First, this series is visually stunning. I thought maybe the CGI would be over done like some of the Hobbit movies but it's seamless. And shooting on location gives it the look of an epic tale/movie vs a TV series shot with green screen (for 10 million an episode it better). The performances are all excellent, especially Morfydd Clark as a younger warrior Galadriel. As far as casting, there's been a lot made about "wokeness" being at work but I was too busy actually enjoying the show to notice or care. It is fantasy, no? The characters can look whatever way one wants them to look. To each their own but Amazon knocked it out of the park. I was pleasantly surprised.