emarasmoak

[emarasmoak]

i know what the lore says but ROP.... I have some questions

now I KNOW that there is no way Sauron and Galadriel ever met in Valinor as kids. I know the lore. But... the visuals of the opening scene of the show keep bugging me, especially after there were whispers of young!Mairon potentially being seen in S2.

“Nothing is evil in the beginning” is directly overlaid on a scene of a blindfolded boy who is being guided by a tapping sound from one of the children. (metaphor?)

“And there was a time when the world was so young, there had not yet been a sunrise” the camera remains focused on this boy. With reddish brown hair and light colored eyes that… well… having this boy and the young Galadriel be the first focused frames of the show is a certain introduction.

*Pause* I want to appreciate how the first thing this kid sees when taking off the blindfold is Galadriel and he gets… this expression. Like I’ve seen that expression before. 

“Even then there was light,” is the voiceover when the boy looks at Galadriel and we and this boy are seeing her for the first time.

Notice how he is the ONLY one looking at her in this shot. As if he is the only one who can see her light.

As she is folding the origami boat, a young male voice is heard offscreen asking what is that. This is the second voice we hear in the entire show.

That’s alone is not what’s interesting. As the children approach Galadriel, the camera waits for the formerly blindfolded boy to peer his head around at her before switching to show Galadriel again.

(the boy just has a bit of a wry mischevious look to his face and VERY ambiguously shaped ears... like we know Halbrand has big ears and so are this little boy's but I've not found ONE shot where they look clearly POINTED.)

But he doesn’t talk to her though, that’s reserved for the rude boy. 

*Also* the blindfolded-boy is wearing the simplest clothing out of ALL of the children. The two other boys have gold adornments on their tunics but the reddish-brunette has nothing. It's obvious even from behind how his clothing is the plainest of all of theirs... almost like a servant.

The episode don’t show who threw the first stone (👀). Nor they don’t show which of the kids’ throws finally sinks the boat. But… the formerly-blindfolded kid is running behind the pack for the majority of the time. Meaning he may have thrown it or did he stay out of the conflict, just remaining at the fringes.

But this boy in the simple clothing loiters in the back of the pack for the ENTIRE exchange of watching her ship. Like he wants to say something to her but isn’t. 

This might be nothing... but if the show-runners truly had the main idea of basing the whole show around that line in the Mirror of Galadriel...

"blinded by the darkness, her light turned away from him, but nevertheless he gropes ever to see her. But still the door is closed.”

Somehow... this boy being the first to approach her, to almost be reaching out to see what the girl is doing... nothing is accidental in film and television. Particularly in the establishing shots of the show. It may be against lore. But nevertheless even in episode 2, Halbrand's introduction to the audience is a perfect mirror.

#lotr meta #trop meta #trop analysis #sauron #mairon #halbrand #the rings of power #galadriel #haladriel #saurondriel

[emarasmoak]

I'm slightly tipsy and, as it always happens, rather sentimental, so here be the stills to go with my favourite Halbrand quotes.

I have been searching for my peace for longer than you know. Please, for both our sakes, let me keep it.

2. What do you know of darkness?

3. No dialogue, but...

#the rings of power #halbrand #Sauron

[emarasmoak]

(again) I see you Hal ...

- i forgot to post this one , a gem! moment from before the "Galadriel informed us" thing -

i mean REALLY LOOK at it!

#YES YES YES HE WAS REALLY LOOKING AT HER ALL THE TIME #the rings of power #haladriel

[emarasmoak]

Cute moment between Charlie and Miv

#morfydd clark #charlie vickers #charfydd

[emarasmoak]

#stop interrupting them, please

#the rings of power #Galadriel #halbrand #Sauron #haladriel #Saurondriel

[emarasmoak]

I'm feeling so normal about this you guys

#something something Percy's love language is gift giving #I'm just so normal im sure i won't think about this constantly for the next three days #percahlia #percy de rolo #vex'ahlia #the legend of vox machina

[emarasmoak]

Halbrand and Galadriel + text posts

#halbrand #the rings of power #sauron #galadriel #haladriel #saurondriel #trop incorrect quotes

[emarasmoak]

Charlie's confirmation that Mairon's original form was a more godly (and innocent) clean-shaven version of Halbrand, it adds to what he said to Galadriel after his big Sauron Reveal. He told her he was her "friend," and she knew him. I'm going to assume that it had been centuries since our Dark Lord appeared in his Valar shape or even a mortal copy. It was both impractical and no doubt brought up painful memories. For Gal, to bond with him in a form that was both who he once was and who he might become, must have been a staggering experience for him. In some twisted way, he got to be honest with her.

I totally agree with you. I love the idea that his Halbrand form is just a more rugged/older version of Mairon. It fits too how most shapeshifters are depicted in movies/shows where they have a base form (like Tom Hiddleston as Loki) so it also makes sense with Sauron reforming again that he would go back to his original self. Most of the show's characters wouldn't have known him as Mairon and he likely was changing his form if any of them saw him before Adar "killed" him, and we know Adar knew a different form. And yes Galadriel did get to know the "real" him or at least the first form he ever had. I'm really looking forward to all these flashbacks.

#the lord of the rings #the rings of power #sauron #mairon #halbrand #charlie vickers #haladriel #galadriel #trop speculation #saurondriel

[emarasmoak]

The dark dork is amused 😂

The She-elf isn't 😂

#the rings of power #haladriel #galadriel #halbrand #sauron #saurondriel

[emarasmoak]

SOMEONE. PLEASE. WRITE THIS OR I WILL

#ooohhh #the rings of power #trop fanart #Haladriel #Saurondriel #Halbrand #galadriel

[emarasmoak]

Oh no Tumblr won't give me more options nooooo come ON stAFF I have many more Halbrands to add 🤬

#the rings of power #halbrand #sauron #Haladriel #trop polls

[emarasmoak]

The meme potential 🤣 Aww Charlie…

#the EYE always watching!!! #charlie vickers #morfydd clark

[emarasmoak]

THE RINGS OF POWER 1.02 “Adrift” // 1.08 “Alloyed”

#halbrand #the rings of power #sauron #galadriel #haladriel #saurondriel

[emarasmoak]

the fact that galadriel has spent centuries pursuing sauron and being consumed by hatred for him and desire for revenge and then when she actually meets him (unknowingly) he’s the one being she naturally and instinctually bonds with because she perceives a familiarity, a shared restlessness, a sense of understanding that she finds with no one else… not sure i can recover from the implications

#this cosmic connection as charlie and morfydd call it will be the end of me #halbrand #haladriel #sauron #galadriel #the rings of power #Saurondriel

[emarasmoak]

On the Numenorean rescue ship, Halbrand grins at Galadriel eating. Some will insist he’s amused at her ravenous appetite, which is true. Yet this scene also carries an undeniable erotic undercurrent.

Much of it is due to Galadriel’s hair. A golden silver marvel unmatched. The very same that inspired the Silmaril jewels stolen by Morgoth and who, it is said, marveled at their radiance unblinking for three days.

Elves especially find long beautiful hair deeply attractive. Thus, during sleep, hair is protected with plaits. Although Elves sleep much less than Men, often when exhausted from vigorous activity.

To see an Elf awaken with disheveled free-flowing hair is highly suggestive of prior sexual activity. No wonder Halbrand gazes at Galadriel with a knowing grin, her lovely mussed gold tresses shining under sunlight. He’s treated to a sight reserved only for a lover.

To boot, he knows who she is. Finrod Felagund’s only sister. Former enemy of Morgoth. Now his own determined huntress. Here. Unarmed. Trusting. But that she is unaware of who he is, likely adds to the wicked thrill of his discreet voyeurism.

#don’t know if this meta is canon #don’t care if this meta is canon #halbrand #haladriel #galadriel #sauron #Saurondriel #the rings of power

[emarasmoak]

p.e.r.s.o.n.a.l. s.p.a.c.e. +bonus:

#sauron (as halbrand): 'you needn't keep your distance' #galadriel: proceeds to get a little too close #galadriel #sauron #halbrand #haladriel #saurondriel #the rings of power

[emarasmoak]

He's thinking: 'I'm gonna seduce you (platonically)!'

#🤣🤣🤣🤣 #100% totally and utterly platonically #absolutely nothing whatsoever beyond friendship #'girl imma brotp you so hard' #no thirst here #haladriel #halbrand #saurondriel #the rings of power #galadriel