It was topical and au courant when we recorded it, but not now! Yes, we took a look at the first two episodes of The Rings of Power. We're a bit divided on our opinions, but our conclusions aren't that far apart. We spoil things, I guess? But there isn't much that happens and it's only the first two episodes and we're now five episodes in, so... Show notes! 00:00 Television instead of films 02:10 Filling in for the lost Hobbit episode 04:25 The history of Middle-Earth leading up to the beginning of the show 08:37 Multiple plot threads established, Galadriel, Elrond, Harfoots, Durin, Arondir 11:00 8 episodes in the first season, 50 hours total = 7 seasons? 12:55 Moichandizing 13:36 Popular opinion? Internet opinion? 15:25 Bob finally says something about the pen 17:14 The problem of Galadriel 20:25 The show is an opportunity to get people invested in the broader lore, but it's changed 23:54 The cynicism of casting very young-looking actors (Fun fact, Markella Kavanaugh as Nori is older than Elijah Wood was in 2001 at the release of FOTR) 27:25 The third rail! Diversity! 28:51 Quick pace of the plot 29:38 Depiction of Elrond and Celebrimbor traveling: good or bad? (Digression on the name "Moria") 38:50 Elves marrying humans ends badly? Really? Beren/Luthien and Tuor/Idril didn't "end well"? 44:04 How to be rid of mice who are disturbing your sleep 47:47 Mark talks about himself in the third person and has problems with the characterization of Galadriel 49:10 Bob is a white knight for Galadriel (well, not entirely; a gray knight?) 51:53 Valinor was a place on earth 56:07 Bob forgets for a second that Galadriel was still banned because her participation in the rebellion of Feanor 56:28 The Two Trees in Valinor 58:10 Structural flaws 1:01:20 Mark is the honeybadger: he don't care (about the characters) 1:03:56 Gandalf? Is that you? 1:09:43 Bob is checking out here 1:10:02 Mark is still invested in finding out where it goes 1:11:10 Conclusion Note: Oscar® and Academy Awards® are the trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This podcast is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Music: Intro and Outro music excerpted without alteration other than length and volume from AcidJazz by Kevin McLeod under a Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0) license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode