If you haven’t heard by now Amazon is set to create a TV show based off of The Lord of the Rings. Early on, there was plenty of speculation about whether or not this TV show would be new content or a remake. Somehow, some way, the TV show was said to be about a young Aragorn and his adventures. The show probably would’ve focused around his time fighting in Rohan and Gondor under different alias’. It’s not a terrible idea for a TV show, but we weren’t happy with this direction. Aragorn is Viggo Mortensen and Viggo is Aragorn. Before we start going off on a tangent, because we have strong feelings about this, they became a mute point. Eventually, the map of Middle-earth for the TV show was revealed by Amazon and, surprisingly, it included Númenor.
Now, because of this setting, it’s clear the TV show will take place in the Second Age far before Aragorn’s birth. It’s also clear that the show will take place around the time when Númenóreans were present since we can see the island of Númenor on the map. This isn’t a small tease, this is a pretty big reveal. The Númenóreans were the elite race of Man, even Sauron was worried about them. If you’re going to include their island, it’s a safe bet to assume that they’ll be big players in the show.
With all that being said, and with this map, we have some thoughts on what the TV show will be about. Starting out we wanted to lay out main events during the Second Age.
- 1000 Sauron, alarmed by the growing power of the Númenóreans, chooses Mordor as a land to make into a stronghold. He begins the building of Barad-dûr.
- 1075 Tar-Ancalimë becomes the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.
- 1200 Sauron endeavours to seduce the Eldar. Gil-galad refuses to treat with him; but the smiths of Eregion are won over. The Númenóreans begin to make permanent havens.
- c. 1500 The Elven-smiths instructed by Sauron reach the height of their skill. They begin the forging of the Rings of Power.
- c. 1590 The Three Rings are completed in Eregion.
- c. 1600 Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin. He completes the Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor perceives the designs of Sauron.
- 1693 War of the Elves and Sauron begins. The Three Rings are hidden.
- 1695 Sauron’s forces invade Eriador. Gil-galad sends Elrond to Eregion.
- 1697 Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.
- 1699 Sauron overruns Eriador.
- 1700 Tar-Minastir sends a great navy from Númenor to Lindon. Sauron is defeated.
- 1701 Sauron is driven out of Eriador. The Westlands have peace for a long while.
- c. 1800 From about this time onward the Númenóreans begin to establish dominions on the coasts. Sauron extends his power eastwards. The shadow falls on Númenor.
- 2251 Death of Tar-Atanamir. Tar-Ancalimon takes the sceptre. Rebellion and division of the Númenóreans begins. About this time the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, slaves of the Nine Rings, first appear.
- 2280 Umbar is made into a great fortress of Númenor.
- 2350 Pelargir is built. It becomes the chief haven of the Faithful Númenóreans.
- 2899 Ar-Adûnakhor takes the sceptre.
- 3175 Repentance of Tar-Palantir. Civil war in Númenor.
- 3255 Ar-Pharazôn the Golden seizes the sceptre.
- 3261 Ar-Pharazôn sets sail and lands at Umbar.
- 3262 Sauron is taken as prisoner to Númenor;
- 3262-3310 Sauron seduces the King and corrupts the Númenóreans.
- 3310 Ar-Pharazôn begins the building of the Great Armament.
- 3319 Ar-Pharazôn assails Valinor. Downfall of Númenor. Elendil and his sons escape.
- 3320 Foundations of the Realms in Exile: Arnor and Gondor. The Stones are divided (p. 598 ). Sauron returns to Mordor.
- 3429 Sauron attacks Gondor, takes Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree. Isildur escapes down Anduin and goes to Elendil in the North. Anárion defends Minas Anor and Osgiliath.
- 3430 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed.
- 3431 Gil-galad and Elendil march east to Imladris.
- 3434 The host of the Alliance crosses the Misty Mountains. Battle of Dagorlad and defeat of Sauron. Siege of Barad-dûr begins.
- 3440 Anárion slain.
- 3441 Sauron overthrown by Elendil and Gil-galad, who perish. Isildur takes the One Ring. Sauron passes away and the Ringwraiths go into the shadows. The Second Age ends.
Now we can expect that this show, as most shows do, will follow a certain yearly structure. Meaning we can expext one season per year of events. If this is the case, then we can highlight two instances of events that take place over a relatively close timeline.
The first series of events would be the following.
- c. 1600 Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin. He completes the Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor perceives the designs of Sauron.
- 1693 War of the Elves and Sauron begins. The Three Rings are hidden.
- 1695 Sauron’s forces invade Eriador. Gil-galad sends Elrond to Eregion.
- 1697 Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.
- 1699 Sauron overruns Eriador.
- 1700 Tar-Minastir sends a great navy from Númenor to Lindon. Sauron is defeated.
- 1701 Sauron is driven out of Eriador. The Westlands have peace for a long while.
This seems like a prime choice for creating a TV show based in the Second Age. Over the course of 8 years, 1693 to 1701, Sauron wages war against the Elves, but it’s not until 1700, when the Númenóreans join the fight, that Sauron is defeated. Let’s put this in perspective, the Númenóreans, with the help of the Noldor, defeat Sauron who is wielding the One Ring. As I said before, the Númenóreans are a big deal. Character-wise this storyline makes sense to me, we have familiar characters and chances for new ones to rise. 8 years seems like a long time, but hey some movies span a whole year and that’s only 2hrs. and 30 min. For Of Blades and Kings, this is our go to storyline for the TV show.
The second series of events would be the following.
- 3262-3310 Sauron seduces the King and corrupts the Númenóreans.
- 3310 Ar-Pharazôn begins the building of the Great Armament.
- 3319 Ar-Pharazôn assails Valinor. Downfall of Númenor. Elendil and his sons escape.
Sauron knew how strong the Númenóreans were, but he also knew they could be corrupted, like most men. Since the year 2251 division amongst the Númenóreans festered, proving that these great men are not above temptation. Many Númenóreans believed they deserved the same gift of everlasting life that the Elves were given. They were prepared to turn against the Valar, fights broke out and civil war ensued. It wasn’t until Ar-Pharazôn, the proudest and most powerful of all the Kings, ascended to the throne that the shadow over Númenor darkened. He was the leader of the rebellion, and wanted the world to be his dominion. He openly challenged Sauron, caught him and took him as his prisoner. Sauron begins seducing the King until he is no longer prisoner but the King’s trusted advisor. Sauron convinces the King to turn the Númenóreans, except the Faithful, away from the Valar and declare war upon them.
This seems like a very Game of Thrones-esque storyline that the show might follow. As I understand it, Amazon is trying to create something comparable/better than HBO’s hit TV show. Tall order, but if they want a storyline with deception, lies, corrupt officials, civil war, and fights for the throne then this seems like a storyline Amazon would follow.
Either of the two storylines could work, our preference is the first one, but the second one would be a completely unique story with all new characters and a completely new setting that’s unfamiliar to fans of the movies. Because of that, this seems like a safe route to go if you don’t want let fans down. No one’s really going to argue that it doesn’t look the same as the movies because none of the characters are the same and neither is the location. If you look at their casting, all new faces, this seems like the story that they’re going to follow. Plus, there’s been no news of Hugo Weaving returning to reprise his role as Elrond, which if they went with the first storyline you’d have to get him back.
If you look further into the full timeline of the Second Age, there’s plenty you could pull from to make a show, but if we follow the map Amazon gave us, we can narrow down the timelines. The events that we pointed out are the biggest that include Númenor, which makes it highly plausible that the show will be based on either of these events.
Let us know your thoughts, are there TV show worthy events in the timeline that we missed, or did we pick out some of the best ones? What’d you want to see out of a Lord of the Rings TV show? Let us know!
As always thank you for your time and remember, renewed shall be blade that was broken.
– The Wandering One
Of Blades and Kings 