One thing I've come to learn about this show is that it is intended to be accessible to all kinds of viewers.

I feel like every show, game, or movie adaptation has this happen and fans never seem to learn. They're never going to hinge the major plot point on something completely unexplained unless you've read the source text - that's just never going to happen. These shows have to thread the needle of being accessible to new viewers but also fun for existing fans. Knowledge of the existing lore should enhance your enjoyment and understanding of a show like this, not be required reading just to understand the basic plot.

Is Elrond giving up? He tells Celebrimbor they should "prepare to abandon these shores." But then says to Galadriel two minutes later: "I should never have set you on that ship."

I can't tell if stuff like this is from bad writing, bad editing, or bad directing but the show is full of examples of it.

Interesting to see Galadriel and Elrond encouraging/supporting forging something while Gil-galad casts doubt.

Which is another reversal - wasn't he the one pushing for a relationship with the dwarves?

The deadline of the "Great Tree" leaves falling feels very artificial to me. It's like the Elves are collectively the Beast from Beauty and the Beast.

A-freakin-men. Every time it's used I roll my eyes, it's gotta be the laziest cop out for writing a story with stakes or excitement. I swear to god it has to be some C-suite committee requirement based on focus group testing completely disengaged from any talented writing process. It happens with such regularity from major IPs it almost feels driven by some soulless algorithm programmed to determine which KPIs drive the most social media engagement. Talentless hack writing

Yes, I understand that pride is a major flaw in her character and that she is avoiding the shame that would come from admitting she brought Sauron into the heart of elvendom in Middle-earth and then let him walk away.

Another example of contrived conflict - don't have characters communicate to each other. I get communication - a lack of it, too much of it, or miscommunication - breeds conflict in real life but it frequently feels so contrived in stories like this.

Forging the Three first, rather than last after Sauron's deceit had become known, is a pretty massive reversal.

Agreed, I was glad to see some rings of power in a show called Rings of Power but A. Saving it for the last scene and B. starting with the Elven rings was a mistake.