Film&TV Review

Prime's Billion dollar series is a big gamble for the channel. Set during the Second Age of Tolkien's Fantasy Epic From the outset for such a well loved property for, it was always going to meet uproar for it's creative license. You can perfectly understand from a fan's point of view, with the departures of well loved lore , you will come a cropper with this series. As as this series aims to cover 1000s of years of time over the course of the series. Fan will find maddening if they have grown up with the established history of the books.But If you can forgive, the liberal change of timelines , and even changes to traditional characters and races from the lore, as a fantasy series. You can start to review the series on its own merits.So what does Prime have on their hands here? This is certainly a lovely looking series for newbies to fantasy and Tolkien's World. , and some interesting seeding , of characters who are engaging, and the introduction of five races that populate the land.Dwarves,Elves, Harfoots,and the Men and Women of various lands. The biggest gripe however, is the pacing. Episode one truly could leave one abandoning the series altogether. You could say the pacing reflects the epicness of this world and it's races. But with no real narrative point of view to settle on, you are left feeling after the first hour episode, that you have just watched one of the longest series trailer in history. Galadriel acts as our initial viewpoint as lead warrior Elf,as a recognisable 'Lord of the Rings character from the books and films ,( here in her younger days) .But the arc of warrior on a mission to search and prove that the long forgotten foe,' Sauron' still at large, is plodding and takes too much time on an episode that should be really introducing the world at large. It's really a mistake you cannot afford to make with a modern day series ,that is competing for attention on the world streaming market of today. At least it leaves you with a cliff –hanger with the entrance of a mysterious stranger that literally falls from the skies,It is probably why they released Episode two simultaneously to get you over Episode one's hump. Pushing on to the second episode, we get a more a sense of the overall series direction.The return of a great darkness and enemy to the land, and great World building scenes, where most likely alliances will be made . The introduction of the Dwarf caves' Khazad-dum' Kindom. It is certainly a hightlight and namely some testy and engaging dialogue exchange between the two different cultures , of Dwarfs and Elves,( as well as a scene between estranged friends Elrond and Durin). It is probably here, as well as the scenes with the Harfoots tribe girls( Elanor Brandyfoot and Poppy proudfellow), exploring the bigger and dangerous world, where the most engaging view points start, and where the series begins to come alive.It is these scenes that really gives a window on the World in an otherwise sterile interaction in a beautiful World.But there is plenty enough to intrugue you , just you'll have leave the Tolken books at home on this one