this is my favorite genre of bts pictures.
like just actors in full costume with some random item or article of clothing that does NOT fit the universe their story is set in
Iconic
the silmarillion as vines
This just in, it's not actually homophobic to not enjoy incest shipping
Spoilers for Rings of Power s2, ep5!!
Screw Annatar. I want to gouge his eyes out with a spoon. I want to cut his ears off. I want him to have Celebrimbor's fate. The Everlasting Darkness is not enough; I want to wring his neck like a wet rag and not in a good way. He is hypocritical, manipulative asshole and I want him gone. Charlie Vickers has magically managed to make me hate Annatar even MORE, and I applaud him; good acting has moved me to further dislike of this character.
And that smarmy little BITCH from Numenor. It was iconic when all of the King's Men still called Elendil "Captain", and even better when they said, "Valar bless you". As a religious person, this struck my soul. What struck my soul even more was when that scrawny little-- lemme not say. But when that guy, Pharazôn's apprentice whose name I don't even want to learn, desecrated the temple!!!!! He destroyed a relic likely from the First Age!!!! He KILLED VALANDIL IN A HOLY PLACE. Not only was I sad to see such a strong supporter of Numenor's Faithful perish, it was how it happened that saddened me the most.
Valandil prayed for the Valar's forgiveness (slay of him) and fought Smarmy Bitch, and it was great!!! Not very honorable in my book, but I loved to see it!!! And then, Smarmy Bitch tried to drown him, but Valandil took the upper hand, either dislocated his shoulder or broke his elbow, and pointed Smarmy Bitch's own sword at him!!! But then, he took the high road; he showed mercy, even when he didn't want to. He chose to value life instead of take it. BUT GUESS WHAT SMARMY BITCH DID?
Smarmy Bitch stabbed him in the back. Literally. As Valandil chose to be the better man, to be honorable and good, Smarmy Bitchy chose the opposite.
It was heartbreaking to watch Elendil cradle Valandil as he died, someone he likely saw as a third son (You know, with Isildur and Anarion).
It was interesting to watch Smarmy Bitch wash his sword in the water. It was almost symbolic of how he washed the blood away; he thinks that he is cleansing Numenor of her past, creating a brighter future. He is misled. Instead of cleaning her bloody sins, he is demonstrating that those in power, those who agree with the king, can get away from anything. He can get away with murder in front of countless witnesses; he can tell the guards that Valandil was the first aggressor; he can manipulate the variables to his side all because of Pharazôn's favor.
And the storming of a religious building, complete disregard for the peoples' privacy and respect, I found terrible.
And poor Durin and Disa. Their king has gone corrupt with the power of the ring, and will not see reason. The tree that Elrond gave Durin is dying, symbolizing the growing, yet strained, relationship between the dwarves and the elves, as well as Khazad-dûm's slow descent. The Doors of Durin were a delight to see, but Annatar's jealous, manipulative reaction hurt my heart. Celebrimbor only sought to do good, to honor his grandfather by making powerful, good things like Fëanor tried to do. But just like with Morgoth's whispers, Celebrimbor is facing the same manipulation by a similar force. Sure, Fëanor did not trust Morgoth,but he heeded his words and let them plant the seeds of distrust in his mind.
And poor Celebrimbor; I mourn for him already. He is falling swiftly to Annatar's game. You can watch as Annatar grows closer to him, Celebrimbor grows less stable, more agitated, and more harried. When Annatar said that Celebrimbor should head for Lindon, implying that he would rule in Celebrimbor's stead, was a terrifying thing to see. Thankfully, Celebrimbor knew not to leave his city in the hands of a Maia who was likely beginning to distrust.
And by the end of the episode, after Celebrimbor declared that they were to make the nine rings for men, he looked terrible. He looked close to tears, knowing that he was making the wrong decision but still felt it was necessary, for it would fix a wrong that he had not, or had accidentally, made. He needs that First Age bottle; better yet, one of the Trees.
And Sauron. You whorey bitch. You tell that nice elven lady that she looks like Galadriel. Sure, she knows it's a compliment; to be compared to daughter of Finarfin in beauty is a very fine thing to say, but she does not realize that Annatar's honeyed words will lead only to horror.
And Annatar. Are you looking for a rebound? Afraid the exes are unionizing? Because Adar and Galadriel looked close to an alliance, last I saw.
And once again, I want to know where Celeborn is. I know he won't be in this season, but still. I miss my little guy. And ngl, when those orcs kept growling at Galadriel, I thought she was going to growl back 😭😭. Frankly, I wanted her to; at least bare her teeth, let them know she was not afraid.
AND LASTLY, the name drops!!! Eärendil, Tuor, Beren!!! Even Barahir!!! All great men who had elven sugar mommies!!!!! Minus Barahir, though.
NOOOOOOOO NOT THE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS!!!!!!!
SHUT THE FUCK UP EVERYONE HE THREW THE FUCKING HAMMER?
Me, donning my shield of faith, breastplate of righteousness, and sword of the Spirit: ah lads, here we go again
My sister: why are you so Bedecked™️ we're literally going to school
Me, putting on my helmet of salvation: BECAUSE
Sister: it keeps going
Me, almost falling over, tugging on the boots of peace: IM GONNA NEED THESE IF I HAVE TO DEAL WITH HOOLIGANS
IN THE MIDDLE OF MATH CLASS AND AO3 ISNT LOADING
WHAT IS HAPPENING
IT ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER
Yet another day of illustrating moments from my fic instead of editing the last two chapters and posting them like a normal person might do 😇✨
(this is a fun little sequence where Maglor is pouring his heart out into a lament to a tragedy in the general Fëanorian past, as he tends to, whilst the adolescent Estel, aka Elros II — the bane of Maedhros' re-embodied life, smells a business opportunity and starts selling overpriced tickets to local children)