As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
On this day, a new age of darkness began.
- The prologue that narrates the First Age. The Trees of Valinor are shown corroding by some unseen menace, with the cloud of smoke arising from them bearing a massive shadow. Following onwards we see a montage of elves being slaughtered on a battlefield that could easily be mistaken for Hell.
- The shadow deserves extra mention here. While it's safe to assume it's a sign of Morgoth's presence, the lack of information beyond that single glimpse raises a few questions. Is that Morgoth himself, or a literal shadow cast by a more horrific form? Could it be Morgoth's true form, or is this just the closest perceptible image we can grasp of it?
- Galadriel and Halbrand are attacked by a sea-serpent known only as "the wyrm". We never get a good look at it, which only makes it more terrifying.
- Bronwyn and Theo are attacked in their home by a servant of Morgoth. Is it Sauron? A giant spider? Some other fell creature? No, it's a garden variety orc. While Bronwyn did manage to kill it, the orc was still formidable enough to take on two inexperienced humans, so much so that its death was based more on luck than strength or skill. And there are thousands of these things lurking within the dark parts of Middle-earth.
- The reveal of the orc's leader Adar, that he resembles an Elf, which makes the fact that the Orcs call him "father" all the more unsettling. He's later revealed to be one of the first elves Morgoth tortured and corrupted into becoming an orc.
- Unlike the Southland warg, the wolves that attack the Harfoots in the woods look absolutely monstrous. They were inspired by the real-life prehistoric beasts Entelodonts, also called "hell pigs", and thus look like some kind of hybrid between wolves and boars.
- The Stranger, seemingly by accident, freezing Nori's hand to the spot while she struggles desperately to get it free. Once the ice shatters, she runs away from him in terror, and it's hard to blame her - while the Stranger's intentions seem good, he's clearly not safe to be around.
- The decimation of the Southlands, starting with the rain of fire and brimstone on the villagers. When the clouds of ash have finished spreading over the land, we're greeted by the apocalyptic sight of a horse set on fire, galloping in a panic. Then, the Southlands' name changed to an ominous, well-known one: Mordor.
- As Durin's Bane has finally awakened at Episode 7's finale, Khazad-dûm's days are numbered.
- The revelation in Episode 8 that Halbrand is Sauron in disguise. While a lot of people saw it coming, it's still deeply unsettling to see someone we've known as a likeable Anti-Hero revealed to be the most evil and dangerous creature in Middle-Earth. What really sells it is that his behaviour doesn't even change that much when he lets the mask drop - the Halbrand we've seen is how Sauron sees himself, as someone who's a bit jaded and cynical but ultimately good-natured. He's talking about taking over the world, and he genuinely doesn't believe that that makes him a bad guy. Now that's scarier than any spiky armour.
- Word of Saint Paul states that not only is Halbrand Sauron, but he's Sauron at his lowest point, stripped of his self-confidence and forced to rethink his life. Galadriel built him back, and Sauron offered her to be his Queen and Morality Chain, blatantly claiming that her "Light" could balance his "Darkness" and going so far to suggest instead of the Three Rings for the Elven Kings two Power Rings, obviously wedding bands for the King and Queen of all Arda. Sauron is a step from becoming a Stalker with a Crush, blaming Galadriel's refusal to follow him for every atrocity that will be committed in the Second and Third Age.
- The mystics in general are intensely creepy, with everything from their appearance, to their abilities, to the way they move possessing an extremely uncanny quality. One of them assumes the form of Nori, which is not the least bit convincing due to her empty eyes.
