Spoilers Rings of Power is back!

[Dire Bare]

Which makes them a lot less appealing to watch.

That, and it's suffering in the same way as the prequel trilogy - seeing everything inevitably go wrong isn't nearly as fun as seeing things improbably go right.

Eh, tragedy is a genre too. Not everybody enjoys it, which is okay . . . but I'm enjoying the hell out of Rings of Power!

 

[Nikosandros]

Eh, tragedy is a genre too. Not everybody enjoys it, which is okay . . . but I'm enjoying the hell out of Rings of Power!

I'm not such a strong fan of the series, but the whole of Tolkien work is very tragic. Even LoTR, with the victory of good and the destruction of Sauron, still has a lot of sadness. The three elven rings lose their power and the elves must leave Middle Earth or fade.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm not such a strong fan of the series, but the whole of Tolkien work is very tragic. Even LoTR, with the victory of good and the destruction of Sauron, still has a lot of sadness. The three elven rings lose their power and the elves must leave Middle Earth or fade.

And Frodo is ultimately broken by saving Middle Earth, which is probably as close as JRRT could come to talking about PTSD and the effects of war on veterans.

 

[MarkB]

Eh, tragedy is a genre too. Not everybody enjoys it, which is okay . . . but I'm enjoying the hell out of Rings of Power!

I don't mind a tragedy, or a villain protagonist story, I just don't think it's being pulled off too well, at least in this last episode. Look at, say, Avengers Infinity War - total villain protagonist story, but he's having to overcome the odds against powerful and competent foes, not merely give them a gentle push toward their own self-destruction.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don't mind a tragedy, or a villain protagonist story, I just don't think it's being pulled off too well, at least in this last episode. Look at, say, Avengers Infinity War - total villain protagonist story, but he's having to overcome the odds against powerful and competent foes, not merely give them a gentle push toward their own self-destruction.

Who, Thanos? All that happens is both sides try to punch the snot out of each other. They are all dumb as bricks.

 

[Morrus]

If you want a story about heroic characters battling evil, this isn't the show. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Sauron wins this one due to the flaws of the men, elves and dwarves--that's the whole point. Then there's the rallying and they all come together and manage to spank him in a big battle. At least, until Bilbo finds the One Ring, centuries later. That's the story.

If folks are looking for a story about heroic and competent heroes standing against evil all competently and stuff, maybe the "How Sauron corrupted the weak, flawed races and achieved dominion over them" show isn't the one you're looking for?

I kind think folks need to buy into the premise. It's a show about how the events of LotR came about... and that wasn't due to heroism and competence. If that's not the story you want to hear, then this really isn't the right show for you.

Also, why does everybody want their protagonists to be Vulcans? Shows featuring only perfectly logical competent people sound pretty boring.

 

[Kaodi]

If you want a story about heroic characters battling evil, this isn't the show.

I am not sure I understand this point. Why do you have to win to be considered heroic?

 

[Dire Bare]

If you want a story about heroic characters battling evil, this isn't the show. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Sauron wins this one due to the flaws of the men, elves and dwarves--that's the whole point. Then there's the rallying and they all come together and manage to spank him in a big battle. At least, until Bilbo finds the One Ring, centuries later. That's the story.

If folks are looking for a story about heroic and competent heroes standing against evil all competently and stuff, maybe the "How Sauron corrupted the weak, flawed races and achieved dominion over them" show isn't the one you're looking for?

I kind think folks need to buy into the premise. It's a show about how the events of LotR came about... and that wasn't due to heroism and competence. If that's not the story you want to hear, then this really isn't the right show for you.

Also, why does everybody want their protagonists to be Vulcans? Shows featuring only perfectly logical competent people sound pretty boring.

I'm mostly with you, but I wouldn't say this story doesn't have its heroes . . .

We definitely have heroes in this story. Tragic, flawed heroes, but heroes. With the elves we have Galadriel and Arondir. The dwarves we have Durin the Younger and his wife Disa. All of the hobbits, especially Nori and Poppy, and their Istari friend the Grand-elf.

Lots of competence also . . . especially some bad-ass fight scenes for the elven heroes that would make Legolas blush.

In real life, we humans, even the best of us, are flawed and make terrible . . . "dumb" . . . decisions. In some fantastic stories, sometimes the heroes are unrealistically free (or nearly so) of flaws. The Fellowship in Jackson's films were like this, except perhaps the hobbits and Boromir. This fantasy story has heroes, but more grounded in the sense they are mortal and flawed.

We even get some good anti-heroes in Adar . . . and even Sauron himself, if you look at things from his warped perspective.

I like it.

 

[Zardnaar]

At least the plot makes sense. E5 was OK better without the Hobbits. Sauron thing is fine ending with Adar wanna know more.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

At least the plot makes sense. E5 was OK better without the Hobbits. Sauron thing is fine ending with Adar wanna know more.

The “rise of the hobbits” storyline exists as a counterpoint to the rise of Sauron. Sauron cannot be defeated with power, because he can always corrupt power. Sauron can only be defeated by little folk who have no desire for power. This is straight from the book.