The ending grows on me... And so does the whole show. At first I was disappointed Halbrand was Sauron because I had tried too hard to explain away thr mithril story that I thought Sauron was already lurking in the shadows in Eregion, as Annatar. I thought the "we die unless mithril" was his idea, because it felt so off. I didn't want to believe the rumors though everything pointed that way.
But now, after a rewatch and a few days to think about it, I feel differently. Halbrand's deception (and Vicker's acting) throughout the series has been masterful, and I now see how he uses Galadriel, tricking her in nearly every scene. The acting is phenomenal.
My absolute favorite scene in the whole show was when his features changed when he realized Galadriel *knew*. Turning from scruffy Aragorn into sly, cuninng Sauron - without even speaking a word!
And then the vision with the raft, following suit! What could have been... how that must have haunted Galadriel throughout her life, even to the extent where she uses his words in the scene with Frodo. It makes a lot of sense.
The rest of the scenes in the finale were less interesting to me, and I didn't like the "magic staff" thing with the Stranger. It felt too much like the LOTR and Hobbit movies, and I'm more a book fan.
But that said, all the endings had much potential, I think, and I really look forward to season 2 now. :)
But now, after a rewatch and a few days to think about it, I feel differently. Halbrand's deception (and Vicker's acting) throughout the series has been masterful, and I now see how he uses Galadriel, tricking her in nearly every scene. The acting is phenomenal.
My absolute favorite scene in the whole show was when his features changed when he realized Galadriel *knew*. Turning from scruffy Aragorn into sly, cuninng Sauron - without even speaking a word!
And then the vision with the raft, following suit! What could have been... how that must have haunted Galadriel throughout her life, even to the extent where she uses his words in the scene with Frodo. It makes a lot of sense.
The rest of the scenes in the finale were less interesting to me, and I didn't like the "magic staff" thing with the Stranger. It felt too much like the LOTR and Hobbit movies, and I'm more a book fan.
But that said, all the endings had much potential, I think, and I really look forward to season 2 now. :)