Lord of the Rings TV Series Purchased by Amazon

[Fabinas]

The Hobbit was a mess for trying to expand a short novel into 3 movies. That is basically the same problem that this series will face, by adapting appendices into a full series. Even if they stuck close to the 2nd Age source, people would undoubtedly criticize them for making something else up. Criticism of this nature is relative.

I still remember people making major criticisms of LOTR because Tom Bomadil was removed and his lines given to Treebeard. While many of us find it acceptable, there are plenty of people who also do not. Same as with Hobbit, some people find Tauriel to be acceptable, many others do not. It's all relative

Don't compare a finished story with known protagonists with a story bloated with nonsense just so that it can be extended to 3 movies.

I can accept the 2nd Age canvas of the series, because it has only outlines and that permits enough story freedom for the writers. So, storywise, they can go wherever they want.

Unless they give reasons for the race appearance deviations (example: buzzcut Elf is a ronin, exiled and shamed), i'll side with the hardcore fans on that hill.

[Triceron]

Don't compare a finished story with known protagonists with a story bloated with nonsense just so that it can be extended to 3 movies.

I can accept the 2nd Age canvas of the series, because it has only outlines and that permits enough story freedom for the writers. So, storywise, they can go wherever they want.

Unless they give reasons for the race appearance deviations (example: buzzcut Elf is a ronin, exiled and shamed), i'll side with the hardcore fans on that hill.

Well that's the point of contention here. They have the freedom to pivot, and at the same time they're deviating a lot from the source with creative liberties that many deem unacceptable. The conversation should really be down to individual opinions, and I think it's a problem that everyone is choosing to speak out on behalf of entire 'groups' as though everyone who likes or hates these changes are all aboard the same train. There's no unified 'hardcore fans' group. I'm a hardcore fan, and I am okay with the changes, because I simply accept any movie or film or TV series as being a self-contained adaptation of the LOTR franchise. Same as the games. Same as any modern novelizations or comics or anything done with the property moving forward. Being a Hardcore fan doesn't mean you can only enjoy an adaptation if it's completely faithful to the source.

Many hardcore fans fully embrace PJ's LOTR despite all the changes I pointed out before. Look at the clear division between Goblins and Orcs in the movies. Tolkien literally wrote Orc to be synonymous with Goblin and they have no differences. The creative liberties in the movies have utterly redefined how the masses understand Orcs and Golbins. PJ did nothing to explain any of these changes away, merely presenting them as different, unrelated species. It's up to the individual to decide whether it's an acceptable change or not, and not all Hardcore Tolkien fans will see eye to eye on something as subjective as this.

And as a general point, most people will be more accepting of creative liberties if the final product is actually good, whereas there is a higher chance that all creative liberties would be criticized if the final product was perceived as bad. A good first impression makes a huge difference. IMO, sometimes these criticisms are merely an emotional reaction rather than a formal argument that 'faithful adaptation = better'. I think people put too much emphasis on stuff like this 'ruining the franchise' when really there's room to just enjoy something for what it is without having to scrutinize it for not being authentic to the original.

And just for shits and giggles:



Shadows of Mordor. I think it was a good game with a mediocre story, and I'm fine with it completely embracing it's 'fan fiction' and doing things like making Shelob a super hot babe. I mean, no matter how they chose to portray Shelob, there's no way I would have considered this game to be an official and authentic Lord of the Rings story anyways.

[Shadowferal]

Looks a bit like Kate Beckinsale.

[Ausr]

I know they need the Tolkien estate's permission, but I would have rather have seen a 4th Age with one of Aragorn's sons post-Fellowship. While I know a big bad like Sauron couldn't ever appear, maybe they could have fleshed out the fates of the Blue Wizards.

[Khaza-R]

Wasn't sure if it was discussed yet but ngl, I kind of like their take on orcs. A bit more pallid and fallen elf looking. I guess that sort of makes up for the lame looking elves so far.



https://collider.com/lord-of-the-rin...s-prime-video/

[Orby]

they remind me of more like the orcs of Shadow of Mordor, which isn't a bad thing, :P

[Dhrizzle]

I know they need the Tolkien estate's permission, but I would have rather have seen a 4th Age with one of Aragorn's sons post-Fellowship. While I know a big bad like Sauron couldn't ever appear, maybe they could have fleshed out the fates of the Blue Wizards.

Tolkien did start writing a sequel to LotR but apparently found it too depressing. I have heard snippets that we could see the Blue Wizards in Rings of Power based on ideas Tolkien had for them being sent into the world during the Second Age to oppose Sauron.

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Wasn't sure if it was discussed yet but ngl, I kind of like their take on orcs. A bit more pallid and fallen elf looking. I guess that sort of makes up for the lame looking elves so far.



https://collider.com/lord-of-the-rin...s-prime-video/

I have to say I'm really liking the orcs here. Even if the series turns out to suck at least this bit is money well spent.

[Ausr]

Tolkien did start writing a sequel to LotR but apparently found it too depressing. I have heard snippets that we could see the Blue Wizards in Rings of Power based on ideas Tolkien had for them being sent into the world during the Second Age to oppose Sauron.

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I have to say I'm really liking the orcs here. Even if the series turns out to suck at least this bit is money well spent.

Surprised to hear that since it was supposed to be all good and rosy after taking down Sauron.

[Dhrizzle]

Surprised to hear that since it was supposed to be all good and rosy after taking down Sauron.

"I did begin a story placed about 100 years after the Downfall, but it proved both sinister and depressing. Since we are dealing with Men, it is inevitable that we should be concerned with the most regrettable feature of their nature: their quick satiety with good. So that the people of Gondor in times of peace, justice and prosperity, would become discontented and restless — while the dynasts descended from Aragorn would become just kings and governors — like Denethor or worse. I found that even so early there was an outcrop of revolutionary plots, about a centre of secret Satanistic religion; while Gondorian boys were playing at being Orcs and going around doing damage. I could have written a 'thriller' about the plot and its discovery and overthrow — but it would have been just that. Not worth doing."

[Koriani]

It never cease to amaze me how people already have their verdict ready when not a single second has aired yet.

Or how many of them will hate-watch every episode in order to prove how right they are, how crappy it is, and not understand it getting renewed for a 2nd season.

Amazon (or any company you pay money to) doesn't care if all viewers are hate watching. They are watching, and paying.

I get hating a show. I'll never get hate-watching a whole series because of it. Just ugg.

[UnifiedDivide]

Or how many of them will hate-watch every episode in order to prove how right they are, how crappy it is, and not understand it getting renewed for a 2nd season.

Amazon (or any company you pay money to) doesn't care if all viewers are hate watching. They are watching, and paying.

I get hating a show. I'll never get hate-watching a whole series because of it. Just ugg.

Sometimes, all these sad little people have is their impotent internet rage over make believe stories.

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Gil-galad




Second one definitely confirms, for me, that these are just standard promo/PR shots for the most part.

[Ihavewaffles]

Uh...looks like some cosplayer, not someone that would have gotten an actual acting part...and that other elf, elrond, looks like Mrs Doubtfire...

[UnifiedDivide]

Uh...looks like some cosplayer, not someone that would have gotten an actual acting part...and that other elf, elrond, looks like Mrs Doubtfire...

Jesus wept... I'm just going to throw in a quote and leave you with that as a reply.

“It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.”

[bledgor]

Or how many of them will hate-watch every episode in order to prove how right they are, how crappy it is, and not understand it getting renewed for a 2nd season.

Amazon (or any company you pay money to) doesn't care if all viewers are hate watching. They are watching, and paying.

I get hating a show. I'll never get hate-watching a whole series because of it. Just ugg.

Eh quite a few people I know have stopped paying for services and only "borrow" it from a friend to watch it, thus not giving them money. I know in my circle only 1 of us have hulu/netflix/apple and we all just share it with the others instead of giving them money now because they have largely proven they don't deserve it (especially fucking hulu, still getting ads when paying for no ads? fuck right off).

[Shadowferal]

I sometimes confuse Gil-galad with Fingolfin here;

[UnifiedDivide]

Eh quite a few people I know have stopped paying for services and only "borrow" it from a friend to watch it, thus not giving them money. I know in my circle only 1 of us have hulu/netflix/apple and we all just share it with the others instead of giving them money now because they have largely proven they don't deserve it (especially fucking hulu, still getting ads when paying for no ads? fuck right off).

"They don't deserve our money! …but we totally all just share each other's accounts so we can still hate-watch stuff, and are totally missing the fact that we're still giving them money and engagement."

[jonnysensible]

"They don't deserve our money! …but we totally all just share each other's accounts so we can still hate-watch stuff, and are totally missing the fact that we're still giving them money and engagement."

people paying for things and not just streaming it on one of the many versions of watchseries with adblocker on in the year of our lord 2022. Shameful really.

Do amazon drop the whole show or do the weekly nonsense?

[Khaza-R]

people paying for things and not just streaming it on one of the many versions of watchseries with adblocker on in the year of our lord 2022. Shameful really.

Do amazon drop the whole show or do the weekly nonsense?

Its a weekly release schedule. 8 episodes for the first season. So if you want to binge it all once you've have to wait until November.

[s_bushido]

Uh...looks like some cosplayer, not someone that would have gotten an actual acting part

This is probably not the insult you think it is. Plenty of cosplayers are just prop/wardrobe artists of the caliber you'd find working on productions like this in the first place.

[Biomega]

I sometimes confuse Gil-galad with Fingolfin here;

Cosplay vs. Metal Band Album Cover.

The fight is ON.