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Rings of Power

The Rings of Power season finale dropped this week...

I am genuinely at a loss for words for how bad this show has been. It's an insult to Tolkien's legacy 😟

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JustNik · 51-55, F

It would have been very difficult to get it even close to feeling right, I understand, but it does seem apparent that the big budget they bragged about wasn’t enough here. I felt like Peter Jackson tried. I don’t feel like these folks are putting in the same thoughtful effort.

Degbeme · 70-79, M

@JustNik Agreed.

Whodunnit · M

@JustNik Absolutely. They've not made any attempt to get things right. Now, the average man on the street might not realise, but anyone with a knowledge of Tolkien can see the glaring errors.

But I think it's obvious to most people now that the acting, dialogue, and costuming are sub-par.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

I have seen none of the Rings films after the very first, which I viewed in a cinema. It was an animation that ended half-way through the trilogy but never, as far as I know, had its second half made. I think that was back in the 1970s or early-1980s.

I had read the book and that version was fair. It was also beautifully drawn and painted - years before CGI.

However, the film and TV industry especially, has a terrible record of debasing the originals by pretending it can write new versions, even tacking on cheapskate additional stories; presumably lacking the creativity, skill, effort and time to make anything genuinely and fully their own.

Whodunnit · M

@ArishMell Oh, I remember that animation, I think it was made by Rankin Bass. I think it's almost as old as I am, lol

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Whodunnit 41-45... Yes, it is nearly as old as you! A shame the second half was not made.

Tinkles

I was told that they've tried to inject modern identity politics into middle earth. When I heard that I started routing for the orcs.

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Whodunnit · M

@Tinkles That seems to have been their main aim rather than sticking to the lore, employing good actors, writing believable dialogue, or fleshing out a decent story 😒

Even the CGI is hit and miss.

Tinkles

@Whodunnit I think the best response is a Gimli quotes "it was deliberate" and "bring your pretty face to my axe"

Whodunnit · M

@Tinkles 🤣

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

Yes, it's awful, but (1) The family trust controls most of the franchising and hence the legacy; (2) Tolkien was interested mainly in language and the act of storytelling/mythmaking - I don't think he would have been at all dismayed by modern retellings, not matter how bad they are 🙂🧙‍♂️

Whodunnit · M

@SunshineGirl He hated analogy and is on record as saying so, and he was also incredibly protective about his work. He wouldn't have even liked the Jackson films to be honest. They though at least did their best to respect the lore.

This show though has just grabbed the lore/canon and taken a huge dump all over it. People going places they shouldn't, filling roles they never did, interacting with folks they never met, and then we have Galadriel... Jesus Christ she is terrible.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@Whodunnit I sympathise and I don't mean to belittle people who are upset by a treatment of their treasured culture. When I was at school my favourite film was the original Clash of the Titans, in all its clay modelled glory. I was furious when it was remade with CGI, but then I realised that I just happened to cherish one telling of a old story over another and my memories and enjoyment were actually not greatly affected 🙂

Whodunnit · M

@SunshineGirl Yeah, it seems a little silly to those who are not as passionate about the subject, and I would not be too bothered if it was merely bad, but they are going so far as to try to besmirch Tolkien's character and claim this is the story he would or should have written.

These showrunners aren't even fit to sharpen Tolkien's pencils...

GeorgeTBH · 31-35, M

I forgot it was even on warched the first few episodes then forgot about it 😅

Whodunnit · M

@GeorgeTBH That was fortuitous, lol

GeorgeTBH · 31-35, M

@Whodunnit yes lol i will probably finish it at some point but not in a hurry

Degbeme · 70-79, M

I haven`t watched all of it yet, but I`m sure not happy with what I`ve seen so far.

Whodunnit · M

@Degbeme It gets worse.

Elanor · F

I want to see it but keep hearing bad reviews lol is it THAT bad 🤔

Whodunnit · M

@Elanor In my opinion it's a travesty. Not at all made for Tolkien fans.

This message was deleted by its author.

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Whodunnit · M

@SW-User There's always going to have to be some elements they need changing when you transform a work from one medium to another. But even if this show was not being linked to Tolkien it would still be a badly acted, badly written, and cheap looking generic fantasy. I'd love to know where the $68 million per episode is going, because it's certain not on screen.

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Whodunnit · M

@SW-User I didn't even know that show was a thing until RoP started and people were warning us the same thing was going to happen. I've not heard anything good about it at all, lol.

What amazes me with RoP is the amount of Tolkien 'scholars' who are claiming it's good 🙄

I think that's where a lot of the funding has gone... Bribes.

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