re: Objectively speaking, Rings of Power is just a horrendous show

You’re arguing just for the sake of argument.

There’s enough material about the Southlands, the true Southlands and not the garbage that’s in the show, to build upon and make a connective and coherent backstory.

Who came up with this idea of calling the land west and north west of Minas Tirith, “the Southlands“?

That’s as retarded as people walking into a pyroclastic flow and not even singeing their hair. Trees catch on fire, saddles burst into flames on horses, yet the horses themselves are just fine? Goddamn, the show writing is pathetic.

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not hard to like the show. It’s not perfect but it is enjoyable and getting better every episode.

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There’s a tempest in you

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So, care to lay out what is so hyper-woke about this show?

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I will bite here but I have never been one to use the word woke.

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I mean, the complaints about the timeline condensation are valid, if necessary. They're trying to hit a few big points in the Second Age,

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Time line I have no issue with for the most part except you are wrong in regards to hitting the high points of the Second Age. The Balrog in the mines does not awake until the Third Age for starters.

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while in Tolkien's writings

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Lets stop there in regards to this argument and understand Amazon created a series based on Jackson's version of Tolkien history not what Tolkien wrote himself. Makes sense you have a well established trilogy that was great that the majority of the viewers never read the books, which is alright and I have no issue with. Amazon was smart to focus what has already worked with Tolkien on the screen.

The issue I have is Amazon's inability to create something new and help bring onto the screen more of Tolkien's world. They are only piggy backing on what Jackson did and nothing more for the most part.

Every major plot point in the series so far was in the trilogy with the exception of a few things and a few new characters. This show is not able to stand on its own without Jackson's version of Middle Earth.

Even the Númenóreans would draw no real interest for the non book reader unless you forget about the timeline and insert Islidur 1000s of years early because they would not have a clue or care about them. But Jackson introduced him to everyone in the films and those viewers understand his importance in regards to Aragon and the role he played with the ring. Now outside of a beautifully well done depiction of the their land/city they have a connection with LOTR.

Moria and the story arc of Durin and Elrond I really like in the series but the Balrog is a huge story point in LOTR and now helps makes Moria that all more interesting for viewers because of the connection in LOTR.

The timeline crunch seems has more to do with connecting the series to the viewers of LOTR.

The only time Amazon has shown any originality in the show is adding a few story arcs/characters that are of interest like Adar and the creation of Mordor. If the Stranger becomes Gandalf like a lot believe just another example of Amazon using Jackson's LOTR to get viewers. They have an opportunity to create here since the history of the Second Age is basically untold but I fear they will miss this opportunity.

One of their big attempts to be original was the back story of mithril and the relationship to the Elves. I understand they are trying to connect dots here but that was a flop, at least for me.

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Is it the casting of a few black characters?

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I understand this as Amazon is trying to expand viewership. A demographic that LOTR was not strong with. The only woke part in regards to this was their panel with fake super fans to market it and it failed. Overall I have no issues with this and actually think they are some of the best characters in the series among all the races.

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Is it the strong women leadership?

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This is another attempt by Amazon to expand viewership beyond LOTR on the screen. Another demographic that was not the highest.

Yes are they trying to portray women can be strong and if denying their attempt to do so you would be blind. In LOTR Aragon was the one that would unite the people including Rohan and Gondor. So in this show we switch in Galadriel for that role. But it is her portrayal that makes her unlikable not her being the hero. Her motivation to seek out evil is the death of her brother not her husband. Why because if she was seeking revenge for her husband it would show weakness as an emotional woman scorned with hate for those that killed the man she loved. The history on screen in every genre shows seeking revenge for a sibling is something a man would do for the most part. But a woman seeking it for her husband is usually reckless. Not saying woman can not do as a man but on the screen usually not portrayed the same.

Now with the news of her husband being thought dead and not the fuel that supports her motives it makes her look strong showing that she can continue to be great even with the loss of her husband where in today's society the impression of a women would be crushed, needing meds, and on a social network seeking support. So understand Amazon's motive here and now will allow another story point moving forward where she can once again be the hero and save her husband which I feel he is not dead and will happen in season 2 or 3.

Now for a book reader this is a bad take because their love was so strong in Tolkien's writing she even forsake her own kin to leave with him. So her not attempting to seek him out and just he is dead even though she has traveled to the ends of Middle Earth for revenge on her brother is hard to buy.

Again I have no issue with her being the hero of the series but the writing for her character has made her very unlikable even for the non book readers.

Brownyn I can buy because this genre has always been known that healers garner a lot of respect and even in the real world in our history this is the case. So it works for me.

Now I do find it amusing and I may be wrong here that Amazon knowing what most viewers of not only the LOTR movies but even book readers that the real heroes of the trilogy were Frodo and Sam who were very simple Hobbits that enjoyed peace and happiness. But Frodo had the urge to explore and wanted more than what the Shire offered but needed a nudge. Not much different than, you guessed it, Nori and Poopy. Nori the adventurist looking for more like Frodo, and Poppy the one not wanting to stir the pot but will provide a undying loyalty to her friend Nori just like Sam.

Again my interpretation with those two so who knows but as you have mentioned laid out perfect to look like it.

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Arondir is an Elven warrior trying to keep the orcs from wiping out defenseless villagers, while being enamored with an attractive woman

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I will buy this a lot easier than a Dwarf and Elf in the Hobbit.

So in regards to Amazon I understand they are trying to draw in more demographics to gain more viewers. Maybe it will help green light more screen time for future Tolkien story's but I do not see it being woke, if anything they are exploiting the current political culture. I doubt Bezos could care less about any demographic unless it helps lines his pockets.

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This is the problem with reading press releases and watching YouTube channels and not watching the show.

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Did Galadriel jump off a ship off the coast of Valinor and try to swim back 3,000 miles to Middle Earth? Because if so, this show is fricking retarded.

Anyone claiming that the show “isn’t that bad” is either a homer in denial or your typical average joe with low standards and poor taste.

This show is a failure it is unanimous amongst the viewership.

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Wasn't replying to you, Sammy.

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Binger. His name is Binger.

Food and Drink Board is nice

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and the scenes of Galadriel stumbling through the wreckage were good and provided a lot of real semblance of the horror of what happened

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I really liked the part where she walks by dying people screaming for help only to see someone she barely knows and just fricks off leaving everyone else to fend for themselves.

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I'll bet top dollar that the idiots at Amazon didn't even realize that Celeborn WAS her husband, and that Arwen was Galadriel's granddaughter.

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I bet they forgot until someone during the Sauron flirty scene asked hey isn’t she married? when they test screened it. So they had to add in the oh yeah I have a potentially dead husband that I’m not going to bother looking for during reshoots