re: Rings of Power ep 8

Lol at the downvotes on this comment.

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This is not how I interpreted their Sauron after that episode. I am under the impression that everything he had done to that point was him manipulating Galadriel, Adar and the men of Numenor. Like a 12 year old trying to write a Littlefinger plot.

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Entirely possible

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But if this is a shades of grey Sauron... even more

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Why laugh? That's exactly what Sauron is, on the macro level.

You go back and read the Ainulindale, and Morgoth (and Sauron) is as excited about the creation of Arda as the rest of the Ainur. They aren't trying to prevent or destroy Arda; they just have different conceptions.

Morgoth dared try to personalize things, because he wanted to create, and he thought he had some good ideas. So he went off-script.

Sauron, similarly, doesn't want wanton destruction, he wants complete control and order, so things go just as he intends. He doesn't hate Elves or Men... they are like flowers. But he has a very specific idea of how to garden and landscape, and he doesn't want a rosebush in his petunias. It's nothing personal, it just has to go. Doesn't mean he hates roses, he likes them. But they need to be in their place.

No mortal would ever win a debate with either Sauron, or Morgoth, because of this. It's like a bush pleading it's case to be somewhere other than where the gardener wants it. Or a beehive, or clovers amongst the lawn.

Literally Nazgûl’s, demon spirits or something from the unseen realm. No worries, not Gandalf took care of them. The scene was a copy and paste of Jackson’s version of Frodo on weather top when he put the ring on.

To be clear, I think the remorse he showed was an act to get Galadriel to believe in him. Just done with bad writing. But I could be way off.

And if I am wrong. That means Galadriel is responsible for all of this. And it also means Sauron has fallen for her. That is why I laughed.

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Sauron believing his way is right doesn't make him grey. It just makes him arrogant.. It makes it black as night.

I was referring to your comment of him feeling remorse or being pushed by Galadriel. That is funny to me because it is unnecessary soap opera drama.

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Tolkien suggested that Sauron originally repented after the War of Wrath. He leaves it open as to whether he was sincere, or just afraid the Valar would wax his arse next.

If you go with true repentance, then perhaps he is sailing to Valinor, to surrender and submit. If this is the case, he would at least have serious doubt as to whether his past course was correct.
Arbitrarily meeting Galadriel enroute, and her pushing the notion that past deeds are inconsequential, and actions going forward are the key- he may take that as a sign that he was right all along. Someone sworn against him, not knowing his name, dismisses the idea that he is beyond redemption (whoa, better be sure who you tell that to ).

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That scene ended with him asking her to marry him and keep him tied to the light.

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That's pure manipulation, and it's not 'marry' and share power. It's 'be my trophy'.

Remember, it IS Galadriel we're talking about. Neither this show, nor the movies, do her justice. She's supposed to be Top 5 on the list of most beautiful beings to ever walk the earth, #1 among blondes. And she's immortal, and near the top end of Elves in terms of power. Of course Sauron would covet her.

The more I think about the damn Harfoots and the Wizard, the more pissed off I get. They had absolutely no impact on the overall story. The only purpose was to possibly throw off the viewer from completely knowing Halbrand was Sauron. Maybe I am just unaware of some lore of how wizards are plopped down in middle earth without knowledge of who they are and need some good presence or something. The uselessness of the Harfoots was really driven home when Nori spent 10 minutes saying goodbye to everyone.

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Sauron sees a kindred spirit, and one that still can't threaten him ultimately.

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Stop drinking the Kool Aid. He sees a power hungry, arrogant, and manipulating spirit like him. Everything in the show or books we know/believe about Sauron she is no different in this series. Except she is not as wise, easier to get upset, and she is rash when trying to get her way.

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Ummm...
stop drinking the koolaid?

What I said is exactly what you said. A kindred spirit, who can not ultimately threaten him. She's an elf, and he's a Maia. He's an order of magnitude above her.

He tries to appeal to what he thinks would work (the ambition she's known, written, to have), and on his part she would make quite the trophy. At his side, she would rule over Middle Earth (not just Lorien later), and the Elves and Men would fall in line easier with her being part of the deal. He might be bullshitting, or he might be making a calculated judgement call. But either way, she doesn't go for it.

Fwiw, there is that line stated in LOTR, while she is showing Frodo the Fountain. She says that Sauron is ever seeking to see her, but while she has her ring and he doesn't have the One, he cannot. It's a bit of a throwaway, and we take it to mean he is searching for the Wise.

His emissaries make all sorts of promises to Dale and Erebor, so bullshite isn't something he's above.

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This interpretation of Sauron is a big adjustment. I think we all expected someone filled with hate and malice... he isn't that.

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He wouldn’t be a very good Deceiver if he were the constant personification of evil. I think that’s easy to forget - that he hasn’t always been the Dark Lord from LOTR. I actually think his deception is one thing they did a good job portraying. You get a good taste of it when he tells Galadriel everything she did to bring him to that point, especially when he drops the pretenses and throws her in the water.

That said, I also think the writers’ attempt to keep his identity a surprise caused some major issues for the show. It was way too rushed from the time that he arrived in Eregion. Part of me thinks they should have ended the season with the explosion of Mt. Doom and then tackled the rings in the next season. And it seems like forging of the remaining rings will require a pretty big shakeup - I guess Sauron goes back in another form?

Other stray observations about the season as a whole:

- I guess it was Adar leaving the markings / “map” to Mordor? That at least makes more sense as he was seemingly trying to save the orcs and give them a home. I think Adar was honest about his goals, and that he’s now headed for a reckoning.

- As of right now I tend to believe Halbrand really did come across Galadriel by chance, and that he actually was trying to get to Numenor all along. I don’t buy that she did anything to “change” him. I think he just saw opportunities and took advantage of them.

All in all, I didn’t think it was terrible like some folks are saying but I do think the writing and the pacing could be a lot better.

5/10. Didn’t hate it, loved some stuff, but the entire season felt like a prologue.