The discussions surrounding the Rings of Power series have been heated for months leading up to the series premiere, and the two episodes seemed to do little to calm things down. Prime Video has now implemented a 72-hour delay for all user reviews posted to the platform after the series faced an onslaught of undeserved one-star feedback.
This review bombing seemed to come from those who felt that the casting of people of color in a series set in Middle-Earth did not align with Tolkien's books. Redditors could share their love and excitement while offering much more valid forms of criticism than those centered only on politics. From the overall look of The Rings of Power to the abilities and language used by specific characters, Redditors had a few notes about how the first few episodes were lacking and how future seasons could improve.
Rings Of Power Looks Too Much Like A Generic Fantasy
There are two contradicting sides within the Lord of the Rings fandom about how the Prime Video series should look. Some felt that as a part of the grandfather of some of the best fantasies, The Rings of Power should be easily recognizable as a generic fantasy world.
Some audiences on Reddit felt that Rings of Power nailed this, but user HelliswhereIwannabe believed that this effect hindered the show instead of improving it. "I feel like the general 'generic' feeling of its aesthetic is a valid complaint," they said. Sometimes the images that became so popular in Peter Jackson's film trilogy can begin to feel old to those who consume fantasy in high quantity, and taking a new direction might have created renewed interest in the show.
The Artistic Editing Breaks The Immersion
Every director has a style, and it is impossible to please all audiences consistently. However, after the premiere episodes of Rings of Power, several fans on Reddit voiced confusion over some of the stylistic choices in filming.
Specifically, Redditor McFly_505 references the scene in which Galadriel defeats the snow troll, and the beast's blood and guts splatter across the screen, saying that it "isn't bad" but just a strange choice. Typically, artistic choices like this fit better in a more campy title, so in Rings of Power, it just broke the immersion into Middle-earth.
The Elven Armor Looks Poorly Crafted
Especially in the case of Elves, armor, and clothing in Middle-earth, as seen in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, has a reputation for appearing grand and fantastical. Elven weapons, armor, and robes are elegant and ethereal, full of slight curves and delicate designs.
For this reason, Redditor RaulTheGhoul was disappointed by the armor shown on the Elves in The Rings of Power. "They could have hired [better] craftsmen to make that same style armor," they said, feeling that the current result looked cheap. Perhaps the show creators hoped to contrast the armor with the craftsmanship of the Dwarves, but it still seems that the creators of the Rings of Power could have managed better.
Short Hair On The Elves Looks Too Contemporary
Before Rings of Power, The Lord of the Rings fans had a specific image that would come to mind when they would picture an elf. While the skin color of those elves was only important to a select few, many more felt that long hair was an absolute must for the Elves of Middle-earth.
Redditor RaulTheGhoul immensely enjoyed Arondir, an original character introduced in The Rings of Power, but felt that his faded hairstyle looked "pretty contemporary," breaking the immersion into Middle-earth's Second Age. While the show was likely going for a military feel for the Elven soldier, long curls or waist-length braids might have better fit the genre.
The Sets And Costumes Don't Feel Functional
One of the most exciting aspects of Middle-earth is the variety among the beings that live there. Dwarves, Elves, and Hobbits (or Harfoots) each have a unique style regarding the craftsmanship of their homes, weapons, and clothing.
However, Redditor Tedderksen pointed out that in The Rings of Power, a great deal of the design was not "functional" and was intended more for an aesthetic that would appeal only to the audiences. An example is Harfoot's clothing, which seems overly intended to appear "wild" while ignoring functionality. Nori's messy hair and grubbiness were far too perfectly placed to have naturally occurred.
Galadriel Should Be Strong, But Not That Strong
One of the controversial opinions of those that left scathing reviews on Prime Video for The Rings of Power was that Galadriel, one of the canon characters in The Rings of Power, should never have been made the powerful lead. However, many Redditors have pointed out that Galadriel was always described as a powerful warrior in J.R.R. Tolkien's books.
However, Redditors like Onlyfoolandhorse pointed out that while Galadriel should be strong, she seemed overpowered compared to her Elven friends. "It's like she was fighting a toddler whilst they were fighting a giant," this user said, referring to Galadriel's battle with the snow troll. Perhaps Galadriel should have struggled more with the monstrous creature, or her fellow soldiers shouldn't have been so pathetically defeated.
Finrod's Comments About Darkness Made No Sense
The Rings of Power series has introduced a new motivation for Galadriel that was not seen in Tolkien's canon. The show spent a good deal of time revealing to audiences the close relationship she had had with her brother, Finrod, showing a moment in which the older elf secretly confided in Galadriel about the importance of "touching the darkness."
This ultimately helped Galadriel make her dramatic decision to jump into the sea rather than return to Valinor, but it rubbed Redditor DarrenGrey the wrong way. "Finrod has never 'touched the darkness,'" they said, pointing out that, at that point, he had only lived in Valinor through days of peace.
The Dwarves Shouldn't Say "Aule"
As part of Tolkien's canon events in The Lord of the Rings, Aule is a god-like being who assisted Eru Illuvatar in the creation of Arda, the world in which the continent of Middle-earth exists. One of Aule's significant contributions was the creation of the Dwarves (though not technically with permission).
This is why, in The Rings of Power, the Dwarves of Khazad-dum can frequently be heard exclaiming "Aule!" However, Redditor Ashamed_Willow_4724 pointed out that the Dwarves should be saying "Mahal" since that was "their name for him." As such an important deity in their culture, it seemed strange that they would adopt the Elven name in their daily dialogue.
Celebrimbor Should Have Introduced Elrond To Durin IV
Fans of The Lord of the Rings might have been surprised to see that Elrond had a close relationship with Prince Durin IV in The Rings of Power. But, while this specific relationship was not technically canon, Tolkien described in The Silmarillion that the Elves of Eregion and Linden had a great relationship with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum during the Second Age.
However, this and Tolkien's other works state that Celebrimbor was the one who had forged the friendships between the two races and that Elrond became acquainted with the Dwarves because he served under the Elven leader. Redditor Lightice1 shared that while the "friendship was very well done," the introductions should have happened reversely.
Rings Of Power Tries Too Hard To Make The Harfoots Endearing
Another hot debate within the Lord of the Rings fandom is whether or not halflings should have been included in The Rings of Power since Tolkien never talked about their kind in the Second Age. However, it can be concluded that while they may not have been a focal point of the story, they still would have been in Middle-earth.
It is also likely that the show creators wished to include all the familiar races of Tolkien's beloved world, especially since Hobbits had been such a major part of the story in The Lord of the Rings. However, Redditors like Tomorrowing felt that the series worked too hard to make the Harfoots lovable. "Giving them fake Irish accents to be endearing?" they said, pointing out that they may have been better received taken down a couple of notches.