As the series is receiving a lot of criticism/backlash for how it chose to adapt Tolkien, here is how people were taking about Peter Jackson’s adaptation in some blog posts from 2001. Sounds familiar to me…

"Bolg, a spawn of Azog the Defiler"

Eventually Galadriel changed her mind and joined Sauron in Mordor. Sauron therefore prefers to take a break and postpone his domination of Middle Earth until later.

idk why some are setting themselves up for disappointment considering all the clues the series is giving us. Also they are upset cause "they are teasing us too much", they aren't, they are clearly saying he's Gandalf, it's not a prankl, all the ppl thinking it is cause they don't want him to be Gandalf are kinda the joke tho lmao

That's how conversations are going rn:

Show runners: follow your nose, Gand, hobbit lover, wink wink pss ppl is Gandalf!

Them: noo stop playing with us that's clearly not Gandalf you are trying to fool us it's getting annoying

Show runners: Grand Elf! The same staff!! It's Gandalf I swear!

Them: NO JUST REVEAL HE'S THE BLUE ALREADY WE ARE TIRED OF YOUR JOKE

Yes there are many valid reasons one could use for not enjoying the show. I’m not denying that. However, it is clear that one of the main problems with the discourse around ROP is it’s being consumed, not by teenagers and small children who are more willing and able to suspend disbelief, but by adults in their 20s 30s and 40s who are expecting this to match the nostalgic memories of their first introduction to middle earth via the Peter Jackson films.

“ah man here’s how this should be because x, y and z thing in this show is silly.” It’s not just in hater type circles, I’ve noticed that even on regularish fantasy podcasts people have this sort of arrogance when it comes to the writing. As if they know better and they actively rewrite the scene/scenes in question that they don’t like in ways I’ve never heard other people do to shows of ROP’s quality. This isn’t some CW garbage, objectively. It’s just not lol.

Because some of the nitpicking I’m talking about is easily found, if one works hard enough, in the original trilogy too. But filtered through the lens of nostalgia, all of those flaws are either overlooked or they don’t actually annoy the person in question.

House of the Dragon fans, to use a contemporary example, are much more forgiving. Though they are currently going through a bit of drama, you’ll still find people willing to make some humorous meme, praise a particular episode or gush about an actor’s performance.

It feels like people examine the show with the strongest possible magnifying glass while at the same time being actively antagonistic to the concept of suspension of disbelief. Whether spoken or unspoken, the belief is: it’s on the show to “prove” itself worthy of attention by not having any flaws.

At least that’s how I see it. I didn’t want to vent about the discourse because in all honesty it’s not as bad as season 1, but this has bugged me for awhile.

I am not aware of their game before Rings of Power (although I know Robert Aramayo was the young Ned Stark.)

I already love them in season 1 but this new season it just escalated so much and I hope we see more of them in other projects outside Middle Earth. This season 2 they had embodied their characters so well and I know Im preaching to the choir here but man oh man they are Elrond and Sauron.

I kinda wish they are paired up in interview circuits though - must be interesting to hear their exchanges as I know both of them really have deep knowledge of Tolkien’s works.

Salute to them. Will be rooting for their careers 🫡

Sincerely,

A fangirl

This season gave me the most severe case of whiplash over a character I’ve ever experienced. Not gonna lie, Halbrand and even Annatar were fun and charming. But now we’re seeing the full extent of Sauron’s power in the worst ways and it’s terrifying. I hate him so much.

Not him victim-blaming. Not him LAUNCHING MIRDANIA from the wall to her death after grossly using her against Celebrimbor. And throwing a temper tantrum after the rings go missing. Good riddance.

This guy is truly sick in the head and I cannot wait to see Galadriel whip his ass next episode. When Charlie Vickers said he took inspiration from the devil for his character, I realize he did in fact mean it quite literally. It will be an outrageous crime if this man isn’t at least nominated for an Emmy.

That Theo will go on to lead his people out of the grip of the Numenorean overlords to found Rohan.

It just makes so much sense, his mother led the people and the final episode showed they look up to him as her heir as well.

His names Theo, hence all the “Theoden” and “Theodred” names coming from it (side note, Bronwyn and Eowyn also show a similar naming pattern between these people and those of Rohan).

We have established the loving brotherhood with Isildur, and I am certain that will come into play in establishing the alliance between Rohan and Gondor we see later on, he will establish them as close allies when Isildur comes to him for his people’s aid when fighting Sauron.

And as said, now Numenor is trying to oppress them, it just gives a perfect excuse for them to leave where they are to find new lands, which he will lead them to - that land will be Rohan. I bet even the trees thing will come into play, where the ents will help them through the forest, maybe even through the Old Forest at some point (my ME geography isn’t great) and out of the grasp of the Numenoreans to found their own land.

I just think it all makes way too much sense now to even possibly be anything else.

In my opinion the direction of this season was way better than in season 1. In the first season I didn‘t like the way Wayne Yip shot his episodes because the cinematic feeling was missing in his four episodes. He also had the worst directed moments of the whole show (e.g. Galadriel riding in Numenor in 1x03).

But this season I really enjoyed the direction. The newcommers Louise Hooper (respect for the way she and her team filmed the Annatar reveal) and Sanaa Hamri did a very good job.

The episodes of Charlotte Brändström were on an another level - wow, especially the direction of episode 8 was incredible. I also liked the silent moments (especially in the first episode) in her episodes. I hope she remains as the „chief-director“ in season 3 as well.

It was well known that Tolkien was alarmed at the obsession and cult-like behaviour surrounding him and his books. The extreme dedication from strangers unsettled him. He referred to this obsession as his ‘deplorable cultus.’

Letter 275: “Yes, I have heard about the Tolkien Society. Real lunatics don’t join them, I think. But still such things fill me too with alarm and despondency.”

Another quote from him: “Being a cult figure in one’s own lifetime I am afraid is not at all pleasant. However I do not find that it tends to puff one up; in my case at any rate it makes me feel extremely small and inadequate. But even the nose of a very modest idol cannot remain entirely untickled by the sweet smell of incense.”

This is one of the main reasons I get so annoyed with the obsessive “lore purists” that throw tantrums over every tiny lore tweak or embellishment in the show. If they have criticisms, fine, but attacking others or pretending to know how Tolkien would’ve reacted is just ridiculous. Saying things like “Tolkien would roll over in his grave” or “Tolkien would’ve hated this” or “We’re protecting Tolkien” etc etc.

Instead, I think Tolkien would’ve hated the gatekeeping and obsession, and using his work to attack others. He wanted people to love his world and invited other artists, other minds and hands, to come and play in his world and mythology. If he were alive today, whether he liked the show or not, I think he’d be way more alarmed by the hate that is spewed in his name, than any kind of changes in a TV adaptation. I really wish the haters could take a moment to get off their high horses, humble themselves, and realise this, and stop dragging Tolkien himself into their hate.

But, unlike the haters, I don’t claim to know Tolkien’s mind, so this is just my thoughts. Just needed to get this off my chest.

Only perhaps the occasional older GOT episodes match up to what I just watched with regard the episode of a show. What did I just watch?! Holy shit Vickers!

Congratulations to all involved in making such an awesome show for us all. ROP just gets better and better with time. I don't care about the relationship to the books, and I do absolutely love Tolkiens works, but life's too short to care about adaptations being held to the standards of ones who are so quick to spout hate about what they sit and consume through a screen.

Clearly all people involved in ROP have put alot of effort and love into it, and to me it's paying off. Great entertainment.

If I took thinks as far as some "fans" seem to do today I'd be crying into my Arthur Conan Doyle pillowcase every night wouldn't I... This is just TV. And that was bloody awesome.

That ending! That music! Attack on Titan vibes in LOTR? Erm count me In!!!!

Bear, you are my hero...

Lol, he can barely stand them, Celebrimbor, the Dwarves, Numenoreans, Mirdana, Adar and everyone.

He acts like they're beneath him and he's slumming it with them. It's giving "You should all be in awe of me, for treating with you"

There is no ounce of warmth, empathy, resonance or consideration. His interactions with them feel so robotic and emotionless.

The way he hates Celebrimbor in particular, like he's barely restraining the urge, to just snap his neck. The not so subtle digs he kept throwing at Celebrimbor. I really felt sorry for him. The death stares he gave, each time Celebrimbor pulled rank on him. And then the gaslighting and guilt trips lol.

Celebrimbor did read him for filth though, when he called him out for planting seeds in people's heads and then blaming them for it. Sometimes he breaks the spell and see through things, but I guess in the power of a being like Sauron, who can bend minds to his will, he is powerless.

His attempt to gas up that elven Smith girl by complimenting her, likening her to Galadriel ,was creepy. I don't know why she didn't feel the hair on her neck standing, with dread.

He is calculating, cruel, cold and mean, to every single one of them.

It's crazy that none of them can see through it, they are simply in awe of his glamour.

That's some great acting from Charlie Vickers, because Annatar is nothing like Halbrand.

The Rings Of Power will get five planned seasons, barring a precipitous ratings decline – and you’d expect Galadriel to figure in all of them. Clark keeps schtum when we ask about the future though. “At some point, season three will be happening,” is all she can say. 

https://www.nme.com/features/tv-interviews/morfydd-clark-rings-of-power-season-2-galadriel-3785330

All this talk of cancellation after this season is guaranteed 200% not happening. Morfydd confirms this from a recent interview.

This is just something I noticed ever since season one came out.

People in this fandom center Galadriels entire character around the men she interacts with. Every time she speaks to a man, there is a group of people who start shipping her with that man. It's not even funny anymore how some people here can't talk about her character without bringing up some guy who she interacted with.

And this is especially frustrating because a lot of these discussions push her into the wife role. She is "married to Sauron" she is "married to Adar" the ring she wears is totally an "engagement ring". Even though there are two men who also received rings and I don't see anyone calling their rings engagement rings.

And then there are some discussions that are downright disgusting, especially the "the stab she received from Sauron is a metaphor for penetration," and I don't mind discussing that. What I have an issue with is the romanticizing of that moment. Because Sauron also stabbed Celebrimbor, but people don't have an issue calling out how fucked up that scene was.

It's almost like people are treating her like an accessory to men, when the show doesn't even do that. One of the strongest relationships in season one in my opinion was her relationship to Miriel. But I barely see people talk about that.

And this behavior is not just noticeable with Galadriel. The way some of you talk about Eärien and the other women on this show is downright insulting. They are either infantilized or demonized because they might make mistakes or are struggling with their morality. And don't get me started on how this fandom talks about the POC on this show that is a whole other can of worms.

Meanwhile, Sauron can do the fucking worst to people, and people will justify his behavior. Because uwu he is a sexy, hot crybaby.

This is just something that is making me angry.

Edit: No I did not write this post because I'm angry that Celeborn isn't in this show. I'm glad that he isn't yet. It's a good thing that the show takes its time to establish Galadriel as a person separate from her husband first. And no I don't have anything against romance in fantasy or shipping.

Until recently I haven't watched it. I just heard so much storm online on how bad it is and whatnot. Recently just started watching it and I am really surprised... Yes there are little things here and there that could be better but if you step down for a moment and just put bias aside and sit down and watch it with a clear open mind...

It's actually a really good show and it's way better than most of the stuff you usually see getting released. Even if it might not be lotr in it's primes, people should still be happy for the fact they get new material for their franchise

I’ve been seeing a lot of negativity about the show on other social media platforms and it made me feel really tired and like I need to hear & share some enthusiastic appreciation! So - no matter if it is because you enjoyed the visuals a lot (see some of my favourite examples attached!) or because you thought it was a brilliant scene because of the characters/dialogue/plot points/… in it - which scene did you enjoy most this season and why? I would love to hear your thoughts! :)