This episode went over very well with Dave Kale and Corey Olsen! It helps that Corey really loves the Athrabeth, and did not have the reaction of a 'typical' executive producer to the 'so...we're gonna have a philosophical debate about death for an hour, cool?' There were places he found the transitions abrupt and jarring, but for the most part, it was well received.
He found Andreth's depiction more sympathetic than in the original, not because her lines were changed, but because her situation was contextualized, inviting the audience to 'make excuses' for how abrupt she is being with Finrod. She does not stand on ceremony, and is maybe a refreshing contrast to the highly diplomatic way in which Fingolfin's interlocutors respond to him.
Also, there was a discussion of the 'cost' of bringing up the 'Old Hope' here - we can do it, but then...we have to do something with that. We can't just forget about it! It will have to play a role in the Faithful in Numenor, and in other places in the story (even our frame in Harad). Tolkien never integrated this idea into any other part of his story, but, it's our job to do so. If we're going to bring it up...we have to remember it and reintroduce it from time to time. The idea floated was to make a really versatile symbol of the Old Hope that we can evoke in other stories - a sunburst, which is clearly a symbol of light, and the light of the Sun in particular is associated with Men. And probably to come up with a name for 'people who believe in the Old Hope' to use in future. The 'Old Hope' in Silm Film will never become as specific as 'Eru will enter into Arda and become Incarnate as a Man,' but it will remain the idea that 'Eru will heal Arda Marred, and Men are (somehow) the source of that hope'. So, while, yes, it does point to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ (an event we will not be including in our story), what it really will point to in Silm Film are the 'types' of Christ that appear in the story. Eärendil's messianic role, Aragorn's kingship, and possibly even the Dagor Dagorath prophecy where Túrin kills Morgoth. Etc. It will retain its meaning of an Estel for the future, in which the hurts of Arda Marred are healed by Eru. Finrod's vision of a paradise in which Men and Elves can live together after the end of Arda is not a false hope! (Even if we'll never see it.)
One thing I have been thinking about since the session is the practice of royal gift-giving. We see this when Finrod visits Ladros - he arrives with gifts of wine from Nargothrond. In the past, we have seen Maedhros play the role of generous ruler - gifting Fingon with horses and Aegnor with Narsil in Season 4. While we certainly don't have room for more dialogue in this script (*ahem*), would it be appropriate for Fingolfin to be distributing gifts as he goes on his tour? And if so, what gifts would be appropriate for the High King to give in exchange for hospitality? It can be something his entourage brings with him; it doesn't have to all fit in his saddlebag. But we should probably see him practicing generosity during his travels...right?