Why Watch 'Rings of Power'?

[Goldilocks Gamgee]

You know, reading through the RoP threads, I made a list of the things people like about this show:
- CGI
- No, that's it, everyone hates it

So, like, why are you guys even continuing to watch it? My reason is that discussing with people online and in real life, making theories and criticizing, has been quite the highlight of the past few weeks.

 

[Kiredor]

For me, it’s simply idle curiosity of how the show’s writers compare with the master of fantasy and philology. So far, they haven’t disappointed my initial assertion that their attempts would be dismal. I found Peter Jackson’s versions reasonably palatable, but Amazon, IMHO, have a long, long way to go.
Lenny Henry’s Brummie/Jamaican accent is particularly bothersome, and Harfoots being Hobbits would never leave any of their kin behind - ever!

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

I'm a fan of fantasy in general. While this show isn't canon Tolkien, I'm enjoying it as a standalone fantasy series that's influenced by Tolkien (as so many series are). It's definitely not perfect and has some poor writing but it's not awful. But as I've said so many times, it's not hard to just not watch if you don't like it. It's as simple as closing out of Amazon Prime and/or not watching in the first place.

It's not going to change what Tolkien wrote or did in his life. I know some people personally who never had read Tolkien before. Now that they've watched the series, they're interested and have been discussing the original books and lore to understand better. A couple have even joined TTF and /r/TolkienFans on Reddit (another excellent site for Tolkien discussion). So I'd say that's a positive for the show too.

 

[Halasían]

You know, reading through the RoP threads, I made a list of the things people like about this show:
- CGI
- No, that's it, everyone hates it

So, like, why are you guys even continuing to watch it? My reason is that discussing with people online and in real life, making theories and criticizing, has been quite the highlight of the past few weeks.

From the extremely small sample size presented here on Tolkienforum, I get where you come to your conclusion. I’m a ‘nobody’ who doesn’t hate it, and am enjoying it for what it is and what it was always going to be… an elaborate fanfic. Not only will I ’continue’ to watch it, but will watch all five seasons. I’ve given up trying to ‘discuss’ Rings of Power here long ago.

 

[ZehnWaters]

I'd be more inclined to give it a chance if the show's creators hadn't been so awful. Driving away the Tolkien Scholar they'd brought on. Trashing any fans who criticize the show by conflating all criticism with the one or two racists out there.

 

[ZehnWaters]

I'd be more inclined to give it a chance if the show's creators hadn't been so awful. Driving away the Tolkien Scholar they'd brought on. Trashing any fans who criticize the show by conflating all criticism with the one or two racists out there.

Is something...humourous @Halasían ?

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

the one or two racists out there.

I'm guessing this. ^

 

[ZehnWaters]

I'm guessing this. ^

Does...exaggeration escape his understanding?

 

[Halasían]

Is something...humourous Halasían ?

Yes, or I wouldn't have laughed.

 

[ZehnWaters]

Yes, or I wouldn't have laughed.

That being....?

 

[Kiredor]

Whether you love it or loathe it, RoP is simply a creation of work from another’s mind; albeit they jumped on Tolkien’s name to promote their ideas.
For me, it’s a simple choice, you either watch it with interest or don’t watch it at all.
I for one, am watching with interest just to see if it stands alone as a multi-series that depicts the story well.

 

[Ent]

it's not hard to just not watch if you don't like it.

Indeed.
"The Universe will unfold as it should." {Spock. Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country

it’s a simple choice, you either watch it with interest or don’t watch it at all.

Indeed.
"The Universe will unfold as it should." {Spock. Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country

who doesn’t hate it, and am enjoying it for what it is and what it was always going to be

Indeed.
"The Universe will unfold as it should." {Spock. Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country

It's not going to change what Tolkien wrote or did in his life.

Indeed.
"The Universe will unfold as it should." {Spock. Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country


Hum. There might be a theme here.

 

[ZehnWaters]

Whether you love it or loathe it, RoP is simply a creation of work from another’s mind; albeit they jumped on Tolkien’s name to promote their ideas.
For me, it’s a simple choice, you either watch it with interest or don’t watch it at all.

I don't watch it. That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to commentate on it. Being apathetic means allowing quality to drop and is how you get bad products and bad policy.

 

[Ent]

I don't watch it. That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to commentate on it.

Indeed. "The Universe will unfold as it should." {Spock. Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country)

Being apathetic means allowing quality to drop and is how you get bad products and bad policy.

And we should be willing to make our views known in all the proper and effective channels available to us to do so..!

Following which, "The Universe will unfold as it should." {Spock. Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country).

Apathy is never the answer.............The Aging Enting

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I don't watch it. That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to commentate on it.

You're not alone there. 😄

 

[ZehnWaters]

You're not alone there. 😄
View attachment 16286

lol Goes both ways. You should see the "reviews" to the She-Ra reboot. "Go lesbians! 5 Stars."

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Or, you can check out a few of the many "Not My Ariel" uploads from youtube haters, for maximum toxicity.

 

[Elthir]

Well, I like to watch something while I'm eating sea-pizza. Although I suppose, instead of ROP, I could watch My Cousin Vinny yet again, or Kill Bill, or Hero, for a few examples.

This scene alone is worth it.

 

[d4rk3lf]

Well, I like to watch something while I'm eating sea-pizza. Although I suppose, instead of ROP, I could watch My Cousin Vinny yet again, or Kill Bill, or Hero, for a few examples.

You could watch an empty wall, and having a better fun.

To answer the OP questions, I am watching it for 2 reasons:
1) As a Tolkien fan, I love to see everything that is done and have to do with his works (games, music, movies, series...)
2) I am very curios how low they can go.

The second reason came recently (after I saw first 2-3 episodes), because I am thinking all the time, and really can't recall any series (Tolkien related or not) that have this bad writing, this bad characters, this unconnected dialogues, and events that just happens (no action=reaction (they just happen)).
Though, many series failed to impress after 2-3 seasons (Falling Skies, Walking Death, Got, etc.. ) they all had at least descent start, and failed later. I've never seen in my life series like this, that failed in every fundamental in storytelling, right from the start, and they just keep going.
I am amazed how Amazon didn't had any quality control over it, and how their producer just let it aired like this.

 

[ZehnWaters]

You could watch an empty wall, and having a better fun.

To answer the OP questions, I am watching it for 2 reasons:
1) As a Tolkien fan, I love to see everything that is done and have to do with his works (games, music, movies, series...)
2) I am very curios how low they can go.

The second reason came recently (after I saw first 2-3 episodes), because I am thinking all the time, and really can't recall any series (Tolkien related or not) that have this bad writing, this bad characters, this unconnected dialogues, and events that just happens (no action=reaction (they just happen)).
Though, many series failed to impress after 2-3 seasons (Falling Skies, Walking Death, Got, etc.. ) they all had at least descent start, and failed later. I've never seen in my life series like this, that failed in every fundamental in storytelling, right from the start, and they just keep going.
I am amazed how Amazon didn't had any quality control over it, and how their producer just let it aired like this.

My understanding is the developers basically got the job by calling in a favour from JJ Abrams with whom they worked on Star Trek Beyond. They have almost NO credits to their name.