Rings and Things

 Some minor book and show spoilers Those who have watched the Peter Jackson films may have noticed that Saruman deduces Aragorn's lineage from a particular ring he wears which is described to him by Grima. This ring has a long history and ever since I saw Galadriel and Elendil together I have been wondering whether it will be included in the show and when we might see it. The ring has a long history, while it is a piece of cicular jewellery it has no connection to Sauron. It was brought to Middle-earth from Valinor by Finrod (who you may remember was Galadriel's brother). The tale of this particular ring is so interconnected with the tale of Aragorn's ancestry that I will permit myself a quick dive into Tolkien's mythology before I consider it's potential role in the show. The ring is described in the Silmarilllion as 'like to two serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that one upheld and the other devoured...

I am making some efforts to reconcile myself with Halbrand being Sauron, I still dislike this as a narrative decision but following episode 7 it seems more likely than ever that they are going down this path. My main issues with this theory are threefold: 1.        - Lack of narrative coherence 2.        - Lack of consistency with my interpretation of Sauron 3.        - Disappointment due to the loss of a potentially fascinating story Lack of Narrative coherence Halbrand being Sauron throws up several issues for me in the narrative we have been presented. The first of these is obvious – Why was he on the raft? There are several possible explanations for this, but all have serious flaws. One of the most important explanations I will need if this theory is true is one for his being on the raft. This theory has the added complication of needing to explain the goings on in Middle Earth spec...

 SPOILER WARNING  This post contains both spoilers for the show up to episode 6 and also information from the books that could spoil future plotlines within the show.   In episode 5 of the Rings of Power 'Partings' we saw one of the most contraversial stories to come out of the show so far. Following a dinner where Elrond challenges Gil-Galad over his manipulation in sending him to aid Celebrimbor (this was done as they correctly guessed he would ask for his friend Prince Durin IV's help and in the hopes he would discover Mithril). Gil Galad tells him to recount 'The Song of the Roots of Hithaeglir'. The Song is stated by Elrond to be 'An obscure legend regarded by most to be apocryphal' but when pressed he recounts it in the following words: 'It speaks of a battle, high among the peaks of the Misty Mountains. Not over honor or duty. But over a tree. Within which some claim was hidden the last of the lost Silmarils. (There is a distinct pause here as Elr...