Another interesting question: what are we going for with Fingolfin's arrival? I see three obvious options:
1) tension: we have the idea that he's still more ticked at Morgoth than anyone else (if we need to, we could have him say, maybe to Turgon, "first we settle Morgoth, then Feanor") and so can be of help to the Feanorean brats, but only if he reaches them in time! This could be done, but making it too clear they're still basically on the side of the Feanoreans this early downplays the wonder of Fingolfin's peacemaking, and could downplay the hardships they went through: "how bad could it be if we're all still friends in the end"?
2) dread: we know they're coming, we know they're pissed, and we don't know that they'll place the grudge with Morgoth over their rage at Feanor's betrayal. We've already had one Kinslaying this season, how do we know we won't have another? This is one that I think would be easiest to set up, but we'd have to be careful not to leave the audience feeling cheated when the Feast happens and it's not a GoT type scene.
3) eucatastrophe: we don't even know they'll arrive at the same place as the Feanoreans until we see (for example) an arrow flying, killing an orc scout or something, from a direction Maglor & co have no troops. Cue dramatic turn and reveal, backdropped by the rising sun. Downside with this one is we might have to reduce the amount of time we spend with them crossing into M. E. to keep the surprise, and I don't think the crossing of the Helcaraxe is one we want to tell in flashback or narrative afterwards.
I don't think Fingolfin's host will be as focused on Morgoth on their arrival in Middle Earth. Of course they hate him because he destroyed the Trees, but the theft of the Silmaril won't resonate with them int he same way as the Feanorians, and they may not feel the same sense of betrayal since fewer of them bought into what Morgoth was selling in Valinor. The Feanorians are going to Middle Earth to pick a fight with Morgoth, while Fingolfin and company, who are going because they don't have a choice post-Mandos, might just want to see some new country and start a realm. (Especially after crossing the Helcaraxe, they probably aren't looking for a fight anytime soon).
The Noldor (both camps) should be surprised to find Middle Earth so dominated by Morgoth. Of course they have some sense that it is his territory, but their memory of it from Cuivienen and the journey is of a beautiful place relatively unmarred by Morgoth's servants (yes, some of them disappeared in Cuivienen but they don't really know why, and they journeyed through a land that has just been cleaned up by the Valar). So while they will be aware that Morgoth is out there somewhere, before they get to Middle Earth they aren't expecting an immediate war. I imagine Fingolfin still harboring a lot of anger against the Feanorians, but with the desire for a fight somewhat cooled by the struggle and exhaustion of the crossing.
As I was saying on the Frame thread, I don't like the position of the Curse, that it comes so late in the season. I guess I can get used to it, but the number of episodes between the Noldor leaving after the Kinslaying and the Curse is too great, I think.
Just my two cents here, but I was looking at the frame, and there's one item that stands out to me. We're putting Denethor's death after Feanor's, but Denethor dies during the first battle of Beleriand, and Feanor the second. I'm a tad confused about that.
Also, well, I don't know much focus you guys gave Denethor until this point, but even so, Feanor is infinitely the more significant character. So, even if we're taking creative license with the order of events, which is all well and good, I would still think Feanor should come after, as the more impactful event.
Good point--I did forget. Playing up the tension with the Feanorians does help the story; we just need to be convincing in changing everyone's mind and making peace (which is a Season 4 issue I think).I do agree that keeping Fingolfin & Co's focus on Fëanor raises dramatic tension about what is going to happen when the two companies meet, but let's not forget that the first thing Fingolfin does is rush up and beat on the doors of Angband.
Just to get a gauge on it. How much screen time are we thinking the actual event "Kinslaying" will take? 7 minutes? 18 minutes? 25 minutes? More?
The actual event "Doom of Mandos" is like 3 minutes or less - it's the stuff around it that takes time. But there's as much, or more, stuff around the Kinslaying.
Narratively, as bookmarks in the story (and even I think in the amount of printed text - the Kinslaying is described... sparingly in the PubSil), the events are broadly equivalent. But practically, the former will need so much more real estate.
I think a fundamental question here is whether you blend your storylines, or devote one episode to the A-plot, and another string of episodes to the B-plot, and only start to merge them when the characters are on the same continent.
Obviously, there has been a strong inclination towards keeping the stories separate. One reason is likely because of how Tolkien handles it in the text. But I remember a comparison to Game of Thrones at some point (which I don't watch), and a preference being stated (I think by Dave?) for letting one story play out rather than a '15 minutes with each group' approach to an episode where you bounce around to all of your storylines.
It can be done either way. In a film, the storylines would definitely be integrated. In TV shows, people are concerned about individual episodes making sense on their own. Someone who hasn't watched the show for awhile (but is caught up on the storyline) should be able to sit down and watch an episode and get into it.