Hey guys, and welcome to my review for the Rings of Power, Episode 4, The Great Wave.
Well, surprisingly, I actually have some positive things to say this week, as this ended up
being my favourite episode so far.
Look, I’m just gonna be honest and say that I don’t think this is a top level show.
Given the budget maybe my expectations were too high, but since I’m not wild on many
of the stories or characters they’re giving us, I can’t put this show anywhere near
the likes of other epic tv masterpieces like early GoT, Breaking Bad, the Wire, Sopranos
and other triumphs of storytelling.
But something happened during this episode that made me appreciate this show in a new
light.
With my character and story expectations lowered and my interest primarily coming from references
and links to the books, I was actually able to enjoy this one a lot more than I expected
I would when it started.
By the way I’ll be talking about possible spoilers for the series during this review
so be warned.
Now with a great many references to this world’s lore in this episode, I’ll start with an
Honorable mention going to Galadriel’s Palantir Vision scene.
They changed quite abit about the history and abilities of the Palantiri but I really
enjoyed watching the vision of the wave crashing over Numenor, as it immediately brought to
mind the ultimate doom of their realm, which in the books fell beneath the waves, similar
to the story of Atlantis from which it drew inspiration.
As it so happens, after the doom of their island, it became known as Atalante in the
elven tongue, meaning downfall.
Though I believe Tolkien said the word connection was not intentional and just a happy coincidence.
To me this scene was also especially meaningful because of Miriel’s ultimate fate.
As in the books, she remained faithful to the Valar all her life, but even so could
not escape the doom of Numenor, and drowned trying to escape the waters overtaking the
island.
Another honorable mention goes to Adar in the Orc camp, as I it was a pretty strong
introduction to the character, who from the looks of it does seem to be Sauron in a version
of his Annatar form.
So far the actor playing the role has impressed me, as I think it has the right mix of mystery,
darkness and an intense charisma, giving a glimpse of possible layers to his character
when he shared a moment of tenderness with the orc before ending his suffering.
I can’t say this for many characters on this show right now but I’m genuinely look
forward to seeing more of him.
Now starting with the 5th best moment of the night, I chose Elrond speaking to Durin after
the mine collapsed.
I haven’t been all that interested in the dwarf scenes so far, but I really liked this
one largely because Elrond spoke of his father Earendil, the half elven hero who sailed to
valinor and brought the Valar into the war against Morgoth.
As he said, Earnedil was then made captain of a flying ship to sails across the sky with
a silmaril jewel upon his brow that appeared like a star.
But Earendil did not accomplish this alone, and I hope they eventually mention his mixed
blood wife Elwing, as she was crucial to the mission, having saved and brought the silmaril
to her husband before journeying beside him to Valinor.
Possessing a bloodline even more extraordinary then her husband, She too had a unique fate,
allowed to live in Valinor where she was granted the ability to turn into a white bird, so
she could fly into the sky and join her husband whenever she wished.
Moving onto the number four spot, I went with Galadriel being jailed after her outburst
in front of the Numenorean Queen regent.
Ok this one requires quite a bit of explanation, because, as has happened before with this
show, I originally did not like this scene at all.
In fact for about the first 13 minutes of this episode I was already tearing it apart
in my head and dreading another hour of this show.
The biggest issue I had during these opening scenes is one that has been prevalent throughout
this series so far, and that’s the character Galadriel’s behaving so unbelievably ridiculous
I can’t help but dislike every scene she’s in.
Somehow, in addition to lacking any diplomatic training whatsoever, she apparently does not
possess even a modicum of common sense, despite being thousands of years old, and was from
a family renown for their wisdom and diplomacy, with the House of Finarfin trying to stay
out of the conflicts between other elven factions while promoting peace and cooperation.
But then suddenly it hit me, as I was watching Galadriel in jail.
She isn’t behaving like the Galadriel I know from the books, but there are other Elves
who I could very much see acting with similar arrogance and hostility, who might insult
a monarch to their face to matter the consequences.
And that’s when I realized Galadriel is behaving like one her cousins, the sons of
Feanor.
Specifically Celegorm or Curufin, the father of Celebrimbor, both of whom were brash, aggressive,
petty, belligerent and unapologetically defiant, pursuing their goals by any means and at any
cost.
Having taken oaths to reclaim the silmaril jewels stolen by Morgoth before the dawn of
the First Age.
The sons of Feanor committed terrible atrocities to fulfill their oath, including three separate
kinslayings were they murdered fellow elves.
Yet even among those who would commit such malice, Celegorm and Curufin were the most
merciless and outspoken, having once successfully conspired to remove Galadriel’s brother
Finrod from power in Nargothrond, causing him to go into exile with only a few companions
who were unable to adequately defend him from their enemies, resulting in the his death.
Celegorm and Curufin were so brazen they spoke out against King Finrod to his face, in front
of the royal court in Nargothrond, and that’s what came to mind during the Galadriel scene,
as she brazenly insulted a monarch in public.
I don’t know if this is intentional, but since Galadriel has taken an oath to defeat
Sauron, to me it seems like that is her version of the Oath of Feanor, which explains why
she is behaving like one of the sons of Feanor, willing to bulldoze their way to achieving
their goal.
Once I made this connection, and started seeing Galadriel as one of the sons of Feanor, I
suddenly started to enjoy her scenes a lot more.
This is not the Galadriel from the books and it’s a shame we’ll never get a glimpse
into that great character, but now that I see this connection and parallel to the sons
of Feanor, her actions make much more sense.
In fact I can absolutely see Celegorm or Curufin behaving exactly like she did in this episode.
For the third best moment of the episode, I went with our first look at Tar-Palantir
on his deathbed.
The history of Miriel’s father is one of the more interesting parts of Numenorean history,
as his story in the books is similar to the show, having risen to power during a time
when their people were the most powerful realm in the world east of Valinor, and no longer
held any affection for the Valar or Elves.
Yet Palantir refused to go along with popular opinion, and spent his reign trying to bring
his people back to the faith of Eru, even taking the ancient title Tar meaning royal
in elven, instead of the more recently common Ar, which was king in the language of numenor.
Ultimately failing in his goal, Tar Palantir’s influence was largely usurped by his brother
who held more popular anti-valar views, and this in turn doomed his daughter Miriel who
took power after his death.
In the books, Miriel was more open and direct about continuing her father’s reforms, even
naming herself Tar-Miriel, but this then allowed her cousin Pharazon to gather supporters,
usurp power and force her into marriage, becoming king of their people.
For the number two spot I went with the brief conversation between the Sauron supporter
and boy in the Southland refugee camp.
This was a surprising scene I absolutely didn’t expect, because it reminded me of a little
known story from Tolkien’s little known sequel to the lord of the rings, a few pages
from an unfinished book called the New Shadow set a century after the war of the ring.
In this time of peace and plenty, a cult forms worshipping Sauron and in the story we see
a conversation between an elder and a young man, just like in this scene, where one is
recruiting the other to join the darkness.
In the books it was the young man convincing the elder, whereas in the show it’s the
opposite, but the similarities really stood out to me, especially when I heard this one
line from the old man,
“Have you heard of him lad?
Have you heard of Sauron?”
This line is very similar to a line from the new shadow, when the young man asks the elder,
“You have heard then the name?
Of Herumor?”, with Herumor presumably being the leader of the Sauron cult.
I don’t know if this connection was intentional but I absolutely loved spotting it.
Now finally for the best moment of the episode, I chose the final scene with Queen regent
Miriel, alongside Galadriel and with the support of Pharazon, announcing their mission to the
Southlands where they might deal with the threat of Sauron.
So things finally came together with this scene and I think I understand what they’re
doing, and if it’s going in the direction I think it is, it has the possibility to be
a very interesting and compelling storyline.
In the books, Numenor had been fighting a defensive war against Sauron for years, with
a young Pharazon earning his fame and wealth as a soldier in this war.
Later when he became king, he gathered a great army to descend upon Middle earth, defeating
and capturing Sauron, finally putting an end to the war.
Therefore I believe the reason Pharazon was so eager to rouse support for Miriel’s plan,
was because he plans to lead their armies to war in the southlands, thereby gaining
a great reputation when he eventually defeats Sauron and takes him captive.
Sauron will than corrupt and ally with Pharazon, helping him gain support to overthrow Miriel
and take power in Numenor.
Once Pharazon is king, he will make Sauron his chief advisor and together they will spread
the cult of Melkor, until the dark lord eventually convinces the king to invade Valinor and conquer
the valar, thus bringing about their doom.
Since, in the books, Sauron already has the one ring by the time he is taken captive,
I’m guessing their going to be tying all these thread together, as the forge for the
rings of power is nearly ready as well.
So those were my top my five moments for the night, and like I said at the beginning, this
was my favourite episode so far, with lots of cool references and a few potentially interesting
storylines.
The biggest reason I gave episode 2 and 3 such low scores, was because I honestly found
them boring, and for me, any show that can’t hold my interest automatically scores a 5
or lower.
This episode on the other hand managed to keep my attention throughout.
There was a moment around the 34 minute mark, when I briefly got bored during a numenor
scene but they actually managed to get my attention back almost immediately, which already
puts this episode miles above the last two.
And while I still don’t think this show comes anywhere near a top level shows, I was
able to enjoy this episode for what it was, and so will give it a 7 out of 10.
Although this is the same score I gave Episode one, looking back on it now I think I was
a bit too generous with that first one, and if I could go back I would probably change
my score to a 6 out of 10, and that’s why I feel relatively comfortable giving this
one a solid 7, and now even have a small ray of hope that this show could get better.
So that’s it for my review of the Rings of Power, Episodes 4.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts so be sure to let me know in the comments below.
Do you agree that this was the best ep so far?
Do you disagree?
And I’m most curious to hear what you think of the link I made between Galadriel and the
sons of Feanor, is there any chance this was intentional or am I just making these connections
up in my head?
Please let me know what you think and like always be sure to check out my spoiler free
Prelude to the Rings of Power video, as well as my spoiler filled videos about the Rings
of Power, Kingdom of Numenor and Second Age, which go over all the events of this period
in detail.
Links found below.
So that’s it for now guys, thank you all for watching and I’ll see you in the next one.