Barn Scene Breakdown-2

Barn scene breakdown-2

Tears in Adar’s eyes are still seen even as he turns to face Galadriel’s slurs again.

Adar’s turning slowly, showing us he’s gradually taking in everything Galadriel is saying.

Adar raises his eyebrows ever so slightly (gif above). As used to abasement as he is, he’s still taken aback by the extent of this threat and the sheer cruelty of it.

This makes him truly angry for the first time.

Galadriel wasn’t ready to receive this slap.

Adar rams it in

He speaks in a clear voice, through his teeth, jaw clenched, completely sure of what he’s saying. This is the second and last time after “we are creations of the One, the same as you“ line that he speaks like this.

(I really love the fact that in Sauron’s northern fortress in Ep.1 Galadriel does look into an ice mirror to see her reflection. Also, a good hint at her future magical Mirror)

3, 2, 1, Galadriel goes supernova

As we can see, she’s not into carrying out her lengthy torture threat.

And of course Galadriel is angry. Adar basically said she’s worse than him, and she isn’t ready to acknowledge that some creature she’s seeing as inferior has managed to dig very deep. But she has enough self-consciousness to know she has stepped over the line with her threats and has really touched the darkness.

Also, take notice that by moving towards Adar Galadriel moves away from the light sources in the scene – and literally into the shadow.

Meanwhile, someone has been taking his anger management courses:

But this also can be viewed as

Even with a dagger at his throat, Adar does the same thing he has already done – puts up a fight for the self-naming of his people, as small a thing as it is.

And oh, look at that, isn’t that Galadriel in darkness and Adar cast in a little light!

What’s interesting though is that he says the word with his eyes closed. When you do this, you’re not ready to face your opponent as you think it’ll provoke them even more than what you’ve just said. This is the behavior of a victim that too much about abuse.

Still, he finds strength to open his eyes and face her, even if afterwards, ready to receive whatever she might unleash for his boldness. He’s shown as weak and broken and defeated but also very strong, a duality that Mawle plays to an excellent extent.

But Galadriel is done. Now that Sauron Emotional Support Group Halbrand has arrived, she’s not into prolonging this argument that she has been hopelessly losing

We know Adar knows a lot about pain. And yes, all he does is twitch with one eye, showing us another extent of Mawle expertise in doing micro-expressions (Joseph, how do you even do that without moving your other eyelids).

He glances down and to the left, seemingly inhales. He was probably ready to get something much worse as a punishment.

Galadriel turns back as if in second thought and silently challenges him

But Adar is also done. He lowers his head, submitting to Galadriel’s position of power, showing he isn’t into arguing as well.

As the argument is over, Galadriel leaves.

Sauron’s like “yes, mighty Commander of the Northern Armies, the low-man Halbrand bows before you“

As soon as she’s out, Adar pulls himself even closer (I love the hand tap). He’s not watching Halbrand, he’s not 100% sure who he is but he’s confident enough.

Halbrand’s silence makes Adar double-check.

camera, please stop falling over for the love of jesus we know adar’s defeated

And with that the emotional train wreck that is this scene is over, I’m gonna go pray on Mawle’s acting skills

If you want me to break down anything else, feel free to write in the comments or PM me or anything else