The White City

There are basically two sides to the hope coin: hoping in yourself or hoping in someone else. It is very prevalent that Tolkien's characters put their hope in someone else (i.e. Frodo to destroy the One Ring). It isn't as clear about who the characters in The Rings of Power put their hope. Most of the time the players in The Rings of Power story move forward based on their own merit. This is how w...

Tolkien's family heavily influenced his writings which started with him creating stories for his kids which encouraged him to write more. The relationship between Tolkien and his wife Edith influenced the creation of the famous lovers in Middle-earth, the human Beren and the elf Luthien. Family relationships play a huge role in The Lord of the Rings, and The Rings of Power creates interesting fami...

Characters like Sauron chose the evil path from the beginning and might have a desire to do something good, but what makes him evil is that he never has a change of heart. Gollum is a character who constantly struggles with loving and hating the One Ring, which is all together evil. Galadriel is probably the most pure character in Tolkien's writings, and didn't need to explore the idea of good or...

Miriel's blindness is unique to the show but has potential to create an interesting storyline. A Numenorian leader, who played an important role leading up to The Fall of Numenor, is missing from the ROP storyline. Will he appear, or will someone else usurp his role? With the addition of Elendil's daughter, Earien, drama will probably surmount with a twist of treason...

There is potential for Amazon to come up with some interesting storylines based off of some of the Numenorian leaders, such as Queen Regent Miriel, Pharazon, Elendil, and Isildur. Which characters, who have an important part to play in the books, will end up in The Rings of Power?

The problem of evil and how to respond to challenging situations is a pivotal part of Galadriel and Sauron's character development.

Controversy around the Rings of Power stems from whether themes in the show line up with themes in the books. The producers of the show have done a good job paralleling Galadriel's temptation by the ring in the Fellowship and her temptation by Sauron in the 8th episode.

In this Epilogue for season 1, Philip, Matt, and Mark each give their overview of 'The Rings of Power' by mentioning what they liked or didn't like, regarding anything related to lore or the screen play. Predictions were given for season 2.

Philip, Matt, and Mark, share their different predictions leading up to the eighth episode. Amazon had a good idea of how to end the first season with some strong unique parallels to Tolkien's work.

Philip, Matt, and Mark give their predictions for Sauron in anticipation of his reveal during the finale of season 1. Is Tolkien's world monotheistic or polytheistic and how does that work itself into the problem of evil? Oh, and Matt is determined that Balrog's don't have wings.

Philip and Mark discuss the caveat on the way ROP is portraying how characters react to trials, and is the darkness needed to understand the light, or what is good. Is Galadriel's character shaped by the dark things she experiences or does she need to learn how to be a good person by coming close to what is evil?

Philip and Mark bring to light Galadriel's unmentioned family, and what's the agenda behind it? Tolkien displays his characters as good unless affected by evil while Amazon gives even the most incorruptible character a bad side. Amazon doesn't stay close with the lore, to their detriment.

Philip, Matt, and Mark discuss Sauron and his mysteriousness in the show and the books and whether the producers are capturing their audience or stringing out the show.

Philip and Matt discuss the revealing of Numenor, the greatest kingdom of Men, a grumpy Galadriel, and the fate of each race: from the Elves to the Men, and Numenor in between.

Philip talks about whether the show lives up to wokeness and risque content, and Matt shares his unending knowledge of whether details from the show are matching up with the book, and does it really make it or break it?

Philip and Matt attempt to dissect the daring mission to create a Middle Earth show, with little to go on.

Philip gives his reason for starting the podcast and why he named it The White City.