Hello, Matt, and thank you for those compliments. Greatly appreciated.

After watching the first two episodes of RoP Season 2 (one to go still), I would most definitely agree with you. I have an idea already on how you could remove literally 60 percent of season 1 whilst still keeping the Sauron twist, and going straight to the Middle-Earth action that we all came here for.

I think that if Galadriel and Halbrand split up very shortly after their encounter on the fleet (and or a very brief visit to Numenor), followed by the Rings either being already-made or being made in the opening hour of the film, would give great urgency to the story and allow it all to unfold rather sharply.

And Numenor should most definitely be a sidelined plot, with parts of it mayhaps used later down the road.

I think I might remake the entire Rings of Power structure when this season is done, and split them up in two films with greater focus.

And! Bronwyn must most definitely die during the first battle in the Southlands, seeing as how i wanted high stakes in season 1 that never really came (now they can) and since the actress didn’t return.

This way you could have five plots going on at the same time:

Bronwyn and Arondir
Galadriel
Elrond and Durin in Khazad-Dûm (Elrond being useless thus far in s2, could be great to keep him away in khazad-dum)
Halbrand, and then Sauron
Harfoots (go straight to season 2 storyline after the first two episodes + the last from Season 1).

Dancing between these outlines from both seasons I think will craft two strong movies in the long run.