If you had to bet your next paycheck, which character is Sauron?

The Dark Lord They/Them

Well, this thing is all about “middle-aged white man bad”… so, white dude gotta be Sauron.

I also think Sauron is likely not on the board yet.

Halbrand is the odd maker's favorite right now and there is plenty of evidence for that but I think he ends up a Nazgul and likely the Witch King. That being said I could write multiple paragraphs on why he looks to be Sauron.

Now if there were moneyline odds made I would pick The Stranger because he would be a super long shot.

I do not think the Stranger is Gandalf or even a Maier of any sort. I think he is dark.

So many of the main characters saw the meteor even the small ent was hugged by the big ent

The crater was cold (remind you of anything?)

While the meteor fell we were switching to Galadriel and she chose to jump off the boat. She remembers Finrod telling her "sometimes we don't know until we have touched the darkness" this is when she jumps.

The very next scene is when Gil-galad sees the corrupted leaf fall from the tree, evidence darkness has arrived

The cult-trio is clearly connected to The Stranger by them seeking out the crater and the ascetic having a plate with the constellation on it. I think they are worshipers on a pilgrimage to meet The Stranger and I do not think they are of the light.

I honestly do not think The Stranger is Sauron but would take the odds bet since I do think he is dark and I don't have a good guess as to who he is. A Balrog?

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That’s why it seems a little on the nose that Halbrand is trying to learn how to forge.

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Halbrand in this latest episode demonstrated is well beyond their ability already.

I don’t think we have seen him yet. I think he is feeding lies to Gil Galad and Celebrimbor, convincing them that mithril and rings are needed to save the elves.

I thought people weren't watching this.

Who gives a shite?

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So what was all the theatrics about getting a forgers guild badge or whatever? Was that just needless plot to fill the time? This story makes zero sense even if you ignore that it’s supposed to be Tolkien

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Are you even watching the show?

Guilds are like trade unions without membership you are not allowed to ply a trade in an area without it.

The blade he produced was clearly not one of an apprentice or even a journeyman. He obviously has excellent forging skills.

The plot line made perfect sense. He wanted to forge but could not without a guild crest. This set up him trading the information on Galadriel to Pharazon in exchange for the crest.

No, not watching. But it still sounds contrived as hell because he didn’t know he needed a guild badge to forge initially. It just played out in his favor…

This show is trash.

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I'm the furthest thing from a Tolkien scholar

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Not necessary for this show.