Meanwhile, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) finally clocked that High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) and elves Thomas Heatherwick Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) had sent him to Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) under false pretenses. It turns out that the elves were really interested in the dwarfs’ mountain full of priceless treasures. Again, Elrond shows that he can be quite fat for a smart guy. The harfoots kept running and the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) got to show off some impressive magic against some very uninteresting CGI hyenabies.
I kept finding myself taking the side of the apparent villains, which isn’t ideal in a world where good and bad have to be obvious. Even the orcs seem to be having a great time. You could see why the mean Southlands guy – Waldreg (Geoff Morrell), sounds and looks like Baldrick – wanted to join them. More fun than learning archery with the annoying Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova). And who are the mysterious figures dressed in white that have penetrated the human meteorite? In Númenor, the ambitious Chancellor Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle, the only cast member whose name is more fantasy than his character’s) seems to be the only one with any administrative chops. Curious how that will turn out.
Other frustrations persist. Given all the money from Amazon, why was everything in Númenor filmed in that one small town square? Why is the CGI so uneven? Why do all the scenes with the audience feel so sparse? After last week’s recruitment motivational speech in Númenor, we were treated to a recruitment motivational speech in the Southlands, and the crowd responded with the same ‘rhubarb-rhubarb’ school mumble as last time. I realize this sounds like nitpicking, but it takes you out of the fantasy. Such an elaborate escapism makes no sense if you can constantly see the joins.
At least the Númenoreans are finally on board, despite Isildur’s incompetence and the warnings of King Tar-Palantir (Ken Blackburn).
“Don’t go to Middle Earth,” the old man insisted
“What awaits me there?” Miriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) replied.
“Darkness.”
Let’s hope.