June 8, 2024
How significant are names to Sauron? […] Sauron was directly asked for his name only twice: once by Galadriel, and earlier by Tamar in episode 3. To Tamar, he gave a universal rule. […] This rule (that the relationship determines the name) was consistent through the whole first season, and it applied not only to how others referred to himself, but also how he addressed them.
June 21, 2024
Sauron adored Morgoth in the beginning; he was not forced to his allegiance; he was not turned evil against his will. So, what exactly was this trauma he experienced? Sure, he was aware of the dire consequences of crossing Morgoth, but he was still Morgoth’s most powerful and trusted servant. He would not achieve such a status by disobedience, rebellion, or any hint of sedition. The implication of his story was not that the “great, clenched fist” was just a general fear that lifted when Morgoth fell. Something happened. Sauron made one mistake.
July 6, 2024
“But could Morgoth afford to permanently ban him? Physically enslave him and risk turning Sauron against him?” —The risk becomes greater when you consider Sauron’s subsequent aversion to Morgoth, implied by the enmity he exhibited each time Morgoth was mentioned in the first season. Of course, we know the end from the beginning, but Morgoth did not. Would he have taken the risk? Would it have even mattered? […] Let’s examine the nature of Sauron’s attachment to Morgoth.
July 22, 2024
Gandalf gave a pattern by which we may discover how Sauron rebuilt himself in the Second Age. There was a defeat, there was a respite, he took another shape, and grew again. He had plans that were not yet ripe, but were ripening nonetheless. […] According to the pattern, he lacked something that would give him strength and knowledge to beat down all resistance. He made the One Ring with his own power, so what would have given him necessary strength and knowledge before the One Ring?
This Wandering Day and Gollum’s Song
August 13, 2024
This Wandering Day was written for the Harfoots, but it can technically apply to almost anyone in the show and books: Hobbits, Dwarves, the Stranger, Galadriel, Elendil after the fall of Númenor. […] Ironically, the song also applies to Sauron a little too perfectly. […] If but one key line is shifted to the end of the poem, we see that Gollum’s Song and This Wandering Day perfectly align.
September 9, 2024
There is a fairly famous concept from the Bible that says, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” For our purpose here, we will say that by the fruits of an idea or belief, we will know its source. To demonstrate this notion, we will first apply it to Galadriel’s decision to leap from the ship. Then, our object will be to likewise discern the veracity of another ambiguous tale. There is a common denominator—a thread that ties them together more specific than “who did it,” which will be seen by the last paragraph of this post.