Okay so...I am a big LotR fan. Started watching the Frank Bakshi animated versions back in 1983 on VHS. Loved Peter Jacksons Versions. Also loved the Hobbits extended 3 movies version of The Hobbit. I am a realist and THIS is something that I am going to say FOR ME really took an OPEN MIND!!
**Spoiler alert**
Galadriel is some kind of warrior lady back in her youth...although elves are immortal...Not even sure if she knows a spell yet which is quiet unbelievable. Hopefully we get to see some of the lore as to where she learned her magic. I wouldn't bet on it though because these guys don't have the rights to The Silmarillion.. She did get the majority of her powers from one of the rings of power which she used for good. Which she does not have yet
Peter Jackson paid very close attention to detail when bringing to life the elves of Tolkien's universe. ALL the elves in the movies looked like ELVES - high cheek bones, very pretty and fair looking....They did not do as well as a job (besides the pointy ears) in this series of putting that together. When comparing the faces I have of the ELVES in Peter Jacksons movies to the elves faces in this - some look like hobbits and ugly humans. Some have short hair with the sides shaved off....Brings to mind - Did they have different hair styles 1000 years ago??
There is some really bad directing in the first episode between the romantic build up between the elf character and the human...I was completely baffled as to what was going on...
There are now Hobbits and Elves of different races and ethnic origins besides white!...Which of coarse we didn't see any of in Peter Jacksons movies ...Takes a bit of getting used to :) I think it is a good thing.
All in all I started to calm down a bit and get into the movie at the end of episode 2. The music is really good reminiscent of the Peter Jackson movies. They took from the appendices of Lord of the Rings I read to make some of this. As I never read the Silmarillion. It probably didn't ruin to much of this for me. Except Galadriel as a warrior lady!
**Edit** So After getting to season 6 I upped my rating after reading a lot of reddit reviews about the lore behind it from reviewers who obviously know much, much , more than I do about Tolkien's world. I was pretty blows away as to the vast knowledge not only the fans had who were not denigrating the show but also enjoyed it as much as I had been after the first 3 episodes. Which told me that the writers were keeping up with the lore even though this was a completely new take on a completely new world (not written by Tolkien himself). Which one can tell when listening to the dialog. Unlike in the Peter Jackson movies one can hear the smooth rhythms of cadence and articulation used by Tolkien. Whereas it is a bit choppy to say the least in these series. But I must say they do their best. They are not Tolkien!! I am really enjoying the lore and the episodes and really cant wait to watch the next one each week. I really like what they have done so far.