Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Positives: The music. The look of Lindon. A handful of appropriate casting choices.\ Negative: Violates The Master's lore constantly and unrepentantly. Some stripped a part of Feanor's story/mentality and gave it to the "warrior" Galadriel. There appear to be TWO DURIN'S ALIVE AT THE SAME TIME. Look, I am somewhat knowledgeable about Arda/Middle Earth, but it is a casual interest. There are people who label themselves "nerds" or "scholars" that know far more than I. That being said, when someone adapts source material of this status I very much expect them to be more familiar with the lore than *I* am. In this case, either people do NOT know the lore as well as I, the casual viewer...or the more malignant possibility is that the creators of this "show" ARE more knowledgeable than I and they have have knowingly changed this lore to suit some purpose of their own. Well, I didnt come here for someone else's philosophy or viewpoint. I came here for the works of JRR Tolkien and a faithful adaptation. I very much did not get that and do not expect to receive it at any point from this show. If you unplug and watch this as a generic fantasy show with little to no knowledge or Arda and Tolkien's Legendarium, youll probably enjoy it. IIf youre an actual fan of the source material it is unlikely that you will enjoy this series. Your mind will be working double time to contextualize and recognize all of the various and blatant lore violations to possibly enjoy it...and certain not as a work of "Tolkien". Also, if my prime membership cost increases again in the near future, I am going to directly attribute that to this dismal failure and I will cancel my Amazon Prime account in order to NOT be forced to pay for the catastrophic loss that the supposed $1B production incurs. I already paid up front, Im not covering your losses especially when they are as self inflicted as a punch to your face from your own hand. The showrunners failed terribly and someone in Amazon's organization is responsible for this mess and hiring people with no experience that couldnt possibly faithfully adapt this work. My honest suggestion would be to not waste your time, Your curiosity will not reward you for standing as witness to this mess.