What should Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel series be about? Here are 13 ideas

The Fall of Gondolin

While The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are Tolkien’s most famous works, the story of the elvish city of Gondolin was the first story Tolkien wrote set in what would become Middle Earth. Founded by the elvish king Turgon, Gondolin was hidden away by divine intervention, and stood as a symbol of opposition to Melkor’s rule over Middle Earth in the First Age.

War and conflict raged all around the kingdom of Gondolin, but the city stood untouched for centuries until it was betrayed by King Turgon’s nephew. An epic battle similar to the fall of Troy followed, with Melkor sending waves of orcs, dragons and balrogs at the city to overwhelm its defenders. Before the city fell, its heroes performed epic feats of valor, none greater than the elf captain Ecthelion, who slew the lord of all balrogs, Gothmog, in single combat. Adapted to TV, that duel alone would be worth the price of admission.

Gondolin is also notable for producing semi-magical swords, including the swords Glamdring and Orcrist, later wielded by Gandalf (used to slay another Balrog) and Frodo/Bilbo respectively. The Fall of Gondolin might work best as a limited series. And then there’s that downer of an ending to consider. Survivors fled the city, though, including Tuor, ancestor to the kings of Númenor. So it could end on a note of hope.