Sorry, I was working a late shift and missed the first part of the episode once again. I'll go back and add notes on what I missed as soon as possible.
Updated now
SilmFilm Session 5-10: Elves
Elves this season are dealing with two primary things: the arrival of Men and the siege of Angband. Glaurung's appearance last season has given some reason for concern about what Morgoth may be developing.
Fingolfin is going to propose an attack on Angband. In the book, Angrod and Aegnor are the only ones who support him. However. it seems strange that Maedhros would not be in favor of fighting Morgoth. Why might he go against Fingolfin?
The Oath does not force the Feanorians to attack; they can bide their time and be strategic. Maybe Maedhros is concerned about the Noldor losing Doriath and Gondolin as allies. Maedhros might be in favor of attacking butt disagree with Fingolfin's specific plan. This will be a time when Fingolfin is trying to exercise his power as high king, which means coordinating the military of all the Noldor, so some of the Feanorians might be against his plan because they were not in favor of Maedhros's abdication. Maedhros abdicated because he wanted the Noldor to be united against Morgoth, and he knew that would only happen if Fingolfin became high king. Any kind of tactical disagreement would need to be really significant in order for Maedhros to not go along with Fingolfin.
Fingolfin has a premonition that the Noldor need to start attacking Morgoth in order to get the Valar's help defeating him. His duel with Morgoth will be a continuation of this idea rather than an act of despair. We can show the Valar's reaction to this to show that, even though it looked like Fingolfin accomplished nothing, he actually did something necessary for future events. Fingolfin's attack on Morgoth can further drive the wedge between Morgoth and Sauron because Sauron will lose faith in Morgoth after seeing him wounded. Morgoth himself will be declining as time goes on, even though his dominion over Middle-earth is increasing. Fingolfin's attack can also bring hope that Morgoth is assailable. This, along with Beren and Luthien, can be part of what causes Maedhros to take heart again before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
When Fingolfin first proposes his plan to Maedhros, Maedhros would be excited about the possibility of an attack but not eager to frontally assault Angband because he does not believe the Valar will come. Maybe the Feanorians need to relinquish their claim on the Silmarils and repent of the Oath in order for the Valar to come and their refusal to do this is why the plan goes awry.
Repentance from the Fëanorians is necessary for Ulmo to deliver the Valar to the Noldor’s aid against Morgoth. Before the Dagor Bragollach, he will give Fingolfin foresight (possibly in a dream) that he needs to show his resolution to attack Morgoth and the Fëanorians need to repent. When Ulmo comes to Tuor, he will say that he can deliver the Valar without repentance from the Fëanorians because sympathy for the Noldor has increased.
There should be periodic reminders of how bad the Oath is and how it drives the Fëanorians. They should also be shown repeatedly choosing not to repent.
Amras could be the only Fëanorian to speak up in favor of Fingolfin’s plans. He is in favor of repentance, even if he does not believe the Noldor are capable of defeating Morgoth or that the Valar will help them. His support of Fingolfin is undermined by his hopelessness.
There will be three big opportunities for the Noldor to do something that seems like a bad idea in order to get help from the Valar: this offer before the Dagor Bragollach, Turgon attacking from Gondolin, and Eärendil sailing to Valinor. The third option will seem the most desperate.
Finrod would not support Fingolfin because he sees emptying his safe haven and attacking as contradicting his vision for the mission of Nargothrond.
Maedhros doesn’t want to attack desperately in hopes of getting aid from the Valar; he would rather go on the offensive using sound military strategy. Fingon agrees with Maedhros.
Fëanorian views:
Amras speaks against the Oath and wants to repent.
Maedhros and Maglor don’t think going against the Oath is possible. Maedhros thinks he is trapped and only wants to take out as many servants of Morgoth as he can with him. He wants the Oath to do as little harm to others as possible.
Curufin, Celegorm, and Caranthir would be outraged at the suggestion of repentance. Curufin would see it as an attack on the Fëanorians’ sovereignty. Curufin wants to unite all the realms of Beleriand under his leadership before attacking Morgoth. Curufin might encourage Fingolfin to do something suicidal so he can become High King.
Angrod and Aegnor’s views:
They share enthusiasm for Fingolfin’s idea. Angrod might support Fingolfin out of despair and in order to go against the Fëanorians. He is angry at the Fëanorians and wants them to repent. Aegnor has hope and believes the Valar will come. Ironically, Aegnor will be one of the first killed in battle. Aegnor’s hopefulness at receiving aid from the Valar will be a change from his views in Season 4. Angrod or Finrod may accuse Aegnor of hoping that the Valar will help him live happily ever after with Andreth after they beat Morgoth.
Angrod does not approve of Aegnor and Andreth’s relationship because, as a widower, he knows what it is like to lose a spouse and doesn’t want Aegnor to experience that. He might see Aegnor’s hopefulness as too extreme. Angrod will not dislike Andreth merely because she is human, and he is not completely opposed to the relationship.
The tension in this season will be more about conflicting worldviews than politics or action. The Athrabeth will be the heart of this season.