selenak

Okay, if Gil-Galad isn't pulling a fast one on Elrond (which could be), this whole "Mithril is the only thing that could save the Elves from fading" idea is as silly an addition as "Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring" in Jackson's RotK, but I don't care, because it's an excuse for a great Durin & Elrond friendship subplot throughout the episode. (Also, an additional possibility is that Gil-Galad is simply mistaken as to cause and effect, and what's rotting the leaves is Elven complacency, not anything to do with Mithril.) They're serving up all the friendship tropes on a silver (err, Mithril) plate with these two, don't they? Elrond defending Durin during the tense dinner! Elrond realising Durin was just messing with the Elves re: the table, and sharing the joke! Loyalty conflict! Durin giving the Elves a chance for Elrond's sake! It was all lovely to watch.

Meanwhile, Meteor Man/Maybe Gandalf aquires some Harfoot vocabulary, wonders whether he's a peril, saves Nori and friends from wargs and then, alas, uses scary magical powers to heal his arm that inadvertendly endanger Nori. Reconcile them quickly, show, Nori & Meteor Man is the other great friendship you've developed so far.

Down in the Southlands: Adar loving sunlight and it reminding him of his "former state" reminds me of the conversation between Elrond and Gil Galad in episode 1 which mentioned Morgoth loving the light of the Silmaril. (And of course the show opening monologue by Galadriel emphasizing "there was always light" in Valinor.) And the silly Mithril = light = Elven survival quation Gil Galad draws elsewhere in this episode. While Adar near the end of the episode reacts badly to the assumption he's Sauron, there aren't that many fallen Maia around at this point in Middle Earth history, so...hmmm. Fallen Elf, at the very least. My inner soap opera familiar wondered briefly whether we've seen the dead body of Galadriel's brother, but then remembered we did, in said opening monologue, so he can't be Adar. (Which otherwise would be a very post Star Wars nasty plot thread to confront Galadriel with.) Anyway, Adar - and his concern with his Orcs, though said concern allows for skin burns - does like like he's going to be an Evil Overlord With Layers, and I still think probably a way through which to explore the "Orcs were born out of twisted elves" backstory lore.

Theo NOT joining the part of the population off to submit to Adar (unlike his friend, who promptly dies for it) and instead actually becoming a bit less hostile towards Arondir was a surprise, though given I don't see how the Numenorians could arrive the Southland squick enough to relieve a siege of that Tower, I still see Theo as vulnerable to Adar recruitment. (Especially since he doesn't know about his friend's fate.)

Meanwhile in Numenor: Pharazon is pretty openly speculating about taking over once Miriel is either off with Galadriel or has doomed herself with this Elven aliance, isn't he? Explains why he supported her last week. Presumably that also means he's going to be the one ruling when ~~Atlantis happens~~ Numenor gets destroyed, which in turn could mean Miriel survives in exile along with Isildur and some other Numenorians becoming the ancestors of Aragorn & Co.

The "What do you know of darkness?" scene between Haldbrand and Galadriel, with Galadriel's "because I don't know how to stop" confession: presumably that's going to be her arc, learning how to stop fighting (unless attacked), becoming able to let go. Otoh, given she's about to be proven right re: Sauron, I wonder how that will work...