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Gandalf Olorin
Registered User
Apr 14, 3:23pm
Post #1 of 25
(332 views)
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I've never watched rings of power TV series. Do you think it's worth watching?
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I never felt the need to watch the TV series. If you ask why, it's because instead of making a TV series or movie series based on The Silmarillion and the Wars of Beleriand, they made a TV series about the Second Age, which both annoyed me and seemed utterly absurd. Anyway, getting back to the topic, should I start watching the TV series? Does the TV series have more positive aspects or more negative aspects? Do you think it's worth watching?
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OldestDaughter
Mithlond
Apr 14, 6:26pm
Post #2 of 25
(313 views)
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I personally love the show. But even if you don't love it or even like it, it is something to watch and then once you can see it, you can form your own opinions about it.
Before it came out, I was very much against it because of all the bad publicity. Now that I have seen it, I love it alot. But as I said above, even if you end up disliking it, once you see it, you can form your own thoughts about it.
I personally find more positive aspects in it, but then again, the show doesn't take away from the beauty and perfection of the books by Tolkien himself, at least not for me. So I find it to be more positive. But if you find that you have started it and don't like it, then you don't have to continue. I've done that a few times for other shows, movies or books I have read or scene. 
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Noria
Hithlum
Apr 14, 8:32pm
Post #3 of 25
(309 views)
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You're going to get very different answers depending upon who responds.
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Some of us love it, others hate it. I love RoP. I enjoyed Season 1 a lot and Season 2 was even better.
Full disclosure: I have loved Tolkien books for many years, since long before Peter Jackson’s movies, but I'm not a purist at all. I enjoy seeing someone else's take on Tolkien’s stories and am pretty tolerant of changes.
In my opinion, Rings of Power is a beautifully made, extremely interesting, emotionally engaging production. The production values are very high, most of the acting is excellent, the music by Bear McCreary is outstanding. Season 1 started off fairly slowly, with a lot of world building and character development but then it got moving. We follow the stories of a number of characters from different peoples. Some of those characters were invented for the series and several are amongst the most popular.
Overall, I like the story being told and the themes being explored. There are plot elements that I didn't particularly care for, but I put those aside with the things that didn't work for me in Peter Jackson's movies.
The Second Age timeline is compressed so that all the story takes place towards the end of the Second Age. A couple of Tolkien characters who appear in other times and places in the books show up in RoP. If you object to proto-Hobbits, you won’t be happy.
There are a couple of so-called mysteries which annoyed some viewers, who felt they were too obvious. The showrunners maintain that these weren't intended to be mysteries to be solved at all, but that the audience and the characters of RoP were meant to uncover the answers together.
Whatever one thinks of RoP, it's fact that the showrunners are huge Tolkien fans and know the books and all the other material very well. They have a five-season plan and are unfolding their story as they see fit.
As I understand it, the film rights for The Silmarillion etc. belong to the Tolkien Estate and they are not interested in selling them. So nobody can film those books. Amazon paid big bucks for the television? rights to the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and the showrunners pitched a Second Age story drawn largely from the Appendices: the saga of Sauron and the Rings. The only material they can use comes from those books, though it seems that separate deals to use other bits of the Lore have also been made.
The history of the Second Age that appears in the LotR Appendices is not much more than a timeline in places, which forces the writers of RoP to create additional characters and events to flesh out the story. It's ironic that the limitations placed on the writers by the Tolkien Estate mean that they are forced to invent more stuff than they would otherwise, to avoid copyright issues.
The sun yet shines
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Apr 14, 10:08pm
Post #4 of 25
(304 views)
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...even if you end up disliking it, once you see it, you...
...can't unsee it.
Why would you let us form your own opinion on whether it's worthy? We can give you the spectrum of opinion. Mine is go outside and do something more fun instead. The irony is needing the experience to know. Let us know what happens.
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Wed, 9:41pm
Post #5 of 25
(260 views)
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While I'm not a huge fan, you should give it a try.
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Everyone who's more than a casual Tolkien fan should try it. Some fall in love with it, clearly. And for some, it's not love, just like. So, give it a try and see how you feel.
I've watched both seasons, and have tried to like it, but still not my cup of tea. But I like the fact that as Tolkien fans, we're getting some cinema to devour. When I think of the Bakshi and Rankin/Bass productions pre-Peter Jackson, I was disappointed, but patience paid off when he came along to make LOTR.
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
Doriath
Thu, 1:01am
Post #6 of 25
(252 views)
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It depends on what you are looking for
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If you are looking for a faithful adaptation of Tolkien's work, you are likely to be sadly disappointed, with very occasional moments of satisfaction.
If you are looking for an interesting interpretation of some of the main themes of Tolkien's work on the Second Age (with some utter nonsense thrown in), give it a try. You might enjoy it. And you might not.
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Thu, 3:31am
Post #7 of 25
(241 views)
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When I think of the Bakshi and Rankin/Bass productions pre-Peter Jackson, I was disappointed...
Thanks for adding that perspective. My disappointment in 1978 for the Ralph Bakshi Lord of the Rings film substantially exceeded that of Rings of Power. I guess there's always something worse.
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Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
Thu, 3:00pm
Post #8 of 25
(205 views)
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I'm not a huge fan of The Rings of Power. I think it fails both as an adaptation and on its own. But your mileage may vary. I will say that I saw some improvement from Season One to Season Two, enough to make me want to check out Season Three.
“Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved.” - Jenny Blake Isabella
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Junesong
Nargothrond
Thu, 5:18pm
Post #9 of 25
(199 views)
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Love it or hate it you should decide for yourself. A show like this - in an internet culture like ours - if you don't watch it you'll be forced to take on some stranger's opinion of it.
I'd be curious to hear what you think of it if and when you watch it
"So which story do you prefer?"
"The one with the tiger. That's the better story."
"Thank you. And so it goes with God."
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Junesong
Nargothrond
Thu, 5:21pm
Post #10 of 25
(198 views)
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Hey I've been away from the boards for forever - but does this mean that you've finally watched ROP? What did you think?
"So which story do you prefer?"
"The one with the tiger. That's the better story."
"Thank you. And so it goes with God."
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Fri, 4:53am
Post #11 of 25
(172 views)
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I had already watched it via the plethora of clips, long clips, much longer clips, full scenes, hundreds of articles, and reviews with clips. Few seemed to accept this concept. I was also able t watch it legally and entirely without adding to their metrics, which was always my goal. I saw Samantha's, oops, I mean Galadriel's nose twitch, the naming of Gandalf, and a deep stab wound disappear in the next scene in all their full, cringeworthy glory. The eventual watch in full added no value to what I had already seen and read.
I will eventually watch Season 3 because, as I've also said, this will be the first season written after the production was able to fully evaluate viewer response. I am curious to see how much hubris remains.
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Junesong
Nargothrond
Fri, 2:56pm
Post #12 of 25
(139 views)
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What about the stuff you liked?
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Was there anything that surprised you in a good way? Anything you particularly liked or enjoyed - even if it was just in little fragments?
For example, I found a lot of the Sauron/Celebrimbor stuff really great.
Was there any silver lining in the cloud for you?
"So which story do you prefer?"
"The one with the tiger. That's the better story."
"Thank you. And so it goes with God."
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Fri, 4:16pm
Post #13 of 25
(139 views)
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Well, I could be flippant and write that the two-year break from new episodes between every season is a positive. But I'll ponder it. I'll need to read the episode summaries to remind myself and get back to you with something sincere.
I know that the Sauron/Celebrimbor story was praised more than other things, but I can't get over how poorly the production cast and represents/characterizes the elves, and the elves wearing draperies. Nor can I get past how the writers felt so clever with thinking the Halbrand mystery wasn't at all immediately and blatantly obvious, making the elves, and one in particular, stupid fools. For me, it forever delegitimizes the writing and the story as, in legal terms, Poisonous Fruits.
P.S. I'm trying to write this as non-spoilerish as possible.
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
Doriath
Sat, 1:40pm
Post #14 of 25
(110 views)
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... watching clips and reading articles does not constitute watching the show. I don't doubt that if you did watch the show, you would dislike it (I dislike much of it), but it is simply disingenuous to say that you have "essentially" watched the show when you have not.
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Sat, 2:23pm
Post #15 of 25
(106 views)
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... watching clips and reading articles does not constitute watching the show. I don't doubt that if you did watch the show, you would dislike it (I dislike much of it), but it is simply disingenuous to say that you have "essentially" watched the show when you have not.
Maybe you missed this part?
I was also able to watch it legally and entirely...
(This post was edited by DGHCaretaker on Sat, 2:23pm)
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
Doriath
Sat, 4:13pm
Post #16 of 25
(98 views)
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Did you actually watch the whole thing?
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Forgive me for being skeptical.
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Sat, 7:38pm
Post #17 of 25
(92 views)
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Yes. I could be in an AlkaSeltzer commercial saying "I can't believe I watched the whole thing." Plop plop fizz fizz. Not sure what the analogous relief could be.
But enough of this distraction. I'd like to get to Junesong's question about what I might have liked that might even help the OP. It will be a difficult write without adding any 'buts.'
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
Sat, 8:23pm
Post #18 of 25
(87 views)
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I guess count me as one of the fools
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as I didn't buy the Halbrand theory until it was finally revealed.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
Sat, 9:48pm
Post #19 of 25
(82 views)
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I guess count me as one of the fools as I didn't buy the Halbrand theory until it was finally revealed.
Heh, only if you're an elf written and manifested into the Second age.
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
Doriath
Sun, 9:51pm
Post #20 of 25
(35 views)
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Sorry to continue to pursue this, but I am having a hard time understanding why someone who had clearly irrevocably decided that the series was awful would subject themselves to watching the10+ hours of the two seasons so far. Was it just so that you could validate all of the negative things that you have said over the past several years?
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
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CuriousG
Gondolin
1:17am
Post #21 of 25
(29 views)
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Yeah, I thought Halbrand was suspect, but he wasn't obviously
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Sauron to me.
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
1:32am
Post #22 of 25
(27 views)
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I wanted to be sociable with friends who wanted to see it and the timing worked out. They are well worthwhile even if the show is not.
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
Doriath
1:47am
Post #23 of 25
(25 views)
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Good answer. Did your friends enjoy the show any more than you did?
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
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DGHCaretaker
Nargothrond
2:24am
Post #24 of 25
(24 views)
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Did your friends enjoy the show any more than you did?
I think they did. I don't recall any cringe comments (or awkward laughter), even when I expected it. But neither was there much "water cooler" discussion afterward. We moved on to other things. Maybe it was like being happy when you finish a project and its done. I made no attempt to influence their opinions/enjoyment; I left it objective, with no reference to my or any online opinions. Nobody has mentioned a rewatch since, while series such as The Expanse and Babylon 5 do get the occasional or selective rewatch.
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