This episode really got to me! Arondir having to cut the last tree broke my heart. I enjoy this show so much and appreciate its message. I also give my input on the hate this show is getting in the intro. Reaction starts @11:13

i truly appreciate the way you have a sense of wonder. the way you just go "wow" at numinor, it makes the experience so much better for you and it makes watching your reaction spark joy in me as well.

@youngrootv

Жыл бұрын

@@ox_ndo638 bro go hate somewhere else Jesus

Normally I prefer group reactions, but I love how going solo has given you the chance to talk at length about anything you’re thinking. The group dynamic just gets in the way of that, and you’re the only solo reactor I know that engages in “meaningful” discussions.

@ImonSnow

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

Great reaction, and thank you for that opening 💗 Yes everyone has their opinions about the show and I’m so over all the race talk about it. (This show and people going crazy over the Little Mermaid) I wish people would be more open minded but it’s their loss 🤷‍♀️some are just stuck in those ways. I’m enjoying it so far and can’t wait to see what is to come!

Thank you so much for that intro. As a black geek, I've been dismayed to see how much our inclusion angers people. I'm super shipping Arondir and Bronwyn, I love every scene they have together. It's lovely to watch a reaction from someone so breathtakingly beautiful inside and out.😍

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

Why are you dismayed that the inclusion of something that doesn't make any sense for bullshit ideological/financial reasons rather than being loyal to the work it's based on angers people? That seems incredily myopic, selfish and disrespectful.

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

​@Ali Chaudhry Tolkien wrote a European mythology. You're clearly being dishonest. it's not right to try to diversify it and it wouldn't be right to do it to African mythology as an example. You're coming off incredibly racist and anti-white trying to justify this anti-white money grab instead of showing solidarity. Wether you intend to or not, the result of what you're saying here is anti-white racism.

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

@Ali Chaudhry You think being an anti-white racist is funny? Sad.

The Southlands turning into Mordor was a big WOAH moment.

oh yeah so apparently the second age is crunched down because it's a mess of things happening thousands of years apart so maybe Isildur is alive during the forging of the rings (which isn't accurate to the books) but probably meant to build their story more periodically

@fai-pe7oq

Жыл бұрын

Yea I get the reason they did it for. The second age is essentially something happens, then nothing for 1500 years and another big thing happens. Still getting used to the time compression but I’m hoping they make it work

Tolkien knew pretty damn well that people from all over the world would read his books so especially with his LOTR series he wrote it almost as a universal story the race of men for example he wrote them in all shapes and colors there were taller men there were shorter men there were lighter skin men there were darker etc etc dwarves same thing, some groups of hobbits same thing only elves are described in one way but he wouldn't mind having a black elf like he didn't concern himself with insignificant stuff like that. There is a reason why he hated allegory it's because he wanted readers to have their own beliefs about the books you know it's like these Tolkien purists are missing the whole point.

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

This is so low brow I can't believe people like you exist and feel so comfortable mouthing off obvious BS.

All I’ll say….. The story of Númenor what happened to Númenor is one of the most amazing and hardcore stories of Tolkien…

While it gave me no pleasure seeing you cry, it was a nice reassurance seeing someone else mourn the loss of that tree and how it occurred. I truly admire your heart for that moment.

The first reaction video of yours I saw was Return of the Jedi, and it was excellent. I was glad you did Rings of Power, but after seeing this reaction video. Wow, you are such of positive force in the universe. I have no doubt you will make all of your family and friends better with your presence. Can't wait for your reaction to episode 8.

I know I’m a little late but I have to say I love your reactions, most of the time when I watch stuff like this it’s just constant criticism, it feels like such a relief to be able to watch you and have this second input of positivity, thank you!☺️

The character of Nienna was my favorite, too, I've always identified the most with her attitude- and I think Tolkien himself probably did, as well. One of the most moving parts of the whole Silmarillion, I think, is Yavanna creating the two trees and Nienna watering them with her tears. You can tell in those passages where Tolkien's heart is. I don't think it's weird to get weepy about the trees and Tolkien's love of nature in general, I'm the same, there, as well. In "The Two Towers" film, the scene where Treebeard finds the forest cut down, I always tear up- the music that accompanies it doesn't hurt lol. That's something I love about Portland, too. I need the trees, the nature. PS- I almost forgot! It's no mistake that to Olorin (Gandalf's Maia name) is one of Nienna's people, she's the one that chose him for the mission to middle earth. Another sign that she is Tolkien's favorite, or at least one he feels is most important.

@ImonSnow

Жыл бұрын

This is such awesome info that I had no idea about! Thank you for sharing.

Rings of Power are the first reaction of yours that i have watched and i have to say i love every second of it. You said that you are like Nienna but honestly you reminde me more of Yavanna. She realy cared about the trees and all nature and was healing the hurts of Morgoth. You have such a peacefull vibe just like her and you are very open minded. Also her usual form was a woman robed in green😂. You are beautiful btw. Really looking foward to see more of your reactions.❤

Imon yes! I have been saying this exact thing in my futile crusade to reply to all these ignorant people who purport to have "read the books", fake fans politicizing everything and feigning offense at a nonexistent agenda... while ironically pushing their own🤣I freaking love you for being the one brave enough call this out. Their focus on negativity and reasoning they bring to their posts goes against the very spirit of Tolkiens works! The hate they bring are NONE of the things the books hold up as noble and everything the heroes fight against. It's quite obvious that this small but loud minority either missed the point of the books or never read them at all. They're a bunch of 👽Gollums, petting their "precious" vision of what Tolkien's works should be, crouched in the dark somewhere, muttering to themselves and ready to lash out... looking more and more like their Dark Lord(s)😂

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

Nonexistent agenda? Lol, typical. First denial, then it's "yeah it's an agenda, but if you don't agree with it you're just a terrible person". So low brow. So sad.

Lifelong Tolkien fan here. I knew there would be racist outrage over the casting in this show, so I prepared the following bullet points from the lore to refute their racist claims. I hope you find it helpful. - The dwarves were crafted from stone by Aulë. Stone comes in many colors, not just white. - Numenor was a maritime empire with overseas colonies in the South and the Far East. Thus, we’d expect them to have a multi-ethnic population, just like every other such empire, ever. - In addition, the noble houses of Numenor included House Bëor, many of whose members were dark skinned. - During the Second Age (when this show is set), the mainland of Middle Earth was home to the ancestors of the dark skinned Dunlendings. These Men lived in all the lands from the Misty Mountains down to the White Mountains… including the lands that would one day become Gondor and Rohan. They were displaced by the Numenoreans who became the Men of Gondor, and Saruman used the lingering resentment this caused to lure the Dunlendings to his side during the War Of The Ring. - The Harfoot halflings were explicitly described by Tolkien as being “browner than” other hobbits. In the Lord Of The Rings novels, Samwise Gamgee is canonically brown-skinned, leading many fans and scholars to speculate that he was of Harfoot ancestry. So yeah, the racial diversity has always been there in Tolkien’s work. No one who respects his stories and his theme of unity against evil should ever seek to exclude people because of their birth.

@ImonSnow

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this

@bramo1825

Жыл бұрын

Well put and thank you for posting this!

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

If you're supposedly a lifelong Tolkien fan, you would know better than post the fallacious and false points you did here.

@BoboftheOldeWays

Жыл бұрын

@@tayzk5929 Cool story, bro

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

@@BoboftheOldeWays Ironic

Really appreciating your reaction and insights Imon. I've always loved LotR and the Silmarillion and am currently reading the former to my daughters. The reaction to this series by some people has made me quite sad. I hate gatekeeping and want more people to become interested in the lore. It doesn't have to be 1:1 accurate to get people excited for it. The LotR film wasn't exactly accurate but it got so many people interested in it and lead to more people reading it! As for any confusion. They play a bit fast and loose with a period of about 1500 years in the second age. The Numenorians are long lived, living hundreds of years.

I'm so happy that your are loving the show 😭❤️

When you talked about having a voice but no one will listen… I think that’s exactly how Galadriel feels.. with all her correct assumptions and correct predictions.. but still everyone is in denial… I would be angry too…

Your point about people always wanting more reminded me of Cloud Atlas. If you haven't watched that yet, I'd love to see your reaction! It's one of my favourites.

Amazing opening and reaction

Beautiful opening remarks. Bravo!

Amazing reaction as usual, love this show.

When me and my family (we can be considered as white&conservative) finished our binge-watch of the show (I had already watched it as it was airing) I told my mum that there had been “backlash” on the casting choices and she was like “What? That was a topic?” because she assumed that a show based on Tolkien’s work would obviously reflect his world view, experiences and believes, he was all about different races coming together past their differences. Also, absolutely loving your reactions (especial you Bible comparisments)! You are so well-spoken and clearly will educated and your excitement is very contagious!

Hey, the Orcs are receiving help from very different people to, it's all connected, one happy fellowship... Keep being positive about the things you like.

Hey guys, hey Imon! Thanks so much for this, for your words and reaction. You’re Persian, did I get that right? In that case: khoda hafez? ;) Alas, I think this kind of anger and hate is simply a mirror of our time when there is a lot of fear, uncertainty going around. One crisis chasing the next like the four riders, no. Of course there’s always crises, war, violence but maybe a difference is nowadays that we have so much access to it, so much information about these things. So people get rightfully scared, I do. But when do you feel scared really? It’s not that I have to fear for my dear life, in a heated apartment and umpteen supermarkets around me, most of us not, anyway, everyday. It’s when you feel alone, cut off, disconnected, isn’t it. So everything that is strange, or different, seems scary because you feel not connected to it. You’re apart, not a part. There’s an old German punk song called "Schrei nach Liebe" (Cry for Love) by "Die Ärzte" (The Doctors): "Deine Gewalt ist nur ein stummer Schrei nach Liebe, Deine Springerstiefel sehnen sich nach Zärtlichkeit..." (Your violence is nothing but a silent cry for love, your combat boots [traditionally and fondly worn by neonazis in Germany] long for tenderness...) Taking a "heated backdrop" like the one of these days, I guess it’s easy for people to turn to the dark side even when it comes to fiction like Star Wars, LOTR or the Wheel of Time. They feel not connected to the production, they don’t like what they see, it’s not what they expected or hoped for, so they feel left behind, alone, and their fear and loneliness ignites into hatred. And it’s so easy! So infectious. On certain days, when I have a weak moment and read comments full of spite and bile, I become scared as well because I don’t feel connected to that. Then I feel alone, and then I hate those who write such things. I am then become a servant of Melkor myself, just like that, with the snap of my finger. It’s alI can do to not stay there, but only touch the darkness and then look up again. ...Jesses, this comment is long, and sappy, and far too long, sorry about that. But I felt inspired and got carried away. Like that. Forgive me, and keep up the good work, love! :) Namarie, and may the Force be with you, always

Completely agree with what you're saying about the books! The crux of the story was the gathering of all the races to stand together, unified and strong in the face of wholly and clearly unjustified systems of power. I also don't believe adaptations need to be completely accurate/faithful to the source material to be good. The LOTR movies are loved by all fans and yet weren't entirely faithful to the book. The core of it is there. The charm, the sense of adventure and coming together, the "epicness". This show isn't perfect. But it is very good.

This show really feels like it was created by (and for) people who grew up watching and loving the original LOTR trilogy by Peter Jackson. From the awesome music to the epic scale, to the heartfelt moments. And I'm so glad they learned from the Hobbit and went back to practical orcs. I was expecting an uninspired cash-grab, and the show seriously exceeded those expectations. Now I personally rank it somewhere between the Hobbit and the original trilogy, and the first season isn't even done yet. But what makes me sad, is knowing that there's tons of LOTR fans who will get swept up in these blind internet hate-trains that try and get everyone else to view the show through the same crap-stained lens that they do... People tend to forget that the original trilogy had just as much toxic negativity, from the nitpicky Tolkien purists hating every single change (and Peter Jackson did make many changes), all the way to sexist complaints about Arwen no longer being a pretty prop in the background like she is in the books. There was all sorts of reactionary garbage about Peter Jackson being a "woke" Hollywood liberal coming to ruin their favorite books. It was the same old hatred and biases, but back in 2001-2003, that toxicity mostly kept itself to the darker corners of the internet. Social media wasn't so intertwined with our daily lives. So most people were free to enjoy the series on fair grounds. I bet if PJ had made his LOTR series today, and it was an hourly show rather than longer movies, where every hour of content was interrupted by a week's worth of internet toxicity... I bet a lot of people would have fell into the same type of hate-train and not have given it a true chance.

Yaaaaassss green is my fave colour too ❤️❤️❤️

Now Lord of the Rings is a masterpiece of cinema & the Hobbit is a blast. The Rings of Power has the impossible task of being in the shadow of such works of art & has the impossible task of at least being in the realm of those film. Regardless of the flaws, there is a lot to enjoy & one needn’t overanalyze every detail of it like a smug & sanctimonious literature doctoral student Whatever the case being back in Middle Earth is always a joy even if it’s not purely canonical even though it’s gleaned from Source material. I hate to excuse it with participation trophy type if rationale but they effort at what they were trying to achieve is admirable. There is a to like in ROP. A lot of the actors brought their A game like Durin IV’s Owain Arthur who crushed it. Sauron is portrayed as fsr more complex & tormented rather than a pure monolithic incarnation of evil which is far more enjoyable. It’s just fun to journey back through Middle-Earth so we should all just enjoy the ride. Speaking of emotions like joy or otherwise, At around @0:35 you related that “I am enjoying the Simirillion” & later stated that “you’re sensitive & cry a lot.” That’s a beautiful thing Imon. I never understood people who are stoic with movies or fiction. They have no heart & soul. “It’s just a movie” or “it’s not real” isn’t the point. Now I’m laid back but try to act somewhat hard & tough but I’m also a cat & dog loving softie. I suspend my disbelief like most passionate movie & book fans. Movies can mimic the human condition & strike an emotional chord with us. It can be cathartic & also elicit awful pain or pure joy from us. It might be fiction but like most art, it’s emotional & our responses tell us a lot about ourselves & our character. Frankly if one isn’t moved emotionally but certain movie incidents I don’t know if that person has a heart or soul. I remember your cathartic & moving cries at Anakin’s Force Ghost at the end of Jedi. Let the tears flow. To me it’s really indicative of your character, traits & emotions. How can someone not be emotionally moved by such a powerful scene. If you aren’t moved emotionally at such things I think it’s highly possible that such a person is a sociopath & devoid of the spectrum of human emotions. Even “not real” fiction can be so emotionally powerful that it manifests itself physically in us as emotion because it reminds us, symbolizes or stands for things in our lives such as memories. Emotionally deep people feel. In the Army when we faced adversity l, hardship or challenges we say the mantra “embrace the suck” to adapt & overcome it. Same thing here. Embrace the emotion. It cathartic. Passion. Feeling. It’s a good thing to feel whether it’s pain or joy. It’s a “behavioral or emotional symbol” if you will, of a Momento Mori which reminds us that All Men Must Die & that time is fleeting so make the most of it. Cheers Imon

Lovely opening. I've not read the Silmarillion so it was nice to hear that quote! Honestly it's quite tiresome at the moment. I hate that diversity has now turned into "woke" which somehow has made a term synonymous of "progressive" mean "bad". Strong female characters also seem to be "woke" now because "feminism" is woke because apparently now feminism means "anti-man" (don't know if you're planning on watching She-Hulk, you should it's very fun, but that's getting a lot of that shit right now, though they were so predictable the show includes it as a joke). Little Mermaid is getting it because apparently a cartoon adaptation of the original Hans Christian Anderson story is the law now? To be honest if people want to be full on racist and just outright state they don't want diversity because I dunno Tolkien said elves had "fair" skin and now that's the fking law now the fine..be openly idiotic. Apparently you can make adaptations to timeline and storyline but NOT APPEARANCE HOW DARE YOU! (Tolkien also was SO vague on appearances in general especially in LOTR , acting like he had this solid, super important, unchangeable idea of how each race looks is frankly dumb af). But my favourite is people covering their racism and anti-whatever with "the show is objectively bad". I was in a debate with someone about it recently. I was saying no one needs to love every show, I have my own issues with this show it's not perfect but I'm enjoying it a lot, but it's funny how all these objectively bad pieces of media happen to have non-white people or showcase different religions (like Miss Marvel, also very fun!), or have a female lead (Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Star Wars) or have LGBTQ+ relationships. None of this shit is new and it's just ugh. I love the internet generally but one down side is that people can always find a dark corner of people who agree with them and feel emboldened. The same patterns repeating themselves are tiresome, I'm white so can't obviously speak for a non-white people, but in some instances I've found that seeing the same shit over and over sometimes makes it easier to go "well..this group of people aren't as special or important as they think they are and none of them have won yet". I was watching Dan Howell here on KZread recently and he was saying like, if people want Pride to stop being a thing then that's down to the homophobes because while they're still spouting their nonsense there will need to be visusl and active defiance of that hatred. But they don't get that because that's too much brain capacity for their small minds. Anyway I've waffled a hell of a lot i should actually watch this reaction now 🤣🤣🤣

Does anyone know what the music in the intro is? It is really beautiful.

💚

The thing I loved most in this episode that is VERY in line with Tolkien’s work is the tragedy of seeing nature being destroyed by the fires of war and industry. We humans look as trees and see these great things that lived long before us and long after us, but elves are old enough that they remember when they were mere saplings. They care about them as dear pets or even friends, so you can imagine how much it hurt them to cut it down.

After your done with The Silmarillion, if you don't want to attempt the 13-volume History of Middle Earth, I highly recommend spending some watching the Nerd of the Rings, The Broken Sword, and Men of the West KZread channels. It'll help fill in tons of gaps. I also really appreciate how your appreciating this show for what it is, and not endlessly bashing it for what it isn't. Also, I'm leaning toward them having Meteor man be Gandalf. There is an outside chance it could be Saruman (he wasn't always evil). I *really* hope he's one of the Blue Wizards though. They aren't bad, They we're just barely mentioned in Tolkiens works, beyond that they existed, were the first ones of the 5 to arrive in Middle-Earth, and they went into the far South and East of the world to try to thwart Sauron in those areas. So there is a ton of story telling potential for it if he is one of them.

@juliannrose5919

Жыл бұрын

I would also suggest Signum University free classes here on KZread. Dr Corey Olsen ( the Tolkien Professor) teaches the classes. He recently started a new channel Rings & Relms were he discusses this show.

I'd give up on establishing a time line. For narratives sake, they are speeding things up a bit. In the books, the events of this show so far would have take place hundreds of years apart from each other and it would be difficult to follow.

Great intro Imon. These Church of Tolkien nerds misinterpret their OWN Bible. Same bias we see with religion. They're all Philistines.😉

Tolkien grew up in South África Apartheid and he was a vocal oponent of it.

Omg I’m a Maori Imon. Kia Ora

No need to apologise, Imon. Always knew you were keeping elvish ears hidden under that headset.

Thank you Imon… I just want to give my love to all the coloured Americans out there… as a New Zealander the amount of racism towards different skin colours is shockingly still happening.. that’s insane to New Zealanders.. we love you all and we are here for you…. BLM

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

LMAO

the world and art design are the stars so far imo. i am content with seeing middle earth on screen. the plot is too fast and too slow at the same time. i don’t know what it is exactly and it’s very odd. the narrative is fairly average. i’ll stay for the landscapes and art design

"I have the hatred of apartheid In my bones, and most of all, I detest the segregation and separation of language and literature. I do not care which of them you think WHITE.", quote by J. R. R. Tolkien, Sep. 23th 1944

@tayzk5929

Жыл бұрын

..... Ok?

It was either cut the tree down or risk having themselves or someone else be cut down. I'm sorry, but that tree or any trees isn't worth their lives.

@ImonSnow

Жыл бұрын

Oh yeah of course I was just sad for the elves because that goes against their beliefs. That wasn't an easy thing for him to do

@jameskinstle6874

Жыл бұрын

It worked into their plan. Arondir took the opportunity to see the tree line so they knew which way to run when they got the chance.

I am not white, i wanted it to be like the books, it isn't. I am going to watch it anyway. I think they just put token black people, but no asians and most certainly not Latin American people like me. So excuse me, but no, there not many different colors, there is only white and black, and that's it.

@granddaddyotaku636

Жыл бұрын

Arondir, the "black" elf, is actually Puerto Rican. His name is Ismael Cruz Cordova. Not trying to change your opinion, but there is atleast one latin character in the show.

@marianaborrelli4136

Жыл бұрын

@@granddaddyotaku636 he is afroamerican, and not of indigenous latinamerican descent which is what I meant, to clarify.

@ittakestwo9996

Жыл бұрын

uh...isildur?

@marianaborrelli4136

Жыл бұрын

@@ittakestwo9996 he is an english actor, wtf do you mean? And when I say english I mean that he is white. He is half russian, but still, white.

@ittakestwo9996

Жыл бұрын

@@marianaborrelli4136 then that dude got a nice ass tan lol

Wtf why did you cry???? Do you know that guy? He’s a nobody that they just slowmo when he died 😂😂

Such a dumb show…terrible writing. I mean they could have cracked a book and actually read Tolkien are learned what he stood for.. what a disaster