This is how Vision and Palantír are related

While Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings us a whole lot closer to the mystery of the identity of the orc leader Adar in episode 4 on Prime Video*, on the island of Númenor Míriel and Galadriel
prophetic visions of the futurewhich are titled The Great Wave (The Great Wave) as well as one Palantir have to do. We explain the connections to you.

Lord of the Rings movie fans already know the Palantíri

The dark orbs of the Palantíri are “Seeing Stones”created by the Noldor Elves in the immortal lands of Valinor ages ago. Those who look into it have the opportunity to see into the distance over enormous distances and even to communicate with other orb owners about sent visions and intentions. As thanks for their support in the fight against the villain Morgoth, the Elves gave the Númenorans not only their island home, but also the special orbs.

Even those who prefer Middle-earth Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies know, the Seer-Stones have already found their way: Sorcerer Saruman communicated in his tower Orthanc in Isengard via the magical videophone of his glass palantír with Sauron, who in turn had seized his stone in the conquered tower of Minas Morgul (formerly Minas Ithil). . Pippin peered illicitly into a palantír, and Aragorn (in the Extended Edition* of the finale) displayed himself to the opponent in royal splendor along the way.

The existence of 7 Palantiri in the Third Age is documented by Tolkien. Amazon’s The Rings of Power takes place before that, in the Second Age. Míriel also speaks of seven balls here, but only has one. We have Elendil’s sons Isildur and Anárion to thank for the fact that the Seer Stones can later play a role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, who brought them to Middle-earth (or will bring them in the series).

The reason for the travel of the balls is already revealed in episode 4: in the vision that Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) and later Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) have in the series. Because the palantír they touched in the palace apparently also granted flat-rate TV and telephony services Perspectives on a possible future. Namely in the form of masses of water that engulf Númenor. (Perhaps this can be compared to the magic of Galadriel’s mirror in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, in which Frodo sees past, present and potentially yet to come.)

The Rings of Power depicts a dark prophecy for Númenor

To explain the great tidal wave from the beginning of Episode 4, we need to delve a little deeper Númenor’s story immerse Although the Isle of Númenor was once given by the Valar to the loyal human allies in the fight against evil (Morgoth), and these human tribes fought side by side with the Elves, the former alliance was increasingly reversed. While Elrond’s (mortal) brother Elros ruled the realm as the first king of Númenor as a friend of the Pointy Ears, over the centuries the Númenoreans increasingly critical of the Elves. Above all, the ban on sailing west (Valinor) became a point of contention.

At the time of the series is Númenors 24. King Tar-Palantír (“the Farsighted”) just been deposed because his admiration of the Elves did not please most Númenoreans. A visionary, Tar-Palantír (according to his name) saw the downfall of Númenor if his people turned their backs entirely on the Elves and the dictates of the Valar. But nobody wanted to hear that. So became his daughter Míriel to the Queen Regent in his place. She, too, struggles with the gift of gloomy visions of the future, which are not only linked to the Palantír’s ball. Nevertheless, for a long time she follows the prevailing opinion to get rid of the stranded Galadriel as quickly as possible without helping her.

Only the falling blossoms of White Tree Nimloth (a former gift from the elves) make this path wrong for Míriel. In the end she agrees to help and now wants to travel to the southern lands with Galadriel. For Tar-Palantír once prophesied that with the death of the tree, Elros’ lineage would also die. And of course she wants to prevent that as part of his line.

Attention, follow from here massive spoilers for the (following in the series) Númenor development.

The Great Surge: Lord of the Rings Tide looks to the future of the series

Of course, readers already know how much success Míriel’s (non-existent in Tolkien’s) excursion will be. The Silmarillion* and the Lord of the Rings Appendices* describe how Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) himself as a usurper to 25. King of Númenor swings up. He’s definitely not an elf friend. Although Ar-Pharazôn imprisons Sauron, he allows himself to be ensnared by his prisoner and eventually instigated into building a fleet and sailing illegally west to reach the immortal lands of Valinor.

This is a breach of rules that the Valar cannot condone. The creator god Ilúvatar carries out the punishment: Valinor is forever raptured for the people (i.e. lifted out of reach from the world). But that’s not all: Inspired by the Atlantis myth sinks Númenor in the waves of the sea, along with the population. Only Elendil escapes with his family and followers (and a White Tree sapling). They found the Númenorians in Middle-earth exile kingdoms Arnor to the north and Gondor to the south.

Podcast: Is the Lord of the Rings series a triumph after episode 1 & 2?

After more than 4 years of preparation and endless trailers, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is finally here. We have already seen two episodes of the complex Amazon series. But are the first hours of the fantasy project good? In the podcast we let our enthusiasm run free – but we also criticize the series.

Narrative clarity, attention to detail and the effort put into it can already be seen in episodes 1 and 2. The potential for another Middle-earth triumph after Peter Jackson’s revered Tolkien trilogy is undoubtedly there.

*The links to the Amazon offer are so-called affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will receive a commission.

What do you think of the Númenor story arc The Amazons The Rings of Power so far?