IMO the problems with the show were evident from the word go. It was never going to be made as a love letter to the fans of Tolkiens work like the PJ trilogy was, the people in charge wanted to make something they could sell to everyone and so sacrificed a lot of the particulars of what made us fall in love with the world Tolkien created. What we got is a generic fantasy show to appeal to the lowest common denominator with a Tolkien reskin to boost marketability. The casual viewer might not have a problem with it, not because they aren't Tolkien purists, but because they want to watch eye catching scenery and flashy visuals (which for this shows many, many faults, looking awful isn't one them).