seven Stones and One White Tree”  – thus providing a link to the story line in “The Lord of the Rings”

The Harfoots – clearly proto-type hobbits, present an entirely different and interesting picture. The prologue to “The Lord of the Rings” gives us hint of their origins. They were wanderers dwelling between the eaves of Greenwood the Great and the Misty Mountains. Why they undertook the perilous crossing of the mountains into Eriador is not certain. Their own accounts (and they do have texts in “Rings of Power”) spoke of the multiplying of Men in the land and of a shadow that fell on the forest so that it weas darkened and its new name was Mirkwood.

Before the crossing of the Mountains the hobbits had divided into three different breeds. Harfoots, Stoors and Fallohides. The Harfoots were of browner skin, smaller and shorter, beardless and bootless. They preferred highlands and hillsides. The Stoors were broader, heavier in build and preferred flatlands and riversides. Fallohides were fairer of skin, taller and slimmer, loversd of trees and woodlands.

The Harfoots had much to do with the Dwarves and spent time dwelling in the foothills of the mountains. They moved west early and roamed over Eriador as far as Weathertop (Amon Sul) while others were still in the Wilderland. They were the most normal and representative variety of Hobbit and clearly are the focus for the development of the hobbits in “The Rings of Power.”

The realisation of the Harfoots is an interesting one – a semi-nomadic people with their own lore and practices, able to hide easily demonstrating a similar tendency displayed by hobbits of the Shire. Quite a bit of thought has gone into the portrayal of the Harfoots and their practices. I get the sense that somewhere in the story they will attempt the crossing of the Mountains and come to Eriador.

The discovery of the Stranger by Nori (properly named Elanor Kellamark Brandyfoot)  sets up more mystery. It is difficult to determine whether the Stranger is good or evil. The suggestion that he might be evil arises from Galadriel’s remark in the first episode in Sauron’s former fortress that Sauron’s aura of evil is so powerful that the flames from her soldiers’ torches can’t warm them. The fiery crash from the Stranger’s meteor is strangely cool, and it doesn’t burn Nori when she crawls into the wreckage.

I would like to think that the Stranger could be Gandalf or one of the Istari but I always imagined that the arrival of a Maia on Middle-earth would be surrounded with more majesty than a crashed meteor containing a being with communication difficulties.

Visually, “The Rings of Power” does not disappoint. Clearly the scenery and overall design owes much to Peter Jackson’s imagining, aided by well-known Tolkien artists Alan Lee and John Howe. Only John Howe was hired as a concept artist for “Rings of Power”.

That said, the themes of the Elven dwellings, the landscaping and lighting is particularly good. The scene when Finrod Felagund leaves his sister Galadriel and walks atop a hill to see a beautiful city with soaring towers  – possibly Gondolin although it may be the Tower of Tirion in Valinor – is our first view of the impressive architecture of the Elves. The light and airy style is carried through to the dwellings in Lindon, seat of the Elves in Middle-earth and home of Gil-Galad. There is a resemblance to Rivendell (Imladris) from Jackson’s imagining as the camera pans across the crags and valleys upon which Lindon is located.

The imagining of the Dwarf realm of Khazad-dum is impressive and soaring in its scope. It must be remembered that Moria (as it was called in “The Lord of the Rings”) had been lost notwithstanding the efforts of Balin son of Fundin to recapture the glories of the Dwarvish realm. But he awoke the Balrog and Moria was lost to evil and to orcs and trolls. In “Rings of Power” we get to see Khazad-dum in all is glory. The imagining is impressive.

As is the imagining of Numenor – quite a different realm from that of Lindon or Khazad-dum or the brutish dwellings of the Southlanders. Here we have a civilization at the height of its powers. Its ships dominate the seas with their unique wing-shaped sails. Its buildings rise from the bay with great statues that are reminiscent of the Argonath on the river Anduin through which the Fellowship pass in “The Lord of the Rings”. The royal palace echoes the design of Mins Tirith with a vast out-reaching prow over which flows a mighty waterfall.

The realisation of Numenor was more impressive than I could have thought. The city, however, must be Romenna. It cannot be Armenelos which was inland and the city depicted in “Rings of Power” has a harbour and is on the ocean. Missing from Numenor is the tower from which can be seen the Undying Lands – visible but forever out of reach because of the Ban of the Valar. Mortals could not come to the Undying Lands.

I thought that the show-runners took on a risky endeavour in the first episode in depicting the passage of the Elves to the Undying Lands. There is a hint of what this could be like in the final chapter of “The Lord of the Rings” when Frodo sailed from the Grey Havens

“And the ship went out onto the High Sea and passed into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.”

In episode one Galadriel contemplates a painting of a ship sailing to Valinor and discusses it with Elrond.

Elrond: I hear it said that when you cross over you hear a song – one whose memory we all carry; and you are immersed in a light more intoxicating  than any sensation is all of Middle-earth

Because the days of war are over, according to Gil-Galad, the heroes, including Galadriel, would be escorted to the Grey Havens and be granted passage across the sea to dwell for all eternity in the Blessed Realm, the Far West, the Undying Lands of Valinor. At last they were going home.

This is not what Galadriel wants, fearing that the spirit of Sauron is still abroad and as the ship approaches the Undying Lands she jumps off into the sea from when she is rescued by chance and by Halbrand.

But it is the scene some 49 minutes into the first episode that depicts the passage of the Elves to Valinor that the creativity of the film makers exceeds all expectations. The ship is clearly an Elvish one with the prow of a swan, hearkening back to the swan ships of Alqualonde.  the design is similar to those seen in “The Lord of the Rings” thus owing a debt to Jackson’s vision.

The passage continues some 54 minutes in as the ship approaches the Undying Lands. The Elves divest themselves of their warlike trappings as the ship sails to the dazzling light that is Valinor. Delicate seabirds, known to the Elves, fly by and a song is heard as the birds lead the ship to the Undying Lands. The birds are remarkably similar to those depicted by Alan Lee in his painting of Alqualonde. The sky opens to a dazzling light and land can be faintly seen. A misty rain envelops the ship as one by one the Elves are absorbed by the light of the Bliss of Valinor.

In some respects this rendering of the passage to Valinor was the equivalent of what I thought was Jackson’s imagining of the arrival of the Rohirrim at Pelennor Fields and in my view the most outstanding scene of the whole “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy. The amazing thing is that Jackson has Theoden do something that does not appear in the book but works perfectly. He rides down the line of the Rohirrim and touches the tips of their spears with his sword.

Then he uses Tolkien’s words which could not be bettered in any circumstances

Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!

Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!

Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered

A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!

Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!

 Jackson then puts the words of Eomer into Theoden’s mouth – words spoken after the fall of the King but in the context of what is happening they work perfectly

Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending

There are so many possibilities in Tolkien’s writing for wonderful imaginings. The passage to Valinor and the Ride of the Rohirrim are two such.

Yet despite these wonderful imaginings there are a few disappointments. These are in the field of casting. Robert Aramayo makes it as Elrond and displays some of the power that Elves have when he hears – from a distance, a great distance – a conversation about the location of the vein of mithril. He has a certain airy quality to his portrayal of Elrond that works. And we must remember that he was one of the most powerful Elves in Middle-earth

“I was the herald of Gil-Galad and marched with his host. I was at the Battle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor, where we had the mastery: for the spear of Gil-Galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Nartsil, none could withstand. I beheld the last combat on the slopes of Orodruin, where Gil-Galad died, and Elendil fell, and Narsil broke beneath him,: but Sauron was overthrown, and Isildur cut the ring from his hand with the hilt-shard of his father’s sword and took it for his own.”

Sadly, however, Gil-galad played by Benjamin Walker doesn’t make it. I don’t know whether it is the golden wreath that he wears but the majesty of a High Elf is simply lacking. In “The Lord of the Rings” we first hear of Gil-Galad when Sam recites part of the Fall of Gil-Galad on the path to Amon Sul.

Gil-galad was an Elven-king

Of him the harpers sadly sing

The last whose realm was fair and free

Between the Mountains and the Sea

His sword was long, his lance was keen,

His shining helm afar was seen;

The countless stars of heaven’s field

Were mirrored in his silver shield

But long ago he rode away

And where he dwelleth none can say;

For into darkness fell his star

In Mordor where the shadows are.

Sadly the portrayal of Gil-Galad doesn’t measure up. It may be that there will be improvements as the show progresses and develops. But similarly Celebrimbor, played by Charles Edwards, doesn’t make it for me. Edwards looks like a scribe or a bureaucrat rather than an Elven smith, creator of the Rings, he who wrote the signs on the Door of Durin that led to Khazad-dum. Celebrimbor was the son of Feanor’s brother Curufin. It was Feanor who crafted the Silmarils. Celebrimbor’s lineage as a master craftsman is great. The Edwards portrayal reminds me of a Machiavellian elf who wouldn’t dirty his hands at a forge.

Isildur played by Maxim Baldry is impetuous and undisciplined. I hope that he develops into the tall, proud Numenorean and elf-friend but in these early episodes he has a distance to go before he is the Isildur who took the Ring from Sauron.

Elendil, (Lloyd Owen) on the other hand is as I imagined. He has a majesty and mana that shines through and is not afraid to acknowledge to a Numenorean ruler that his name means elf-friend at a time when elves were not seen as friends of Numenor, although they once were.

My tentative conclusions so far – apart from the casting misgivings and the compression of the timeline – are that the show is worth watching and is a good rendering of Tolkien’s creation. It does not have the doom laden sense that accompanied “Game of Thrones” or “House of the Dragon”. Martin’s world is a brutal one and Tolkien’s can be as well although there is always room for redemption.

I shall continue with Season One for I am interested in the way in which Tolkien’s Secondary World is realized. Jackson did an excellent job. So far, from a visual perspective at least, this isn’t too bad.