Stranger, Halbrand, Sauron? - Predictions for The Rings of Power Season Finale (Episode 8) 

Shout-outs to Ted Nasmith, who allowed me to use his artworks (you find a ling to his gallery in the description)! As said, I do not show footage from the preview of episode 8 or the Final Trailer for season 1 - only of the first 7 episodes. There might be some more predictions possible on the few additional scenes we got there, spoiler: It really seems the cultists think the Stranger is Sauron (I assume they call him Lord Sauron). Probably because they assume the meteor is a sign of Sauron reappearing and so he must be in it. But I still think this might not be the case. He is the force sent by Valinor to counter Sauron, who appeared somewhere else. They might play with cause and effect here. Ofc I could be completely wrong. I was long on the side of the Stranger being Sauron, but episode 7 made me very sceptical again. PS: Also I mentioned in a stream and my review last week that Celeborn could be re-embodied and sent to Middle-earth (pretty much like Glorfindel). But I'm not a fan of that as well. See 17:28 min in my review of episode 7 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UB97tw4pfnA.html

The problem is, it's difficult to cone up with any predictions when we've been given little context to the show and things can be conveniently resolved or handwaved away.

In the book, Sauron disguised as a Numenorean prisoner, In the series Halbrand became a prisoner of Numenor. And Gil Galad mentioned before that Galadriel will bring evil to middle earth. Instead of using the character of Annatar, the series used Halbrands character to make the story more mind twisting. Thats what I think.🤔

Halbrand has basically given Galadriel the means to master her problems. Without him she would not have convinced the Numenoreans to sail out to face the orcs. If Galadriel succeeds, he gets revenge on the orcs who betrayed him. Whether she succeeds or not, Halbrand now masters her as a result. It was only after he failed to forge on Numenor that Halbrand decided he wanted to go to Middle Earth. He knows now that Galadriel owes him, so he injured himself in such a way that would require Elven treatment. Once he is in an Elven settlement he can try to gain access to a forge again/ work on manipulating the Elves.

Chris, no one mentioned that, at least as far as I know, but in the preview for episode 8 there were a couple of the towers exploding in a seemingly elven realm. Architecture is def elven and then Celebrimbor was entering the room with concern written all over his face. I wonder whether something really bad happens in Eregion following potential Halbrand's and Galadriel's arrival there. I doubt they are going to Lindon, it's too far, most likely their destination is Eregion. May be our "Southern king" will have an urge to craft something at that super wonderful Celebrimbor forge and something will go wrong.

yeah, you convinced me that Halbrand is fully Sauron. I don't think the show is clever enough to missdirect us with him.

Wow! Very impressed with your analysis after this episode. Great job!

The Stranger could still be a Blue Wizard. Just because they journey together doesn't mean they landed at the exact same place. It is reasonable to me that they crash some distance apart, lose their memory, and only after some time remember they have a buddy to find. They could meet up next season. As we know so little about them there is nothing inherently wrong with them having concern for nature. Even Saruman loved nature at first as evidenced by Treebeard saying how he used to walk through Fangorn and talk to the Ents regularly.

My thinking about the cultists are looking for the repowered form of sauron who forgets who he is maybe..I'm not confident about that.

Prediction: Sauron will be a new character that we have not seen, yet.

Omg im gonna laugh so hard if they revealed Halbrand is Sauron in a surprise, plot twisty manner

Nice predictions. I do find your analysis and study of the show and the lore plausible. We are yet to be convinced and perhaps surprised by the finale. I am looking forward to every friday. What will we do for two whole years without this wonderful thing 🤔☺

I think you are right about Halbrand. I didn’t want to believe it earlier. I’m now intrigued if it is him. I wonder what he will look like in his evil form. Will they have him in his armour forging the one? He has been set him up well. Although it is a bit on the nose. I think it is difficult since most everyone watching is looking for Sauron. I missed the line about controlling your enemy when he was in jail with Galadriel. He must be the dark lord!

I have a wacky theory and i'm going to reproduce the same comment that i've posted on the latest Fellowship of Fans video : What if Feminem is actually Sauron in the end ? We see that he can master fire, that he comes from the East, he seems to be the only one with magical powers from the 3 cultists, they've made him look androgenous on purpose so as to stand out as a maiar, to be distinctive, they've made him look different than the other 2 mystics who clearly look like women, he shapeshifts as well (in the trailer for episode 8 we saw a scene of Nori with those glowing eyes and we also know that Feminem in episode 7 reached for her hair and maybe he managed to pick a string of her hair so as to be able to take her shape, we also clearly hear the women voices in the trailer saying s'mthin like this if i remember correctly : "for you are ...Lord Sauron". Another clue is that the cultists have that platter with The Stranger's constellation, from where do you think they knew about it unless they were informed in advance, don't you think it's strange and it seems to indicate that by having that object they are not intending to kill the Stranger but instead to capture him in some way, or to reveal themselves to him in a non-conflictual way ? Remember when Adar said about what he did to Sauron - "i've split him open", the writters picked these words with a purpose, i'm 100% sure of it, what if the reason that the so called woman priest is in search for the Stranger is because he is his other half ? The Stranger also has the same cold fiery touch (the metheor pieces being cold) that we've seen Feminem possesing when he blowed out the torch. Also don't you find it strange that the Stranger doesn't know how to speak except some elvish incantations or how he was portrayed in such a contrast manner troughout this episodes ? Maybe The Stranger symbolizes the Yang (the good side) and Femimen is the Yin (the evil one) of Sauron, we've seen this duality, this theme being used frequently troughout the episodes - light & darkness, you must experience both so as to distinguish the true light, the pure elf & the evil balrog and their conflict as the basis in the origin of the mithril story, the possibility of orcs as redeemable creatures etc. Another clue is what Adar told about how Sauron failed in his completness of mastering the dark magic during his experiments of sacrifing the orcs in that froze fortress because "something was missing". What if now we have the reversal of the light & darkness theory : SAURON (THE DARKNESS) NEEDS TO TOUCH THE LIGHT SO AS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SHADOW & ITS POWERS ? and how he touches the light ? Trough The Stranger ! by splitting himself (or letting himself be split) and experiencing rebirth and good deeds In his interaction with the harfoots. Let's also not forget how the Stranger characterized himself in this duality when he first said "I'm peril" and later said "I'm good" after Nori corrected him. I know that the showrunners implied that the blonde short haired character is not Sauron in an interview before the start of the show but what if they did this on purpose and Femimen is actually Sauron cause if you think about it it's not just him Sauron it's Feminem + The Stranger so technically they can say they weren't lying. I personally thought Halbrand would be Sauron but now for him taking up this journey to Eregion makes this theory to seem unlikely because how you're going to make him gain the Annatar name ? Unless you're not planning on using it in the show, but i don't think they will resort to this or who knows maybe Halbrand will be renamed Annatar by the elves in Eregion.

Great vid, some good ideas and reasoning behind your predictions. Not a fan of the H = S idea either, but either he is a HUGE "decoy" from a not-yet introduced S, or... yeah, he's S. I'll be majorly disappointed if The Stranger is G (although I have already been majorly disappointed in this show a number of times, so...) The man in the moon idea is new to me but an interesting alternative. However, I think just like the couldn't resist having the "not-Hobbit" Hobbits--I mean Harfoots--I think they will find themselves unable to resist bringing in a "tried and true" element from LotR in the familiar character of Gandalf (which would suck--and won't work for them anyway, since it will just invite further comparison with the PJ films and while I think this actor is reasonably talented he isn't going to hold up as well if he gets compared to Ian McKellen, which is inevitable if the Stranger IS Gandalf). Finally, I don't know if a great final episode 8 can really "save" the season for me--but it could at least maybe help heal the damage and give me reason to hope the future might be better. My biggest hope for post-season 1: either they get someone with a lot more experience to oversea and guide the writer's room, or the writers learn a whole, whole lot of lessons from the mess they have made of season 1 (more about consistency with their own storyline; I've given up on the lore, since to me this is the most expensive venture into fan-fiction in history. I just want it to be GOOD fan fiction... ) AND... once Season 1 is over--anyone want to bet against Galadriel winning the Gold Medal for endurance swimming at the next Olympics? 🙂

Good analysis. In voice of geekdom’s last live stream, a good argument for meteor man being a blue wizard came up. In unfinished tales, it is mentioned that the blue wizards may have founded cults. The show runners might be playing off of this. Perhaps one blue wizard founded a cult and is sending his cultists to find the other blue wizard who may or may not join him.

I'm watching it now. If The King of the Southland is Sauron, you deserve a big kiss and a hug. I totally agree with you. The three weird women are the Messengers of Morgoth (the description in The Silmarillion is spot on to the movie).

I enjoy everyone's opinions of the show more than the show itself :P Always love your videos. take care.

Hey, Chris. I was going to reply to your “not a good” theory on Halbrand and Adar but had a lot of work. So here I am replying. First of all, thank you for sharing your theory. I actually very much agree with it. Let me put a spin on it. I assume that Halbrand is currently Sauron. Adar might had been the one who killed true Halbrand, before Sauron took over his form. That would make the statement, that he took the pendant from a dead man, somewhat true. But that’s not my point. Mainly we must consider that Adar seems to be convinced that he killed Sauron - maybe Sauron let him believe that? He would do that, knowing that Adar cares for his “children” and that he would go to Southlands and turn it into Mordor. Furthermore: it would explain animosity Sauron/Halbrand shows towards Adar, his hateful look would basically mean: “you betrayed me, you tried to kill me” (“you don’t recognize me? I’m the one you claim you killed”). That would also explain, why Halbrand doesn’t let Galadriel kill Adar. It’s because in his plan Adar’s role is to unknowingly prepare Mordor for Sauron’s glorious return. Then it’s just a matter of revealing himself as Sauron, slaying Adar and taking over. That theory makes a lot of sense. And is seems quite… sauronish thing to do. PS At this point I get the impression we need to think about RoP as a sort of glorified fan fiction. So when it comes to The Stranger all bets are off. Tom

I think in this version, “Annatar” will be the name the elves of Eregion give him when he offers them his amazing smithy skills, instead of the name he gives himself in order to deceive them.

The stars are in the shape of the f rune. Like the rune Gandalf put on bilbos door.

Halbrand comes out as kinda clumsy, and not in a deceiving way. But perhaps, I fear, not all of the episode directors were in on the secret if his true identity and that's why they kinda screwed that arc up a bit here and there. Anyway I would not be surprised if we get very little revealed even in the eight episode. The season has had quirky pacing all over. Perhaps if they push out several revelations we'll end up having too much to feel worried or disappointed about for the second season.

I just want to see more of Celebrimbor! Just let Celebrimbor do the things he's supposed to do. Even if he's not immediately crafting the rings, at least let him show some kind of crafting. I don't believe that Feanor's grandson and Curufin's son would simply spend his days sitting around and drinking wine. He himself said that he wants to live up to Feanor's legacy. Even if it's not collaborating with Annatar, they could show him collaborating with the dwarves, and show how the Noldor were totally down to work with almost anyone. I'm generally very willing to see where the show goes, however I feel like they've been really unfair to Celebrimbor. And it's crazy because he's the one who made the titular rings!

maybe the stranger is the first blue wizard, and the second will come on a ship with Celeborn who will replace Glorfindel in the show?? I've seen many suggest this is how Celeborn will come back

Good insight about Halbrand. Best argument I’ve heard so far as to why he might be Sauron.

The stranger is one of the 5 istari who came to fight SAURON and Halbrand is Annatar later he will be SAURON. We are finally fixed in the final episode.

Great analysis!

Best case. Episode starts with Galadriel waking up screaming. The last seven episodes were just a bad nightmare and we get a clean slate.

Yes give them a means to master their fear - help them forge the rings. So you can master them with the creation of the one ring. Halbrand is Sauron

I just want to put this out there, The Stranger Is clearly Sauron, I have thought so since Episode 2. The evidence points strongly to it. The only downside everyone brings up, he is nice. The evidence: Magic mostly harmful (not clear that it wasn't his leaving that caused the plants to grow). Arrived at same time Valinor door opened, but Galadirel did not see Meteor. (i.e. not from Valinor). Mystics looking for him. Same constellation on Mystic item. Waldreg said meteor sign of Sauron's arrival. When ice was growing up his arm, flashed to meteor as eye of Sauron similar to Peter Jackson films. Demonic look when Nori stumbles upon him in episode 2. Black speech / ring speech when trees are bending. In Alan Lee, or John Howe artwork, wizards arrive by boat, not meteor. Chanting seems occult, angry, not like good characters. Stranger's theme in soundtrack mixed with mystics. Sauron's theme played mixed with stranger's when Nori first stumbles on crater. In season finale trailer, mystics declare someone to be Sauron. I don't see them traveling to Eregion from near Greenwood in one episode and who else would they be talking to. Downside: He is nice. Could Sauron be nice? For one, he was described as appearing noble and good, except to the most wary. He was repentant at the beginning of the second age. Maybe they have moved that to the late second age because of time compression. So I have thought 95% stranger is Sauron since episode 2, nothing has changed my mind, in fact every clue points to this. If stranger is not Sauron, explaining above clues will be ackward, not believable. If Halbrand is not Sauron, everything he has done has a possible innocent explanation. It could be just as the story is laying it out.

its gandalf, its not hard to spot, they just changed the timeline

I'd be disappointed if Halbrand is Sauron. I don't imagine Sauron being so low as to get into a street fight or stealing like that.

Re Halbrand not being Sauron due to his angst while alone. This assume that he KNOWS he is Sauron, it could be Sauron disguised himself and hid inside a mortal frame that has no idea who he really is.

Im beyond hating the show and now just think its silly, like when netflix turn an anime into a live action movie.

I have a feeling they are going to make one of the side characters Sauron. Someone we wouldn't guess but who has been hiding in plain sight

I guess that Sauron will be revealed in season 3. The cultist will face off with the stranger. Hal burg will time jump by 1000 years. The stranger is a new and unknown character with a unique story line.

This has become my favorite video lately. Watch the season finale, you won't be disappointed.

Maybe the real Sauron is the friends we made along the way

The thought had just occurred to me - this is probably the missing Blue Wizards everyone is talking about, lol. They went bad whilst traveling (though the canon timeline doesn't work just like all other lore in the show). Probably encountered Sauron, switched to his side and decided to go harass poor harfoots. I am joking of course. Don't stone me to death, I need to see the final episode of this season before I die. P.S. Chris, that little detail on Eminem's necklace/harness (Eminem is an evil horse) looks more like Darth Vader to me :D not Sauron. lol

Can't wait till they find the Wardrobe to Narnia

I think there has been a massive misdirect causing people to think Halbrand is Sauron. Sauron might not even be seen this season. Halbrand will I think end up as one of the 9 Kings that fall under Sauron's control. I think the Stranger might just end up being a blue wizard.

Maybe Hallbrand is some kind of Frodo-Aragorn protagonist, being tempted by Sauron and denying the dark side (luke-vader vibes🤣)

Origin:British Meaning:Evil Halbrand is an unusual name of English origin. Its origin is primarily attributed to the famous JRR Tolkien. Though it sounds like a traditional surname of the English olden days, this name comes from Tolkien's legendarium and the show The Rings of Power. Its definition is one to be taken or left due to the-at the time of writing-character's potential so become the infamous Sauron. A name imbued with power, baby will know their strength every day.

The worst thing about Halbrand being Sauron is that it would have us believe that one of the most powerful and arrogant beings in Middle-Earth ended up on a shipwreck in the middle of the ocean and not long after was tossed in a jail cell as a common thief. They'd be better off revealing Galadriel as Sauron; it would at least be a huge plot twist.

I suspect the symbols worn by the head "mystic" are just generic stuff they pilfered from history/reality. A triskelion, some sort of Celtic knot and/or ouroboros and/or AURYN, a Greek water spout “mask”… and an eye; okay, fine :) - why is *she* never assumed to be Sauron when everyone else has had their turn? There must be something I missed…

I think the Necromancer is Sauron.

The Stranger is Sauron watch the last trailer and look closely to the scenes with the Stranger and the words spoken.

When the smiths tell Sauron he's there to steal their food, ale and work, he adds he's there for the women, too. So, I'd say Sauron saved Galadriel because she's hot :D. Let's not forget the sexy Shelob in Shadow of Mordor, lolol. I don't buy he'd be content as a smith. And isn't he supposed to be a sorcerer? And he should have known stealing the crest would take him nowhere. It's just odd. The second season, probably, will see him stealing Mordor from Adar and the free orcs. And finally having a forge for himself. On the other topics, the actor playing Gandalf looks like a young McKellen, which might have been an unconscious choice. The showrunners said they're happy people guessed (the leaks helped) who was who correctly and that Sauron is a mix of Tony Soprano and Walter White. Interesting references for a Tolkien character...

Dear Chris, As you know I am not a big fan of the show. Nevertheless I thank you for theorizing with us and keep us posted, being fair and allways friendly.. I allready restarted to rewatch your Lore Videos.

You must have seen this episode before you made this prediction.. it’s too spot on to be a guess 😮

It's never explicitly revealed who the stranger is but it's strongly implied that he's the Istar Gandalf/Olórin. He says a similar worded line Gandalf used in one of the movies but is never called by name. They only refer to him as "Istar" and "wizard". Halbrand will be revealed as Sauron and this one has been very obvious since episode 1. People in denial of it think he's a red herring because they are expecting Annatar failing to realize Amazon doesn't have the rights to use Annatar. The red herring is the stranger, Halbrand is Sauron and will be revealed in the finale.

Everything you said about Hallbrand is true. Hahaha. They made all the rings in few minutes. Damnnm.

Guyladriel did enjoy the pyroclastic pyroclastic flow only Sauron could do this enjoying and stay unharmed!. Is this not 100% proof that Guyladriel is Sauron?

I think it's Halbrand

If they bring halbrand with all these misdirections into lindon/eregion, and he is not sauron, then most likely sauron will just be a completely new character seducing celebrimbor, and "we will know its sauron" but the elves not.. haha.. The only good reason to then bring halbrand there, is to make him also be seduced by sauron, and become one of the ringwraiths. Halbrands artificer skills are totally UNNECESSARY then, and just a random trait of a random character and to FOOL the audience. He could then get one of the rings, and slowly succumb to darkness and fall into the heroic and brave galadriels back. There is strong evidence for and against halbrand, but the build up with him meeting the elves is 100% too much misdirection at the cost of quality. The beginning where galadriel meets halbrand on the sea, is far too full of symbolism (the waters where the light of the valar manifests is clearly a very mystical scene - water is the unknown, and the primordial element in most cultures. This together with gil galads prophecy that our brave galadriel might bring back the very evil she sought to destroy, was quite too direct. If halbrand was sauron, the best possible character arc is that galadriel would start to use her brain, and become the enchantress we all know - realizing that gil galad was right. Such an arc, would certainly justify partially these commander of the northern armies antics, as she would get her magic mirror, and develop both magical powers with the ring she has, and develop diplomatic skills. That would be an interesting arc. To build up halbrand to be sauron, just to then swap in an annatar who already seduced celebrimbor, would be super lame. The released clip shows the elves guessing what kinda artefact they wanna create, so it seems as if annatar is not there yet. Or halbrand could come and suggest the rings display his skills as a smith - because making him a smith, and bringing him to the elves at THIS TIME, and not making him sauron, would be dumb decisions for the sake of mystery, but without any meaningful plot or character development. Got the feeling they drop some entirely new character talking about rings to celebrimbor who wants to "bend the light backwards on itself" as the clip told us. Celebrimbor shouting at the high king also seems to me like he already knows annatar, and was slowly corrupted offscreen (which would be such a horribly bad decision by these 2 writers).

Whoa Ep 8 on man was everyone was DEAD WRONG !!!

I don't think Halbrand will turn out to be Sauron simply because they are giving so many hints to make people think he is Sauron. My hope is that Halbrand ends up being the Witch King. So far as Sauron goes I think he may be trapped or hiding in the hidden world (remember his "experiments at the stronghold in the North) and the Cultists will have something to do with bringing him back to the real world.

If halbrand is Sauron then how stupid would Galadriel look ,as it is she has been criticised a lot(with gd reason).

Jesus, Halbrand is Sauron... its oooobviouuuuus :D

Sauron isn’t bad person after all it’s Galadriel! Sauron had a dream which was called a peace under his rule. And Elves as Elves only thinking about their self!

Just watched the finale and really liked it. Sorry for all the naysayers that whine all the time. They are usually the loudest and the ones that post most often so it may skew the data on how the rest of viewers feel. I'm usually listening while I do other things so I don't always follow the chat comments but when I do see them it kinda turns me off too. I always think if they hate it so much why watch? We all have a choice to turn it off. It easily shows exactly who looks at life more optimistically which is a good thing. I usually skip right over those kinds of people. Thanks for all the great videos and can't wait to hear what you think of the season one finale!

at least we all side with Sauron and his Orcs now! hopefully they defeat all other

The Stranger Is Sauron, Sauron the Stanger.

Nah, meteor man is Sauron.. Admittedly I haven't watched a single episode but it's fairly obvious. 😅

I don't think they're beyond fan service. I think it's probably Gandalf.

They don't know enough lore to know who the blue wizards are.

I think we all want to know what happened to the blues, I personally losing faith in this telling. Just saying. He's totally Sauron.

So basically it's.... someone on the show....

Halbrand is sauron, its a fact.

i like if the stranger is gandalf he is my favourit lotr character!giving him a origin i just so great and i hope we see more of him in the future and the actor does really play his role so good!

Halbrand is Sauron, and the stranger is gandaldf, we surprisingly got it right guys -_-

Theo must be Sauron

Nice predictions So far I am not a fan of the show

They have too many stories in limbo for a season finale, I doubt we'll get a satisfactory break-point to most of the storylines in this last episode. I feel they could have done a better job with leaving some stories out completely until season 2, and just put more time in progressing the ones we've already been shown. the halfoots for example don't have any dependancies on the main story, could have easily been cut out for S2. But I suppose they wouldn't be able to market "OMG HOBBITS" and the "Strange mystery man" hype.

*The cultists* may be acolytes to a fallen Blue Wizard in the east who taught them sorcery. They're now on a mission to find his companion - the other Blue Wizard, *The Stranger.* I'm pretty sure the true identity of *the Stranger* won't be revealed in the final episode. That's because his actor stated at the Comic Con he wouldn't know in which direction his character will be aiming at. As for Halbrand = Sauron, I don't find any of those circumstantial hints convincing. For example, yes, Halbrand was incarcerated in Numenor as we know of Sauron in the lore. But the circumstances were _completely_ different, so that's very weak. His advice to Galadriel how to control their enemies might be the strongest hint, but it can also be a clever statement foreshadowing Sauron's actions who is already in place as *Annatar* in Eregion. I disagree with your argument that *Sauron* couldn't be a newly introduced figure because that'd be to obvious to the audience. I expect him to be revealed at the end of the next episode, and it doesn't make any difference, the mystery would be solved in that moment. That could be the cliffhanger to the next season. No offence meant, but I hope all of your predictions are wrong.

I predict that this episode will be as bad or (more likely) worse than the other seven.

Annatar is an elf. Can’t be Halbrand. The show won’t go that far off script

i really enjoy the mystery of this show

I know that the show has been hit or miss for most people, with some absolutely fawning over it and others hating every little detail or decision, but I personally have enjoyed it thoroughly as well as your reflection on the episodes and ideas. I definitely can see the flaws and I wish they weren't there, but some things are just absolutely incredible and, in my opinion, completely justify the existence of the show; I love seeing Khazad-dûm as a living and decadent city, and I hope we get to see a lot more(ia) of it in future seasons; despite my fears and irritation at the announcement of the harfoots, I have found the exploration of one halfling culture before the founding of the shire to be one of the most enriching ideas I have seen in a while; I am still not sure how I feel about Bronwyn's character, but I am really beginning to appreciate Arondir and Theo and I am hoping to see something like a Beleg and Turin type of relationship form between them as Theo grows up; I love the way that the show is using Adar to raise and contextualize questions, which we know Tolkien struggled with, about the possibility of orcs having fëar and free will. I hope that we see some better pacing in future seasons and less reliance on mysteries, too. I don't think I would have minded the possibility of Halbrand being Sauron so much if it didn't feel like they were giving us so many clues proving it can't be him. I'm still holding out hope that he will just be a man and that maybe they are only bringing him to Lindon so that he can be there when Annatar appears, so that it feels like he has a personal stake in the later fighting against Sauron. I don't know how likely it is to come true, but so far my single greatest wish for this series is that we will get to witness 2-3 generations of "low" humans come and go, and at least one generation of Nûmenorians and dwarves die before the end of the show. again, I don't know how likely this is, but I feel like they set up that kind of theme very well in the episode when we met Prince Durin, and a show like this gives us an uncommon opportunity to explore one of the most important themes that Tolkien explored in his writing. I didn't see the need for this show before it was announced and I still think that we could have gone without it, but now that it's here I am planning on watching it through to the end and enjoying whatever parts of it I can. I was able to appreciate the harrowing of Dol Guldur in the Battle of Five Armies and the spiders of Mirkwood in the Desolation of Smaug even though I thought both films were bloated and deeply un-Tolkienian. I'm finding more in this show to like than those films, even when they deviate from the established lore or make strange decisions with characters. I'm here for the long haul.

They are the nameless ones. Jk jk.

Meteor man may be Glorfindel or some hero Elf returned as a different being...? I mean why show the Balrog and Elf fight scene. Better not be Gandolf lol, i think meteor guy is Sauron, left vunerable after some spell he used to travel south. Sauron may have been stuck in the North with elves like Gladriel searching for him. Maybe he had no way to get to New Mordor on foot without being seen and he needed another way to travel. Since Gladriel was clearly the problem... As soon as she was leaving Sauron made his move. Feminem and them were suppose to find him first and give him his shit and restore his memory. The Harfoots might get captured and turned into the "Goblins". There is a scene where the harfoots are migrating singing "nobody goes off trail.." As the scene starts there is creepy music and you see them wearing some weird scary shit.. It reminded me of Casa Dun Goblins. Halbrand could be just some guy who was a smithy for the dark forces... He said he found that important shit on a dead guy. I think he will play a part in the rings construction. Annatar may be in Eriagon already and they wont reveal that till later, why are they suddenly building a forge to make things when they believe there is no "Enemy"? Is it just me or does Celibrimbor give off a Palpatine vibe? What will happen with the dwarves working on the forge now that Durin has banned Elron...? It would make sense that Adar is really Sauron all along and he was trying to rid himself of the name. In pictures either dark lord is shown with a half scared face. Awsome show cant wait for the last episode!

imagine watching and supporting this show..

My main problem is that I don't care anymore. At all :(

I dig that u can actually watch this show. I watched the first few minutes of episode 1 and about lost my wurst. It's so bad.

If Halbrand isn’t Sauron, he’s definitely gotta be the Witch King, imo.

My whacky prediction - Meteor Man and Halbrand will merge to be Sauron reborn. Remember that Adar said he "split" Sauron. The cultists will merge them.

Guyladriel aka Sauron give the sword to theo so he will become the witchking. Now everything makes sense! the showrunners outsmarted us all. rateings will skyrock to 10/10

Sauron woouldnt take the form of a human because there's no way a human could posses the knowledge to craft anything with magic power

My prediction: Galadriel is Sauron, the hobbits are the ring wraiths, and the Dwarves dig too deep and uncover the body of JRR Tolkien which they brutality sodomize in a drug fueled orgy. I’m probably wrong though because that would be closer to the source material than anything we’ve gotten so far.

only Sauron could swim across the ocean without help so maybe Guyladrial is Sauron?

Frodo wakes up in the Shire and gasping for air, sweating in terror. Samwise rushes into the room in a panic “Mr. Frodo! Are you alright?! Are ya hurt?” Frodo replies “I just had the worst dream Sam. There was this shit show called ring of power. It was poorly written with terrible actors and a story line that made zero sense. They had black elves with fresh cuts and Numenorians that kept saying stupid shit about the sea. Galadriel was a bitchy annoying Mary Sue. Luckily it was all just a nightmare”. And that’s the end of the entire series hopefully.

Sorry bad English. LGBT community is not very good represented and I have greatest expectations from finale.

A bit disappointed with the series so far. Not enough action. Only 8 episode seasons? I really don't like to wait for a weekly release. Bing watch is the only way.

I'm mostly stoked on how the finale will get teared apart. The show is so bad that I stopped watching at episode 1 after 10 minutes.

I'm guessing the writing is going to be crap.

the stranger is Sauron. Adar killed him, his spirit traveled back to the Valar, he repented to them, so they sent him back to Arda and erased his mind so he would forget what and who he is. The cultist are aware of this, and they restore is mind. Halbrand is the red haring.

One thing we know.. it will have horrible writing.

With everything they change, do differently, and have rights to. They need to remove Tolkien's name from this rubbish.

I predict it's gonna be cancerous and every single episode released so far!!

Aside from lore this show just bores me. The dialogue and character motivations of this show pale in comparison to House of the Dragon. I don’t care about these characters. I’m fact when it concerns the harfoots I’d like to see the cultists fireball them 😅 The JJ Abrams mystery box formula will only lead to disappointment.