Objectively speaking, Rings of Power is just a horrendous show

I liked this episode.

If it's that bad, why are you watching it as soon as it comes out?

It’s not a bad show at all. Whether or not Tolkien fans want to admit that or not, which is probably never. But the acting is good. The writing, outside of the Harfoots, is solid. Could be better but Tolkien diehards would swear it’s SciFi Channel level shite or worse.

I’m not saying Tolkien fans shouldn’t have gripes with it. I don’t know enough about the lore to have an opinion on it. They probably have plenty of things they’re justified in complaining about. However, objectively, as a casual LOTR fan that’s watched the movies a ton but the books only once, it’s keeping me entertained. It’s not perfect but it’s gotten a lot better as the series has gone on. Galadriel is kind of annoying as are the Harfoots, but there’s some genuine compelling moments.

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It’s not a bad show at all. Whether or not Tolkien fans want to admit that or not, which is probably never.

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Let's clarify something right now- not every Tolkien fan hates this show. I enjoy it, and I'm a big fan of his writings.

You're talking about a couple very specific subsets, when it comes to 'hating'. One is the ultra-rigid group, that pisses and moans when things are not in the way they themselves have imagined it.
The other, frankly, I don't consider actual Tolkien fans. These are people who have commandeered "Tolkien" and other things, to wage what they think are culture wars. You see a lot of this when someone decides to say "let's make Black Panther a white guy, how about that?".

And make no mistake, Tolkien isn't about that, and the man wouldn't approve. Go read some of his letters, and you see him say regarding orcs, that sadly, in the real world, all sides have orcs, including your own people. And the best you can hope for, is that they aren't the ones running things.

All this unnecessary hate and hostility... it's best described as orc-mischief. I would hope that those who truly treasure the man's works would recognize that, and try to act with a little dignity and class. You don't have to like this show, that's personal preference; but if you don't, then just move on to something else.

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Let's clarify something right now- not every Tolkien fan hates this show. I enjoy it, and I'm a big fan of his writings.

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So then you will admit this show used his name to sell something that has jack all with anything Tolkien actually wrote. It's just cynically using a brand to sell to people like you who will watch just about anything or those who don't know much except "elves and hobbits...cool!" And, I would hope, you can admit the writers of this series are pale shadows of the writer Tolkien was. Right?

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If it's that bad, why are you watching it as soon as it comes out?

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So he can share his opinion, the same reason you post. Are only positive reviews allowed now?

The amount of defending this show some posters are doing is just as bad as posters on the other side that are constantly bashing it.

I gave up on the show after episode 5. I agree the writing in this show is bad and the main character is the worst but people will love anything Tolkien just because it’s been so long since something new has come along. Reminds me of Star Wars fans when episode 1 came out. Defend it for months saying it’s not that bad but eventually they realize how bad it is.

Some of you culture war guys are absolutely eaten up over this show, and have been for months before it came out.

Most people who are enjoying it have no problem admitting it’s not a masterpiece.

Of course, the content of the show has nothing to do with the overwhelming breathless criticism here (and on YouTube channels). The show is merely another battleground to fight for their outrage politics addled side on (or gin up cheap YouTube views from this crowd)

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the writers of this series are pale shadows of the writer Tolkien was. Right?

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What television show writers are more than pale shadows of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century?

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What television show writers are more than pale shadows of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century?

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This is a good thought, but the showrunners clearly thought they were up to the task. That's why they only used Tolkien's setting and characters, and not his story.

ETA: This is what I don't get about the defense of this show. If they had simply followed exactly what Tolkien had written, to the letter, it would be a better show. What's the point of supporting something that clearly strived to be less than it could be?

Boy elves if the 3rd age are just not as hardy as they use to be.

They all survived a pyroclastic flow without a mark or burn! WTF, do the writers of Amazon even know what a pyroclastic flow is,

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a dense, destructive mass of very hot ash, lava fragments, and gases ejected explosively from a volcano and typically flowing downslope at great speed.

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Humans were tougher too. That lady was shot with through-and-through with 2 arrows, poor old Boromir must be pissed.

I mean if you like non-sensical, CW type dramas, I can see how people might like this show, but seriously, its bad.