Tolkien's Great Romance: Beren and Luthien

I haven't watched Amazon's Rings of Power. I may some day. But even a brief review of the episode synopses makes me tired. It sounds like Elvish soap opera and doesn't cover the history of Middle Earth that I would now prefer to see. (Is a rehash of Sauron and the rings really necessary?) 

Rings of Power takes place in Middle Earth's Second Age rather than its First, and maybe someone like Jackson is holding onto The Silmarillion (First Age) to do it justice (I can only hope). In a recent rereading of The Silmarillion, I was reminded how much great stuff is available in Tolkien, if people will go looking for it. I'm a huge fan of Jackson's trilogies. I just don't think honoring Tolkien has to begin and end there. 

One of the best and most complete of Tolkien's earlier "lore" is Beren and Luthien. It has all the drama and angst anyone could desire. And, most importantly, it has a strong narrative arc.

Muddy Colors

Beren is human. His father is slaughtered when one of his father's followers unwillingly betrays him to Sauron. Beren kills his father's orc murderer and then makes his way through Ungoliant's niche to the realm of Thingol. 

In that realm, he comes across Luthien, who is the child of Thingol, an elf, and Melian, a Maiar. Thingol doesn't care for Beren as a choice for his daughter, but Luthien loves him and defends him. Thingol sets Beren a task to complete. Much of the couple's arc focuses on that task. 

The two perform rescues, face down Sauron (before the rings), sacrifice for each other. And they have this big pet dog! (Okay, he's more than a pet but...)  

Great characters! Great internal and external conflicts! Lots of material without having to resort to throwing a wizard-elf-dwarf-human-hobbit-villain-bunch-of-rings into a bag and shaking them about.