And finally,
Part III
After the ceremony Elrond and Galadriel argue about her unwillingness to put up her sword and thusly losing the unique opportunity of returning to Valinor. This is, I think, the strongest part of this episode. Though I imagine some will have trouble with Galadriel’s line: “Without my sword, what am I to be?” while at the same time Elrond’s answer “My friend.” seems rather thin.
For the moment the outcome of this discussion remains uncertain.
The Harfoot already did mentioned them; Men and their fields of grain. Such as in Tirharad, a small rural village in the Southlands (which seems to be located in the east of what would later be named Mordor. Or thereabout.)
A thousand years ago the ancestors of the local people had served Morgoth. They are ever since being watched (or guarded, depending on who you asked, no doubt) by Elves. Clearly it is not only Galadriel who cannot let go and forget the past. Naturally, the locals resent it and, on their turn, watch the watchmen with an unfriendly eye. If only their true king would return, to pry them free from under the Elves’ pointy boots. Exact who and where their king is remains hidden.
Two of the watchmen enter the village, hoods up, almost completely hiding their faces. Dress-code? That seems unlikely; it obscures their own soldiery eyesight, except for their own feet. It is only in the tavern, when Arondir pulls back his hood, that ‘the reveal’ takes place; he is a black Elf. That will raise several eyebrows.
Should it matter? Diversity matters, but beside that? Probably not lore-wise (
see this post.) But as with many things that shouldn’t really matter, it nonetheless does. Take Amazon Prime’s own approach, for example. You may admire them for the audacity to introduce black Elves in their 1 billion dollar project, but at the same time raise your eyebrows about them making such a show within a show of it.
Anyway, Arondir, the world’s first black Elf, has more shocking news up his sleeve. He has an eye on Bronwyn. (Warning: Irrational behaviour is imminent.) Men won’t like it, nor Elves. His fellow watchman Médhor suspects what’s going on and warns him. Pairings between Elves and humans have always (twice!) ended in tragedy. Unfortunately, Arondir suffers from the same ailment as Galadriel does; refusal to listen to wise advise.
When news arrives that the High King has declared that the days of war are over and all outposts are being disbanded, Arondir does not look happy at all. Revion, the watchwarden, notices his lack of enthusiasm for leaving, but thinks it is that Arondir has grown fond of the local people after 79 years of service. He warns him that the people of Tirharad, because of their service to Morgoth once (a 1000 years ago), probably still are corrupted. Isn’t this a bit discriminating?
Arondir sneaks away to visit Bronwyn to ask… but is interrupted by a farmer who seeks Bronwyn’s help as a healer. His cow seems to have a sickness. The udder spurts black goo in stead of white foaming milk. It is the second clue something is amiss in the area and it points to a place called Hordern. Arondir immediately goes to investigate and Bronwyn accompanies him. It gives her son Theo the opportunity to show a friend what he has found under the floorboards of a barn; an iron torchlike object bearing Sauron’s sigil. It flares. Theo hears Black Speech. Will or can he be corrupted? Are these people still tainted with Morgoth’s legacy?
Is turns out that Galadriel has given in and is now sailing towards Valinor. She and all of the soldiers of her company stand up straight and in line, staring ahead, wearing their armour and holding their swords before them pointing down. Is this the normal way of travelling for Elves? How long does it take to journey across Belegaer, the great sea?
Later, when they near Valinor, they are still standing there like statues but in a slightly different order. I can understand the producers wanting to give the Elves going Home a certain loftiness or exalted stature. We have not seen much of that which differentiates them from Men, until now. But really, this is more ludicrous than elevated.
The company is being freed of their harness and weaponry, in preparation of their entering The Undying Lands. Ahead of their ship a light appears from behind the dark, boiling clouds. Birds come forth to greet the no doubt weary travellers. A song is heard and the company joins in singing, except for Galadriel, who seems uncomfortable. Then the clouds, perhaps even the skies, parts and a blindingly white light fills the scene. Which makes me wonder. Has Valinor meanwhile changed? Transcended into a celestial realm? What is this supposed to represent? It is unclear. Even more so because Galadriel seems to doubt this light. She takes a step back. Her thoughts go back, several thousands of years, to a never forgotten memory of her brother Finrod whispering in her ear the secret of how to distinguish between true and false lights and which to follow, a secret so profound the viewer was not trusted with it. It is revealed now;
'You cannot know how, until you have touched the darkness.'
Wow. Like young Galadriel already understood, that seems so simple. It had to be kept a secret.
Galadriel has touched the darkness, either by encountering the works of Sauron or by letting herself unrelentingly being driven by her hatred of him. Forsooth, Valinor must be the false light!
She jumps ship.
One can only hope she brought a lunchpack for the journey, swimming back to Middle-Earth.
Elrond, saddened to see his friend go, had to choose between friendship and duty. It appears it had been decided beforehand that Galadriel had to go. While hunting evil, it might very well be awakened by her. Apparently, there is some awareness with Gil-Galad that evil has not been fully erased. To set Elrond’s mind at rest he has a new assignment for him; to assist Celebrimdor, the greatest Elven-smith, with a new project of ‘singular importance.’ Yes, weighty words. But it has a certain... ring to it, doesn’t it?
Sadoc (Harfoot shaman, headman or Bearer of the Big Book?) is studying the stars. According to him (or rather his book) they act strangely. You will have to take his word for it, though. I don’t see it. Nor does nosy Nori. who very un-harfoot-like longs to see some of the wonders in the world.
Under the same evening sky Arondir and Bronwyn are nearing Hordern. Bronwyn is born in that place, so it stings when Arondir basically repeats Revion’s claims that its people especially had a strong loyalty to Morgoth. Loyal or not, they find the village is burning.
A falling star shoots through the sky from West to East. Gil-Galad in Lindon sees it (and receives another sign), Elrond and Celebrimbor on their way eastwards, Arondir and Bronwyn holding hands at Hordern, the Ents in Fangorn and finally Nori in Rhovanion, who is about to see her first wonder of the world. A stranger who has fallen from the sky.
---
The stage is set. A lot had to be introduced, of which not everything as successful as wished. It had its lows and highs, strong and weak points. But has a whole it is promising. The acting is for the most part excellent, with special mentions of Galadriel (both young and mature) and Elrond. The visual are pleasing. The story well told and engaging.
Of course, for those who are familiar with Middle-Earth’s lore and have strong opinions what is canon and what is not, this is probably difficult to watch. While writing this review I did some ‘research’ to get a bit more acquainted with ME-history and its people, in an attempt to not make a complete fool of myself while describing what was going on and where. I had to quit that as the omissions and deviations became more clear to me.
The series is best appreciated when you are able to disconnect it of its sources. It is well worth it, but I understand that it does take a certain level of tolerance. Fantasy requires being able to suspend disbelief. Surely some additional tolerance must be doable?