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The Lord Of The Rings The Rings Of Power S 2 E 8 Shadow And Flame

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  • Alternative Character Interpretation: Glûg and his party track down Sauron, but instead of blindly slaughtering him like they did with all of the elves, Glûg just asks for confirmation of his identity. Given Glûg's disillusionment with Adar's leadership in the previous episode, it's possible they were only tracking down Sauron precisely so they could join him.
  • Captain Obvious Reveal: The Stranger is Gandalf, a reveal that was heavily foreshadowed by various quotes attributed to the Grey Wizard across most of Season 2 that more or less killed any chance he might be a different Istari.
  • Cry for the Devil: Adar, for all his brutality and ruthlessness, was a Well-Intentioned Extremist who only wanted his children to have a home and a chance to live in peace. When he finally realizes that an alliance with Galadriel is in his and his children's best interest, it's too late and Sauron has won the orcs to his side. The fact that Adar willingly takes off Nenya because he no longer sees himself as an elf and finds meaning in leading the uruks, adds extra pain to his demise at the hands of his children. On top of that and in large part through her alliance with Adar, Galadriel has come to believe that despite being dangerous and violent, the uruks have a right to exist and have a homeland. She also realizes In-Universe, that thanks to Adar's demise, the uruk are destined to become Sauron's canon fodder.
  • They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character: The Gaudrim leader Brank is killed off by the Dark Wizard, preventing any new insights into his character and depriving the halflings of an enemy they could conceivably match. He also seems to have functioned similarly to Boba Fett, sparking fan interest and speculation, only to be treated to an early death.
  • Woobie Species: The stoors have their village torn apart by the Dark Wizard. Gundabale had previously stated that stoors have a deep-seated attachment to their village — with the trees being planted and tended by them — so this disruption is more than just an inconvenience to them, but an erasure of their history and culture.

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