Friendship Journey, River And Louisa Edition, Part 1/2

To do God's good work, "Rings of Power" needs to bring back OG Mairon/Sauron (Jack Lowden) for a flashback of him as the Maia of Aulë, because this man can rock a beard.

And all the love to our Repentant Mairon/Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), too, because Hot Sauron is hot in his every physical form, just like Tolkien indented. It's that Maiar beauty Adar was gushing about in Season 2.

And I’ll never shut up about the fact that “Rings of Power” (in spite of its faults) actually gave us ginger/redhead Mairon (a major headcanon on the Tolkien fandom since ever).

Bleach brave souls parasol edits!

idk what your all talking about tiktok rules

It’s always nice meeting fans while out on patrol 🤗

There's a bit of a role reversal with Faramir and Eowyn, in terms of how their narratives include tropes and plot points that are often traditionally applied to characters of the other sex.

Eowyn goes to war because she refuses to be left behind to be burned inside the house when the battle is done, as is often the fate of women.

Faramir actually is nearly burned alive at the hands of the patriarch of his family when said patriarch believes the battle is over and hope is lost. While Eowyn is out on the battlefield, fighting, Faramir is stuck inside the home, burning.

Between the two, Eowyn is the one we see go on more of an inner journey. She changes more over the narrative, and has to deal more with her own flaws and personal demons, as well as the injustices inflicted upon her. The climax of her story comes with a great moment of heroism and courage in battle. She is rescued by a hobbit, but as an ally in battle, not as a damsel in distress.

Faramir in the books doesn't feel tempted by the ring, and is almost a paragon of virtue. About as much as a Man in Middle Earth can be. He's closer to Arwen and Galadriel than Eowyn is, in his near perfection, in how he inspires and guides others. He is also rescued by a hobbit, but in that moment he is helpless, a damsel in distress. He is rescued because others love him for his virtue and goodness.

So often it's the other way round. Not only is the woman usually the one trapped inside, in need of rescue, while the man is out there fighting, the woman's heroism traditionally comes from the list of virtues she possesses, while the man's heroism comes from his deeds and the things he accomplishes. The man fights, the woman inspires.

But during the Battle of Pelennor fields, it is Eowyn who fights, and while she does inspire Merry, she inspires him not as a paragorn, but as an example of courage that Merry finds himself compelled to live up to. He is inspired to fight by her side, instead of fighting for her.

Faramir is sick and unconscious. His agency is denied him by his father, who decides on his behalf there's nothing left for him to live for. And it is a rush for the heroes; Pippin and Beregond, to save Faramir, and it is explicitly stated that Beregond only broke the law because he was inspired to do so out of his great love for Faramir, which is shared by all. In that moment, Faramir's role is closer to the traditional fairy tale princess, whose goodness inspires the heroes into fighting for her during her peril.

And afterwards, it is Eowyn who has to fight to find meaning in life again, to choose joy and hope over despair, which Faramir, with his loving kindness, wisdom, and gentleness, inspires her to do.

I love that, and love thinking on how that affected their relationship going forward.

Eowyn must have liked that with Faramir, she's not being married to someone who will require her to take on every aspect of the so called "woman's role" (necessary, but limiting) which has been inflicted on her at her own expense by the men in her life, so they can be free to partake in the "man's role". Perhaps in turn, Eowyn's predisposition for more martial pursuits; even if she has embraced healing and gardening and no longer lives for battle, would also mean she can take on some of the certain necessary duties that Faramir finds taxing.

Between the two, there must have been a more equal division of labour and responsibilities, and therefore more freedom on both sides. Neither one of them fully suits the roles that society has assigned to them due to their gender, and in marrying each other, they no longer have to.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005) dir. Joe Wright

The number of times I have actually screamed at Daniel's sassy commentary in Interview with the Vampire. The beginning of Season 2, Episode 1 alone is wild. Daniel blasting Louis for spending eight hours talking about "how to avoid the sun and torpedoes" during WWII. Daniel asking Real Rashid, "Where did they send you when Shah Rukh Khan over there was playing you?" Daniel emphasizing in front of Armand that Lestat is Louis' true love (Daniel Molloy the #1 Loustat shipper confirmed). One thing's for sure, Daniel is making this interview an experience for everyone involved. Kudos to him.

@PSCENTRAL​ EVENT 13: TROPES Mandoverse tropes as magazines [insp]