{"id":116422,"date":"2023-04-03T09:15:02","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T14:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=116422"},"modified":"2023-04-03T12:57:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T17:57:32","slug":"middle-earth-march-madness-time-to-vote-in-the-grand-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2023\/04\/03\/116422-middle-earth-march-madness-time-to-vote-in-the-grand-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle-earth March Madness: time to VOTE in the Grand Final!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We come to it at last – the great battle of our time… Just twelve days after it started, with 64 characters from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power<\/em> divided amongst four categories, Middle-earth March Madness 2023, Rings of Power<\/em> Edition<\/a><\/strong> is drawing to a close. Only two remain – and only one battle. Here’s how the Final Four played out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Semi Final 1: Elf versus Elf<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This first match-up featured one of the most popular characters from Tolkien: a High Elf, daughter of Finarfin; niece of F\u00ebanor; ruler of Lothl\u00f3rien; bearer of Nenya, the Ring of Water. Some of that, however, lies in her future: in this competition, we’re considering Galadriel of the Second Age, as seen in The Rings of Power<\/em>. A fierce warrior, living under the rule of Gil-galad but chaffing against his commands, this leader of fighters seems yet to find her role as a wise and calm ruler. Her strength of will, however, is undeniable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facing her was a being about whom we know very little. Arondir is a Silvan Elf from Beleriand, who is stationed as a soldier in the Southlands when we meet him in The Rings of Power<\/em>. (He is a non-canonical character, created for the television show.) We know almost nothing of his past; but we witness his passion as a warrior, his compassion for the humans he watches, and his skill with bow and arrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seemed unlikely that a Woodland Elf would have much of a chance against one of the Noldor; and perhaps equally unlikely that a newly invented character would put to the test one of Tolkien’s beloved creations. So, indeed, it turned out: Galadriel took the lead early on, and Arondir never threatened to overtake her. In the end, our Elf maiden claimed two thirds of the vote, to emerge victorious.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Semi Final 2: Man versus Maia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the second dual of this penultimate round, Elendil the Tall, faithful Elf-friend, native of N\u00famenor and (spoiler!) future High King of Middle-earth, and bearer of Narsil – but currently, in The Rings of Power<\/em>, a lowly sea captain – faced an enigmatic foe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just who is the Stranger? He fell to (Middle) earth in a comet, being found by the Harfoots in a fiery – yet cool to the touch – crater, unclothed. We have seen his power to bring life – but also to bring destruction. The three hooded figures in pursuit of him, believing him to be the ruler they sought – Morgoth’s second in command – realised in the season finale that he was not the one they desired. He is, they fear, one of the Istari. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So is he a created character? Are the screenwriters imagining that there might have been another of the Maiar who came to Middle-earth as wizards? Or is he in fact someone we already know well: a befriender of Halflings? His words, ‘When in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, always follow your nose,’ would seem to suggest that he is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However the plot of the Stranger will unfold in Season Two of The Rings of Power <\/em>– and however faithful the show’s Elendil may in future be to Tolkien’s writing – voters had just a couple of days to make a choice between these two powerful characters. And it was a tough decision! The lead went back and forth between them, with often only a handful of votes separating them. In the end, however, the win was claimed by the N\u00famenorean, taking that crucial – but narrow – majority, 52% to 48%. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Now, two characters step into the arena for the last time this year: Galadriel squares off against Elendil. Both are creations from Tolkien himself – though deviating somewhat from canon, in their roles in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power<\/em>. Will discrepancies between script and book sway your vote? Are you influenced by the actors playing the parts? As ever, it’s up to you how you make your choice; both of these characters have a chance of becoming Champion of Middle-earth March Madness 2023. But there can be only one! And it’s up to you to decide – VOTE NOW. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does it work, you ask? <\/strong>Simple! Click on the orange button below. Then click the ‘Vote Now’ option that appears in the top left. And place your votes! Below, you’ll find a reminder of the entire bracket thus far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vote in the Grand Final<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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You have until the end of the day Tuesday April 4th <\/strong>to vote in this Grand Final. The winner will be revealed on TORn Tuesday – and then announced on the homepage after. This is the 12th Middle-earth March Madness tournament TORn has held; who will claim the crown this year? You decide – VOTE NOW<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We come to it at last – the great battle of our time… Just twelve days after it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":116265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3119,14,197,35,3769,3619,6,98,149,3734,156,159,152],"tags":[3746,1998,2044,1807,807,771,2059,3622,2462,3135,2095,3731],"class_list":["post-116422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amazon-tv-series","category-events","category-fans","category-lotr-books","category-lotr-on-prime","category-march-madness","category-tolkbooks","category-silmarillion","category-lotr","category-the-rings-of-power","category-torn-announcements","category-torn-community","category-tolkien","tag-arondir","tag-elendil","tag-elves","tag-galadriel","tag-gandalf","tag-hobbits","tag-lothlorien","tag-maiar","tag-march-madness","tag-middle-earth-march-madness","tag-numenor","tag-rings-of-power"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t