Clayton Talley

I am a diehard Tolkien fan and seeing all these 1 star reviews of all these Tolkien fans getting upset about things not being to exact lore and the flexibility the writers have taken upon themselves is unfortunate. I’m tired of people gate keeping how THEY think everything should be. That’s why a lot of media doesn’t go after works like Tolkien’s universe and anything else that’s very loved, it’s because these dopey clowns get on it within the first 3 episodes. If any of you were familiar with Tolkien’s works beyond just the LOTR trilogy and the movies, you would probably be able to make an educated guess using common sense, that the developers purposely chose the second age as the time setting for this tv show because it is hands down the most unaddressed age among Tolkien’s works. He didn’t write about the happenings in the second age much, which gives the writers leeway to create a story of their own design within Tolkien’s wonderful universe. It was stupid of you people to expect them to try to abide by the notes of J.R.R. To the Letter, especially being that the notes for the second age just aren’t there. Characters in this show are great. Major plot points mostly follow Tolkien’s account of the second age, here and there they add things and also leave certain things out. It pains me to see all these idiots reviewing something with so much potential badly because they feel their opinion should be seen. Like if the show bothers you so much “go back to the shadow” and read and create your own image of what the second age would look like, because frankly it pains true Tolkien lovers and fans that just desire ANY high budget depiction and adaptation of his creations to be worked upon, when you ruin it for everybody else by giving it a bad wrap. Overall opinion of the show from me (not that it really matters you should watch it for yourself) is a 7.5/10. I will admit their are definitely some things that was added and discarded from plot that as a Tolkien fan you can’t help but notice and be a bit bothered by. But the writers and creators of this show took up a hefty task trying to live up to Tolkien’s fandom and their expectations and considering everything I think they have done a splendid job, good visuals, good music, earthy tone, fantasy vibe still, and solid plot with major events, (without using gruesomeness and sexual innuendo and sometimes straight out sex to keep watchers attention unlike anything from the GOT series) I definitely recommend this show for Tolkien fans and those unfamiliar with his works to check out and enjoy.