Support NeoGAF

[Hari Seldon]

Goebbels made some incredible films btw. Really well put together.

I mean obviously I'm going off on the extreme end but my God... Ignorance is bliss I suppose! But anyway you do you, I shall refrain from pissing on your parade any further.

I have an extremely low tolerance for propaganda but I haven't seen any yet in the previews. What examples do you provide? Just having a multi-racial cast is not propaganda if the actors are good. If the diversity causes the hiring of actors that are bad (half the cast of Foundation) or if the writers go out of their way to write propaganda (unnecessary Roe v Wade commentary in the pilot of HoTD, half of season 3 of For All Mankind) then I will agree. But it is too early to tell yet for this. Also it should be noted that Tolkien in general has really positive themes so a little bit of propaganda might be completely overshadowed by the positive themes of the rest of the show which is a fair tradeoff.

 

[Trunx81]

I have an extremely low tolerance for propaganda but I haven't seen any yet in the previews. What examples do you provide? Just having a multi-racial cast is not propaganda if the actors are good. If the diversity causes the hiring of actors that are bad (half the cast of Foundation) or if the writers go out of their way to write propaganda (unnecessary Roe v Wade commentary in the pilot of HoTD, half of season 3 of For All Mankind) then I will agree. But it is too early to tell yet for this. Also it should be noted that Tolkien in general has really positive themes so a little bit of propaganda might be completely overshadowed by the positive themes of the rest of the show which is a fair tradeoff.

Unless they give Sauron a blonde wig and he talks about the rings as the best deal ever, trust me. The 9 humans though - sad.

 

[sol_bad]

Is there confirmation bias going on in here regarding reviews?

 

[AJUMP23]

Is there confirmation bias going on in here regarding reviews?

Yes

 

[ManaByte]

Is there confirmation bias going on in here regarding reviews?

 

[jason10mm]

Is there confirmation bias going on in here regarding reviews?

No one has seen it here and there are two very different camps for the reviews. How else could it go? Every possible take on this show has a review that supports it.

 

[pramod]

My expectations are so low at this point, if they put in some cool looking Balrogs or giant spiders i might be satisfied.

 

[Konnor]

This CANNOT be real. Tell me this isn't real

 

[Ironbunny]

This CANNOT be real. Tell me this isn't real

Nah I think this is from the advert shoot. The very first teaser was in a different league already. Say what you say about the pronunciation of mordor but I think they are doing it right here. Only Sauron said with the french troath fuckery. Elves used clean R. It actually sounds really finnish to me.

 

[Konnor]

Nah I think this is from the advert shoot. The very first teaser was in a different league already

This monstrosity being an ad is a fucking joke but still, at least it's not as bad as it being an intro.

 

[Ironbunny]

This monstrosity being an ad is a fucking joke but still, at least it's not as bad as it being an intro.

Yea I remember it being some sort of exclusive article shoot. But holy hell if that would be the intro

 

[BadBurger]

This CANNOT be real. Tell me this isn't real

Wow that second dwarf yo. Not sure what the director and actor were going for there. The hobbit-like girl with the leaf on her head. And Galadriel in armor with a sword still looks so silly.

Expectations are going even lower.

 

[Ironbunny]

New 'Lord of the Rings' series brings a female story to the forefront

Clark said her role as Galadriel gave her the opportunity to explore stunts that show off the power of her character behind the backdrop of a historically male-dominated society.

Co-executive producer Patrick McKay said Tolkien has had "some of the greatest female characters in literature" and Galadriel was one of the first characters the creators thought about for the new story.

"Gender just isn't the same in Middle-earth in that I'm playing a character who can physically take down any man around her," Clark said during an interview. "It was really interesting to try to embody someone with a huge amount of physical strength."

Trystan Gravelle who plays Pharazon shared the same sentiment and said he doesn't think there's anyone more "badass on this Earth than a woman."

 

[sol_bad]

Hey look, Rings of Power is better than House of Dragon.

OH EM GEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[Trazyn the Infinite]

This is going to be fucking awful.

 

[ManaByte]

Hey look, Rings of Power is better than House of Dragon.

OH EM GEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[NecrosaroIII]

There isn't really a need to compare HotD and LotR. There is room for both

 

[BadBurger]

There isn't really a need to compare HotD and LotR. There is room for both

It gets clicks. Pretty sure both Amazon and WBD are loving the attention as well.

 

[sol_bad]

There isn't really a need to compare HotD and LotR. There is room for both

I'm just trolling really.

 

[Lord Panda]

We are on the cusp of experiencing the stank for ourselves. But, in all seriousness, at least it's something for the entire family to watch.

 

[Tieno]

I seem to be one of the happy few here to still genuinely be looking forward to this.

 

[BaneIsPain]

Hey look, Rings of Power is better than House of Dragon.

OH EM GEEEEEEEEEEEEE

hahaha I get that you're trolling, but it seems most of the reviews highlighted the strength of ROP, which is visual & sound, which is not surprising as compared to HotD.
In terms of world-building, I expect the similarity which is slow world-building.

In the end, we have to compare the finished product with some adjustments vs the appendix + limited content from first age with invented characters quite frankly, not many would ask and have to invent stories. I mean, if you ask me whether I want to see One-Eyed Aemond or Arondir the lost Silvan Elf, I would choose the former. The weak marketing from ROP doesn't help either.

Not to mention GRRM still advised on the HotD, so that's a plus for the long term.

 

[Lord Panda]

I seem to be one of the happy few here to still genuinely be looking forward to this.

I think most of us are looking forward to it ... and I'm hoping it will be good. I'm also keeping in mind that some shows take a while to find their footing and get going, so that will also temper my expectations as well.

 

[Azurro]

Is there confirmation bias going on in here regarding reviews?

Don't worry kiddo, you will LOVE the show, you love everything. And it definitely isn't a woke nightmare, nah nah, it isn't.

 

[lifa-cobex]

This vid is more about the review sites and not their own opinion....

 

[Tams]

I think most of us are looking forward to it ... and I'm hoping it will be good. I'm also keeping in mind that some shows take a while to find their footing and get going, so that will also temper my expectations as well.

I really don't think most of us are.

A fair few are being open to it, I'll give you that.

I'm not even going to bother watching it, and it's on one of the few streaming platforms I actually bother to subscribe to. Everything so far has suggested this is going to be woke shite.

Plus, it's being been run by two showrunners who have next to nothing to their names, and what they do is pretty shit too.

 

[Ironbunny]

Nerd of the rings gives hes review of the first two episodes. My views have aligned a lot with hes thoughts before so this gives me hope. Its a spoiler free.

 

[FunkMiller]

I really don't think most of us are.

A fair few are being open to it, I'll give you that.

I'm not even going to bother watching it, and it's on one of the few streaming platforms I actually bother to subscribe to. Everything so far has suggested this is going to be woke shite.

Plus, it's being been run by two showrunners who have next to nothing to their names, and what they do is pretty shit too.

To be fair, it seems to be reviewing well with people whose opinions are a little more trustworthy than the opening shills who always get in early. I’m going to give it a go due to what looks like a decent reception.

 

[BadBurger]

Nerd of the rings gives hes review of the first two episodes. My views have aligned a lot with hes thoughts before so this gives me hope. Its a spoiler free.

I follow him too. His review gave me hope that it is at least enjoyable if I can let go of the lore-nerd chimp on my shoulder. It's not like it can get any worse than The Hobbit trilogy right?

 

[DeafTourette]

 

[Ironbunny]

I follow him too. His review gave me hope that it is at least enjoyable if I can let go of the lore-nerd chimp on my shoulder. It's not like it can get any worse than The Hobbit trilogy right?

Well...I dont hate the Hobbit trilogy as for me it has its moments sooo...

 

[FunkMiller]

I follow him too. His review gave me hope that it is at least enjoyable if I can let go of the lore-nerd chimp on my shoulder. It's not like it can get any worse than The Hobbit trilogy right?

*cerseisweetsummerchildgif*

 

[Lord Panda]

I really don't think most of us are.

A fair few are being open to it, I'll give you that.

I'm not even going to bother watching it, and it's on one of the few streaming platforms I actually bother to subscribe to. Everything so far has suggested this is going to be woke shite.

Plus, it's being been run by two showrunners who have next to nothing to their names, and what they do is pretty shit too.

Yep, given the shit that I've seen in the trailers and the marketing ... it's certainly a struggle trying to keep an open mind but I'm trying.

 

[Lasha]

I'd argue in any fantasy epic of this nature, a suitable antagonist is always required. Yes, I'm sure you can tell an effective small scale drama about the relationship between the elves and man, or a fascinating kitchen sink drama about hobbit politics... but if you're going to write a fantasy novel/tv show/ movie, you need a well fleshed out antagonist(s).

Lord of the Rings is an example of a good fantasy work without a tangible protagonist. Sauron never shows up in the books. The "eye of sauron" is a gestalt of his various spheres of influence. Sauron is basically an abstraction rather than an actual antagonist.

 

[Pegasus Actual]

If it turns out that this show is more marvel capeshit in a LoTR paint, I will be pissed. But that author hates Altered Carbon (season 1 was amazing) so his/her judgement is highly questionable.

I liked S1 of Altered Carbon a lot. I dropped S2 completely somewhere during the premiere though, I don't even remember why, but it takes a lot for me to drop a show so it must have been absolutely terrible

 

[jason10mm]

There isn't really a need to compare HotD and LotR. There is room for both

Nay! LET THEM FIGHT!

 

[jason10mm]

"Gender just isn't the same in Middle-earth in that I'm playing a character who can physically take down any man around her," Clark said during an interview. "It was really interesting to try to embody someone with a huge amount of physical strength."

See, this sort of shit drives me nuts. It's so sexist but no one ever says anything. It's like saying "I'm playing a white basketball player that can beat any black player around me" or "I'm a British cook that can make a sauce better than the French chefs".

Honey, if you can only describe yourself as strong by talking about another group,....you ain't strong.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Nerdrotic really didn't like it, shocking I know, but he and Grace Randolph seem in line to point out that Galadriel is the weakest part so far with the latter describing her as a Mary Sue and a Karen.

 

[Bragr]

Lord of the Rings is an example of a good fantasy work without a tangible protagonist. Sauron never shows up in the books. The "eye of sauron" is a gestalt of his various spheres of influence. Sauron is basically an abstraction rather than an actual antagonist.

The ring is the protagonist.

 

[Lasha]

The ring is the protagonist.

*antagonist my bad

 

[VN1X]

I have an extremely low tolerance for propaganda but I haven't seen any yet in the previews. What examples do you provide? Just having a multi-racial cast is not propaganda if the actors are good. If the diversity causes the hiring of actors that are bad (half the cast of Foundation) or if the writers go out of their way to write propaganda (unnecessary Roe v Wade commentary in the pilot of HoTD, half of season 3 of For All Mankind) then I will agree. But it is too early to tell yet for this. Also it should be noted that Tolkien in general has really positive themes so a little bit of propaganda might be completely overshadowed by the positive themes of the rest of the show which is a fair tradeoff.

No one is saying anything about Don Lemon as an Elf or any of that other superficial skin-deep (ha!) stuff.

It's about the complete subversion of the work of Tolkien while injecting it with intersectional-feminist nonsense and current day politics. I don't even know where to begin with the amount of virtue signalling this show has already produced and it's not even out yet!

 

[FunkMiller]

Lord of the Rings is an example of a good fantasy work without a tangible protagonist. Sauron never shows up in the books. The "eye of sauron" is a gestalt of his various spheres of influence. Sauron is basically an abstraction rather than an actual antagonist.

Firstly... antagonist, not protagonist.

Secondly, the book is called Lord Of The Rings.

Your basic argument is that a book that names itself after its antagonist, doesn't have an antagonist.

It's not the strongest argument ever made, to be honest.

 

[DKehoe]

This CANNOT be real. Tell me this isn't real

The Entertainment Weekly logo in the corner makes me wonder if it's just material from a promotional photoshoot?

 

[ManaByte]

It's not like it can get any worse than The Hobbit trilogy right?

As long as they don't show the 9 dying and being buried like Jackson did in The Hobbit.

 

[Lasha]

Firstly... antagonist, not protagonist.

Secondly, the book is called Lord Of The Rings.

Your basic argument is that a book that names itself after its antagonist, doesn't have an antagonist.

It's not the strongest argument ever made, to be honest.

If you couldn't read a few comments down to see that somebody else already made that comment then how can I trust that you actually read the books? I wrote that Sauron isn't a defined tangible antagonist. His physical form isn't even discussed except when Gollum acknowledged that Sauron only has four fingers. The main characters of the story (Sam and Frodo) complete their goal without being noticed by Sauron. What makes you think Sauron is tangible?

 

[FunkMiller]

If you couldn't read a few comments down to see that somebody else already made that comment then how can I trust that you actually read the books? I wrote that Sauron isn't a defined tangible antagonist. His physical form isn't even discussed except when Gollum acknowledged that Sauron only has four fingers. The main characters of the story (Sam and Frodo) complete their goal without being noticed by Sauron. What makes you think Sauron is tangible?

By tangible, do you actually mean ‘physically present’? Because they‘re not necessarily the same thing.

Sauron is very much the tangible antagonist of Lord Of The Rings. Just because Aragorn doesn’t poke him up the arse with Anduril doesn’t mean he’s isn’t.

 

[AJUMP23]

Today is the day!

 

[Ironbunny]

Today is the day!

You mean tomorrow?

 

[Javthusiast]

I am ready.

 

[AJUMP23]

You mean tomorrow?

Sept 1, 9pm. TODAY