Enneagram – Page 6 – Enneagram and Encaustic

Partings (Part One)

Episode Five of The Rings of Power . . .

LEFTOVER NINE

Nori and The Stranger sit at the shore while she teaches him about “migration”. When she describes the dangers of the road, he realizes he is a “peril”. He seems upset by it, and she reiterates that he’s good.

(This scene, which is fairly isolated storywise, is exactly what I meant last episode when I said the Three should be a beat involving these characters. It’s perfect, especially since The Stranger struggles with understanding his ethics. Juxtaposed with Waldreg calling him Sauron in last episode’s Six, this would’ve been genius.)

ONE

And then we continue with the Harfoots (which would’ve made a solid opening to the current episode). The Brandyfoots and Poppy load their wagons and set out. She sings a walking song while the beautiful scenery dissolves to a map of the route. They muscle their way through the Grey Marshes and onward, with no sign of the caravan. At night The Stranger steps out to look up at the stars.

BEETLEJUICE, NULL

Does Beetlejuice have character traits, or is he only a demon who acts according to his nature?

He has a very clear intention: say my name three times so I can be loosed onto the world. Whatever he does at the beginning of the movie is in service to that want. When he’s free, though, he pursues mayhem and tries to marry an underage Lydia. Sowing chaos and practicing sexual assault are pretty much demon actions. It’s quite possible he’s a Null.

Does he ever exhibit a characteristic that is distinct to him and not a generic trait any demon could hold? Is Keaton only portraying an imp, a poltergeist?

It’s well-acted and perfectly suited to the story. Beetlejuice is not our protagonist, of course. As an antagonist, he is driven strictly by his demonic impulses. Yes, he’s a Null, and it’s a wonderful choice for him.

However, Beetlejuice 2 is currently shooting. I’ll be very curious to see if Beetlejuice remains a Null. I would argue that his lack of an Enneagram is part of what makes the first movie beloved. I hope the showrunners stay true to that instinct.

The Great Wave (Part Two)

Continuing Episode Four of The Rings of Power . . .

SWITCH

From a window Elrond views a construction site.

FIVE

He is in Celebrimbor’s apartment. Over refreshments, Celebrimbor mentions Elrond’s father, and then gently complains about Durin.

Elrond visits Durin’s wife, Disa. He suspects her of deception; Durin has been avoiding him.

Dissolve to Disa and Durin walking together. She indeed lied to Elrond. He whispers that they’re making good progress in the “old mine”. Pull out across the chasm to show Elrond with elf eyes reading their lips.

Cut to Elrond in the mine’s entrance. At a stone blockage he recites the rhyme Disa’s children were chanting when he visited her. It works; the stone opens. Pulling aside a cloth, Elrond sees a vein of silvery metal. Durin catches him spying and accuses him of wanting this all along. However, Elrond doesn’t know what Durin means and only wants to preserve their friendship. Demanding an oath of secrecy, Durin shows Elrond the mysterious contents of the chest: mithril (although, because it’s a “new ore” it isn’t named yet). It’s dangerous to mine, so the King has kept the discovery quiet.

(Here all of us whisper to ourselves, “The dwarves delved too deep.”)

The Great Wave (Part One)

Episode Four of The Rings of Power . . .

ONE

The Queen Regent presides over a Blessing of the Children ceremony.

TWO

Suddenly a trembling like an earthquake begins. The wind blows, sending white leaves into the reception hall. While the Queen looks out over her city, a massive wave floods the area. Everything crumbles and the Queen is washed away.

And then she wakes, and moves with a purpose.

SAMWISE GAMGEE, TWO

As I was reviewing the second part of the “Adar” episode of The Rings of Power I inadvertently referenced Enneagram numbers for some beloved Tolkien characters. Let me explain my thinking.

One of the hallmarks of a Man Two is his collection. For Sam, he collects . . . condiments! Haha. He carries his Shire salt all through Mordor. When he’s home, he’s a gardener. His flowers, all the things that make life beautiful and delicious, are his collection.

His devotion to Frodo is another Two indicator. In the brief moment when he carries Sting and the Ring, fighting Shelob and rescuing Frodo, he’s the hero. He immediately relinquishes this role as soon as Frodo is himself, though. Sam is a follower. The glory is not about him.

It would be easy to see Sam as a Nine. He doesn’t seek conflict and, with Frodo a Six, they would share an intriguing strength/weakness relationship. Sam is not a squire, though. He’s not a knight in training, he’s a servant. As a Heart Type Sam should exhibit some form of Envy. It’s not toward Frodo and his quest to carry the Ring, though; it’s toward Gollum. Sam is eaten alive by Frodo’s friendship with Smeagol. Sam made a promise, Mr. Frodo, a promise. He’s to take care of Frodo. Gollum tries to replace him, but he’s a false servant. This drives Sam crazy, partly because it’s unfair and dangerous, but also because he’s been superseded. That Envy makes it painful for him to lose Frodo’s favor.

I’ve never particularly liked Jackson’s decision to have Sam abandon Frodo and descend the staircase of Cirith Ungol. It’s a storyteller’s manipulation to build tension for Gollum’s betrayal and Frodo’s seeming death to Shelob. However, looking at Sam as a Two, I don’t hate this plot twist so much. His Envy tricks him into an emotional breakdown, into leaving his master and friend. I can see the justification for it in his Enneagram. And because he’s Sam, he quickly recovers and returns to Frodo’s side in time to save the day. Sam changes after that moment, becoming more confident, and leads Frodo through Mordor. It’s — gulp, I’m forced to admit — a good character choice!

FRODO BAGGINS, SIX

As I was reviewing the second part of the “Adar” episode of The Rings of Power I inadvertently referenced Enneagram numbers for some beloved Tolkien characters. I was comparing Frodo and Sam to Nori and Poppy, a juxtaposition I believe the showrunners want us to make. Nori, especially, has the wide-eyed, trustful face that Frodo has before he’s given the Ring. They’re very different, though, and the comparison muddies Nori’s character. Nori is possibly a Three, or any of the other take-charge Enneagram numbers.

Frodo, on the other hand, is not your typical hero. He’s quiet and unathletic. He prefers a simple hobbit life and isn’t looking for adventures. Unlike Bilbo, who unexpectedly thrives after Gandalf knocks at his door, Frodo never changes. Who we see at the beginning of “Fellowship” is who we have at the end, with layers of suffering added on. Merry and Pippin step into the roles of soldiers; when they return to the Shire, those abilities and the desire to wield them continue. They’ve changed and arced. Frodo hasn’t. Frodo has diminished.

This is why I immediately jumped to Six in my “Adar” breakdown. Only the Trooper, a non-hero number, can take the torture Frodo sustains and continue onward. He will do his duty, even with the Wheel of Fire spinning in his mind and the Ring dragging him to the ground. He doesn’t just persevere because he’s a hobbit; it’s his Enneagram.

Adar (Part Two)

Continuing the third episode of The RIngs of Power . . .

FIVE

We’re back with Arondir. The prisoners, at the bottom of a trench surrounded by a smoking ruin, are digging through the roots of a large tree. Because the sun is out, the orcs hide in their tented tunnel system while the elves toil. Morgoth has a successor, this orc leader with the elvish name, Adar. He seems to be searching for something, possibly a weapon.

Orc torture commences. Arondir, under duress, chops down the tree.

Galadriel, in a proper gown, wanders down to the city’s waterfront. Elendil, charged with watching her, assumes (correctly) that she’s choosing a ship to steal. She threatens him, and he speaks to her in elvish. He mentions their Hall of Lore, a day’s ride away, and Galadriel brightens.

Cut to the two of them cantering across an open field. In slow motion they ride along a beach. As the music swells, we see Galadriel’s face, alight with joy.

(It’s an overly precious shot, but then we get the pay-off. This is an expression we’ve never seen from her. We realize how sour she’s been before this. Is it the power and speed of horseback riding? Is it the sense of freedom? Finally Galadriel shows us more dimension.)

Adar (Part One)

Episode 3 of The Rings of Power . . .

LEFTOVER NINE

Arondir, woozy, is dragged by orcs in skull helmets. It’s nightmarish. We hear orcs arguing about who has to stay in the sun — “sun duty” — and the mention of Adar, who’s their leader.

Chained in a pit, Arondir digs with other elves. Whipped prisoners scream in the shade.

ONE

Cut to Galadriel waking. She’s on a bed in a ship’s hold. Halbrand brings her food. The ship is crewed by men in uniform.

TWO

The captain, who recognizes her as “one of the Eldar”, wears her dagger.

THREE

They approach a magnificent port reminiscent of the Argonath with its gargantuan rock statues carved from the hillsides. Galadriel recognizes the Kingdom of Númenor. (It’s an astonishing location that is given a number of expansive establishing shots.)

Adrift (Part Two)

Episode Two of The Rings of Power continues at the Harfoot encampment.

FOUR (CONT.)

The Harfoots notice that Nori is missing.

Cut back to her and The Giant. When she asks about “his kind” he takes a stick and draws in the dirt.

SWITCH

(Here it is! I just needed a little patience.)

Back to the Harfoots straining to raise a tent. Nori’s father (Largo) pushes on a beam held by a rope that finally snaps, as does Largo’s ankle. Poppy runs up to get Nori. The Giant screams in frustration that they can’t understand his meaning.

Adrift (Part One)

Episode Two of The Rings of Power . . .

ONE

Galadriel, abandoned in the sea, still treads water. With nothing in sight on the horizon, she starts to swim.

Nori stands at the edge of the fiery crater. A man with grizzled hair and beard, naked but for a loincloth, lies in the blaze. Poppy, rushing up to chastise Nori, accidentally pushes her over the slope. The flames are not hot, and Nori approaches “the giant”. She boops his cheek. With a horror-startle, he quickly grabs her hand and rises from the ash. Magical winds and a soul-long look between Nori and The Giant stop when he collapses. She insists that Poppy help her carry the stranger somewhere safe.

TWO

Sadoc, holding a lantern, comes to see what fell to earth. He anticipates a bad omen. He misses Nori and Poppy pushing The Giant over the hill behind him in a wheelbarrow. As the girls argue over what this man is — not human, not elf — they let go of the cart and it starts to roll backward. (The image of an oversized man in a rustic wagon rolling down a hill is played for humor.) Cut to him settled, asleep, under a tree. Nori explains that The Giant, who could’ve fallen to earth anywhere, seems like her responsibility. She was meant to find him. Poppy agrees to keep him a secret.

THREE

Dissolve to Bronwyn and Arondir in the burnt village. They find no bodies. Under a ruined house is a dug passage. Arondir will follow it. Bronwyn will go home to warn her people. Before parting, they share a longing glance.