Why Watch 'Rings of Power'?

[Sons of the Woodland King]

I am late to this topic, but I plan on continuing to watch RoP because I love beautiful imagery and music , and I have a pretty solid imagination. I can use RoP's multi-million dollar cinematography to inspire my own ideas and write a different story in my head the way I like it. I'm just not offended enough by the changes that I cannot take and make use of whatever good I can find in the "mess".

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

Haven't watched it, but I am appreciating the music and increase in Tolkien fans because of it. Seems to have resparked loads of old fanatics.

 

[Sons of the Woodland King]

increase in Tolkien fans because of it. Seems to have resparked loads of old fanatics.

100% worth even "bad" adaptations. The birth of new Tolkien fans is a wonderful thing.

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

That it is, as well as the reignited ones. Even if what sparked their interest again was obsessive criticism in lack of accuracy, it's not the means, but the ends!

 

[Sons of the Woodland King]

That it is, as well as the reignited ones. Even if what sparked their interest again was obsessive criticism in lack of accuracy, it's not the means, but the ends!

I'm one of the "reignited". I was in seventh heaven throughout watching the premiere two episodes. (To the amusement of my husband; he sat down to watch it with me and lasted about 5 minutes. I love him for trying, but he's hopeless. Some people just can't convert.🤣)

However, my excitement gradually flatlined as the episodes went on, and currently I can barely get through episode 5. BUT. Boy, did the stuff I watch get the rusty gears in my head spinning again.

I wish the same for all LOTR fans, new and old, whether they loved or hated RoP. Take all joy you can find folks (however miniscule), and run with that instead; ignore the swill if you can. It's just healthier.

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

Glad to hear it. That's wonderful if you were able to get something out of it.

 

[Vorondil]

We hates it for ever! Nasty Amazon Directorses

 

[Kiredor]

As a diehard Tolkien fan on hearing Amazon was spending a $1Billion dollars on an adaptation of the 2nd Age, I was eager to see it in all it’s splendour and retelling of the fall of Numenor, and the survival and battles of the few Numenorians who escaped the destruction.
Well, that’s what I was hoping for. What I experienced was sheer drivel and pointless dialogue, centuries out of date timelines, acting so bad it wasn’t even worth watching. The characters (old and new) were so far off what Tolkien described it made me cringe.
Now, as I place my personal opinion and written rant aside, the scenery was watchable, and the attempt at portraying the different races with a modern slant was understandable, although the hidden character of Sauron as a normal sized man was ridiculous, I found myself morbidly curious as to how they would write the season one finale. As a viewing spectacle, the sea rising up and devouring the city like a demented power was spectacular.
Question: will I watch Season 2? Answer: Probably, as I am a glutton for anything Tolkien.

 

[Vorondil]

So should I watch it?

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

As a diehard Tolkien fan on hearing Amazon was spending a $1Billion dollars on an adaptation of the 2nd Age, I was eager to see it in all it’s splendour and retelling of the fall of Numenor, and the survival and battles of the few Numenorians who escaped the destruction.
Well, that’s what I was hoping for. What I experienced was sheer drivel and pointless dialogue, centuries out of date timelines, acting so bad it wasn’t even worth watching. The characters (old and new) were so far off what Tolkien described it made me cringe.
Now, as I place my personal opinion and written rant aside, the scenery was watchable, and the attempt at portraying the different races with a modern slant was understandable, although the hidden character of Sauron as a normal sized man was ridiculous, I found myself morbidly curious as to how they would write the season one finale. As a viewing spectacle, the sea rising up and devouring the city like a demented power was spectacular.
Question: will I watch Season 2? Answer: Probably, as I am a glutton for anything Tolkien.

Me too ...if I was just a movie fan I'd enjoy it but now that I'm familiar with characters ...no way
I watched 2 ep(couldn't even finish 2) and couldn't handle more of that garbage
And I believe they made elves with short hair just to anger the fans.

 

[Tar-Elenion]

And I believe they made they made elves with short hair just to anger the fans.

I don't know. The show-runners said they went to the books and felt that Tolkien wanted his Elves to change hair-styles. Or something like that...
Where they found that in the books was not mentioned, and Colbert did not challenge them on it.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I don't know. The show-runners said they went to the books and felt that Tolkien wanted his Elves to change hair-styles. Or something like that...
Where they found that in the books was not mentioned, and Colbert did not challenge them on it.

I personally don't remember the male elves to have short hair... every time their appearance was mentioned they had long hair

 

[Tar-Elenion]

I personally don't remember the male elves to have short hair... every time their appearance was mentioned they had long hair

That is essentially correct. Tolkien describes his Elves with long hair, both directly and by implication.
The show-runners were being less than honest, or displaying ignorance.

 

[Halasían]

It's C average. I graded it somewhere on here but I think it was quickly buried. I hoped for more, but could have gotten less. It's worth a watch, especially now that it can be binged. I binged all eight episodes a couple months after they all were released and it seemed like it fit that watch format better. The weekly episode format didn't do it any favours.

 

[d4rk3lf]

So should I watch it?

But of course!
Never, in cinematic history in the known universe, there has been a series with more disjointed plot points, with "wanna be wise" character dialogues, that are just random blabbering, with visual style that differs from shot to shot (from very expensive looking, to very cheap), with tribal culture that is utterly psychopathic... etc..

How can you miss that?

 

[Kiredor]

I don't know. The show-runners said they went to the books and felt that Tolkien wanted his Elves to change hair-styles. Or something like that...
Where they found that in the books was not mentioned, and Colbert did not challenge them on it.

N

I don't know. The show-runners said they went to the books and felt that Tolkien wanted his Elves to change hair-styles. Or something like that...
Where they found that in the books was not mentioned, and Colbert did not challenge them on it.

They ‘felt that…’
As we all know, feeling something doesn’t make it true. When watching their interviews, when the show-runners were asked about their changes to certain characters or the storyline, they usually began their sentences with, “Yes, we felt that…”
I don’t remember anything in Tolkien’s writing (including his letters) where he wrote, or even suggested, that the Elves were anything else but tall, good looking and of long hair.
Colbert wouldn’t challenge as he is on Amazon’s payroll. He has an upcoming cameo role somewhere in the RoP Season 2, and he would have signed the usual contractual NDA that forbids speaking negatively.

Me too ...if I was just a movie fan I'd enjoy it but now that I'm familiar with characters ...no way
I watched 2 ep(couldn't even finish 2) and couldn't handle more of that garbage
And I believe they made elves with short hair just to anger the fans.

It's C average. I graded it somewhere on here but I think it was quickly buried. I hoped for more, but could have gotten less. It's worth a watch, especially now that it can be binged. I binged all eight episodes a couple months after they all were released and it seemed like it fit that watch format better. The weekly episode format didn't do it any favours.

I agree. It made it slightly more watchable, but I still cringe every time Morffyd Clark speaks. For me, she just doesn’t do the role justice. She’s not tall, not elegant, says nothing wise or inciteful, and is certainly not a ‘powerful’ Elf.

Me too ...if I was just a movie fan I'd enjoy it but now that I'm familiar with characters ...no way
I watched 2 ep(couldn't even finish 2) and couldn't handle more of that garbage
And I believe they made elves with short hair just to anger the fans.

I would take Halasian’s advice and binge watch the entire series. It makes it easier on the eye and the mind.

 

[Vorondil]

Don't you think its strange that Galadriel would look so young in the rings of power, but look much older only like 1000-2000 years later?

 

[Kiredor]

Don't you think its strange that Galadriel would look so young in the rings of power, but look much older only like 1000-2000 years later?

That’s exactly my point. The casting of Clark to play a ‘slightly’ younger, violent and moody Galadriel, after seeing the majestic portrayal by Cate Blanchett in Jackson’s trilogy, was laughable if not so disappointing in every aspect. I have nothing against Clark as an actress, it wasn’t her fault she was thrown into a role that just wasn’t made for her. If they were in the 1st Age, I could see Clark as a tween Galadriel, learning her skills, honing her powers and generally ‘growing up’ beside the other ancient Elves.

 

[d4rk3lf]

Don't you think its strange that Galadriel would look so young in the rings of power, but look much older only like 1000-2000 years later?

If they were in the 1st Age, I could see Clark as a tween Galadriel, learning her skills, honing her powers and generally ‘growing up’ beside the other ancient Elves.

While I agreed with you guys, it's interesting to me why you are so concerned about (non)sticking to the lore.
Imho, before Lore, there are some more fundamental things, like basic storytelling.
This show doesn't work as a standalone piece, let alone as a Tolkien adaptation.

It's like complaining that kid is not ready to participate in running competition in Olympics, while kid not have yet learn to walk.

 

[Kiredor]

While I agreed with you guys, it's interesting to me why you are so concerned about (non)sticking to the lore.
Imho, before Lore, there are some more fundamental things, like basic storytelling.
This show doesn't work as a standalone piece, let alone as a Tolkien adaptation.

It's like complaining that kid is not ready to participate in running competition in Olympics, while kid not have yet learn to walk.

I get the analogy, but for me it doesn't work in this instance. Your subject 'Olympics' has already taken place way back thousands of years ago, and is repeated constantly. The 'storytelling' should have improved over this millennia and it simply hasn't. The kid should have been raised to understand their limitations and developed the basic principles of their Olympic event. LOL
They took his characters, timelines, history and mashed them up in to a non-coherent fashion that they thought would please their Amazon master.
Tolkien's lore is exactly that - HIS! To write a better story of the 2nd Age in the world of Arda, the RoP would have to 'show' the same depth, meaning and excitement that Tolkien did. These writers have had 70+ years to improve their storytelling skills over Tolkien and create a better story, but they failed to do so.
Please don't take this as a negative form of rebuttal to your opinion., it is only my added opinion of the lore compared to what I saw on the Amazon show.

Yes, it's in its infancy (Casting and character teething issues aside), and they are attempting to write for today's audience, but the lack of wherewithal in adding to Tolkien's life's work is obvious. Maybe they should have tried some other fantasy story/author.

I'm still going to watch season 2