Wilson’s Bird of Paradise A Marvel of Nature’s Artistry

Citizens of the Reject Nation, we're back for more Rings of Power, the best show on streaming. It's time for season two, episode 4G. Are you excited? Sure. All righty gang, leave a like for if you're excited or at least tepid about it. And hey, subscribe, hit the notification bell so you can be notified whenever our Rings of Power reactions come your way. Also, big thanks to the folks at Prepper chopping these down on the quick. They do a tremendous job and we very much appreciate their help. Also, if you want to get the full Rings of Power experience, see everything that does make these highlight reels, come on over to patreon.com slash the Real Rejects. Sync up with your own copy, your own Amazon account, or check out all the other TV shows, movies, etc. that we have streaming with reaction highlights and watchalongs included. And without further ado, I got one further piece of ado. Check us out on social media, Real Rejects over at TikTok, Instagram, even on Facebook and Twitter. Hey, it's a good time. We've got exclusive content over there that you're going to enjoy. But for right now, let's hop into the show. Roll the bum. To wield. Two rings for the directors of the episode. Cool opening shot. If we take the AXA bridge, Region is just under 150 leagues. Oh yeah, they have more than two soldiers. I trust you can recommend a set. Are you certain that's wise, Commander? Tension. At the High King's urging, I agree to appoint you as first lieutenant. But if you deem that duty beneath you, I will choose another. Ouch. Yes. Guess what? I got Rex. Yes, I can recommend an archer and two swordsmen. Who else should we take with us? Who should be in our fellowship? She's cooperating. Classic shots. Yes. Is that the team? That's the team. They're on an unexpected journey. They're doing this all by foot. I guess so. Two hours later. Wow, we really got to this quick. Without breaking a sweat. Elves don't sweat. Lightning. No earthly force could do this. This is the work of Sauron. Chemnir, what other paths might we take? It's cool that we got to get introductions to these people and get to know them beforehand so that way you really feel the team. I love each one of them. This guy in particular. We go south through the hills of Turin Gortad. Wide eyes. Oh, it speaks to you. There is evil in those hills. Ancient and filled with malice. It does sound like evil. Bad juju. Sauron means for us to go that way. The enemy is doubtless watching both roads. Fair point. This collapse makes it more critical than ever to reach Celebrimbor at speed. Do you think he uses a diffuser on his hair? Definitely. He's got a whole regimen. He's able to get the puff going. Oh, he's got volumizers, elixirs. We go south. Commander, I must protest. Your opinion on the matter has been heard. Elrond. Oh, Elrond. Opinion heard, lieutenant. We go south, Menor. Wow, talking down to women. Yeah. Is that what this is about? Yeah, people were concerned that she was too strong and independent last time. I gotta kick her while she's down. Now Elrond's in charge. This company will not take counsel from that trinket. Nor will you. Take it off. You cannot abide by those terms. You will leave now and return to Lindon. We're gonna do the exact opposite of whatever that ring tells us. I should like to. Then why do you not? Because I do not wish to see any of this company slain. I'm really worried for Elrond. He might die. He's gonna die this season. Oh my god. Is that a cactus? That's right. They're in the desert. Oh my god. You could eat that goat. Black Phillip. No, bro. Eat a raw. It's an omen. It's a raw omen. Oh, a little gate here. A little homestead. Looks like Eden in Arizona. Yeah, eat a zona. Oh my god. They keeping bees? Oh my god. Wait a minute. Is it? Pardon me. I don't suppose you've seen a pair of halflings. Is this gonna be Tom Bombadil? I gotta imagine it is. So you found the goat. Who's Tom Bombadil? He's that guy who everyone's mad they left out of the movies. He was like a farmer and he's like really jolly. There is what you're searching for and there's what you find now, isn't there? Hey, don't marry Don. Speaks and riddles. I'm sure it's just not Jesus Christ. Could be well-fed Jesus Christ. There are some stars above your hill. Stars above most hills? But my friends and I were looking for these stars. I had hoped that. Oh no. My apologies. Oh, I really love that get away from you, man. Yes, it really just let it take it right out of your hand. At least the way it was animated. Oh, the branch points the way. Is that your Gandal or whatever it's called? Your Ganda? Going to the tree. Oh my god, he is. Whoa, that's really painful. Nice. That's fun. That's a really good effect. This is an olive tree. Interesting. Is that Tom Bombadil's doing? I don't know. Tom Bombadil fans, sound off. Give us the complex lore of his backstory. Poppy. Oh my. Get up. Oh my. Let me find you guys a river or another well. Did you see him? They had the most unfortunate set. Never mind, where is he? Where are we? Or when are we? Early stages of Hobbiton. Hey, could be. Maybe Hobbiton was a desert and then Gandalf brings all the greenery back. Oh, hot rod. Just keep it going. I think we lost them. Where'd you lot come from? Wow. Whoa. Looks like Dev Patel. Where'd you come from? Live here. Harfords live here. What's an Harford? Oh. I'm nobody. That's what everybody calls me. If everybody calls you nobody, doesn't anybody call you somebody? My mom calls me Mary Mac. Why don't you go by Mary Mac? I'm Poppy. Oh, they're in love now. I think he wants to eat her. Yeah, cannibal Hobbit. Harford. I'm Nori. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cool. Where'd you get that water from? He stole it, didn't you? He stole it from the well, from the big folk. Oh, no. Don't spill your waterberry juice. No outsiders in the village. What village? No village. There's no village. This guy's a bumbling fool. Full of a toque. Either we're coming with you or I will turn you in myself this moment, water thief. Ouchies. You're about to meet the goon or dwell leader. He's got a bit of a kids from Neverland vibe. Eh, that's a good call. One, never look her in the eye. B, always stand three steps back. One, B, four. Ever, no matter what, call her the goon. The goon. Was that three rules or four? I wasn't really paying attention. Huh, she's half the audience. What's happening right now? Oh, man. How lovely. Oh, it's a more ethnic version of the Harfoots. It's a segregationist culture. Like the Flintstones. Oh my God, there are Harfoots of every nationality. Harfoots living in holes. It's the proto-Hobbit hole. That's what I was saying. But I arrived at it independently. What were you thinking bringing them here? They just needed a place to hide. What with half the devils in the desert searching for them. Boy, if you put your brains in a vulture, it'll fly backwards. Be nicer to him. Oh, wow. That's my man. Don't just step in here. Are you talking back sass to me? That was the fourth rule. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't feed you leg, limb, and joint to those gowdrum hunting you out there. How did you know that? Gowdrum? Go on, plead your case. Eye contact, good. I have walked across rivers and mountains and deserts to help my friend find his destiny. One the fate of the world may well depend on. Yours included. I said one good reason. Who is he anyways? He's a giant. Like an elf? Bigger than that. Oh, so he's a great big grand elf. He's not an elf. He's a wizard. Oh, Harry. Well, the only wizard under these skies is the dark wizard. And the last friend we need is a friend of his. Get him in here. Get him in here to work some magic for him. The star is already much more powerful than we had anticipated. He's the dark wizard. Yeah, I can tell by his beard. He makes his way north now towards the hermit. Thank you, villain from Turbo Kid. And what of the halflings? We are scouring the desert even now. They will not evade us for long. I swear my life on it. It's Manny Jacinto in there. You are either very foolish or very brave. This place looks like a terrible, boring place to lay your base. Yeah, this looks like you got the last pick of citadels. This is hot. It's hot, dry. Every room looks the same. Let him out again. Is it an end? You should not be working. Oh yeah, you're right. It's an end. It's an all event. Forgot about the ends. Who are you? Back in the witty window, folk used to call me Bombadil. Ay! Got it. There we go. Finally. What makes him special? You know, he's just one of the more, you know, lovable, upbeat parts of the book, I guess. Clearly wasn't good enough to put in the movies. No, I mean, it is like people in the comments know better than me, but I feel like they stop at his place. Things are nice. He's jolly. We like him. Then they leave again. Clean your arms, wash your face, and come join me by the fire. Well, there were sound effects to the soap bar. Yeah. Flying in the air. I thought I heard a woman singing. Woman? What woman? Is that Stephen Graham? Is no one else here with you? You're here? I think you are. Are you? Are you? Yes. This guy probably eats a lot of mystery plants. The cuckoo man. Fans of the book, tell us if he's perfectly captured. See a perfect adaptation. What was it that you were hoping to find under those stars of yours? Destiny. Certainly not old Tom. Hey, fans have been looking for you for a long time, boy. I was hoping to find my friends. Shows what stars know, doesn't it? Newcomers, that's what they are. One year it's dark, the next you look up. There's a sea of tiny eyes looking down at you. Oh, that's God creating the universe. Think they know everything, but newcomers, hmm? He has a nice presence. Still newcomers. Whoa! Some real magic. What are you? I am old. Clearly. Eldest. What do you mean, eldest? Eldest. Person in this room. Is really old? I guess so. Tom was there before the river and the tree. Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless. He refers to himself in third person. Tom has lost his mind. Tom's a little bit crazy. I thought he might be able to lend me a branch. Well, you should have tried asking him. Go ask Michael Ironside for a branch. Wow! You're gonna murder your animals. This magic, can you teach it to me? Oh. What's to learn way out here? Burn. Why is he so isolated? You wield power over trees. You wield it as if it belongs to you. All things belong each to themselves. Oh, what a based guy. Might you teach me how to wield a star? Wizard's staff is like an M. It's yours to wield already. Oh. If you prove yourself worthy of it. You show today that you're not. Whether you can become so, we shall soon discover. They do light him like Jesus. So he's gonna be a mentor? I guess so. I was never meant to find a staff under these stars. I was meant to find you, wasn't I? What is it? We're not alone. Oh. Who are they? Why do they hunt me and my friends? Because they want friends too. You're not the first Ishtar who's eaten honey by my fire. Oh, the Dark Lord. Years ago, there was another, the Dark Wizard. Saruman, maybe, people think. But no, what? Why? I don't know, because. Gotta tie it in. Him and Gandalf were buddies. I know. You wanna be buddies with this guy? Yeah, make some. You believe his evil will spread? Not without an ally far more powerful even than himself. Uh-oh. Sauron. Oh, no, I just. If these two flames combine into one, there will be no end to burning till all Middle-earth is ashes. Yeah, damn, indeed. We've heard that a lot. Well, you know, when Tom Bombadil gets serious, Old Tom's a wanderer, not a warrior. Great deeds are left to the hands they were placed in. The wanderer who stays here. Yes, very effective nomad. Is it my task to stop the fire? Is it my task to face Sauron? Oh, boy. Your task is to face them both. Wow, a lot of pressure. Definitely gonna need some magic. How does Tom know all this stuff? Because he's just always been here. Some murky woods. What is this place? Durin-Gorthad. In ancient days, this was where they laid their lords and their kings to rest. Wow. I feel no rest here. Man, it's unsettling spirits here. Fear not. Dead men are no threat. Have you met the Dunharrow army? I mean, if you can sense the evil, you gotta know that it might be a bit of a threat. Oh, I'm saying. Oh, no, it's the handhold. I want to put my hand in it. Yeah, let's go. For a moment, I thought I heard. Heard? You probably did. Saw. Eyes. What did you hear? It was almost like a song. Really f***ed up song. The men moved the song. Ooh. Oh, poor horse. They're biding us from Lindor. The king sent a dispatch to warn Celebrimbor. Oh, no. This dispatch. Oh. Message is not reaching them. We must go from this place. Wow. Nice. Whoa. Why is the black one always the first one to die? It's horror movies. Rules. We're lucky enough to have any black people in Lord of the Rings, all right? Whoa. Oh, oh, action pose. Ah, it's kind of cool. Ooh, fun. That's creepy. Nice. Oh, do the shot. Do the Avenger shot. She's Hawkeye. Ariel White's. Let's go. Attack. What are you attacking? Okay. They're just gonna, you probably have to answer a riddle or something. They're dead. I mean, I feel like if you knew what they were, you should have an idea of this. Heed the advice. They're impervious to our weapons. Just put it together. Hold fast. Come with me. Where are you going? We're walking out of here. Yes. Why are they just hovering there? Hey, get out of my tomb. Whoa. Aw, he does care. Wait, so now the weapons are working? They get a special spear? No. Someone. Ah. Oh, ----, John. Shit just got real. Just got so real. Super real. Get your horse, lose the kitten. Theoden. Oh, some little grapes. Him and the troll are gonna be like best friends, aren't they? Yeah, he's gonna become right. He's gonna come out riding the troll back. They left all their weapons. Left or were eaten. To a wild man, an axe had its worth more than gold. Strange they did not take it with them. It's because they were taken. We move on. This way. Let's go. Do not torture yourself, Numenorian. Few have survived far worse. How do you know? How do you know this is worse? This is not worse. Come on, man. Use your expert tracking. What? How'd you miss that before? You there. This way. Cool. Gotta take some archery. You don't wanna tell the rest of the group where you're going? Nope. Waited till they all left. Oh, golly. Well, they found the camp. Whoa. What I saw, I do not believe was done by mortal men. They're not men. They're animals. Animals. We've got to keep searching. We could canvass Eastfield Glen. Whispers are wild men camp there. Oh, wild men. I've spent weeks searching these lands. That part of the forest is old. Promise you there are wild men there and worse. Promise. Pinky promise. Let's not waste any daylight. You have the water and provisions. Oh, can we trust you? There you go. Oh, they fixed the dam of the aqueduct. You missed a spot. Oh. Fancy you never want for water on your island? No, in Numenador we have water in most of our homes. Indoor plumbing. I'd like to see that. I wager you're betrothed with two. Oh, about that. We ought to keep moving. In a moment. There's something I like here. Yes, we could be a triangle. Did David do you harm? I don't dare what he. I ask because I noticed a wound on your neck. Looks to be recent. No, that was my fault. I fell asleep by the fire. And I rolled into it. It was foolish of me. Clearly like. We all do foolish things sometimes. Especially moments of hopelessness. Sure. There we go. Wow. Wow, you just revealed your cards, lady. Getting right to it. Astrid, what is this? Self burn. Wildmen do it to hide the mark of Adar. She's going to lead us to all the others. The mark of Adar. I misspoke earlier. Kick her in the shin. Whenever you're mad. Shin kick. What was your plan? Stab me. Take my horse. Was that it? Not everyone wants your horse, man. The best horse. Wait, you don't even have a betrothed. Would you rather I died in Mordor? I don't know. Let me think. I don't know who you are anymore. Maybe she's not a genuine follower. She was like forced. That's the sense I get. She seems like she wants to leave that life behind. She got big guilt. Someone had a wedding here. He looks so much like my Uncle Jerry. Maybe it is. Come quickly. Theo was not taken by men at all. Oh, speak of the devil. I heard a theory that Theo is Erendir's son, and that's why we never see his ears. I buy it. I'm buying every theory from now on in this show. There's no other reason you would have that haircut. I know. It's almost like you're at the top of a wizard staff. What's out there? I don't know yet, but whatever they are, they're big. Guy looks like my friend, Frank. Watch your step. Just them three, huh? That's all I need. Never did the big group of people. Because they run into all of the wild men and worse. Might be easier to balance if I had use of my hands. And easier to escape. No one could escape in this. Come on, unlock me. Damn it, Isildur. Isildur the clumsy. It's all right. No. Be still. I said it's all right. Betray you. I'm not embarrassed. Give me your hand. Been a while since I've seen a sinking sand moment. I know. It's a classic. I know. I'm going down. Sir. If only she had her hands. Yeah. Whoa. Let me step in there. Yeah. What if I just cut to Isildur off screen falling in? It's just full waist deep. Excellent cut. Someone had fun with that. Whoa. Did they intend for it to be funny? I don't know. I'm kind of happy it was. But I don't. Whoa. What is that? Oh my god. Wow. Is he in its belly? Apparently, I got swallowed into it. Yow. Didn't use any of its teeth to. There are nameless things in the deep places of this world. This one we shall call supper. Supper. That was a bar. We both recognized it. It was called Sadikboros. Sadikboros was your leader's name. Do you know him? There was a store. They say he dreamed one night of a place with endless streams of cold water and rolling hills so soft a family could dig an old and live in it in less than a month. Describing New Zealand. The Suzat struck out one year with a caravan of followers to find it. Promised when he did he'd send someone back to gather the rest of us. Oh no. It is fate. That was the last any of us ever heard of Rorymas Boros. You see something, don't you? Poppy's walking song. Or if it's happened here before. It's a name. Have you come back here to lead us all to the Suzat? If only. I mean maybe she has but she doesn't know her though. Rorymas never found the Suzat. And after a while we just kept wandering. R.I.P bro. We don't have a home. We're not gonna find it here. I mean if you didn't come back to find us then get out of here. Come back when you do find it. A rider sighted. Bigfolk coming this way. Oh bigfolk. I thought he called her a bigf... To what do we owe the pleasure? Wow. Not cool man. Yeah why would I... What? Why? I'm gonna help myself up damn it. The Harfoots. Where are they? Moment of truth. The only halflings we know about in this desert are stewards. Sure. Do you know why we wear these masks? Defy the dark wizard and when we return with him you will find out for yourselves. Dang. They look huge. Here lies that guy. Yes. He was great. Definitely one of us elves. A very distinct personality. Let's all say one unique memory we had with our friend. I know you believe this ring is deceiving but I believe it is guiding and that following it may be our only path to victory. I picked up on all that a long time ago. That's the debate of the show right now. Everything we stand to lose if we fail in the task before us. Yeah. My father foresaw that one day Celebrimbor's life would be in my hands. It is this day. And I promise you there will be more painful sacrifices. Damn. Feature episodes. Promise me Herald you will put opposing Sauron above all other considerations. Even my life. I will make no promise who's asking is born of that ring. Take the ring off and ask again. But I swear to you defeating Sauron will come first even before you. Forgive me. Come on. We heard drums. Get your guitar. Galadriel sees some doom happening to him. She's worried. Eat this key. It's not the key to the manacles. Believe he meant for you to decide whether or not to use it. Dang. Do you love me? Run. Get out of here. I'm sorry. So am I. No. Got the love sweet plan. Isildur you see. God damn it. Forgiveness doesn't come to folk like me. Sooner or later they'll cast me out. You know they will. Oh ----. Yeah buddy. It's what she it's what he wanted. I won't let them. I won't let them cast you out. What if I'm bad? Troll. Oh. Hestrids drop the sword. Oh. Oh she's gotta be dead. Should have called it out. Definitely sounded like tree ----. It's a really beautiful end. Yeah. Your great pain. There's so many of them. Cool. That's gorgeous. It is not for felling trees. What does it fell? Orcs. Yeah. Why didn't you just say so? I mean that girl's gotta be dead. There was an army maiming and murdering as they marched. And hundreds of these screenplays were printed. Oh. How long ago was this? Winterbloom nourished many of those trees from seed and sprout. Do not ask her to speak more of it. Oh. Ents are so volatile with their emotions. Oh. Seek to. I would never use another paper product. Change in your mind. It's good. It's persuasive. Oh. Forgiveness takes an age. Gotta add one whole ring for every forgiven forget. We will see to it that the trees of this wood are left in peace. Better deliver on that. Doesn't go so great. Put the flower in your hair. We have tended this forest since before the mountains rose up and divided it. Whose voices are these? When the only sound here was the light upon the moss. Oh they're right there. Dang. They are when the breathing flees. Oh buddy. Touch those elf ears. Yes. She has amnesia now. Yeah. Who? Oh ----. Hagen. I mean who who are you? I thought you. So did I. I can't believe you're here. Look at you. Oh. That's when the darkness started rising in his children. What majestic creatures. I must follow the trail where it leads. I must have another chance to confront Adar. You can come with me if you wish. Yeah. Partners. I have promises of my own to keep. Wow he saves your ass. It's okay. We're cool now. Cutting a course through the whole map. Charting the paths of evil. This whole time I thought it was a troll. Yeah it was a cool reveal. Them being in the trees was a really big giveaway that they were Ents. Yeah I guess so. I mean a troll might have like a little tree fort stash. You never know. A legion of orcs have marched into Elvish lands. We are all of us. Oh everything is political Elrond. Word of this must reach the High King before our host sails for Mordor. Mordor. Just shoot one arrow in there. Yep. Galdurn it. No that guy. Not that guy. Oh they probably didn't mean to kill us. That must hurt so bad to get shot by an arrow. Yeah oh. No one's tending to him. Shut up just shut up. Kill him. Uh-oh the ring. It's shining. Is it speaking to you Elrond? Oh ----. It's the ring. It's got some power. It's the evil ring. It's so evil. Damn. Don't get yourself killed. Oh no. Wear it Elrond. Put it on your toe. Yeah man. I'm sure elves love a good toe ring. These guys are gross. Sweet. Come on let's do a one-er. Do a one-er of her killing all the orcs. I love a good archery ----. Awesome. Nice. Nice stuff. This is good action suit. Oh. Cool. Hell yeah. Oh. Dang. Wow. I just grabbed it. Grabbed it by the yeah. Yeah. Collateral. Hell they need everyone else for. She sacrificed herself. I'm pretty sure everyone else is being sacrificed. Yeah. No well mistaken. She's whipping their ass. Oh no. Don't feel bad. She's addicted to the ring. Go back to the shadow. Yeah. Oh damn it. Oh man. Got an intense convo coming next week. What's the song? I think it's Poppy's walking song. Okay. Rerecorded by who? Rufus Wainwright or something? Gee we got another fantastic amazing incredible episode under our belts. I don't want to hog all the time talking about all the greatness. So what did you think? Keep it under 10 minutes. If you can. I can do that. There's a reason why I look like this. Because we're not rushing today. No not at all. I feel more fit just sitting next to you. So yeah I thought that this was a fine episode. A good installment. It was a real like fluctuating experience as this show generally is for me. Because it would have a moment or two. I know okay whenever it's going like dark I tend to be more engaged in what's happening. I'll put it like that. As whenever they're in like the creepy forest with the elves. Even like the end set that was a beautiful moment. Or when um oh my god what's um the elf's name? Arendir? Arendir. Arendir and Isildur are captured underneath like the the sinking mud moment. You find there's a creature pulling them in. That was a great moment. Very Witcher moment. And honestly that was a really cool fight at the end with Galadriel. That choreography was pretty freaking sick. All right I know sometimes people crap on this show for a lot of things. And even the action itself. But I thought that was a really cool action scene. It's pretty sweet. And so it's like those are the best parts to me. The medium parts. Supposed Gandalf and uh Tom Bombadil? Babadil? Bombadil. Oh I think that might have been his song they played. They credited some Tom Bombadil song here. Okay so that might have been that. But yes Tom Bombadil. Not bad. And yeah I know it's like the I just think the it's the same. Some of the same issues that carry over from season one are here. And like the dialogue could be better. The dialogue could be more engaging. And you know it's a little bit cliche in the way how a lot of like they kind of just go for the most like generic parts of what the outline is sort of requiring. And that's the part of it. But I think like there's other things that are working stronger than Lassie. A lot of a lot of the enjoyment is unfortunately coming in the fact of you know like this is better than the prior season. You know? Yeah how would you feel if you would just if this was just season one or something? But that's not the reality of this issue. The reality of the situation is we had a season one. Absolutely. And so naturally it's like you kind of feel more when you notice when there's notable improvements. And the notable improvements with the aesthetics, with the darkness, I find to be more interesting. And yeah I mean do we that stuff with the hobbits or whatever there are the Harflets. It's like reasonable. Like there's a lot of stuff that's just like I'm so like nothing here was like bad. It's just sometimes it goes from like neutral to a little bit boring. To like oh this is an engaging scene. There's something neat about everything they do. But not everything they do rises above neatness. I guess is how I would describe it. Because yeah it's like there's not a single plot line. I was like oh get me away from this. But yeah it's like Nori and Poppy is not like the most rollicking or like super engaging thing. Even though like the little you know these desert I forget what they're called now. But the desert hobbit Harfoot people. Like you know that's interesting. That's neat. You know but it's not really like oh my god I'm so attached to this yet. You know and yeah I liked I liked the Tom Bombadil Gandalf back and forth. Partly just because I think that's Stephen Graham. Whoever that actor is if it's not him. Has such a presence that just seems like everything I can recall about the character from the book. And everything I've heard about the character from people since then. Just it seems like he's just capturing that spirit wholesale. And I really like the splash of like mysterious but jolly presence he has. That worked pretty well on me. But yeah you know there's a lot of like nice elements. And like I can always feel the environments and stuff like that. I love yeah the spooky ghost dudes. I thought that was neat. I feel like things move. It's weird. Dialogue scenes you're correct often will struggle to tap below a surface. And they often get by at least with the elves on like the frill of the language. There are certain things that I wish they would let breathe more. I'm always taken aback. Like we started this thing off and they're like hey we got a team together. We got to go on this mission. And then they show like one shot of them walking over a mountain crest. And then we're like across the map now. And you know things like that just I don't know shrink the world a little bit. And yeah I don't know it's decent. It's yeah about par with what we've had thus far. And I feel like you can say a lot of the same things as we have. Like you know it's pretty solid. I'm liking the actors. Everything's a little bit more naturalistic. This episode of all four we've seen had the most sort of like that thing with Isildur. Where he's like in the mud. You're like is this supposed to be cheeky? This is like this seems kind of unintentionally a little bit silly. In a way that I still enjoyed. Because like it's not a flavor I'm used to getting out of this show. Yes. So like I'll take it. It's fine. And I was amused. And I like the big creature and stuff. I thought the ants were beautiful. Yeah. Like there's a lot of cool atmospheric stuff. And I wish that those things could breathe more in a way that felt justifiable. Because it's like this season is certainly a bit more like we said the last couple. Like you're less prone to checking the clock this season. But I still think I guess now moving ahead into you know season three. I hope that they could find a way to like really substantially root into certain things. While also maintaining the more naturalistic approach they've taken thus far. You know it's nice not to get so many great big massive speeches. That we haven't quite earned and all that. And I do feel like at least with certain of the characters. That like you can feel the traveling that we're doing. I don't know what it is about this show that I never fully feel like I'm in a world. Even though they're really. Even though it's aesthetically and CGI like so clean. Maybe that's something to do with it. Maybe it's. Yeah like the cleanness. Maybe it's just so it's just so clean. But there's I do notice that there's actually a nothing really exciting about the camera work. And a lot of scenes until they have like until they choose like certain moments to do it. But a lot of times it's kind of shot a little flat. When you really think about most of the scenes. They're shot like a regular tv show. Yeah you know. And I think that's part of what kind of holds it back. Like I feel like not as really. Okay like an obvious comparison this show has gotten a lot. Because of airtime of when the first season is House of the Dragon right. And House of the Dragon a lot of that is just dialogue. And yet they find these like choices with their shots. Where you could see so much meaning and symbolism. And it seems so like specific. Yeah. And a lot of this seems kind of just flat in the way it's shot. And then with the dialogue. I do think the dialogue itself keeps characters at a distance. From truly feeling like enlivened when I'm watching the scenes. And that's the biggest hindrance to me. Because there's a lot of improvements on other things. What I'd say is I think with every one of these scripts. They usually have to outline. You know what's supposed to happen in what scene. And what gets us to what scene and what on. And I think the outline of each story. That we've seen for each of these four episodes is good. I think each outline is good. The idea of what they need to convey in the scene is good. And it's really just some of this execution from both writing and directing. That I think kind of makes it fall a little flat. Because don't get me wrong. Sometimes they're like really cool shots for when they choose to do it. But generally there's ways to make dialogue scenes feel really engaging. And that's why I referenced House of the Dragon for that purpose. Is that you have to make dialogue scenes feel like. You know some type of emotion. And make the characters feel like real personalities. You have to express through the camera. And I think like this show bridges the gap. Like it's the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies. That Peter Jackson made has like a super tangible quality about it. Though there are certainly groundbreaking CG effects. Then you go to The Hobbit. It's like whoa whoa whoa. Way too far in the CG direction. I feel like this show generally isn't necessarily as far down the CG rabbit hole. As something like The Hobbit. But I think you're correct. In that the rest of the shooting when it's not. It's like you can tell when they cut to a big CGI money shot. And then it looks gorgeous. But you'd also know that that's enhanced by CGI. So it almost like decouples the movie magic from the rest of everything. Because yeah the rest of the shooting isn't quite as expressive. It isn't quite as emphatic. As you know those moments that are supposed to evoke a token painting. Where you should feel like you're always in a token painting. That's what kind of missed for me on the Tom Bombadil stuff. I get to see that. Was like oh there's stuff happening on screen. That's a fancy. I feel like their entire visual style for like communicating. It's very point and shoot. And they just kept having him walk into some like really amber like sunlight. Some really you know lush backlighting. And then turning around so that he always has that like Jesus halo light. And I'm like this is starting to feel like a meme. As you're keeping employing it across the sequence. And like some of these things we're pointing out might be. There might be some people who I've seen some people talk about. When they can't really understand what it is. That's not really what for them. I think some of this might be a subconscious thing. That maybe we're pointing out that you might not be thinking about. But then maybe that's like oh maybe that might be it. Or you just completely disagree with us. And that's totally cool. They were like actually no I felt all that. You know and I totally feel for them. Which is great. I'd much rather be there. Giving it a chance. I think no one could accuse us of not giving this show all of the chances. And hey the chances are slowly paying off. It's been decent stuff. It's decent. And I hope people are happy that Tom Bombadilla has finally showed up. If they just embrace the dark horror visuals. I think if they just made it mainly that. They just went like all two towers on this thing. Oh my god I would be so down. Probably be a much stronger show. Yeah all around. Especially with this whole like there's darkness everywhere. And they keep pointing that out. And Galadriel keeps repeating her goddamn lines again. He's like all right yeah I get it you know. Yeah I feel that. Show don't tell please. Oh guys what did you think of season two episode four? Are you enjoying it as much as we are? Are you enjoying it more? Less? Leave it in the comments and we'll catch you next week for episode five. Hoping they continue on an upward trajectory no matter how gradual. Peaces.