Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Although the visuals are stunning, this show unfortunately does not seem to be related to Tolkien’s legendarium. I watched both episodes. As an avid fan of Tolkien’s legendarium, I was extremely disappointed. I was expecting a faithful rendering of the second age. I understand Amazon was not able to acquire the rights to “The Silmarillion” or “Unfinished Tales,” but I thought Amazon was able to acquire the rights to the appendices, so there was a lot of material there to do something better. Amazon’s Galadriel is quite different from Tolkien’s Galadriel. Leaving Valinor during the rebellion of the Noldor during the first age, she goes to middle-earth and parts ways with Faenor, the creator of the Silmarils. Marries Celeborn, and rules in Lothlorien. Furthermore, she is Elrond’s mother-in-law, extremely wise, and powerful. Amazon’s Galadriel is so different, she’s like Eowyn., a heroin in search of Sauron to avenge Finrod’s death. That never happened in the second age. In Amazon’s Rings of Power, Galadriel seems to be the only one aware of Sauron’s existence, which is rather strange since Galadriel is wise beyond measure in the second age. Another thing that was strange is the Hobbit’s story. Harfoots are a kind of Hobbit, not Hobbit ancestors. They play no significant role in the second age so it is rather strange that they are in the show about the second age. Furthermore, Maia are not in the second age other than Sauron. The meteor man most probably is a Maia, a Gandalf-like character. His appearance is weird. Elrond is not a politician. Elrond is one of the best second age characters in Tolkien’s legendarium. Amazon’s Elrond is quite sad as a speechwriter. Also, Elves’ hair is supposed to be long as Tolkien described them. The best thing of the show so far are the dwarves, and the princess dwarf. They are a wholesome bunch, and reminded me of Tolkien’s lore. Unfortunately the Elves are too human, rather than god-like, which is what Tolkien strived for in elves. I hope that the next episodes are an improvement but this show has been a disappointment so far. Update 9/22/2022 My review was deleted from the site without any explanation, and after sending a tweet to Amazon, my review has been restored.