As a self-proclaimed lover of most things high-fantasy, I must admit it has been a while since I have watched anything related to The Lord of the Rings (LOTR). So, to prepare for the release of LOTR: The Rings of Power, I consumed only LOTR content for two days straight. So, when it came time to sit down and watch the first two episodes of the new series, I was pleasantly surprised. However, I should note that from this point on, there will be spoilers; therefore, if you have not watched episode one of A Shadow of the Past, please come back later.
Main Cast
| Actor/Actress | Role |
| Morfydd Clark | Galadriel |
| Lenny Henry | Sadoc Burrows |
| Markella Kavenagh | Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot |
| Sara Zwangobani | Marigold Brandyfoot |
| Thusitha Jayasundera | Malva |
| Megan Richards | Poppy Proudfellow |
| Dylan Smith | Largo Brandyfoot |
| Maxine Cunliffe | Vilma |
| Robert Aramayo | Elrond |
| Ismael Cruz Córdova | Arondir |
| Daniel Weyman | The Stranger |
| Nazanin Boniadi | Bronwyn |
| Charles Edwards | Celebrimbor |
| Tyroe Muhafidin | Theo |
| Amelie Child-Villiers | Young Galadriel |
| Will Fletcher | Finrod |
Episode One Recap
The story begins with a young Galadriel making paper boats and having a heart-to-heart conversation with her brother. Unfortunately, the story does not stay light-hearted for long. The Dark Lord, Morgoth, destroyed two elven trees known as Telperion and Laurelin, which served as the light sources in Valinor. This brings war to Middle-Earth. Many lives were lost on the elven and orc sides, including that of Galadriel’s older brother Finrod. While Morgoth was defeated, the sigil of Sauron was carved into Finrod’s skin. This became Galadriel’s mark for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, in Rhovanion, viewers met the Harfoots, a group of nomadic Hobbits. Sadoc, the leader of the bunch, believes something celestial is afoot. Nori, a curious young Harfoot, is intrigued by this mystery. Not long after this revelation, come nightfall, Nori saw a fiery bead of light streaking through the sky. After following the light, she went across the landing site. In the middle of the crash zone, a naked man was seemingly unconscious.
Additionally, in Tirharad, a village of men, elven soldier Arondir inquired about any strange happenings in the land. Rumors spark about a patch of grass that is making animals sick. Word made round to the elven soldiers here that the war is over, and they will be heading home. However, that does not stop Arondir and the human healer Bronwyn from checking out the town with the mysterious grass. Upon arrival, they find it aflame.
Odds and Ends
If you want to watch LOTR: The Rings of Power, head to Amazon Prime Video. The first two episodes are already out at the time of writing this article, with another episode every Friday.
