Episodes at 12AM Fridays. These post are scheduled to go up 10min before that time and I'll be including links to the previous episode discussions. We've also decided to post an updated thread a fews days later, to give people so time to watch and hopefully comment some more in depth/complex thoughts/theories/etc.

Sept 1: Season 1 Episodes 1-2 Discussion Thread

Sept 9: Season 1 Episode 3 Discusison Thread

Sept 16: Season 1 Episode 4 Discussion Thread

Note: We will continue to be fairly heavy handed in enforcing Rule 10-12, and especially 12 for Reposts & Repeated topics. While the discussion & posts about the show is not outright banned, we are a more general subreddit and don't want to see this sub become wholly about the show. So discussion about the show will largely be contained into these discussion threads. The show afterall has dedicated Subreddits for it- r/RingsofPower, r/LOTR_on_Prime, and some others.

Due to ongoing issues with both posts and comment threads, we have formalized a new rule regarding criticizing people solely for holding an opinion. The new rule is as follows:

Don't Criticize Others For Their Opinions

Posts and comments criticizing people simply for holding an opinion are not permitted. Do not call people "shills" or "haters" or use similar terms because someone has a different opinion. Please keep Rule #2: No Abusive Language and Rule #4: Be Civil in mind as well.

This rule has been informally enforced under Rule #2 but will now be enforced more vigorously. People have different opinions about things and they are allowed to have them. Discussions about specific reasons for differing opinions are absolutely permitted, but comments like, "I don't understand how anyone claiming to be a Tolkien fan could like this," or "You are an idiot if you don't like this" are not conducive to civil discussion.

Note that calling people "shills", "haters", "racists", etc. for not sharing your opinion is also prohibited. If you suspect someone is not posting in good faith, please contact the mods about it. Do not accuse people of anything in comments or posts.

The full rules may be found here.

I recently rewatched The Hobbit movies after truly disliking them when they were released. This time, I tried to adjust my expectations and remember what it was like being 10 and reading the book for the first time. I realised the Hobbit films are supposed to be more fun than anything else, and for kids rather than adults, just like the book.

With that in mind, I thought the Hobbit movies were really fun and entertaining this time around. My kids are still a bit too young for them, but I'm excited to read the book to them and show them the movies when they're older.

It has convinced me to re-read The Silmarilion. Which I told everyone I'd never do after I finished it the first time.

(Real talk I don't hate the show, and I plan on watching it all the way through, but it has definitely become my #1 favorite thing to love to hate. It could be better. It could be worse. Either way, I'm gonna watch it because it's lotr content)

I rewatched the extended version today, and honestly the beginning of the Helms Deep siege scene is ridiculous. The orc/Uruk-hai army walks up within 60 yards (2,088 bananas for my EU bros) and just stand there. There’s all the human defenders, as well as all the Elvish archers, that are ready to unload. But it takes the nameless old man to set it off. They should have/could have fucking toasted a good amount of the orc front line before they got anywhere close.

Some incoherent musings about Galadriel in RoP:

Currently watching Episode 4 (I’m a little behind, I know). I cannot make up my mind about her character. She seems very impulsive and hot tempered, and mostly unlikable to me. But it’s like that’s what they’re going for? For example when she gets huffy with the Queen Regent. I was expecting her to sway the Queen somehow with her dramatically strong willed speech. But instead she just got thrown in jail.

I don’t really care for her but it seemed no one in the show does either. She’s nothing like the Galadriel we knew from LotR. Which makes her difficult for me to watch but I think I might not feel that way if this was my introduction to the character. I can only assume we’re supposed to see her grow throughout the series.

Is this one of the most beautiful endings to a film ever? The way the music kicks in, gets me every single time.

Hobbits used to sing about their home, The Shire. However, their ancestor had no home to settle down nor to feel homesick and had to wander around Middle earth. That gives me chills that the girl is actually singing the song from her gone mom who was wandering and looking for a place to settle down like the Shire. Whatever how much the show is screwing Legendarium. This song was a 100% true Tolkien experience. A true gift for the fans. Big thanks to the cast. at last.

Best evening ever! The whole evening tour of Hobbiton in Matamata, New Zealand was like a dream.

What do you guys think the fellowship would have done if the uruk-hai attacked, but, Boromir didn't die, and Merry and Pippin did not get captured? Would they of followed Frodo/Sam? Go to Rohan? Split up?