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J. D. Payne:Thank you, thank you!
Patrick McKay:Thank you very much.
McKay:That’s a big question.
Payne:I mean, I think we’re thrilled.
That’s just the core of it.
That was something we were just really excited to bring to the world.
And the fact that a lot of viewers seem to feel that way too, is really gratifying.
It feels like the show is onward and upward.
When you look back at it, what are you most proud of with what you’ve achieved?
The show really broadened in a lot of ways.
That’s just two great actors in a room.
I guess this is kind of like making you choose your favorite children.
But what is your favorite episode of season 2?
McKay:That’s a good question.
But I think between episode 7 and 8, we often go back and forth between those two.
That’s a very emotional scene for us.
McKay:I mean, look, they really are all of our children in a way.
So they are all precious to us.
Payne:I mean, it’s incredibly emotional.
It was just very oddly emotional, it’s like meeting a childhood hero in some ways.
It took a while for us to get there.
We wanted to have it be a journey of discovery for us along with the character.
It was not a foregone conclusion that this is what would come out.
When did you make that decision?
Was it before writing, or was it later on in the process?
We also had some brutal goodbyes.
Did you always know that season 2 was the end of the road for him?
Payne:We didn’t, actually.
McKay:I don’t know that it ever made it into the draft.
And could that have happened in some alternate universe?
I know you’ve said that there’s almost no possibility that he is Saruman.
McKay:Well, I wonder if we can make news on this one.
We can say definitively he is not Saruman.
Definitively, 100%, he is not.
Payne:I think we can say we do know who he is.
McKay:But that’s all we can say.
I also wanted to delve into some specific moments from the finale that really stood out to me.
And do you have a particular favorite moment from it?
McKay:Yeah, we love that sequence.
Morfydd [Clark] and Charlie [Vickers] are friends and close collaborators.
We’ve been doing this for years with them.
It’s so cool.
That’s one of my favorite moments.
McKay:Absolutely, and in the history of Middle-earth.
It’s been a journey for our audience, certainly, seeing what people thought about those characters.
This season Elrond had a really pivotal, big step in his arc.
He’s got the rings in his possession, he’s holding Feanor’s hammer.
How did you make the decision to leave him there on that shot?
McKay:Good question.
Season 1, you’re with Galadriel, you don’t know who this guy is.
You’re not sure you trust him, but you kind of like him.
But then, wait a minute, could he be Sauron?
But I don’t know.
And then you feel the betrayal when the reveal is that he is Sauron.
And it’s the fun of watching how his plans unfurl.
He’s like, I’m going to fix the whole world.
That’s my plan.
So in some ways, the first two seasons have been the origin of Sauron, the Dark Lord.
As we’re talking about season 2, we’re reflecting on the year as well.
Payne:Oh gosh, yeah, there’s some we’re enormous fans of.
McKay:I love Shogun.
I thought Shogun was spectacular.
I really liked aspects of Disclaimer.
Man, I was in awe of large portions of that show.
For more, check out our guide toThe Rings of Power season 2 endingand thebest shows on Amazon Prime.
you could also read our list of thebest movies of 2024and thebest games of 2024too.