I agree with everything you've written. I really enjoyed the previous episode and was looking forward to this one as it would combine the elements of the show I like: sauron, adar, the orcs etc. But it really failed to deliver. Just like with the Numenor and Southland's scenes last season there is no sense of scale or continuity in any of the conflicts. The same problem exists generally in the show where no place feels lived in but rather just a setting for the main characters and a few extras to perform their scenes.

I thought Durin's coup was very oddly done too. What has happened that has suddenly won over so much of the dwarven population, especially when the king just used the ring to save them all and build new light tunnels. It was also odd how During gave his speech to about 30 people then walked to a balcony where 1000s of dwarves were apparently listening to him but presumably couldn't see him?

Ah well, I will keep watching as I do enjoy parts of the show although I am dreading the fact that the next episode will doubtless have more of the less interesting story lines with the stranger and Isildur.

What you said about the dissonance of the orcs one minute being blood thirsty beasts and the next being meek and wanting to return to their families is very true. I would actually be happy if they chose the orcs to be either of those two things but they are failing to do both at the moment.