I'm very generous on this one, as I've been waiting the better part of my entire adult life to watch something like this, on this scale, even if it isn't exactly the Silmarillion. It's still totally doing what it needs to for me. I honestly find it extremely hard to be disappointed in really anything about it, and found it kind of odd to hear of others not digging on it? They've completely nailed the Alan Lee visual aesthetic as far as I'm concerned. Morfydd as Galadriel reminded me of a John Duncun mural or something, with the glowing sidhe vibes that I'd expect from Tolkien elves. I really don't mind them looking more human as others seem to.

When I read the Silmarillion in highschool I always got an impression that the Eldar were much more in line with what we're seeing there in RoP than the popular D&D Elves of FR or Dragonlance or whatever. The fact that they committed to 5 seasons right away is also pretty impressive. I think some of the backlash is probably being amplified, and perhaps even being directed by bad faith actors to score cheap shots, though I guess that'd be kind of impossible for me to tell. Not to dismiss valid criticism here, as I'm sure it's out there, but you just get the sense like how could anyone be truly that put off by it? I mean hell, if you'd have told me at age 15 that I'd get not only a pretty kickass series of LotR films, but then some second Age action as well two decades on, with like a billion dollar budget? I'd never have believed it. I didn't think I'd get a solid Dune either, which is a different subject I guess, but still, it's like wow. I'll just eat my popcorn and be super happy on this one lol. Especially cause I thought the Hobbit films were pretty weak, and I figured that might be the end of the road. But then surprise, here comes this one.

I think they just needed an in, and after they got it they could probably go back and do the Black Sword of Nargothrond or Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin and some of that material maybe. I mean it seems like they have a bit more goodwill from the estate than I expected at least. There's a lot to build off once it's got some legs to stand on, but I guess some people just want to see it all kneecapped and crashed to burn.

ps. sorry forgot to mention BG3 there I guess lol, but yeah, I like the Harfoots for a Halfling look a bit more than what we've got going currently in this game. I still hope for some work done in that department. They're just not small enough in BG3 for me hehe. Dwarves seemed good to me. I was stoked to see them in masks too!!! As for the Elves, I think I already know what we're likely to get, and I'm not going to grumble about it overmuch. For BG3 I'd like to see them provide something a bit more Alien to cover the D&D bases, but it's not the biggest hang up for me. I liked that greenman leaf face armor too! All the armor in that show is looking pretty aces so far. Anyhow, just wanted to chime in on a positive note, since I didn't hate it, and quite the opposite hehe.
Best

Elk

Last edited by Black_Elk; 08/09/22 05:07 PM.