So, after Psychic Vision Roulette (“what you will see, if I leave the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell”), we get a glimpse of the Eye. It’s unclear if this is the actual Eye of Sauron, or Galadriel’s illusion of it to show Frodo that she’s contending with it too. - ThreadSky

mytholder.bsky.social • 16 days ago

So, after Psychic Vision Roulette (“what you will see, if I leave the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell”), we get a glimpse of the Eye. It’s unclear if this is the actual Eye of Sauron, or Galadriel’s illusion of it to show Frodo that she’s contending with it too.

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mytholder.bsky.social•16 days ago

The rest of the chapter hangs together so much better. We get the wonderful temptation scene, talk of the nature of the Rings, an idea of how different perceptions work (“Did you see my Ring?/No, lady, I thought it was a star on your finger.”)

mytholder.bsky.social•16 days ago

I dunno. If I was editing this, the temptation would be to put in a few development notes. Tollers, maybe it should be Pippin instead of Sam here - give him another scene where he’s tempted to go home? Or at least force Sam to make a more overt choice? Maybe have Frodo see a big spider, hmm?

movietrubs.bsky.social•16 days ago

I think one take on the sequence i like is that on some level Galadriel is trying to break and get Frodo to give up the Ring. Unsettle Sam, awe Frodo with epic history and then reveal the terrible power of the Eye. So Frodo politely offering the Ring bests her.

movietrubs.bsky.social•16 days ago

I don’t think Galadriel has an actual planned scheme to achieve this. She’s just Tempted By The Ring. It’s why she comes to them at that point, it subconsciously shapes the visions. She doesn’t quite realise that is what she’s doing till Frodo calls her out on it.

mytholder.bsky.social•16 days ago

Maybe. Actually, the timing of the mirror scene argues against any planning whatsoever.

*pushes glasses up nose*

I would simply have used the magic foreshadowing pond earlier with ample preparation time to account for any revelations, instead of doing it on their last night.

movietrubs.bsky.social•16 days ago

The last night fits into the Galadriel’s being tempted narrative. This is the last chance she has to do this. She’s been tempted before but stops herself. It’s now or never.

svebor.bsky.social•15 days ago

i have this strange notion of tolkien's magic-users are acutely aware of any synchronicity as portentous. what looks like a chance is in fact some larger truth revealing itself. almost like some tim powers/jrrt mash up.

mytholder.bsky.social•16 days ago

Although even as I write that, it feels horribly linear, plugging plot element C into foreshadowing linkage 2. But I’m not sure if Tolkien’s “they see weird stuff, but it doesn’t really do much, it’s all foreshadowing without any light” approach is better.

mytholder.bsky.social•16 days ago

Meanwhile, Gandalf lies in a trance.

https://youtu.be/UIbYM1ecT2I?si=YGs_sDqURyzdSov-

timgray101.bsky.social•16 days ago

Pictures McKellen lying on snowy mountain top with a Walkman.

draugmith.bsky.social•16 days ago

i knew this kind of joke was coming when i read the first post

finncullen.bsky.social•16 days ago

Justified Ancients of Morgoth

floaker.bsky.social•16 days ago

Love the Cauty/LOTR link! Back with the hobbit-weight JAMS.

scoobyshakespeare.bsky.social•16 days ago

I read it as the actual Eye, and Galadriel warns Frodo against touching the water he's being drawn towards because doing so would reveal him.

scoobyshakespeare.bsky.social•16 days ago

I'm thinking she uses it to perceive Sauron's mind (as she describes doing right after), but "the way is closed" in the other direction. An overwhelmed Hobbit drawn in might inadvertently open it. Much as Pippin's mind was open to Sauron through the Palantir while Aragorn's was guarded.

scoobyshakespeare.bsky.social•16 days ago

Of course, if so letting Frodo use the Mirror was really dangerous. But presumably she trusted herself to cut him off in time.

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