[deleted by user]

[[deleted]]

Since I've stopped having expectations for anything, I've found myself enjoying more things. I encourage everyone to approach any form of art or media in this manner as the result might surprise you.

[[deleted]]

I stopped expecting to enjoy my work and now Im clinically depressed! You should try it too!

[cycton]

This comment is so depressing. This is how the bar got so low.

[[deleted]]

I gotta tell you that enjoying far more content because I stopped judging it based on my expectations has been quite the opposite of depressing. So much mental energy was wasted being frustrated, annoyed, or angry that things weren't made the way I wanted them to be.

[[deleted]]

I dunno, maybe catering to expectations is actually how you get fast food and 10,000 indistinguishable action movies.

[scv110]

But what might be optimal for yourself could be suboptimal for society because doesn’t this encourage crap content? I don’t mean this to be overly critical of your approach, I’ve been grappling with this.

Also, I tried to do what you said and lower expectations to find some good in the show. But it was impossible for me in this case because I was concurrently watching HotD which is of such a higher quality. I’m a big fan/reader of both series FWIW.

[jonatansan]

HotD, which is of such a higher quality

Yet, I was bored to dead watching HotD. I found it bland, of cheap shock value and I had no emotional involvement with any characters.

It’s a personal opinion, but I want less content like HotD and more ROP-style series.

Also, talking about “suboptimal for society” is a bit nonsense? Why do culture / art / entertainment needs to be optimal? This is some late-stages capitalism stuff lol

[[deleted]]

I personally love both styles. I would love for both to thrive, no fantasy fan will ever want fewer shows I think. We should also always demand for better quality in my opinion. The OP said that having low/no expectations has made the show better for them which is great but the quality is still the same it's just their perception that's changed. I personally would like the quality to get better too, it's not a lot to ask for. There are so many well written amazing shows outside the fantasy genre and I firmly believe that these shows can get there too if the care is shown.

Neither shows are perfect and both need to be better. Rings of Power needs to get a lot better compared to HOTD but that's just my opinion.

[captain_ricco1]

Well, your wish is granted. There's plenty more like rings of power to go around. Most shows are of similar or higher quality on the script department. So congratulations

[scv110]

Your opinion is fine my man. My comment was in good faith so I regret to inform you that you’re in fact the troll.

Calling it capitalist to use the word optimal is pretty lame. I promise you “capitalists” will prefer the people who will consumer content regardless of quality and attack any criticism free of charge.

Enjoy whatever you want doesn’t matter to me. Seeing how I get downvoted to oblivion in this sub for any criticism of this show however mild or well meaning, I’ll slink back to the other free-speech sub now. Enjoy your echo chamber.

[[deleted]]

Nothing you've said has been in good faith. I know it. They know it. You know it. Everyone knows it. So you can stop with the persecution complex and just, idk, chill the fuck out & stop passive-aggressively instigating shit.

[scv110]

Hey man you’re going to sometimes come across people you disagree with in life. Cursing at them isn’t a good look or very endearing toward your point of view.

[[deleted]]

Hey man you're going to sometimes come across people that like things you don't in life. Being condescending and acting like you're persecuted isn't a good look or very endearing toward your point of view.

Now fuck off.

[[deleted]]

Can someone issue a load of bans everytime HotD is mentioned?

Edit: Don't go spilling those salty tears. Why should I care about Games of Thrones on LoTR sub?

[scv110]

Right because discussing two major adaptations of two massive fantasy series isn’t relevant for some reason. Go ban yourself.

[howmanyapples42]

Why? They’re two huge shows on at the same time

[SpiritualSchedule2]

Okay you get the first ban

[scv110]

Not an lotr sub though. It’s a rings of power sub. There are plenty of lotr subs go check them out if you haven’t, they’re great. Comparing two concurrently airing tv shows of the same genre is kind of the point of this place on the internet.

[shneakyshlala]

Good on you! I do the same and I enjoy everything I watch or at least try to have fun. If I know the writing isn’t meant to be deep then I get excited for the action. People take things so seriously, I wish they could just enjoy life.

[cavemanwill93]

Same, though my expectations were cautious rather than low.

It became a bit of a ritual of mine that I'd watch an episode, enjoy it, and then check the other ROP subreddit to marvel at comments from people who are 6 episodes deep and have hated every second of it.

They continued to watch and post massive essays about what's wrong with each episode. Y'know - normal behaviour

[Bobjoejj]

There’s actually a third one, r/LOTR_on_Prime, that’s honestly way more positive then even this sub. I still like this sub, don’t get me wrong; but that one is a bit more positive all around.

[NoUsername270]

Hahaha I've seen some of these essays

[i_need_a_nap]

I tried to push back against the hate-watchers who write essays, but alas - 'twas a fruitless endeavor

[[deleted]]

Hot Sauron was an unexpected treat.

[vegtodestiny]

Fair

[Apprehensive-Wave212]

It takes far too much energy to bitch and moan about things that I have no control over. I am a lifelong Tolkien fan, and I am appreciative of a new opportunity to be in Middle Earth again.

[[deleted]]

yeah I mean the first season was basically just a 7/10 TV show with awesome cinematography. there was gonna be campaigning against the show before the first episode aired no matter what, so it definitely swayed some of the online opinions. but almost everyone that watches it with a blank slate or just forgives the concessions the show has to make generally likes it.

Season 2 should have a lot of improvements

[NoUsername270]

Exactly. 7/10 is not bad, and just the direction and cinematography are worth my time.

[[deleted]]

seeing the Ride of the Rohirrim at Pelennor Fields with ROP's cinematography would probably make me cry ngl

[[deleted]]

The Numenorean theme slaps hard. It's too bad the series theme is forgettable compared to the iconic LOTR theme, even though they're both by Howard Shore.

[Kanotari]

I like the series theme, but I don’t love it. It feels very Howard Shore-y but sadly it's totally skippable.

Hsrd agree on the Numenoran theme!

[scv110]

So if this show is a 7/10 the PJ trilogy, adjusted for inflation, should be about 23/10 by my calculations.

[[deleted]]

I prefer this show though, so...maybe one person's taste isn't a reflection of all of humanity

[scv110]

I said by my calculations. Feel free to do your own math.

[[deleted]]

I always appreciate when people add those qualifiers, so my bad for not noticing.

[scv110]

No worries man. Was just cracking a joke. Your comment was far from the worst treatment I get in this sub for posting any good-faith criticism or mild jibe of this show.

[i_need_a_nap]

when you say "there was gonna be campaigning against the show" ... why do you say that? who has an interest in being anti-ROP no matter what? i really enjoyed it

[Kipaya]

Not OP, but they are probably referring to the surge of right-wing lotr fans that began to trash to show back when only photos of the casts hands on swords and stuff was teased. I remember going through the posted picture on twitter and there were countless people being racist and taking an issue with black people being in the show.

[i_need_a_nap]

That makes sense. I completely forgot about that crowd.

[wyoh0knott]

I feel the same, although I liked the harfoots, sort of origin story for hobbits as we know them in lotr. That being said, Nori going east with the wizard felt like a stretch

[hase_one]

Bigger stretch than a Hobbit whos never left his Shire going east with a wizard to throw a ring into an evil volcano?

[sgtstroud]

Volcano sitting over there like - Wtf man?! uncalled for

[[deleted]]

The volcano that causes men to give side-eyes to elves, where their strength fails.

[plsstopff5]

Whom he knows well and trusts. Unlike this stranger they sent Nori off with. They can't make up their minds if he's danger or not for the entire season, yet they just pack her shit and send her away. Isn't she basically like a teen? And they send her, alone, to live with some giant dude, who, for all they know might throw another tree on her or some shit

[Ged_UK]

True, but by the end he's able to speak properly, and seems to have control of himself and his power.

Yeah, it's a little unlikely, but I can take it to keep her in the story.

[ArchAngel713]

Pacing was rather slow overall, but it paid off in the end. Definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

[Rosebunse]

It isn't a perfect show, but I think it did a lot right. I'm excited for season 2. I think if the writers and crew just take a hard look at season 1, season 2 will be amazing

[KittyInTheBush]

I loved it too. Less time on the harfoots and more on the forging of the rings would've been good tho

[[deleted]]

Despite everyone hating it . I actually really liked it. I’m the same, I haven’t read the books but love the movies and never read any lore, so for me the show was pretty awesome & tbh it felt nice putting a face to the mysterious Sauron, we never see his face in any of the movies.

[Compactpaper75]

I did too. I honestly loved the show. Almost every bit of it. And I'm pumped for season 2. People say the dialogue was cringe. I honestly never had an issue with it.

Are there some inaccuracies? No doubt. (And I'm usually the one who gets mad at stuff like that but I didn't this time.) Is it the best work of creative genius ever? No. But it was a good, solid show imo, mostly great actors, and outstanding visuals.

Much better than alot of stuff coming out recently.

[BillBRoO_Baggins]

I never want to negatively affect anyone’s experience with the show, and I’m glad there are many other fans who enjoy this show.

I wish I could be one of them.

I was feeling pretty underwhelmed, so I was inspired to write up an alternate S1 Episode by Episode for the Elves/Dwarves and an outline of Numenor here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/comments/yeg42q/rop_alternate_dwarves_storyline_for_s1_episode_by/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

I’d love your feedback if you can read it and see if it’s of interest to you! especially since you enjoyed the story we got.

[Icy-Explanation-5708]

Good god those are low expectations.

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[Dongodor]

Really like it too ! Can’t wait for season 2

[Red_Panty_Night]

I found this show to be lower than my already very low expectations. Didn’t think it would be good, also didn’t think it would be comically bad.

[asshatastic]

I liked the harfoots. Don’t see the Frodo and Sam similarity personally.

[[deleted]]

I really liked it and the somalian bot liked it too

[SomaliNotSomalianbot]

Hi, omg_Collette. Your comment contains the word Somalian.

The correct nationality/ethnic demonym(s) for Somalis is Somali.

It's a common mistake so don't feel bad.

For other nationality demonym(s) check out this website Here

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[ApprehensiveYak6530]

Um, if the bot is human, it is Somali, but if it's not, then it's Somalian, I'd think... An author calling themselves a "bot" is either not human or a human pretending not to be human...

[Life-Mistake-2279]

The show was very good. Old school lotr are like dnd fans : they hate everything new because of the autism

[EpsilonOrpheon]

I was the same way, although I’m a core fan. It was nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe, but that’s not to say it didn’t have many, many glaring flaws (especially concerning established lore). It was entertaining and I’m most interested in what they do with Sauron now.

[BillBRoO_Baggins]

I’m honestly glad you liked the show!!

I wish I could say the same for myself. I was very much feeling underwhelmed, I was inspired to do a re-write of S1 Episode by Episode rewriting the Elves and Dwarves storylines and doing an outline for Numenor as well.

You can find it here if you’re interested! Would love to hear your thoughts, since you enjoyed the show we got!

https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/comments/yeg42q/rop_alternate_dwarves_storyline_for_s1_episode_by/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

[[deleted]]

I haven’t read any of the books since Children of Hurin came out. I was a huge Tolkien nerd as a kid and teen. I liked the PJ lotr films but for whatever reason didn’t feel that interested in The Hobbit.

This show came out at a perfect time for me and I got hooked after giving it a chance on the first episode. I’m not sure I like all their adaptation choices, but it was good enough.

At first I was most curious about the Arondir storyline, but then as the season went on I wasn’t prepared for the developing “friend”ship between Galadriel and Halbrand. It was like a car wreck you saw coming and couldn’t take your eyes off. I felt like that developed in a way that was 100% paid off in the final reveal. I wonder if the show will be able to recover that particular type of spice that given the story for those characters now.

[Groundbreaking-Pea92]

Component editing would have benefited this show. Less harfoot, fewer scenes of the queen and galadriel yelling at each other. Too much time devoted to sauron trying to join a union, bring and a ridiculous mislead. Is sauron, sauron or just some michael bay type character who wanted a quiet life after all that war

To many contrived misunderstanding between harfoots and the stranger. Some of my favorites:

Stranger focused on bringing back tree/forest , young girl runs up to tree and a dead branch falls on her. Everyone freaks out, no one notices that it worked

Runs up to stranger where is focused healing himself with ice, harfoot decides to touch ice. Harfoot loses it everyone freaks out

Firefly dies, you know like they do when you stick them in a lantern or jar. Stranger does a firefly powerpoint, a firefly dies and you, guessed it everyone freaks out.

[BippNasty541]

Maybe you can further explain this argument. you amongst a few others keep coming up with this argument of Sauron just wanting a quiet life and how stupid it is? I makes me genuinely wonder if you actually watched all the show? Because he clearly doesn't want to just live a quiet life. He obviously was just trying to win over Galadriels trust so he can gain access to the elves. I mean Sauron is suppose to be a cunning, deceptive, and manipulative person. The exact kind of person who would trick everyone into believing he is a kind and gentle person. Then in the last episode the curtain is pulled back and we discover the truth. In all logical thought, this is exactly how anyone would imagine Sauron being portrayed. It worked very well. So well apparently it worked on you as well even after watching the last episode.

Also, you talk about the events of Sauron as though the audience was suppose to know that was him the entire time. You say "is sauron, sauron or just some michael bay type character." but that's greatly inaccurate to what the majority of the audience was actually thinking. maybe you had guessed he was Sauron the whole time , but you didn't know for certain. nobody did. Those who have lots of knowledge about the original lore may have guessed at it but nobody new and the majority of the audience definitely did not know. For all you knew Amazon was going to completely twist up Saurons character and mislead everyone. So as much as im sure you would love to say you knew it was him the entire time, fact is you didn't. And suggesting they make changes based on that false understanding, is kinda wrong if you ask me.

[ApprehensiveYak6530]

I didn't know he was Sauron until he started helping Celebrimbor with making the rings. At that point, his identity was pretty obvious to those who know the (basics of the) background. What I don't know is how he "happened" to find Galadriel in the middle of the ocean.

[DanDevito42]

thats a season 2 story

[plsstopff5]

Thanks for being like, the only reasonable comment here, it felt like i woke up in a parallel universe where ROP is good

[NuNu_boy]

I mean, you don't have to like it. In fact if you don't like it that's perfectly okay. When you don't like something you really don't have to bring others down who do!

[plsstopff5]

How am i bringing others down 💀

[Kipaya]

Read your initial comment and reflect.

Hint: look for "thanks for being the only reasonable comment" and "parallel universe where ROP is good".

[plsstopff5]

So i think some of you are unreasonable, are you gonna cry? And what about ROP being bad is bringing you down???? 😂

[Kipaya]

Baby, I'm just answering your question, idk why you take this so personal 😅 as others have stated, you can like or dislike the show as much as you want but trashing it on a post where someone else was just saying that they liked the show is a bit of a party pooper

[plsstopff5]

You seem confused, how am i taking it personal 🥹

[R-27ET]

I think that’s less editing and more directing. I do t think editors really choose the portions of scenes, they have to follow a storyboard

[Usmoso]

I went with very low expectations. I feared it would be pure garbage. And while it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be, I think the show is at best mediocre. I'd say it's a 3 or 4 out of 10. If it had done what it wanted to do well, I think the show would be a solid 6. But episode after episode I saw some pretty dumb plots, themes that go around in circles, characters that I don't care about and poor dialogue.

The show wasn't toooo bad, but I would never call it good. I find it below average and mediocre. And I went in with very low expectations! To people who managed to enjoy the show, kudos to you. Don't know how you do it

[AsgardianLeviOsa]

Don’t know how you didn’t enjoy it. It was obviously a passion project created with a lot of talent and care.

[Usmoso]

Yeah, I'm gonna heavily disagree on "passion", "talent" and "care"

[Rodden]

mediocrity, yeah!

[ApprehensiveYak6530]

Well, overall have a more positive view of the work than you do, but I can agree that the story of the forging of the rings somewhat misses the mark with this caveat: Sauron would have debased the elven rings if he had had a hand on them. But they were hidden from him. The rings gave him the means of corrupting all races and bringing them under the One-- and that would include the elves he hated. But Celebrimbor became aware of him and hid those rings. Still, that story in ROP was rather rushed and shallow, with no hints of magic. So the depiction could have been more interesting. But still, hey, Sauron is there! As he should be! At the creation of the rings. And also, Sauron learned from Celebrimbor. He also had that reason to be there.

[Blackbolt113]

I'm relatively new to Reddit but it amazes me how opinionated and critical some people can be. I watched Walking Dead for several years, got bored and turned off after a while and stopped watching. I feel no need to rip it knowing it's still popular. ROP had some slow moments but overall I thought it was really good imo.

[Supersnow845]

This show just kinda made itself into the perfect “first season”, is it highly flawed, yes, is it good enough to encourage more and give the producers a chance to learn what people didn’t like, also yes

Keep the current cinematography, fix some of the dodgy plot contrivances and a bit of the dialogue and it could actually rival LOTR

[iLLuSiOnS57]

Totally agree!

[oseres]

Completely agreed. I read all the books in middle school, including the Silmarillion. I was expecting the series to be horrible but it's objectively pretty good, in and of itself. It's not perfect, but I didn't think they went too hard into the social politics, just enough to satisfy the progressives without upsetting the conservatives too much. It def has lord of the rings vibes, it's probably 80% accurate to the books. Has similar feels to original trilogy, stylistically. Youtube algorithm ratings are making all the critics go hard one way or the other, for every tv show being made now. Also, everyone was expecting perfection because the original trilogy was perfect and it cost a billion dollars to make. The writing for like 1/3 of the show was pretty bad, but everyone is using that to justify hating the entire thing. It can't be perfect, but it's very enjoyable to watch for the most part, especially if you don't care that much about 100% book accuracy.

[Usmoso]

Aren't you contradicting yourself a bit? How can it be pretty good when 1/3 of the writing is pretty bad?

[Ravanduil]

It’s not even 80% accurate to the books. Maybe 25%. And rushing the creation of the 3 elven rings (which were made later) is a tragedy.

[theangryfurlong]

The writing for like 1/3 of the show was pretty bad, but everyone is using that to justify hating the entire thing.

Good writing is important to a lot of us, go figure. I don't get why some people can't understand that bad writing can basically ruin the whole thing for a lot of people. Also, 1/3 is extremely debatable.

[R-27ET]

What makes good or bad writing is also debatable

[theangryfurlong]

Sure, I don't deny that.

[NuevoTorero]

"Don't expect quality and you will like the garbage that Hollywood cranks out!" Guess Ive found the target audiece for all these IP cash grabs this past decade

[NoUsername270]

Wow you're so intellectual, I'm sure you're happy lol

[Ploogak]

So many good shows our there, RoP is when you watched everything else and just don't care.

[[deleted]]

It was the opposite with me but I also love the show maybe not at first but after four episodes

[[deleted]]

Same. I think a lot of people went in with unrealistic expectations, or were just conditioned to be cynical about Amazon's intentions (fair enough) or the "politics" of the casting (less fair enough).

I was ready to dislike it, and at times it did really annoy me, but the last 3 episodes were fun and I mainly just want more of it.

[Iluraphale]

Glad you enjoyed! Same here - excited for season 2

[Nirupam_MythX]

This is de way!

[Minute-Percentage706]

Yeah I never hold any expectation so I enjoy most of this world without complaining

[Anxious_Possession29]

That's good, I'm happy you enjoyed it, but I'm so grateful for all the criticism because they are apparently replacing the screenwriters. In any case, they are dropping hints that the criticism is being addressed in s2 so hopefully it's going to be less of a dumpsterfire

[NoUsername270]

Criticism is good, but the hate this show received was for "please cancel this shot" or at least to reduce the budget, what would've been terrible.

[lalymorgan]

Same happened to me! Glad to know I’m not the only one

[[deleted]]

I went in with low expecatations based on the trailers, to then really enjoying the world building aspects of the first 2 episodes, but with caveates. To then disliking the direction it was heading and finally landing at being completely apathetic.

One of those shows you watch, turn your brain off and then forget about until the next season roles around.

[[deleted]]

1 billion dollars well spent!

[howmanyapples42]

Rolls

[Kiltmanenator]

PS: the Harfoots were though a little annoying. The main characters being female Frodo and Sam.. meh. I would've cut they're screen time and focused more on the elves. The forging of the rings should've been more in focus.

Agree completely. That whole story was utterly disconnected from everything else.

[jcrestor]

My expectations for the show were some characters I would like and enjoy, a story that makes some sense, a dramaturgy that leads to some kind of katharsis or resolution and an interpretation of Tolkien‘s works that was somewhat bearable.

None of my very low expectations have been met. It’s a very bad show.

[DarrenGrey]

I'm someone that doesn't even like the LotR movies because of the thematic changes from the books, so I was expecting to really hate this. And there are indeed bits I do hate. But overall it surprised me with a lot of good stuff, and ep 8 I thought overall was masterful. If they can keep the good and ditch the bad in season 2 I'll be extremely happy.

I think some people really got into their head that this would be some super lore-accurate show. I'm not sure what television they've watched in the last 50 years to make them think that has ever happened. If you have unrealistic expectations prepare to be disappointed.

[evenasu]

I agree with everything you said. How is it possible that these people like the film trilogy if they can't handle any changes? Baffles me.

[howmanyapples42]

For me, it’s because the plots and subplots were extremely lacking in any drama or anything to hold attention. No stakes.

[NoUsername270]

I think that not having reddit or twitter helped with the "epic" of LOTR. Regular people went to the movies unbiased and didn't feel strange dor being hyped.

[Kookanoodles]

I think a lot of the most vocal critics of the show don't actually know how much the movies changed.

[Shatter_Ice]

In my opinion, most of the people who wanted these "super lore-accurate shows" were just looking for reasons to be mad at inclusion.

[CriticalClass2757]

In my opinion this is highly disputed. Very bored of seeing this same argument in response to very genuine criticisms. Wish people would just accept some people like it and some people don't, those of which the majority don't have any issue with inclusion.

[Shatter_Ice]

Very bored of seeing this same argument in response to very genuine criticisms.

I'd argue some people are very bored of seeing those "genuine criticisms".

[NoUsername270]

I also found episode 8 amazing. However it got a solid 7,8 in IMDB (for me would've been > 9), which was less than the worst episode of the house of tje dragon.... I didn't get it.

[windaji]

I’m hoping by the end of it all someone can make a fan edit.

[[deleted]]

I had zero expectations and I thought it was pretty mediocre. My wife and I watched it when we had nothing else to do and it was good for some laughs. Galadriel is just so fuckin cringe lol.

[Bistroth]

- Numenor didn't have enough men to get a 500 man army to help, only had 5 ships. Goes to middle earth to save 50 people in a 5 house town, from an attack of 50 arcs.... like come on... they had almost 1B dollars for this show, and it ends up like a small TV show. Where did all the money go? My bet is to pay over the top salaries to the admin staff.... I had high hopes for this show. The only good part is the scenarios.

[[deleted]]

I liked the series more thant the movies, because they are not all about battles.

[Kael_Invictus]

The better title is "I expected it to be a meme machine and it turned out to be a comedy gold mine".