Session 8-13: Season Outline, Part 2

[MithLuin]

Our next session will be held on Thursday May 28th at 4 PM Eastern Time. We will be discussing the Season Outline for Episodes 6-13, which covers the story of Túrin as an outlaw, as well as how that all falls apart. We have decided on a theme of "survival" for this season, being a good in-between for the defeat of the Nirnaeth focusing on estel and the "master of doom" theme that is likely to be our focus in the next season.

During Session 8-12, we discussed the first two parts of the Season. Episodes 1-2 will be the beginning/opener, focusing on the situation in Dor-lómin. We will see how Túrin survives the Easterling invasion and then escapes, as well as the birth of Tuor and how he comes to be raised by Elves. Episodes 3-5 constitute the next part, extending the story to the rest of Beleriand, and covering the innocent childhoods of Túrin and Tuor, ending with their abrupt transitions to the next phase of their lives (outlawry for Túrin, thralldom for Tuor).

Here's what we currently have in the Outline for Episodes 1-5. The Dor-lómin story will be the primary focus of Episodes 1-2 (making Morwen the protagonist), while in Episodes 3-5 the Doriath storyline will be our main story. We have decided that Túrin is not the protagonist of any of his storylines in this season, and so we will always have another point of view character when telling his story. Thingol, Beleg, and Nellas will fill these roles in these episodes. One detail we have pushed later into the season is Sauron making the proto-barrowights at the Barrow Downs. Any suggestions of where to put that?

 

[MithLuin]

Here's a look at the whole season with "moveable" pieces:



Canva Link with edit access

 

[MithLuin]

Here's what I currently have for the third part of the Season, where Túrin is living among the outlaws:

 

[MithLuin]

And here is the final part of the season (again, a preliminary plan subject to discussion/change):

 

[Cyclops of Krakoa]

If you’re going to start talking about the frame story next episode, is it okay if I put my pitch for it here?

 

[Fable_Teller]

Maybe the Sauron scene can be in episode 9. In episode 8 Galadriel and Maedhros talk about the possibility of an "agent of Morgoth", so it would be nice to then show what Sauron is actually up to.
Also, 7, 8 and 10 all have some kind of presence from the villains (Morgoth in 7, conversations about his power in 8, and Gwindor's escape in 10), so 9 would be a good place to put a Sauron cameo.
Although, was Sauron going to be in charge of the Mím betrayal? If he is, giving him a Barrow-downs scene right before might be a challenge. If not, who is?

 

[Cyclops of Krakoa]

I’m putting my frame story pitch here for now, I’ll move it when the page for it is made.

I’ve had this idea for the frame story for a while so it’s going to be pretty detailed, it takes place in 2954, only a year after the last seasons frame and when Mount Doom erupts again.

The main character would be Denethor and the focus would be what happens to Gondor now that Sauron’s returned, fitting with this seasons theme of survival. Denethor’s father, Ecthelion, knowing about the Dunedain Rangers, sends Denethor to try and recruit them. and maybe even find Isildur’s Heir. This would parallel Morwen sending Túrin away to Doriath.

When Denethor and his travel companion Forlong the Fat, set out from Gondor, their first stop is to Orthanc, to ask Saruman about the Rangers, since he’s the head wizard and would be a trusted source of information.

Since the audience isn’t supposed to know that Saruman’s evil yet, this could parallel Turin’s relationship with Thingol, if Saruman’s being a mentor to Denethor, telling him everything he wants to hear like, “there’s definitely no Heir of Isildur, and if anyone says there is, don’t believe them. Only the Stewards can protect Gondor”. During all of this there’d be a growing rift between Denethor and Forlong, since Forlong is a true believer in the King’s return.

Then Denethor and Forlong would meet the Rangers and spend the rest of the frame with them, paralleling Turin with the outlaws. This could be the first time we see Annuminas, which would be the parallel to Amon Rudh.

Aragorn would not show up in the frame, and the Rangers wouldn’t even openly talk about him. Eventually Halbarad would tell Denethor about him, but Denethor doesn’t believe him, and when he tries to recruit the Rangers they reject him, since he rejects Isildur’s Heir.

Forlong would believe that Aragorn is Isildur’s heir and renounce his friendship with Denethor over this. This would parallel Beleg’s death, since Denethor and Turin both lose their closest friends due to their own rash actions.

Túrin and Denethor both end the season on a low note, setting up their despair-based actions in the future.

 

[Fable_Teller]

I had a couple questions after this session that I forgot to post:
1. In the discussion, it sounded like Beleg was going to be tortured by the outlaws the second time he shows up, on Amon Rûdh, while in the book, Beleg gets tortured the first time, because they don't recognize him yet. Why change that to the second meeting?
2. There was also talk of ending episode 11 without knowing if Beleg is alive or not, because the episode was from Androg's perspective and would end when he died. Doesn't Androg save Beleg by scaring Mím off? So wouldn't we know that Beleg is alive when 11 ends with Androg's death?

 

[MithLuin]

Yeah, Beleg's two visits often get conflated or mixed up in our discussions. A mistake, not a deliberate change.

Whether or not the audience (or Androg) knows that Beleg is still alive can be left ambiguous, if we want to.