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So... Who's watching the first 2 episodes of The Rings of Power tonight?

IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
in Off-Topic Discussion
Or maybe I should ask who isn't? :)

And yes, it IS tonight (6:00 PM for me in less than 2 hours) for North and South America.

Read a spoiler-free review of the first 2 episodes at Tech-Radar and it sounds like they nailed it.

https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazons-expensive-lord-of-the-rings-gamble-pays-off-in-fantastical-fashion-the-rings-of-power-review

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Sovrath
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Comments

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 927
    edited September 2022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    Sometimes we need fantasy to survive reality 
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  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    edited September 2022
    Deathkon1 said:
    Iselin said:
    Or maybe I should ask who isn't? :)

    And yes, it IS tonight (6:00 PM for me in less than 2 hours) for North and South America.

    Read a spoiler-free review of the first 2 episodes at Tech-Radar and it sounds like they nailed it.

    https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazons-expensive-lord-of-the-rings-gamble-pays-off-in-fantastical-fashion-the-rings-of-power-review

    My general rule of thumb is to not watch anything that doesn't have at least 3 seasons, I'm opting to watch **the boys** because my friend said it was fked up and I like dark disturbing comedy well with a purpose that is.
    The Boys is a very funny and crude take on Superheros. It's one of Amazon's best shows.

    I usually don't watch weeklies because I like to binge a full season over a weekend but this is LotR... I can make an exception.
    PurplePepe
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

    ― Umberto Eco

    “Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” 
    ― CD PROJEKT RED

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 927
    edited September 2022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    Sometimes we need fantasy to survive reality 
    https://biturl.top/rU7bY3
    Beyond the shadows there's always light
  • KnightFalzKnightFalz Member EpicPosts: 4,522
    Deathkon1 said:
    Iselin said:

    I usually don't watch weeklies because I like to binge a full season over a weekend but this is LotR... I can make an exception.
    I can only pray that it turns out good without them bringing modern day issues into it seen enough of them doing that in the past few years for me to adopt the wait and see protocol. 

    Your prayers were not answered.
  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    KnightFalz said:
    Deathkon1 said:
    Iselin said:

    I usually don't watch weeklies because I like to binge a full season over a weekend but this is LotR... I can make an exception.
    I can only pray that it turns out good without them bringing modern day issues into it seen enough of them doing that in the past few years for me to adopt the wait and see protocol. 

    Your prayers were not answered.
    Which one, being good or too "woke" for the far right? Did you get a preview like the review sites did?
    WalkinGlenn
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

    ― Umberto Eco

    “Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” 
    ― CD PROJEKT RED

  • kitaradkitarad Member LegendaryPosts: 8,164
    Iselin said:
    Deathkon1 said:
    Iselin said:
    Or maybe I should ask who isn't? :)

    And yes, it IS tonight (6:00 PM for me in less than 2 hours) for North and South America.

    Read a spoiler-free review of the first 2 episodes at Tech-Radar and it sounds like they nailed it.

    https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazons-expensive-lord-of-the-rings-gamble-pays-off-in-fantastical-fashion-the-rings-of-power-review

    My general rule of thumb is to not watch anything that doesn't have at least 3 seasons, I'm opting to watch **the boys** because my friend said it was fked up and I like dark disturbing comedy well with a purpose that is.
    The Boys is a very funny and crude take on Superheros. It's one of Amazon's best shows.

    I usually don't watch weeklies because I like to binge a full season over a weekend but this is LotR... I can make an exception.
    The comics that Garth Ennis had written the superheroes even nastier. I think having read it that in a lot of ways the Amazon version works better. He seems to had an axe to grind.

  • SovrathSovrath Member LegendaryPosts: 32,780
    My thought is that "it is what it is" so yes, of course I'll watch it and take it on its own merits.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 927
    edited September 2022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    Sometimes we need fantasy to survive reality 
    https://biturl.top/rU7bY3
    Beyond the shadows there's always light
  • NeblessNebless Member RarePosts: 1,871
    I watched Psych 3: This Is Gus on Peacock.

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  • SovrathSovrath Member LegendaryPosts: 32,780
    edited September 2022
    Just finished the 1st episode. It's fine. It feels "made for TV" but extremely well done "made for TV."

    The music is great but there's too much of it. It's over scored. Some of the scenes just didn't need it.

    From the review:

    Cons

    • -

      Disappointing lack of action

    • -

      Occasionally problematic plot pacing

    sigh, oh please.

    It's not the movies but does well enough and is enjoyable enough. I'll definitely continue watching.
    kitarad
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  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    edited September 2022
    Sovrath said:


    Cons

    • -Disappointing lack of action
    Episode 1 definitely but that's to be expected since it's all about character and settings introductions but it definitely picks up the action big time in 2 on several fronts.

    The series oozes quality. Settings and acting are both first rate and the music is great.

    Love the nomadic harfoot hobbit precursors. So used to seeing hobbits as creatures of comfort in their tidy villages that the harfoot are a nice change of pace.

    Bigots should definitely stay away though: way too many brown people and capable women for their taste :)
    kitaradSovrathSetzer
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

    ― Umberto Eco

    “Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” 
    ― CD PROJEKT RED

  • FrodoFraginsFrodoFragins Member EpicPosts: 6,050
    edited September 2022
    I'll watch em but I honestly don't think the show will be very good.  The showrunner seem to have gone off the rails, as did the Wheel of time showrunner, and I really just don't dig it.

    I don't care how pretty it is.  I only care how well they tell a story that is consistent with tolkien.  Amazon fantasy shows seem to focus on modernizing the tales too appeal to a wider audience.

    As cool as hobbits are, making up a side story on the Harfoots is pandering at best.  If anything it makes the adventures of the Hobbits in the Hobbit and LOTR less unique and special.  
    Mendel
  • BrotherMaynardBrotherMaynard Member RarePosts: 647
    edited September 2022
    I'll watch em but I honestly don't think the show will be very good.  The showrunner seem to have gone off the rails, as did the Wheel of time showrunner, and I really just don't dig it.

    I don't care how pretty it is.  I only care how well they tell a story that is consistent with tolkien.  Amazon fantasy shows seem to focus on modernizing the tales too appeal to a wider audience.

    As cool as hobbits are, making up a side story on the Harfoots is pandering at best.  If anything it makes the adventures of the Hobbits in the Hobbit and LOTR less unique and special.  
    Amazon generally approaches their shows from the angle of "well, this could have happened - prove us wrong". They did it in all their shows I watched, like the Man in the High Castle or the Wheel of Time. What they did with the Man in the High Castle is particularly awful, the way they hijacked the whole book and added their own nonsense. It was barely recognisable towards the end of Season 2. Some may call it artistic license, I call it Amazon's bullshit - there are no artists in Amazon.

    At this point I take the stance that Sapkowski took towards the Witcher games, when he said 'they are not The Witcher. The books are The Witcher'. Which wasn't to say the games were bad or that he disliked them (he never played them AFAIK), of course.

    And that was CDPR, who made those games with care, love and admiration for Sapkowski; not Amazon, who will happily and deliberately butcher any original book for the sake of inflating it across 10 seasons and polluting them with their own opinions and worldviews, completely inconsistent with the books themselves and with Tolkien's views.

    I will not watch the Amazon's show, they have nothing to do with the books apart from using the IP. I have better things to do:



    MendelMaurgrim
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 927
    edited September 2022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    Sometimes we need fantasy to survive reality 
    https://biturl.top/rU7bY3
    Beyond the shadows there's always light
  • GrindcoreTHRALLGrindcoreTHRALL Member UncommonPosts: 332
    edited September 2022
    watching them with bated breath.
  • FrodoFraginsFrodoFragins Member EpicPosts: 6,050
    BrotherMaynard said:
    I'll watch em but I honestly don't think the show will be very good.  The showrunner seem to have gone off the rails, as did the Wheel of time showrunner, and I really just don't dig it.

    I don't care how pretty it is.  I only care how well they tell a story that is consistent with tolkien.  Amazon fantasy shows seem to focus on modernizing the tales too appeal to a wider audience.

    As cool as hobbits are, making up a side story on the Harfoots is pandering at best.  If anything it makes the adventures of the Hobbits in the Hobbit and LOTR less unique and special.  
    Amazon generally approaches their shows from the angle of "well, this could have happened - prove us wrong". They did it in all their shows I watched, like the Man in the High Castle or the Wheel of Time. What they did with the Man in the High Castle is particularly awful, the way they hijacked the whole book and added their own nonsense. It was barely recognisable towards the end of Season 2. Some may call it artistic license, I call it Amazon's bullshit - there are no artists in Amazon.

    At this point I take the stance that Sapkowski took towards the Witcher games, when he said 'they are not The Witcher. The books are The Witcher'. Which wasn't to say the games were bad or that he disliked them (he never played them AFAIK), of course.

    And that was CDPR, who made those games with care, love and admiration for Sapkowski; not Amazon, who will happily and deliberately butcher any original book for the sake of inflating it across 10 seasons and polluting them with their own opinions and worldviews, completely inconsistent with the books themselves and with Tolkien's views.

    I'd be curious when Sapkowski made that statement as he was in a feud with CDPR of his own making.  He was offered an upfront single payment for the license or a piece of the profits.  He chose poorly and took the one time payout but later whined when the third witcher game got so damn big.  They placated him at some point.

    The Witcher show is mediocre but Sapkowski has stated that Cavill IS Geralt now.

    Anyway, yeah Amazon is REALLY bad in terms of faithful adaptations.  I started watching the first RoP episode and I just had to stop for now.  I'll need to be in the right mood to deal with a child and 20 year old Galadriel, among other things.
  • BrotherMaynardBrotherMaynard Member RarePosts: 647
    I'll watch em but I honestly don't think the show will be very good.  The showrunner seem to have gone off the rails, as did the Wheel of time showrunner, and I really just don't dig it.

    I don't care how pretty it is.  I only care how well they tell a story that is consistent with tolkien.  Amazon fantasy shows seem to focus on modernizing the tales too appeal to a wider audience.

    As cool as hobbits are, making up a side story on the Harfoots is pandering at best.  If anything it makes the adventures of the Hobbits in the Hobbit and LOTR less unique and special.  
    Amazon generally approaches their shows from the angle of "well, this could have happened - prove us wrong". They did it in all their shows I watched, like the Man in the High Castle or the Wheel of Time. What they did with the Man in the High Castle is particularly awful, the way they hijacked the whole book and added their own nonsense. It was barely recognisable towards the end of Season 2. Some may call it artistic license, I call it Amazon's bullshit - there are no artists in Amazon.

    At this point I take the stance that Sapkowski took towards the Witcher games, when he said 'they are not The Witcher. The books are The Witcher'. Which wasn't to say the games were bad or that he disliked them (he never played them AFAIK), of course.

    And that was CDPR, who made those games with care, love and admiration for Sapkowski; not Amazon, who will happily and deliberately butcher any original book for the sake of inflating it across 10 seasons and polluting them with their own opinions and worldviews, completely inconsistent with the books themselves and with Tolkien's views.

    I'd be curious when Sapkowski made that statement as he was in a feud with CDPR of his own making.  He was offered an upfront single payment for the license or a piece of the profits.  He chose poorly and took the one time payout but later whined when the third witcher game got so damn big.  They placated him at some point.

    The Witcher show is mediocre but Sapkowski has stated that Cavill IS Geralt now.

    Anyway, yeah Amazon is REALLY bad in terms of faithful adaptations.  I started watching the first RoP episode and I just had to stop for now.  I'll need to be in the right mood to deal with a child and 20 year old Galadriel, among other things.

    https://www.eurogamer.net/ever-wondered-what-the-author-of-the-witcher-books-thinks-about-the-games

    "The game - with all due respect to it, but let's finally say it openly - is not an 'alternative version', nor a sequel. The game is a free adaptation containing elements of my work; an adaptation created by different authors," he noted.

    "Adaptations - although they can in a way relate to the story told in the books - can never aspire to the role of a follow-up. They can never add prologues nor prequels, let alone epilogues and sequels.

    "Maybe it's time to set the matters straight," he went on. "'The Witcher' is a well made video game, its success is well deserved and the creators deserve all the splendour and honour due. But in no way can it be considered to be an 'alternative version', nor a 'sequel' to the witcher Geralt stories. Because this can only be told by Geralt's creator. A certain Andrzej Sapkowski."

  • olepiolepi Member EpicPosts: 3,017
    As a long time Tolkein geek, I doubt I will watch it. The review calls it a fictional tale set in the Tolekin universe. I'd probably be shouting at the screen because it doesn't follow the Silmarillion correctly.

    I'd love to be wrong though.
    Mendel

    ------------
    2024: 47 years on the Net.


  • Slapshot1188Slapshot1188 Member LegendaryPosts: 17,586
    edited September 2022
    olepi said:
    As a long time Tolkein geek, I doubt I will watch it. The review calls it a fictional tale set in the Tolekin universe. I'd probably be shouting at the screen because it doesn't follow the Silmarillion correctly.

    I'd love to be wrong though.
    That's my take on it.  The more I read about how they "improved" on Tolkien the less I want to see it.

    I will just never understand the idea of spending $1,000,000,000 on the rights and production of an IP based off of a masterpiece work of art...  and then changing so much of it.

    That money could have made a whole slew of new shows.

    That said.  I'll probably watch at least some of it at some point.  Just not right away.

    Mendel

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  • SovrathSovrath Member LegendaryPosts: 32,780
    Iselin said:
    Sovrath said:


    Cons

    • -Disappointing lack of action
    Episode 1 definitely but that's to be expected since it's all about character and settings introductions but it definitely picks up the action big time in 2 on several fronts.

    The series oozes quality. Settings and acting are both first rate and the music is great.

    Love the nomadic harfoot hobbit precursors. So used to seeing hobbits as creatures of comfort in their tidy villages that the harfoot are a nice change of pace.

    Bigots should definitely stay away though: way too many brown people and capable women for their taste :)
    Definitely by the 2nd episode there was more action.

    I agree it's "the first episode" let it breath a bit.

    I'm enjoying it. While it doesn't feel very grounded in the Tolkien Universe (as far as I know) it's well done, the performances are great, the special effects and costumes are great. It's fun.

    I'm ok with having fun. 

    It did bother me a bit that Celebrimbor's and Elrond's hair are very similar.  :p
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  • NeblessNebless Member RarePosts: 1,871
    Amazon generally approaches their shows from the angle of "well, this could have happened - prove us wrong". They did it in all their shows I watched, like the Man in the High Castle or the Wheel of Time. What they did with the Man in the High Castle is particularly awful, the way they hijacked the whole book and added their own nonsense. It was barely recognisable towards the end of Season 2. Some may call it artistic license, I call it Amazon's bullshit - there are no artists in Amazon.
    I felt the same about 'THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES'.  I love Terry Brooks and really enjoyed The Sword of Shannara so I thought I'd give it a try.

    Didn't understand a thing and never could figure out which book of the trilogy it was based on.

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  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    Sovrath said:

    It did bother me a bit that Celebrimbor's and Elrond's hair are very similar.  :p
    Yeah. What's with the hair lol.

    I'm also not buying that these unknown (to me) youngsters become the Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchet versions of Elrond and Galadriel.

    It was bound to happen with previous well known actors having played those parts.

    I'm also enjoying it. It's quality TV. It also probably helps that I'm not fanatical about Middle Earth lore so I can enjoy it for what it is as opposed to how it compares to my (lack of) intimate knowledge of the written works.

    I actually gave up on those comparisons a long time ago since it's almost impossible to enjoy an adaptation if you watch something while policing the lore. When an adaptation matches the original well (as with The Expanse series) I'm just pleasantly surprised but I don't expect it or demand it. 
    Sovrath
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

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    ― CD PROJEKT RED

  • Slapshot1188Slapshot1188 Member LegendaryPosts: 17,586
    Nebless said:
    Amazon generally approaches their shows from the angle of "well, this could have happened - prove us wrong". They did it in all their shows I watched, like the Man in the High Castle or the Wheel of Time. What they did with the Man in the High Castle is particularly awful, the way they hijacked the whole book and added their own nonsense. It was barely recognisable towards the end of Season 2. Some may call it artistic license, I call it Amazon's bullshit - there are no artists in Amazon.
    I felt the same about 'THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES'.  I love Terry Brooks and really enjoyed The Sword of Shannara so I thought I'd give it a try.

    Didn't understand a thing and never could figure out which book of the trilogy it was based on.
    OMG... The Elfstones was my favorite book when I was younger.  I was soooo disappointed and shocked by what they put on screen.

    Hopefully this doesn't fall to that level.

    All time classic  MY NEW FAVORITE POST!  (Keep laying those bricks)

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  • PhaserlightPhaserlight Member EpicPosts: 3,075
    Well, yes of course.  Naturally...

    "The simple is the seal of the true and beauty is the splendor of truth" -Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
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  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    Stizzled said:
    I can tell you that the amount of this story that's actually in the Silmarillion is absolutely zero..


    Good thing because Amazon never bought the rights to that. They bought the TV rights to the Lord of the Rings from Middle Earth Enterprises  (now, The Embracer Group) but did not buy the rights to the Silmarillion from the Tolkien Estate,

    The series is based mostly on the LotR appendices,  
    Sovrath
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

    ― Umberto Eco

    “Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” 
    ― CD PROJEKT RED

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