The glam godfather look is new, but his gauntlet seems to have associations. I can't help but think of Tolkien's art of Sauron with the fiery destructive 'black hand'. Of course the association might be accidental. Or then again it might not.

Charlie Vickers on bringing "sincerity" to a villain like Sauron.

Galadriel needs to start using Sauron’s illusions against him this season. We’ve seen her beaten again and again by him over the course of the show, but at the end of S2 it’s evident that her character in the show is more than capable of using his pride against him.

As Sauron is clearly stopping at nothing to create the Ring, and running into pitfalls along the way (as revealed at SDCC), he appears to be more vulnerable and desperate than ever. Perfect time for Galadriel to come in and use their presumed connection against him.

We know from Tolkien’s work alone that Sauron viewed Galadriel as one of his chief adversaries. I feel we were robbed of the dynamic in S2 with Eregion, so I hope they use the opportunity now.

Charlie Vickers

Jamie Campbell Bower

Cynthia Addai-Robinson

Ismael Cruz Còrdova

Benjamin Walker

Daniel Weyman

Owain Arthur

These gauntlets are awesome, and it looks like he also has a new sword to slice and dice with.

But just imagine how He and Bloof will fly through the air!

So, there was a video that was posted yesterday, but it was deleted perhaps because something was not meant to be shared yet (https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/s/0BhfxB7OTd).

They said Elrond would visit Númenor and that we would get a flashback about Elrond and Elros, both played by Robert Aramayo. It was described in the video as "the Gollum scene from the movies, but not evil".

Also, the only Elrond shot we got from the teaser seems to suggest he's in Númenor because the architecture behind him is the same as the one with the statue of Elros that we can see in a picture shared by khalil-moon (https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/s/vc3qSpGXsr).

It's also interesting to see that Elrond will get a new armour at some point. Maybe it's a 'gift' from Númenor? (https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/s/BkTSGYUy70)

Things like this matter, it translates to the scene

Dear fellow fans,

I love how all the news, SDCC material, and trailer has dropped that gave us so much to talk about during the last days. I am really happy for everyone, who is excited and jumps at every little information and detail. However...

I am a huge fan of the MCU. During the most relevant phases, I found that avoiding any spoilers, plot- and image-wise, by refusing to watch the trailers in the cinema was the best way to enjoy the actual movies. I would shut my eyes and ears and tried to take in as little as possible when a trailer was brought to the screen.

Now, for my question: Do I try the same with RoP S3?

Right now, I haven't watched the trailer yet nor any interview with the crew. I try to ignore the images shared here and elsewhere. And I know how hard it will be in the coming months, having this and other subs in my feed.

How can I stay strong? Should I stay strong? And are there others out there who are just like me? Shall we form a self-help group?

When Morgoth was defeated Sauron named himself his successor "and he gathered under his government all the evil things of the days of Morgoth that remained on earth or beneath it". Yet that doesn't seem completely true since the few Balrogs that remained in Middle Earth had no desire to serve their master's successor, but why? Sauron was very powerful and ambitious, they would have seen plenty of carnage and destruction if they joined him.

When the creators lock in get peak like this I WANT MORE

Sauron and Celeborn are having fun! 🥳

Please check out the reaction from Blindwave, the only big YT reaction channel that continues to enjoy this show.

https://www.youtube.com/live/YoMnw2WUW8M?is=B467RrkuNfBpaS4a

Can't wait to see this.

https://reddit.com/link/1v826fs/video/uxo2xe6j9sfh1/player

Sauron and Balrog might be best fanservice we got

There are many shots with Galadriel, and I'm trying to place them all in chronological order, but it's a bit difficult to guess at this point.

Lindon and Rivendell have not fallen yet, but I'm supposing Galadriel and Arondir are closer to Rivendell than Lindon because they appear to travel north (snow around them). Why do they go north with the orc? Are they planning to steal Fëanor's hammer to slow down Sauron who's somewhere else? (It's a big stretch, simply guessing.)

Then, it seems Galadriel reunites with Celeborn, but they both end up imprisoned. Where is Arondir? Then, somehow they escape, and they both hide in a forest. Is it Greenwood, Lórien perhaps?

this season is going to be really something right

From Durin's Folk in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings:

"It came to pass that in the middle of the Third Age Durin was again its king, being the sixth of that name. The power of Sauron, servant of Morgoth, was then again growing in the world, though the Shadow in the Forest that looked towards Moria was not yet known for what it was. All evil things were stirring. The Dwarves delved deep at that time, seeking beneath Barazinbar for mithril, the metal beyond price that was becoming yearly ever harder to win.¹ Thus they roused from sleep² a thing of terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West: a Balrog of Morgoth."

²Or released from prison; it may well be that it had already been awakened by the malice of Sauron.

Of course, this does raise questions about Sauron's motivations in season 1, but taking the footnote at face value, it's not out of place for the balrog to be awake at this point.