Does anyone want to discuss the series, instead of identity politics?

I think it's boring. After two hours it doesn't have a single compelling character or story line.

Sure.

Script is horrible, dialogues sound like a parody.
Directing is a mess.
Acting is almost universally bad.


However, there is good music and very expensive looking CGI.

Some scenes are okay looking. It was nice to see the Trees of Valinor if only for a few seconds.

The orc costumes look good from what I've seen in promo images

The writing and characters suck. Numerous ridiculous situations like Galadriel jumping off the boat and trying to swim back to Middle-Earth, and Elrond and Celebrimbor looking like they only walked a few minutes to reach Moria.

The Dwarves look pretty good.

Many of the Elves look like utter shit. Too short, too old, and outright ugly. Elves were supposed to be beautiful and almost perfect looking beings, the Peter Jackson movies even used CGI to give them sort of an otherworldly appearance. In this they look like human cosplayers.

THEY WILL HATE IT AND PRETEND THE HATE IS BASED ON SOMETHING ELSE.

I agree. You are not going to get away from the identity politics, because the showrunners decided to shoehorn in black actors where they don't belong, which is their decision. That was a political decision, not one driven by the desire to tell a good story.

Having said that, I have also enjoyed the first two episodes, and I am so starved for good television right now that I am willing to look past the stupid casting choices and give the show a chance.

A good series would not require people begging to discuss it. Discussion of plot and characters occurs naturally with a good series. 90% of discussion for RoP is just about the black elves and dwarves. Compare with the House of the Dragon board and you'll see what I mean. There are only a few posts about the Black Targaryens. That show manages to overcome the silly Woke casting with involving plots and characters.

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I think the visuals are well done. Galadriel casting is not the best but not terrible. She's not got that grace nor ferocity that Cate had. I was truly terrified when she was near the ring and transformed.. she's too arrogant and solo and a brat. Doesn't listen to anyone and seems to be Ms know it all and do it all while guys around her have been neutered in an effort to make her look more ferocious.

I think they should've gone with the quiet power Cate espoused well. You could feel that she's truly terrifying.
Her dialogs are too cringey.

In fact all dialogs are cringey as they're trying to be too epic. With random Confucius say type Chinese wisdoms which are over done and don't fit well. Like the silly where sunlight fears to tread and one more from ep 2.

The chars are overall putting in their best though. Elrond seems to be growing on me. He's no Hugo Weaving but he's good.

The dwarves were alright.

Overall I'm not too sure I like the direction yet but it's got great production quality and visuals.

As a fantasy show it is really nice but atm is failing as LotR. They need to add teamwork to it. That's what was amazing there. No solo heroes. Good banter and jokes and everyone had their strengths without breaking social norms. Even the girl Eowyn was great while being demure and feminine. This made her slaying of Nazgul so epic. Becauee it wasn't forced but felt like it belonged there. She took hits and fell but rose and did her part and then others chipped in. That's reality.

So I hope they stick to what is normal. LotR had that. I hope they make it memorable instead of trying to force it to be and failing