Session 7-11: Frame Outline

MithLuin

MithLuin

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Our next session will be held on Thursday March 28th at 10 PM Eastern time.

We will be coming up with the 13 episode points for the Season 7 frame.

Our earlier frame discussion is summarized here:

Session 7-04: The Frame for Season 7

Our next session will be held on Thursday November 2nd at 10 PM Eastern time. We will be choosing the Frame Story for this season. A few things to consider when suggesting frame story ideas: 1) The theme for Season 7 is HOPE, specifically amdir --> estel. The frame story for Season 6 ended...
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Recall that we have decided on a White Council meeting in Eregion.
 
Do we want to introduce the frame in episode one? I ask because it is a bottle episode that establishes the characters of Húrin, Huor, and Handir. The driving force of the season, the formation of the Union, is not set in motion until episode two. Who would know the story of their time in Gondolin besides Glorfindel? Why would Glorfindel expound upon this event? If Glorfindel features prominently in the frame, why is the shifting stance of the Gondolindrim not given and shown over the course of the season? Galadriel convenes the White Council, and she is introduced in episode two.
 
Of the Edain said:
Do we want to introduce the frame in episode one? I ask because it is a bottle episode that establishes the characters of Húrin, Huor, and Handir. The driving force of the season, the formation of the Union, is not set in motion until episode two. Who would know the story of their time in Gondolin besides Glorfindel? Why would Glorfindel expound upon this event? If Glorfindel features prominently in the frame, why is the shifting stance of the Gondolindrim not given and shown over the course of the season? Galadriel convenes the White Council, and she is introduced in episode two.
Click to expand...
We do have scenes in Episode 1 already set aside for the frame (our bottle episodes are bottles except for their frame: see Episodes 4, 7, and 10 (I believe) of Season 6). It's also worth noting we don't have a strict attachment to the idea of frames as one character telling the story to another, since Season 3 (Seasons 1 and 2 did have a more traditional frame story of that sort, partly because the stories of those seasons were inherently more heightened and nebulous): we create the frames to have parallels between the First Age and the Third Age, and to comment on the themes of the story (see again the frame for Season 6, where we frequently reference and discuss the main story, but rarely if ever have a character actually tell the story of the season as a lead-in to the episode).
 
One option is for the frame to open in Gondor. I think the ascension of Ecthelion II and Thengel to the rulership of Gondor and Rohan, respectively, must be considered at the council. The two may feature in the frames of future seasons, so we may want to show them on screen. The mortality of men is a significant theme in episode one. I think that the events in Gondor embody this theme.

Here is how I imagine the teaser of episode one. There is an establishing shot of the Shadow in the East over the shoulder of Minas Tirith. I think this shot of the long shadow of Sauron lowering over Minas Tirith pairs well with the establishing shot of Tol Sirion. Sauron has taken the Tower of Guard that stood there. Someone is walking across the courtyard towards the great hall of the citadel. The doors open, and in walks Thengel. The slumped figure of Turgon, Steward of Gondor, is seen seated at the far end of the hall. On his right is his heir, Ecthelion II. A little way off, on his left, is an embassy from Rohan. The hall is somber. News has come of the death of Fengel King. Thengel is to return to Rohan and assume its kingship. The steward solemnly releases him from his service. Thengel is dutiful, but he is reluctant to return to Rohan. Ecthelion II, coming forward, clasps Thengel’s hand. In parting, each takes an oath of friendship to the other.

That said, we may not want to go to Gondor. Denethor II is twenty-three.
 
I really like the fact that Elrond drives the frame story, especially taking into account he was raised by Maedhros (so surely he was told the story of the Union of Maedhros and the Nirnaeth when he was a kid). Glorfindel was in the Nirnaeth but the Gondolindrim did not take part on the planning.
I would pair episode 1 with Elrond and Aragorn (and Glorfindel!) in Rivendel preparing to go to the Council. Although Hurin in Gondolin is eager to go into the world, but Aragorn needs to 'pushed' by Elrond.

I think it's early to go to Gondor (the Council will talk about them but we may not see them), unless they feature in the episodes where Galadriel meets the humans east of the mountains.

Could the discussion about the One Ring be paralleled with the Plague? The Council can talk about war with Sauron, building Amdir, and then Cirdan mentions the Ring, which could be devastating and remind everyone the power of the enemy. Saruman claiming it's been destroyed can also work like the arrival of the Easterlings building false hopes.

(One of the problems this season is to keep the uncertainty of the end, since viewers may know that Saruman was a traitor, Sauron was not defeated in battle, and the White Council knows how the Union of Maedhros ended...)
 
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