Fantasy Amazon's Rings of Power - General Discussion Thread (SPOILERS)

[InCali]

Based on his theme I'd guess The Stranger a.k.a. Meteor Man is something that rhymes with Atari. I think there is an outside possibility he is Sauron but most of the current information is not leaning that way and people who have seen some of the show don't seem to think it's him.

From what I have gathered I don't know that we have seen Sauron in any of the promotional material yet. But we may have seen a pre-fall Nazgul.

It shouldn't be as they didn't arrive until much, much later. If they make that jump, it tells me they are going for "Ooooooh......look at that" instead of a telling of the tale. Bringing in Hobbits gives me a clue this is the case also. I wish someone who really cares about the material is doing this, but we'll see.

 

[Nathaniell]

Yeah. On my second listen and this thing is really hitting. The "Galadriel" theme works really well as a main theme that Bear does a lot of different things with. The dark tracks are suitably intense. The Numenor theme has a unique vibe that I think still works in context and, man, those crescendo moments are brilliant.

The score has a great progression to it. Most TV soundtracks are a couple themes that get used a lot (often just one theme) and then a lot of interstitial stuff or rando mood pieces. This score really is constructed like an epic tapestry that weaves together and builds and culminates into the whole vision.

I am right with you on Bear and the BSG soundtrack but this Rings of Power score is a whole other level of ambition from most TV show soundtracks. You can tell how hard Bear worked and that he had 13 months to work on it. While similar in methodical approach, Bear's score is very different from the one that Shore did for LotR... but I like what Bear said in the Variety interview: Shore's score is filled with melancholy and history, whereas Bear tried to make a score living in the now of the 2nd Age where dwarven, elven, and human civilizations are all at a sort of peak.

It's not as good as Shore's score, obviously... but, I mean, what is?

What's your fave track(s) so far? Mine are Galadriel, Nori Brandyfoot, Valinor, man the list goes on.

 

[Persona]

It shouldn't be as they didn't arrive until much, much later. If they make that jump, it tells me they are going for "Ooooooh......look at that" instead of a telling of the tale. Bringing in Hobbits gives me a clue this is the case also. I wish someone who really cares about the material is doing this, but we'll see.

If you go by Unfinished Tales, yes, no Istari until Third Age. But if you go by People of Middle Earth, the blue wizards were said to first appear in the southeast of ME in the Second Age around the time of the forging of the rings.

There is a theory it could be, ahem, Olorin. Which does not directly contradict what Tolkien wrote about him because of a text that insinuates he made a brief appearance in ME long before his primary mission tour.

 

[Persona]

I mean, the reality is that there are a lot of loose notes around this period of time outside of the appendices and The Silmarillion. I find it funny that so many Tolkien fans are so preemptively upset and worried about this show because there is a lot of space for the show to operate, it's not like it's adapting books or anything, it's telling its own expanded prequel story within a realm of outlines and notes from the author.

We already know about the compressed timeline. Hopefully, the show can tell an effective and cogent story that feels like part of Middle Earth. That's all I can personally hope for, anyways.

 

[Persona]

What's your fave track(s) so far? Mine are Galadriel, Nori Brandyfoot, Valinor, man the list goes on.

Hmm, I would say "The Stranger," "Numenor," "Plea to the Rocks." I like most of it, though. Even themes I wasn't sure about at first, like the ones for Elrond and Durin, Bear does lovely and interesting things with those later in the score. It reminded me a bit of how Shore introduced the Shire theme in LotR in this very simple and quaint way but then much later in LotR he uses that same melody in different ways to evoke such longing and emotion.

 

[Nathaniell]

After listening to the score on loop, most of the themes have grown on me since. Like Elendil and Isildur. Numenor is definitely up there too.

 

[InCali]

If you go by Unfinished Tales, yes, no Istari until Third Age. But if you go by People of Middle Earth, the blue wizards were said to first appear in the southeast of ME in the Second Age around the time of the forging of the rings.

There is a theory it could be, ahem, Olorin. Which does not directly contradict what Tolkien wrote about him because of a text that insinuates he made a brief appearance in ME long before his primary mission tour.

I thought this was limited to what was in the appendices in LotR?? If so, they would need to rely on Appendix B "The Third Age" section to establish the arrival of the Wizards. The bottom line is that I'm not going to judge them prematurely except insofar as what I know. Hobbits, for example, played no real role in the events of the 2nd Age, yet seem to have a substantial role in this series. This gives me pause, but until I see whether or not they take it over the top for the sake of "Oooooh....hobbits; popular.....let's throw them in", I'll reserve judgement.

 

[Persona]

I thought this was limited to what was in the appendices in LotR?? If so, they would need to rely on Appendix B "The Third Age" section to establish the arrival of the Wizards. The bottom line is that I'm not going to judge them prematurely except insofar as what I know. Hobbits, for example, played no real role in the events of the 2nd Age, yet seem to have a substantial role in this series. This gives me pause, but until I see whether or not they take it over the top for the sake of "Oooooh....hobbits; popular.....let's throw them in", I'll reserve judgement.

I think there's a lot of gray area, and they also have conditional rights for various things outside of the appendices.

 

[InCali]

I think there's a lot of gray area, and they also have conditional rights for various things outside of the appendices.

I can understand "gray area" as long as they don't deviate from canon. Take hobbits. They probably existed so you can have hobbits.

When you say they have conditional rights, that sounds like conjecture. If it's not, do you have an authoritative source for that and what those "conditional" right are or what that means?

 

[Sithborg]

Probably because the Tolkiens seem to be *******s.

 

[Persona]

I can understand "gray area" as long as they don't deviate from canon. Take hobbits. They probably existed so you can have hobbits.

When you say they have conditional rights, that sounds like conjecture. If it's not, do you have an authoritative source for that and what those "conditional" right are or what that means?

I believe I read that in an article or interview. I will see if I can find it for you.

 

[InCali]

I believe I read that in an article or interview. I will see if I can find it for you.

What I "heard" was that as long as they had the okay from the Tolkien estate that they could use some other material. That's what I "heard".......but IMMA cynic. LOL

EDIT: I also heard that the Tolkien estate would under no circumstances allow anything that was not canon; which makes sense as that could be damaging to the IP.

EDIT2: Why do they still have access to LotR as an IP? I would think that by now it would be public domain, but don't know the rules.

 

[Persona]

But as far as "canon," I am not sure how solidly that exists for Tolkien, at least not for the First and Second Age in terms of many details on the fringes. As already noted in our discussion about the Istari in ME, Tolkien contradicted himself depending on the text, and that's just one of many such examples. I think there is a good amount of leeway the show has, but obviously everyone will have their own opinions about whether the story choices "feel" right or not.

 

[Sithborg]

What I "heard" was that as long as they had the okay from the Tolkien estate that they could use some other material. That's what I "heard".......but IMMA cynic. LOL

EDIT: I also heard that the Tolkien estate would under no circumstances allow anything that was not canon; which makes sense as that could be damaging to the IP.

EDIT2: Why do they still have access to LotR as an IP? I would think that by now it would be public domain, but don't know the rules.

Tolkien died in 73. So, about another 20 years or so for his stuff to start entering the public domain. Life of author + 70 and all that.

 

[InCali]

Tolkien died in 73. So, about another 20 years or so for his stuff to start entering the public domain. Life of author + 70 and all that.

Ahhhhh......I didn't know that. Thanks. So the Tolkien estate only has so much time to squeeze as much money as possible out of this.

 

[Marvolo]

Sigmund Freud once said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar". I haven't paid a lot of attention to much of this because I don't like potential spoilers; mainly from the producers of the show because I think people (including the "experts" and "professors" are often full of IT. Do we even know that the meteor is, in fact, even a person? Couldn't it be something that portends the coming of evil or something along those lines?

There is a naked white or blonde haired man in the burning impact crater. He either was the thing falling or the thing fell on him. Either way he cant be a mortal.

And I would think one of the wizards would arrive in a less violent and destructive way and without "fallen angel" iconography attached.

But with the adaption choices they've made they may have went with spectacle instead of what's appropriate so it could be one of the wizards. Saruman perhaps?

 

[InCali]

There is a naked white or blonde haired man in the burning impact crater. He either was the thing falling or the thing fell on him. Either way he cant be a mortal.

And I would think one of the wizards would arrive in a less violent and destructive way and without "fallen angel" iconography attached.

But with the adaption choices they've made they may have went with spectacle instead of what's appropriate so it could be one of the wizards. Saruman perhaps?

It could only be Saruman (or any of the others) if they are allowed to stray from the canon established in the appendices. Maybe they are allowed to just make S*** up. I honestly don't know. If I were the Tolkien estate, I wouldn't allow it because if they decided to do an early 3rd Age saga, it totally screws it up to have it be Saruman unless they tweak it and deviate from what is generally accepted canon. Also, it says that the wizards arrived as seemingly old men. I've made a conscious effort to avoid as much as possible and not think much about things so I don't remember whether this was on old looking person.

I would bet against it being a wizard, but who knows?

 

[Nathaniell]

I was kinda hoping he'd turn out to be Glorfindel in some way but doesn't look like it.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Boom]

I'm trying my damnedest not to gate-keep, but it's been challenging (Middle-earth is basically my Bible).

If Meteor Man is Gandalf I am going to have a stroke.

 

[Deck Rickard]

It will be tough but I’m going to resist watching that next trailer. The show is almost here; no need to spoil anything further.

 

[Albright]

even I think we had enough trailer - I won’t watch it (the new trailer)

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Kane52630]

Got my tickets and it's free.

 

[Pennywise]