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Notes -
So, I watched the first two episodes of the Rings of Power -- and it wasn't that bad.
For the record, I thought Wheel of Time was pretty horrible, and while it was far from the only problem, the woke aspects (forced diversity, all men have to suck, all women have to rock) was definitely a big part of the issue. RoP has some forced diversity as well, but it's somehow not as bad. The black elf is one of the few elves who actually seems attractive and somehow beyond human -- the others come across as Roman Senator types.
Galadriel is a Mary Sue, but I guess she is in the books too. We'll see how her story develops.
I'm not happy with the proto-hobbits, and of course, the one who pushes the rules and is clever and daring is a woman, but that's mostly okay.
Dwarves -- well, of course the woman gives wise council to her buffoon husband, but it was still fairly well done I thought.
The visuals were great, and you did somehow get a sense of fleshed out, interesting and complex world. I'm very cautiously optimistic. Miles and miles ahead of Wheel of Time.
For the record, I'm /u/The-WideningGyre on reddit, but felt like grabbing one of the more common usernames I use on the new Motte.
I'm really disappointed by the weird groupthink shitshow I feel like 'normal' reddit has become, so I will do what I can to support this new Motte. Thanks /u/ZorbaTHut and other creators!
The problem with Galadriel isn't so much her unrestrained ability but the form it takes. She's supposed to be a beautiful but prideful maiden who grows into the wise sorcerer-queen we see in the third age through experience.
Her skill is cunning, not strength. She's an enigmatic plotter with an inscrutable mind, not some formidable warrior.
Having her prancing around killing giant beasts feels like if you made a biopic of Talleyrand where he keeps shooting people himself.
Her being a warrior doesn't bother me too much. There are enough references by Tolkein to her Amazonian disposition and whatnot (I think one of her knicknames is literally "man-maiden" or something similar) in various versions of the Legendarium to justify that choice.
My problem is that she has the personality and motivations of a YA protagonist. She's been placed in the role of "plucky young hero who is the only one aware of the coming evil but is constantly belittled and looked down upon by the 'adults,' despite being right about everything." Even though at this point in the story she is canonically the oldest, wisest, most noble person currently present in Middle Earth. She's supposed to be an exiled revolutionary leader forbidden to return to Valinor because decided she would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven, but the character doesnt have any of that gravitas on the show.
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