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The Rings of Power episode 1 fans react to Two Trees of Valinor, Galadriel’s story, Sauron’s tease, prologue of Elves war against Morgoth in Middle-Earth & more

The Rings of Power episode 1 fans react to Two Trees of Valinor, Galadriel’s story, Sauron’s tease, prologue of Elves war against Morgoth in Middle-Earth & more

The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power episode 1 kicks off with an impressive world-building, from fleshing out Galadriel’s (Morfydd Clark) backstory in a Valhalla-Esque Valinor, where the Undying Lands houses the Two Trees, to exploring the First Ages when the Elves fought and defeated Morgoth in Middle-Earth – the premiere features jaw-dropping high fantasy landscape shots which have a lot of LOTR fans hopeful for Prime Video’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien works.  The First round of fan reactions on social media is showering praises for the series’ heavy production value and its arduous VFX sequences to bring this world to life. Here’s a brief recap of the best moments from the first episode of the Lord of the Rings prequel series.

As teased in the trailer, The Rings of Power season 1 episode 1 begins with a lucid narrative from Galadriel’s POV of the Great foe, Morgoth and the centuries-long war that left Middle-Earth in ruins. Even with the fall of the true Dark Lord, Middle-earth continues to be preyed on by the Orcs growing in numbers thanks to Morgoth’s loyal servant, Sauron. With Finrod’s (Will Fletcher) sad demise fighting against the cruel sorcerer’s forces, Galadriel takes up her brother’s vows as her own, journeying to the ends of the Earth hunting the new Dark Lord of the Second Ages.

The first chapter of season 1 introduces audiences to a range of places in Middle-Earth, such as the Northern Waste’s cold region known as Forodwaith where Galadriel finds proof of Sauron’s existence. Unfortunately convincing the Elves in her command proves to be in vain as the rest of the world begins to believe darkness has been vanquished. Meanwhile, at the Wilderlands east of the Anduin called Rhovanion, the Harfoots are living in harmony without mingling with the rest of the world. And viewers are introduced to Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), the audacious free-spirited Harfoot who, unlike her fellow people, hopes to see the wonders of the world. But Marigold (Sara Zwangobani) reminds her, “Elves have forests to protect, Dwarves, their mines, Men, their fields of grain” but “Harfoots are free from the worries of the wide world.”

For context, Harfoots are a primitive version of the Hobbits and unlike their successors, the Harfoots lived in a make-shift village instead of the Shire shown in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbits series by Peter Jackson. The episode next pays a visit to Lindon, the Capital of the High Elves where a young Elrond (Robert Aramayo) is busy penning a speech in Quenya but sadly learns the High Council has convened the meeting for “elf lords only”. Though on the bright side, he brims with happiness knowing of Galadriel’s return.

Unfortunately, Elrond soon learns Galadriel is still fixated on hunting down Sauron. But King Gil-galad showers her with the highest honor: a journey back home, Valinor though Galadriel’s eyes are still set on following her path. After a brief “Will she or won’t she” scenario, Galadriel decides to take Elrond’s advice and drifts on her ship to Valinor but when inches away from the aurous heaven-like gates, she jumps into the sea.

At the Southlands, The lands of Men – An Elf much like Galadriel is hesitant to leave Middle-earth. Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) investigates a small town for traces of the once vanquished evil. However, it isn’t the only reason behind his doubts but also his brewing love for the village’s healer, Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi). Unfortunately, Rings of Power episode 1 is quick to remind the racism that Elves face from Men as well as Arondir’s own people’s perspective of stricture in an Elves union with a human.

The Rings of Power episode 1 teases Morgoth’s blade

News of the outpost disbandment after being stationed for 79 years further pushes Arondir to confess his love. Yet he’s distracted by a sick cow brought to Bronwyn’s doorstep. A quick inspection and Arondir learns the cow produces an eerie dark liquid instead of milk. The animal wandered off the Far East, close to Hordern and the patrolling Elf doubts the work of Evil at play.

Arondir and Bronwyn head off while the healer’s son, Theo sneaks into a barn where he finds a shattered black blade, is it Morgul’s dagger? Or perhaps its connected to Theo’s missing father? Its too soon to speculate but there are bigger problems at hand as the town in Hordern blazes up in flames

At Lindon, Gil-galad and Elrond speak of their gift of foresight which allowed them to see that “she might have inadvertently kept alive the very evil she sought to defeat.” While Elrond doubts if Galadriel’s vision were true, Gil-galad decides to put his mind to peace by tasking him to work with Lord Celebrimbor, “the greatest of Eleven-smiths” whose artistry Elrond has admired since a child.

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Concurrently, over at Rhovanion, Harfoot village’s elder Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) fears the changes in the stars as a presage but is interrupted by Nori. Nevertheless, her curiosity coincidently puts her at the center of the incident Sadoc was on the lookout for, an asteroid-like object lands near Nori and the scene pans to show a mysterious shabby-looking man lying on the crater. There’s even a brief shot of Ents when the asteroid passes a forest.

Reactions so far have elevated some fans’ hope in The Rings of Power’s adaptation of the Second Ages. Still, some critique it as a fantasy series of its own that doesn’t resonate quite accurately with Tolkien’s writings. The debut episode also features a few nods to Jackson’s LOTR series. In addition, it also features a sequence of The Great Eagles fighting dragons.

Rings of Power Episodes 1 & 2 are currently streaming on Prime Video.

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