• Welcome to The Tolkien Forum! Connect with fellow Tolkien enthusiasts and join a community that is over two decades old, and still going strong. We look forward to meeting you.  Register

Lord of the Rings on Prime Updates (Thanks Varking!)

Hi, just a reminder that one of the rules on TTF forbids real-world political discussion:

  • The world is crappy enough and we at TTF strive to be politics-free. Real-world politics (not related to ME) are not allowed, period. This includes posting links to sites dedicated to the topic. Messages and links that contain this type of content may be edited or deleted at the discretion of TTF staff. If you would like to discuss real-world politics, please do it on sites dedicated to that type of content or via PM with other willing members.

As such, comments violating this rule have been removed. Continuing to violate this rule can and will lead to being banned from the Rings of Power forum and possibly The Tolkien Forum overall.

If you want to criticize the series fine. As I've said in previous comments, I don't see it as being very Tolkien-ish and don't think it will be that great either.

If you don't like the series, it's really not a difficult concept to just turn it off/not watch it, or it shouldn't be. It's also not a difficult concept that we don't want political discussion on the site. The point of this forum is to discuss the series itself, not whether it's "woke," promoting feminism, or whether Amazon abuses its workers or not.
 
O: Look, if I *argue* with you, I must take up a contrary position!
M: Yes but it isn't just saying 'no it isn't'.
O: Yes it is!
M: No it isn't!

Argument - Monty Python - YouTube
 
just a reminder that one of the rules on TTF forbids real-world political discussion
I try to accept this rule, however, I sometimes forget it in the heat of the moment. 😉 Basically, I would never start a political discussion here for no reason, and I absolutely agree with the rule that political opinions usually have no place here, since it should be about Tolkien and his works. 👍

But the problem with that Amazon series is that one of the main reasons why many people don't like it is that it is highly political, in a certain extreme direction. It will therefore be very difficult to exclude these points from a holistic discussion of the series. But well, I'll try to take it into account and will then just switch to other forums for these topics...

However, I must ask for the understanding of the enforcement of this rule again:

Basically, I think this rule as said for sense, but in discussions about that series it is in my opinion unavoidable, because:
In the end, we primarily list things here that contradict Tolkien and try to show possible reasons for it. And, after all, it makes perfect sense to talk (and speculate) about it. So why not make an exception here? Will you get into legal trouble otherwise or why this rigid implementation? Surely you also attach great importance to Tolkien not having to rotate in his grave with rage.
This is basically a very nice forum, but at this point I don't get the deeper meaning of censoring my rather innocuous post, unless you consider this one rule not context sensitive but God-given. As long as etiquette is respected and nobody insults other users because of their political opinion, a comprehensive discussion even about politically motivated Tolkien adaptations should be reasonable and possible.
My censored post only attacked Amazon and the series producers. As far as I know, you don't owe them anything?

I am only interested in criticizing the series creators and Amazon when they trample Tolkien's works and the reasons for their deviations are not respectable or comprehensible. You know that by now, and that should not be censored in my opinion. It also annoys me when I write a longer post that is then simply deleted, even though it was harmless in principle, but may have violated an age-old rule that makes perfect sense in other contexts, but just not here. So you also scare away some of your users. Well, maybe less work for you then, but then it also remains boring 😉
A compromise suggestion would be a subforum or maybe just a single thread, where such discussions are allowed for a given occasion (of course, as long as it remains civilized). So, dear moderators, think about it. It would be really necessary and reasonable, especially if you want to remain politically neutral yourself.

Edit: And yes, of course, if you want to make it easy on yourself, you can delete this posting as well and ban me, but then at least your political motivation is clear to me and there would be no reason for me to show up here anymore anyway. (Halasian would be very happy of course. 🤣 )
 
Last edited:
As you can also see here, political, religious and philosophical themes merge for me:


Of course, you can also delete it, since religion is just as sensitive as politics.

In any case, I find these topics the most interesting and motivating.
If this is not wanted here - let me know - then I'm gone. Then this forum is too superficial, because it wants to be a safe space for everyone - which is the opposite of the sense of a real discussion forum - and unfortunately no longer makes sense in the context of this series...

So outside of the sub-forums that are purely about book content, I think there should be a more free and open spirit of discussion.
I would be happy if you would see this suggestion as an opportunity...
 
Last edited:
Actually I don't really care one way or another. It wouldn't make much of a difference to me other than I'd just have less things to laugh at when I do visit this forum on this site.
😂 😂 😂

Yes, I've long wondered how a true Tolkien fan can laugh at someone criticizing an obviously miserable adaptation for deliberately deviating essentially from Tolkien's works for reasons that are incomprehensible.
Shame on you! You've never provided any real arguments so far, and have only ever been insulting on a personal level or handing out emojies expressing your disdain. You should be censored here most likely in my opinion, because you NEVER provide any arguments, but only distribute subtle insults on a personal level - and you can only allow yourself to do that because you seem to be a long time member and moderator buddy. Congratulations!

But maybe it's all just a big misunderstanding?
So explain to me why you're still defending this Amazon series so much - the trailers released so far leave no doubt about the direction it's going to take. So far I have tried to give a comprehensive and objective reflection on the basis of Tolkien's works and I have also named some things that I find good. So why your exrtremistic counter-position? Are you a troll or paid by Amazon?

Anyway, I always try to argue from Tolkien's writings, no matter if I myself stand behind them or not. (Unless it's about cats - there I'm definitely against what is common knowledge, but see the corresponding thread here, where I provide good cat arguments... 😁 I think this topic should be discussed much more and much more seriously!).
So please: This series is actually completely unimportant, let's rather talk about cats! 😉
 
Last edited:
I have been censured here many times especially when it comes to The Rings of Power
I think I even noticed that once. Everything will have had its good reasons - in that case. 😆

I used to have a tagline back in the day as being 'an equal-opportunity irritant' so my emoji'ng and such is nothing new.
Yes, these "equal-opportunity irritants" are the greatest evil of our time. You are still very harmless in this respect, I know much more penetrating types, although on the other hand I do not know what nonsense of yours has already been deleted again.

I used to enjoy roleplaying here, and I used to enjoy writing fanfic here
That would also explain your penchant for adaptations that look like bad role-playing and fan fiction. 😄
And yes, writing your fanfiction stories and chatting with your old acquaintances, I don't think anyone will mind, and of course I wish you a lot of fun here too. Although I will probably never read your fanfiction. 😉

Anyway, I won't accept your one and only pseudo-argument that you can't judge anything before the first episode (and there you are even supported by Erestor Arcamen), because we already have so, so much input that it's very, very clear where the journey is going.

But how will you feel when the first three episodes are out? Everything we've already seen will be confirmed:
- The CGI graphics, cities and landscapes will look great. (Yes, I have always named the positive things as well.)
- The soundtrack will probably be good. (If Shore doesn't put in too many flutes. 😉)
- It will be a generic fantasy series that misuses the name Tolkien only for marketing purposes and in many ways contradicts the literary template of The Sil, UT etc.
- One will wonder why so much looks so cheap and so unintentionally comical with such a gigantic budget.
- At least 75% of the plot will be fictitious or distorted.
- The political and modern allusions or even reinterpretations and character changes will be unmistakable, which will not help immersion in any case.
- The dialogues will most likely be poor, cheesy and lack depth. Even embarrassing, judging by the last trailer. Well, maybe I will be positively surprised here, but we'll see.
- The plot may appeal to you if you've never read any of Tolkien's works beyond the Lord of the Rings or Hobbit, because otherwise you'd go insane simply because of the time compression from 1800 years to a minimal time period and due to many other sacrileges..
- and so on

And, of course, there might be also a few other things that will surprise us in a positive way. And I will name them - if I can hold out that long. But I'm tough and I've watched all of PJ's films and the cartoons before that. Even the Russian adaptation in part! 😁

But I know, you don't really want to defend the show anyway, you just want to annoy certain people who have seen through certain things. And make fun of people for whom Tolkien's works are more important than for you:

Me, I'm going to watch it and enjoy it for what it is, not bolt-count, or repeatedly carry on how 'it isn't Tolkien'
🤣😆 Yeah, that's exactly the kind of statement I would expect to hear in a random movie or Disney or Netflix forum. On thetolkien.forum it's absolutely ridiculous - you must be laughing yourself.

Edit: Oh yes: And anyone who takes it a bit more seriously than you do about book loyalty is of course a "toxic fan". I've just seen your article... And that's nothing new for me, we've been constantly bombarded with that kind of framing at least since the last Star Wars trilogy.🙄
The people labeled "toxic fans" by this kind of media (or so called experts) are 99% normal people who simply don't want their favorite hobby distorted and defaced. Radical exceptions are singled out in order to put other people who make legitimate arguments in a certain, extremist corner, so that you don't have to deal with their arguments anymore. Unfortunately, we are in a culture war, but I won't elaborate further or it will become too political again for the moderators. 😉

But I have a nice picture from John Carpenter's "They Live" for you:

172157906_5332274630176425_41156741889346119_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Halasían:
I discuss all those things in a civil manner in a very nice group elsewhere. Don't see a pount trying to discuss them here.
I really don't give a crap what you think Anal. I just have to laugh at the fact that I occupy so much of your time as you GFYS.

A very civil manner! 😂 Interesting that people who reply with such a choice of words are not banned, but other people who may have an uncomfortable and non-compliant opinion are threatened with banishment. That certainly makes me think.

Edit: At least the posting seems to have disappeared again.
I have read it anyway. Pathetic.

Edit edit: Still, of course I don't want you to get banned. But I also do not want double standards.
 
Last edited:
By the way, you should realize that if you deface my nickname, you're not insulting me, you're insulting Tolkien.

Edit: Are you actually censoring yourself now by deleting your own posts? 😂 👍
 
Last edited:
If anyone insults Tolkien here, it is you using the name.
Well, I'm talking about J.R.R. Tolkien, not Simon Tolkien.
And to get back on topic, here's a video from a forum where you seem to have already been banned.
Among other things, it is about Simon Tolkien's involvement with the series.
(Now it may finally become interesting again for people who want to learn about that show.)

 
When I watched Game of Thrones, it always look weird to me Little-finger appearance.
A dark, tall man, almost always dressed in black, and he constantly whisper when talking,... all in all... very shady appearance.
And yet, somehow all characters blindly listened to him, and did what he said, and wanted.
It broke my suspension of disbelief.

Amazon seems to go one step further.
This character appearance (Sauron) screams EVIL.
Yet, man and elves are supposed to trust this guy and follow his guidance?
I really hope that this is not Sauron look when he deceives.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top