I suspect I'm more critical of Elrond than ... just about everyone

I really love the scenario where Faramir goes to Rivendell because of all the possibilities it unlocks (and I don't buy that whoever favored him in the dream-sending thing was wrong or manipulative, whatever the mechanical difficulties). And that's not super unusual, though there's often at least some boring "but the plot requires it be Boromir" responses.

And one of the things that people who like the scenario tend to bring up is that Faramir would click a lot more with the Rivendell atmosphere in general. He loves lore and music, he's up to his ears in Númenórean mystique and even Elvish vibes to Pippin (Faramir's maternal uncle is instantly recognizable to an Elf as part Elvish, fwiw), Faramir is wary of Elves but I suspect less so than Boromir, and his mixture of stern resolve and gentle compassion seems a pretty natural fit for Team Elrond. Faramir and Elrond could have a really cool dynamic! And I agree with all this!

However, "cool dynamic" reads a bit differently to me than I think most others who like the scenario because—

Elrond:

“But in the wearing of the swift years of Middle-earth the line of Meneldil son of Anárion failed, and the Tree withered, and the blood of the Númenoreans became mingled with lesser men. Then the watch upon the walls of Mordor slept...” (FOTR)

Faramir:

“Kings made tombs more splendid than houses of the living, and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry; in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs, or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars. And the last king of the line of Anárion had no heir. But the stewards were wiser and more fortunate. Wiser, for they recruited the strength of our people from the sturdy folk of the sea-coast, and from the hardy mountaineers of Ered Nimrais.” (TTT)

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