Read the first ten chapters of Bonesong for free! www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0DC3J555G
@gorcrow
Күн бұрын
I fully believe, after taking into consideration all the facts, that this show was storyboarded not as a series of coherent events - but rather as a collection of random "wouldn't a shot of XYZ happening be cool?" events that the writers then tripped over themselves trying to interlace. Instead of constructing a coherent script where actions lead to consequences, the writers instead came up with the "consequences" first and then huffed a bunch of model airplane glue in an attempt to paste it all together. Example: "wouldn't it be great to have a scene of a lone Dwarven badass charging a Balrog??" "Whoa, you're right! That would be amazing! *snort* Let's film it!" "Wait... shouldn't we figure out how to get to that point narratively, first? You know, in a logical manner, according to what reason might dictate?" "*snort*... ahhh, we'll figure it out as we go along, don't sweat it. It's a sword and sandle kid's show, who cares?"
@XraynPR
Күн бұрын
that one sole dwarve that himself dug to deep and greedily, awakening an .. already awake Balrog? Dude was just miffed he got screamed at by clumsy dwarf lady.
@stue2298
Күн бұрын
I agree, they have taken scenes from other movies and try and work it into the show, but without understanding why this scene worked in the orginal. Too much pay off with little or no set up. This a problem of writing by committee, too many people who have creative input, which leads to an incoherent mess of a narrative.
@brothatisfunny
Күн бұрын
Same applies with a bunch of member berries. Member this phrase? Member Durin's door? Member Shelob?
@XraynPR
Күн бұрын
@@brothatisfunny they stole so many phrases its not even funny
@moon-moth1
10 сағат бұрын
That is exactly what happened, it seems. Amazon execs had a loooong list of "cool trailer moments" and easy memberberries to bait people's nostalgia for LOTR, and demanded from the writers to put them in the show, no matter how much the story had to be warped to fit these moments.
@scottmusgrave5735
Күн бұрын
You are so patient. Just say it. The show is complete garbage and their storytelling is on level with a grade 2 storyteller.
@tylerskiss
Күн бұрын
☝️
@svensmith1991
Күн бұрын
I think you're being a little unfair...... On grade2 storytellers
@moon-moth1
10 сағат бұрын
The show isn't complete garbage, if you pretend the lore doesn't exist. The acting overall is good to even great, the set design, costuming etc. overall looks good. It's the _abismal_ writing that undermines it all. It's so bad it's baffling.
@svensmith1991
Сағат бұрын
@moon-moth1 while I will say that the writing is by orders of magnitude the biggest problem this show has I would say the costumes are not great the printed armour and larp swords take you straight out of the story and I think the actors are trying they best with bad material but some are just not good which makes the whole show worst when you have bad actors delivering bad lines
@noneofyourbusiness2133
Күн бұрын
They don't know how to make you care about what are clearly supposed to powerful emotional moments. For example, when Elrond's horse died, they spent ages focusing on Elrond. Horses dying is sad, but did it have a name? Had he ridden it before? Was it his horse, or just a random one he'd picked out of the stable? They could have shown it when he travelled to the dwarves. Dismounted, a pat on the head, "Good boy, Shergar. Wait here, I'll be back soon". Nope, Elrond seems to have walked there. When he went on the journey with Galadriel it would have been another chance to show his affection for his horse, but no, they walked. When he took the ring - have him escape on his horse, not jump off a cliff. So many small opportunities to build up a relationship so that the audience could have felt his sorrow when it was killed, but none were taken.
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Yes! That is a micro example of a prevalent issue. They rush to the emotional payoffs without earning them, so they consistently feel hollow.
@junibacken729
Күн бұрын
Also, during his 1000s years of life he must have seen countless horses die from old age. So a bit overdramatic?
@moon-moth1
10 сағат бұрын
All I could think of tbh was that a horse bleeding out from a deep arterial cut would look a LOT messier than this very clean, very quietly dying horse.
@fantasywind3923
2 сағат бұрын
It's especially important with the Elves, as they have special bond with their horses (well the Numenoreans also had but it's besides the point :)) I mean Glorfindel had his Asfaloth the most famous elven horse basically :) Glorfindel and Asfaloth have deep bond, he talks to it etc. Elves in general have kindness towards all beasts and living things, it should be SHOWN in the tv show! So right you are!!
@jswap1
Күн бұрын
You seem able to keep a cool head about the show even as the showrunners intentionally irritate Tolkien fans. That is something I cannot do.
@Perry_Wolf
Күн бұрын
Aaah, Eregion, the ever changing city, (from season to season and episode to episode), that can grow a wall from nothing, conveniently, just before a massive army of orcs show up, without even knowing they were coming. With walls strong enough to easily shrug off a trebuchet hit, from the same trebuchet that could take down an entire mountain. That was home to a few dozen elves, elves of wisdom and creation, thousands of years old, who panic in the streets at the mere sight of orcs! Exactly how you'd imagine immortal elves behaving! Aaah, Celebrimbor, the Master Smith, who never thought of an alloy before Halbrand, the Unknown, showed up. Who, in his infinite wisdom, built a convoluted system to pour molten metal into tiny ingots, that in any other place other than Eregion, would've cooled down the metal too much as it flowed through lengthy channels, and wouldn't likely be molten by the time it reached the ingot mold. Aaah, Elrond, who can travel instantly between cities until the tension needs to build, then takes countless days journeying on foot, when horses are readily available. Aaah, Galadriel, who will climb treacherous icy cliffs to reach Sauron's northern abode, even though a kindly lady can simply drive by in a wagon cart, meaning accessible roads were available to traverse instead. No wonder her elven contingent mutinied. Galadriel, who barely survives being stabbed by a crown, but completely shrugs off a fall of thousands of feet. Aaah, the Elven cavalry, charging gloriously into battle, only to stop at the sight of one orc holding a spear the Galadriel's neck, only because she was leaning forward. A charge that would have obliterated said such orc before he had a chance to act. Then send the Herald, not their King, into negotiations with Adar, the Orc Father, who cares not for his orcs, but pretends to. Aaah, the Orcs, who constantly plead with Adar for peace, so they can be with their families. Who are convinced they must destroy Sauron in order to obtain their freedom, and will fight elves to do it. Who, in their entirety, without communication, swap sides to fight for Sauron simply because a few of them met him and witnessed Glug's demise. What silly fickle creatures, those orcs! Aaah, Numenoreans, who upon seeing a single elf show up on their shores, the first in hundreds of years, immediately form a disgruntled mob in fear of the elves...er...the elf, taking ALL of their jobs! But then immediately are happy and willing to sacrifice themselves in battle across the seas for said elf, because Pharazôn easily placates their fears with readily available wine they have standing by to quell any mob! "Drinks for all!". I could go on, but I lost steam through depression of thinking on the bad writing of this series....
@TheJmlew11
Күн бұрын
I recently watched an interview with the showrunners. It quickly explained everything. They had no idea fans would react negatively to the Galadriel and Elrond kiss, and they openly admitted to not having a big picture plan multiple times.
@ikmor
Күн бұрын
Because they're idiots. -_-
@Oakleaf012
Күн бұрын
Them not having a plan when they set up FIVE SEASONS based on some of the most intricately plotted source material boggles my mind. Just. Why. Did we learn nothing from the star wars sequels???
@junibacken729
Күн бұрын
I mean, they could have used the source material as the big picture plan. But that would have been to easy I guess.
@Frankje01
23 сағат бұрын
@@junibacken729 damn PJ, took the easy way out...what a bitch
@davesilkstone6912
Күн бұрын
Hiring these writers for RoP was like hiring someone that has helped install dry-wall to build a house.
@RelivingHistory1
Күн бұрын
this is what happens when you put diversity quotas 👍
@GrahamCStrouse
12 сағат бұрын
@@RelivingHistory1The Show runners are white guys, Little Dong.
@Flinsenberger101
Күн бұрын
"You adapt something that i love, in a way that makes me angry". Plus a frustrated half-smile and a shrug. My feeling for the last 6 years. And the reason why i stopped watching Rings of Power 20 minutes into the first episode. What boggles my mind is: There is a huge treasure trove of stories that have not been told by Tolkien or put to screen. You could make seasons upon season of high quality shows. Just by adapting the stories, and using the vast freedoms the source material gives to add personal and unique touches. Instead the whole Amazon endeavour reminds me of the movie "The Majestic". Where a producer says "Can we put a dog in it? People love dogs." And that's how we ended up with Gandalf, female Frodo/Sam and the Balrog in Rings of Power. Lazy production, bad storytelling, no respect for the source material. What I'd like to see: 2nd age / 3rd age - How did the elves find out about the One Ring? - The making of the Rings of Power - The fall of Arnor and Rise and Fall of Angmar - Fall of Numenor - Dwarven fates, like the awakening of the Balrog, the fall of Gundabad and Khazad-Dum - The dwarves and their kingdoms and how the rings led to their downfall - Men becoming Nazgul - Stories of Thror and Thrain, and Erebor - Amroth and Nimrodel - The whole Silmarillion - awakening of the elves and their move to Valinor - theft of the Silmaril and the darkening of Valinor - Oath of Feanor, Aqualonde and the kingdoms of the Noldor - The stories of Hurin and Turin - Luthien and Beren - Ruin of Doriath - Earendil and Elwing
@Frankje01
Күн бұрын
You are completely correct. These "writers" seem to have no clue what an actual story is. They just went with some loose events and poured trilogy and hobbit references over them and called it a day. It's pathetic. What makes me even mroe sad is that plenty of people seem to enjoy this show, this makes the chance of us getting the stories told on screen that we actually want even less!!
@Invicta707
19 сағат бұрын
The show was made to make money. The list you made has no recognizable characters that sell Amazon prime subs
@Flinsenberger101
10 сағат бұрын
@@Invicta707 I disagree. From that point of view there could never be a new character. And "House of the Dragon" would be doomed to fail, because there are no recognizable characters. There are enough interesting characters in the Silmarillion. Feanor and his sons, Hurin & Turin, Thingol and Melian, Beren/Luthien & Huan, Earendil, Turgon, Morgoth, Sauron, Gothmog, Glaurung, Draugluin, Maeglin/Eol... Enough material to work with.
@Frankje01
5 сағат бұрын
@@Invicta707 this is just nonsense, GoT wasn't known to anybody but bookfans.Good shows create their following, they don't need one if the material is actually good. What you're describing is a bad show.
@Invicta707
Сағат бұрын
@@Flinsenberger101 yall are insanely crazy if you don’t think AMAZON the biggest corpo in the world was dead set on making money (prime subs) off the show and could care less how good the show is. If you have a prime sub you’re more likely to use it to buy stuff off amazon. Idk seems like something Amazon would do to me. HBO and GoT pales in comparison to what Amazon is as a company. You can’t even compare them
@Stratocumulus25
Күн бұрын
Congrats on getting monetized...loved your content and thank you for taking the bullet on watching the show for me.
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Thank you so much for watching me eat that bullet:)
@Karras353
Күн бұрын
I think if they get to make them, the next 3 seasons are going to include a truly staggering amount of padding. I mean, they need to have Numenor flooded and found the kingdom of Gondor at some point. So probably expect Elendil to rally the refugees from Numeor and that one village, with Gondor having a population of about 100 at best until the plot needs it to look bigger. But they've already made the rings, which are demonstrably corrupting from the moment that they are put on. Potentially the nine even turn the wearer invisible immediately. So expect a lot of gaslighting and plot contrivances to convince dwarves and men that they are safe to wear. I guess they are going to build Rivendell? Then at the end of season 5 we will probably get about 50 or so extras fighting on the slope of a volcano, likely with Galadriel back in armour and shoehorned into the battle. At a guess the premature inclusion of Gandalf will continue to be pointless, with him either being given more silly fetch quests and/or involved in founding the Shire, so as to keep him out of the way of history.
@jamessimon3433
Күн бұрын
Its not bias. You are correct. One should feel the emotion when a city falls. One thing i got from the books is that the cities are these bastions and refuges. Symbols even. Theres a strong connection. Im glad to see someone acknowledging the creative vindictive moraise so prevalent in modern storytelling. I try to point it out to people but they deny it. Its terrible and wasteful.
@sinseer9419
Күн бұрын
Happy for your growing success! Keep up the good work.
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Thank you!
@bubblehulk7647
Күн бұрын
Nori: I should give myself up to save everyone. Poppy: I say we should FIGHT. *dramatic music plays* Next scene: they’re both captured and they apparently didn’t fight at all. Aight. Stranger, who doesn’t know where Nori and Poppy are is trying to figure out what to do. Next scene: he somehow found the Stoor’s village and wanders in. 🤷♂️
@bobcunningham9590
22 сағат бұрын
I love your reviews. Your emotional reactions come across as very authentic, which allows what you're saying to more effectively connect to my own reactions on that same emotional level. ROP is frustrating. And that comes through clearly from your delivery. But, more deeply, it is heartbreaking. That also comes through. And, feeling your own heartbreak helped me realize that underlying all my snark and resentment towards the creators, it's that heartbreak in me that's driving the intensity of my reaction.
@moon-moth1
10 сағат бұрын
This. It makes me so sad to see such high-end production values, so many great actors, overall great set design, wonderful soundtrack, all bogged down completely by atrociously contrived, nonsensical writing. THis show had ALL the potential, even with copyright restrictions. And abismal writing ruined it all.
@deanzaZZR
Күн бұрын
Thankfully we will get a break for a year or two. I will tune in once again for season 3 largely because of videos like this which are both interesting/funny and also discuss Tolkien lore.
@artamir6605
Күн бұрын
Thank you very much for this series. It's been probably the best review series on RoP i have found. Because while you do share your anger and frustration, it's not exaggerated for the camera. And you do stay away from political statements regarding this show, which is rare. I find the flaws in its writing and production much more relevant than any other topics.
@carolinecolbert5692
Күн бұрын
I feel like they have a pattern of making interesting stuff happen off screen. A few examples. I would love to see Elrond actually help Galadriel with the ring. The fact that he was willing to use the ring was huge for his character arch, but we don't even get to see him actually DO IT. For this reason I might forget that he did make that decision. King Durin apparently goes bezerk. We don't get to see that. In my judgement of his mom character, attacking his own people doesn't really enter the equation because I don't believe he actually did that. If they showed a shot of him going bezerk I would be a lot more worried for Durin when they have their confrontation and appreciate King Durins redemption. Gandalf leaves Tom and finds Nori, off screen. How? Does he have tracking abilities? I wish to have seen the extent he went to to find Nori. It seems like all he had to do was just decide he was going to find her. It would be much more impactful if we saw a little bit of th effort he put in. I don't think they are actually good friends. If we saw his efforts to find her I might buy it more. Why do they skip the important stuff?
@carolinecolbert5692
Күн бұрын
Moral character not mom character
@VidZero
21 сағат бұрын
I feel your pain, but it was also cathartic to share that pain with you. Thanks for doing this series, you covered all the points of contention really well I would say. Can't wait to see Rohirrim review when that comes out. :3
@AlaniTheScriptMage
12 сағат бұрын
I'm happy to provide some catharsis:)
@VidZero
11 сағат бұрын
@@AlaniTheScriptMage I think its your tone during the whole thing that really resonated with me. It was just a tone of utter disappointment at the massive missed opportunity lol.
@shawnshawn6134
Күн бұрын
I miss youtube being more like this. awesome discussions!
@ItchofCuriosity
Күн бұрын
Your videos I decided to read all of Lord of the Rings books,
@matteofurlotti6211
Күн бұрын
The sea is always right
@vandrar3n
Күн бұрын
The sea is always right!!!
@anthonybernacchi2732
Күн бұрын
@@vandrar3n Khazad-...
@XraynPR
Күн бұрын
Now this is some strong gravy!
@MannyBrum
Күн бұрын
I showed RoP to the sea and it didn't seem impressed either.
@matteofurlotti6211
Күн бұрын
@@MannyBrum it's probably because you didn't give it the meat raw enough
@Makkaru112
23 сағат бұрын
Amazon waited until Christopher Tolkien died early in the production of its DumpsterFire (before they went against what they promised), his "demand" was that Amazon could use the Appendices to make the show, but they couldn't change the lore. As soon as Christopher died, Amazon delayed the show for reshoots, fired Tom Shippey who was the lead Tolkien scholar & friend of Tolkien himself; they wanted Jackson on the team. PeterJackson asked for the scripts then they ghosted him. Then later when asked about it he basically told them good luck.. You can blame this garbage show on Simon Tolkien (who Amazon used to get around all the laws and protections set around the estate and JRR Tolkien’s legacy), its stink doesn't reach Christopher. Firstly: they merge events (from thousands of years of history & build up towards several events but puts them all into one moment as if it’s happening in the same few years without time jumps or anything.) Guyladriel the murderous one dimensional girlboss heroine version of Galadriel never met Miriel(one of Aragorn’s ancestors) because, as an elf, she would have been sacrificed to Morgoth by the King's Men. The hobbits and Gandalf never met in the 2nd Age because Gandalf was in Valinor till the 3rd Age. Miriel wasn’t even born yet. She was born 2000 years before the rings of power era. A precursor to other events to come in later ages. Also Elendil would never say “forget the past and toss it aside.” That’s the whole thing about the Faithful Númenoreans!!! Faithfulness to what’s good. To their elf friends. To the Valar, to Eru Îlluvatar(The One AllFather), The way Galadriel acts like Fëanor when he isn’t seeing straight such as how she threatened bloodshed in the highest court of Númenor! The way she isn’t tall, the way she fights rookies doesn’t make her look strong. Should have had her spar with Elendil who was greater than Miriel in many ways even as far as lineage goes too! (Canon has her as a grandson or son so…) Have her spar with those greater Numenoreans and let the rookies laugh at their masters being vested by an elf woman holding back from actually hurting them! Now that’d be cool. (Remember. Their whole mantra was to write the book Tolkien never wrote”. Also watch them fake super fans. And then watch their social media that had nothing Tolkien on it ever. Like…. It’s painfully obvious what’s going on here. Same formula towards other titles. They’re just trying to bank on the brand of which that’s the only reason they did this. Just watch Peter Jackson’s new movie coming out and the War of the Rohirim. You’ll see that Brian Cox is involved In it along with Philipa Boyens as well as Actor for Èowyn named Miranda Otto. Fran Walsh I also believe is Involved as well! Watch George The Giant Slayer’s first video regarding the war of the rohirrim. It was beautiful. And he has a wonderful soul too. When I say first video. I don’t mean very first uploaded video though lol. ) There was also no Adar. No poppy. No Nori. No fake Gandalf who literally didn’t come the way he was supposed to which introduces Círdan. And since they screwed up the themes and lore so badly they have to dig in their heels. & they are also being sued by multiple people and groups and companies actually. The 3 rings were forged after the 1 ring, not first. They were not in his sights or touch nor did he even know about them. And also guyladriel wasn’t a murderous Fëanorean either. But the note of the elven rings: They were made last and without the knowledge of Sauron. His touch never got to them, nor his malice poured into them. Made in secret so that whole story is thrown out the window as well. And making them first and having the obvious Sauron figure who wasn’t an elf to just be there when they’re making them and have his eye show up in the forge which wasn’t even the worst of it. The greatest of elven smiths still around which is Celebrimbor doesn’t even know what alloying is. Not to mention all their environmental scandals on top of bad CGI stuff. Full of copy past crowds (I wish I was joking), and plagiarism of several films up the wazoo. It’s also getting sued by several people and groups. So many 1 to 1 shots of season 1 and game of thrones and other films that it’s not even funny anymore lol. I’ll also remind you that they just ran an old sick horse til it died of cardiac arrest and then only had a ten min coffee break to loosely honour this horse. Not to mention Tolkien loved animals in a deep way. They also have been causing environmental damage one of which being King Charles ancient forest to make a set. It’s scandal after scandal. And the fire in studio that took four hours to put out with firemen for yet another example. (Note; Isildur being on this show in the timeline these hazily depicted events would mean Isildur is over 3000 years old by the time of the last alliance that began the third age when it ended. Lol. That doesn’t make sense now does it?). So many people made videos over the last two or three years alone regarding the series got them to read the books and then they got very confused first. Then upset when they found out that nothing of the show was I. The books at all. Only twisted and warped things full of inserted politics and themes that Tolkien was no fan of. PS they don’t have the rights to the Silmarillion nor anything much of the second age let alone the first. Only the trilogy books and their appendices…. Remember that they also plagiarized tonnes of films in nontasteful instead of true a homage way… “tempest in me” but when threatening Fëanorean level bloodshed in the court of Númenor was from Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth role which was done with grace and poise of a veteran actress(which doesn’t even sound like anything those of the great chill house of Finarfin would even act like. Again it’d be best to put Elrond there due to Elros. But ooook let’s make girlboss do everything. Even if it continues to make zero sense. 😍 fact they downplayed Elendil who’d never say to “forget the past”, Gil-Galad and Finrod is beyond infuriating and not explaining Elwing, Elronds mother beyond just showing her as a swan was pure LOLism. Like. What’s worse is Grandpabimbor…. Let’s not forget good ol’ Guyladriel either. The LOTR version of Star Wars’ Rey! Guyladriel the Female Fëanor without any of his charms and subtleties and wit… just the bloody violent rages… They lost alot of viewers after their bait and switch behaviour. Hundreds reported shenanigans on their app where it’d force you to watch and episode twice in variously described circumstances. Bribed people left and right with things like that screening. Even the official critics fell asleep. Many longtime film analysts along with actors and film students/professionals give basic criticism and in depth look at the editing and so forth which causes it to fall flat on its face. Abandons plot left and right. Full of member berries. Just because we got fake Tom Bombadil doesn’t mean we’ll flip onto our backs to play with the jingling keys. Balrog wasn’t awoken until thousands of years later. They’re horridly depicted scenarios which often aren’t canon: were separated by hundreds of years. Some of them by thousands. Not cool. Amazon is known to be corrupt.
@anthonybernacchi2732
Күн бұрын
As I've said before, Isildur's love life is important because, if this show is going to bear even the slightest resemblance to Tolkien canon, Isildur has to get laid at least once before the end of Season 5. Also, as profoundly stupid as this would be in comparison to Tolkien's careful development of names and languages, I fear the writers chose the name "Estrid" because it's a partial anagram of "Strider", to hint that she's Aragorn's ancestor.
@XraynPR
Күн бұрын
oh my god thats so clever and smart by the writers ... I just cant
@MannyBrum
Күн бұрын
Good God, I hope that's not why they chose that name. I took note of that name because the Southlanders (Southlendings?) who aren't Numenorean in ancestry have names derived from Old English but Estrid is a Norse name.
@_emory
Күн бұрын
“There *is* a story” High praise for this show
@cmcapps1963
12 сағат бұрын
So glad your channel is doing well! Looking forward to starting your book, and will be watching your content.
@AlaniTheScriptMage
12 сағат бұрын
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it:)
@Frankje01
Күн бұрын
Thanks to people like yourself I always get a bit of my sanity back. I spent some time on the Reddit LOTR on Prime page and it just feels like I am in an alternate universe. There are people who LOVE Galadriel's character...they really enjoy the show...I DON'T GET IT!!! lol They say they don't understand our ciriticism because we get to spend more hours in Middle Earth. NO!!! WE DON'T!!! The Hobbit, with its flaws accomplishes that for me. This show doesn't this show makes me feel like I am just watching a bad tv show, I am constantly annoyed and I am not watching Middle Earth, let alone feel like I am in Middle Earth.
@wesleymarshall3741
Күн бұрын
If the show had from the beginning never had the side plots of Gandald and Arondir, and instead took that time and effort to further develop the plot line dealing with the rings, do you think these writers could have delivered a better product? I don’t know that granting the writers a sharper focus would have done so.
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
I think it would have been a lot better; I hesitate to say it would be *good*, but at least it would be improved.
@joemulligan2197
6 сағат бұрын
“Torture” circled on Sauron’s resume lmao
@Makkaru112
23 сағат бұрын
The timeline is all wrong. The 3 were forged by Celebrimbor AFTER the 1 Ring was made. Made in response to the threat of the One gaining dominion over the lesser rings and their bearers. We haven't got there yet. Elronds concerns over Sauron controlling the Three makes NO SENSE in this timeline. That particular threat has not materialised yet. The One Ring doesn't exist yet. This is CRUCIAL, it's not a minor oversight. Sauron is not even aware of the Three until he creates the One. They've wrote themselves into a corner and are hoping people don't notice. Please! Don't they understand Tolkien fans at all haha? Probably not because they certainly don't understand Tolkien. Many events from this show don’t ever reveal that they’re indeed separated by 500 to 1000 years a pop. It wasn’t happening all within the same 5 lol. - Remember, Amazon's 2nd age is not Tolkien. It’s a perverted vision of what should have been, if the show leaders & chief writers had stayed true to the original canon. but we both know, fellow Tolkien Lover, that this is an absolute violation of the vision & canon that the great Professor laid down. Really what our speculations Should be is how far from or how deep are they going to take their perversions & distortions. Amazons Rings of Power are a catastrophic failure. It's a bunch of mumbo jumbo BS that is meant for the uninitiated! It is eye candy at best........ at best! It is a tragedy what Bezos has done with this sacred work! Tolkien rolls over endlessly in his grave, and I weep endlessly as well. A sign of the times my friend, a sign of the times! part 2 - The timeline presented in Amazon's Rings of Power series does not align with the original Second Age canon created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The series makes several changes and combines events that are separated by hundreds to thousands of years in the original source material, leading to inconsistencies and contradictions. Many Tolkien fans and purists have criticized the show for its departure from the original vision and disrespect for the lore created by the professor. The series is seen as a disappointment and a sign of the times, with some fans even claiming that it is a violation of the sacred works of Tolkien. Sacred because so many peoples lives were saved and transformed by all of his scholarly work. ❤
@alistairbuckle3450
5 сағат бұрын
My theory is that the writing is generated by AI. AI hallucinations (when an AI fabricates answers) would explain the weirdly alien metaphors, geography, concepts, time, and dialog e.g. "Do you know why a ship floats...", swimming to Numenor, running to Eregion, jumping off cliffs, Galadriel's pleasure from riding a horse in slow motion, "Give me the meat...", "The sea is always right!" Then, for the appearance of legitimacy, the AI peppers in quotes, Chekhov's guns, scenes from previous works e.g. "...follow your nose", "Many that die deserve life...", Grandelf's staff quest, Narsil, Durin's Bane, Shelob, The Doors of Durin, Tom Bombadil is Yoda, Isildur's horse. The final pass of the script force inserts popular tropes e.g. will they or won't they romance, grey and gray morality, sympathetic villains, plot armour, mysterious strangers. All without any human understanding of context, subtext, and themes. It's why it feels so hollow. It's AI-generated slop.
@adde27
Күн бұрын
There needed to be a lot longer time spent with just developing Celebrimbor's and Sauron's relationship so that the betrayal is way more impactful. It's implied to be this deep, semi-romantic relationship in interviews with the showrunners/directors, but there's... nothing... on screen. Kudos to Grandma Celebrimbor trying at the end, but I don't know what this was. Well, it was trash, I know that, but I don't know...
@Makkaru112
23 сағат бұрын
They don’t intend on that. They hate masculinity. And true feminine power annnd they stated they will write the story Tolkien never wrote and that middle earth is too white. I’m not kidding.
@interloper8029
Күн бұрын
It shouldn't be this obvious that one of the producers said "we need romance in this show" and some ridiculous romantic sub-plots got shoehorned in...
@YearRoundHibernater
Күн бұрын
Thanks for providing a place where I can be annoyed with the show and adaptation and have help collecting my irritations together so I can stop them niggling at the back of my mind. And thanks for being a place I could do that without becoming even more annoyed by bigoted weirdoes screaming about 'woke' because youtube seems to rewards that in the algorithms, regardless of the dog whistles and lack of actual analysis or lack of anything resembling legitimate critiques around it.
@MintyCow101
Күн бұрын
omg your necklace!! true Lord of the rings nerd right here
@BossAttack
4 сағат бұрын
Like Denethor and the Palantir, I too cannot resist peering into the show and grappling with its Dark Arts. So it is I must continue too gaze into its bleakness, forever seeking a better show within it.
@gregorykurilla7205
Күн бұрын
I have really appreciated your breakdowns of this series!
@greystone4050
Күн бұрын
I havent see the show since ep 5/6 from season 1. I just cant bring myself to support a show like this. Great video, hope to see more in a month.
@Oakleaf012
Күн бұрын
I feel like my big takeaway from your summary is that there is somehow both too much and not enough happening at the same time. I salute you for your analysis of this show, which I could not watch and therefore experienced vicariously through you 🫡 congrats on monetization! If you’d like a silly kids fantasy movie that is not objectively high quality but that is deeply whimsical and sincere, I recommend the voyage of the unicorn, I’m pretty sure it’s still available on KZitem. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it ❤
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Thank you for the recommendation! I'll put it on my list:)
@Oakleaf012
Күн бұрын
@@AlaniTheScriptMage I hope you enjoy it! Also, and please feel free to say no, I don’t want to cross any invisible parasocial boundaries, but as a fellow writer/tolkien nerd/cdrama fan, would it be ok if I followed you on social media? I am not very active on twt anymore but I am on bsky too if you have that
@parallelpinkparakeet
Күн бұрын
Loved hearing your reviews. I think we agreed on a lot of things, though I tend to lean more critical of the show. I think your reviews have been fair, not leaning completely on one side or another like a lot of rage bait channels are doing, and I liked your insights into the lore. I won't be watching it again, but if you put more reviews out for Season 3 or more reviews about the show in general I'll definitely check them out along with your other content. You have a new subscriber!
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Thank you! I've done my best to approach it with a clear head:)
@henrykfu
Күн бұрын
Has anyone called out Isildur = John Snow and Wildwoman = Ygrette?
@madwellmusic8995
Күн бұрын
Funny I was thinking more of his brother marrying the Riverlands girl instead of the greyjoys daughter
@Prototype-357
Күн бұрын
You lasted way longer than me, seriously you deserve a medal of putting up with this crap.
@moosey4life216
Күн бұрын
The showrunners are 8 year-olds in a candy shop, with $1,000 in their pocket and they want to try every flavor without knowing how to enjoy it. Then when other kids want to come and enjoy it there's nothing left to enjoy.
@Goldenspiderducck
Күн бұрын
“And then, and then, and then.” That’s the whole show. Bad, bad writing 101. Plus, they don’t like Tolkien. They’ve said so. They don’t like his writing, they don’t like his themes, they don’t like his beliefs. They like his success….and that’s it. There’s no love there. Without love and respect, it’s just a mish mash of…stuff.
@gnubbiersh647
Күн бұрын
Did anyone notice that elrond looks into the camera? The creators said they enjoyed that shot because elrond is communing with The audience
@MannyBrum
Күн бұрын
They didn't really say that, right? I'm picturing the next season being a Middle-Earth version of the Office with Elrond as Jim and it all takes place in Rivendell.
@gnubbiersh647
Күн бұрын
@@MannyBrum its in The behind the scenes. They editted the shot to make it longer
@devotioiberica3273
Сағат бұрын
Don't think that to stop watching a series is to stop supporting them to make fantasy series. And even fewer IPs as popular as LOTR. It is to stop supporting that they have been carelessly adapted with the original material or quality. In fact, the only good thing is to see how each episode loses audience. Crashing into the series is the best thing that can happen if you want them to be serious about adapting, both in fidelity and in the quality of the story, the originals we all love. In fact, the news about the concern about these things in companies has been accompanied by seeing low audiences or losses of money, if this does not happen they only consider it "internet noise" and they do not care. This series if you love the original work, it is best either not to watch it or watch it pirated, but not to give Amazon a reward for what it did.
@voljohe
Күн бұрын
Starwars Andor will give a better taste in your creative mouth. Also season two is coming out next year so.
@donkeysunited
Күн бұрын
That's a fair analysis and conclusion. I also think this season was stronger than the first. It had fewer logic mistakes (but still too many). It increased the scale of battles. But it is still doing many things wrong, such as distance and travel time, insane tactics in battles, and spending too much time on irrelevant issues while cutting the major plot points short. I think a lot of the mistakes are now in the lore, which I don't know as I haven't read the Silmarilion. I'll also keep watching it, for the spectacle and to enjoy the many critical videos on KZitem. But I now know this telling isn't true to the lore. Like The Witcher and the Wheel of Time, the writers have chosen to use the materials and to remake the story for themselves and their current masters. As long as we know the difference and remember the original with reverence, I'm content.
@XraynPR
Күн бұрын
"I think a lot of the mistakes are now in the lore, which I don't know as I haven't read the Silmarilion." They are not, as Amazon does not have the rights to it, only the Appendices of RotK iirc.
@MannyBrum
Күн бұрын
I'd like to see these showrunners do an adaptation of the history of England. Would be cool to see the Anglo-Saxons under Æthelred II raiding the Nazis at Normandy circa 1001 instead of the Normans.
@GuitarJammerJohn
Күн бұрын
Ok tbf that’s a little different to adapting a fantasy world I don’t really have an issue with condensing the story if they didn’t the mortal characters would change almost every episode given how much time the events actually cover. The writing is certainly not on Tolkien’s level but whose is? The Lord of the Rings trilogy films were only so good because they had much more to work from some of what they cover in Rings of Power has a couple of pages in the Silmarillion and that’s it and they can’t even use any dialogue or use the exact stories as they are written in the book. Really apart from the writing the issue is they shouldn’t have done this without full rights to everything.
@chloe-historyandgames
Күн бұрын
that's a nice dress, you could do a dance and sing to elbereth githoniel or another elvish song with your cat dressed up like tevildo... theres lots of great covers out there for those elvish vibes
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Alas, I do not sing well enough to capture the magic of those songs
@garanceadrosehn9691
Күн бұрын
You want to support fantasies as a genre, but do you want to see more fantasies where the writing is this bad? However, I understand your concern here. The *writers* of this series are not going say "we need to find out how to write", they're going to go to the bean-counters and say "This failed *because* it is fantasy, so give us more money and we'll make something else". FWIW, I've enjoyed these videos. It's given me a feeling what my Tolkien-fanatic sister would think about the series, without putting her through the trauma of watching it.
@valerievanwyk6122
17 сағат бұрын
Enjoyed your breakdowns!
@AlaniTheScriptMage
12 сағат бұрын
Thank you!
@gregorywillett8584
Күн бұрын
Like your depiction of Sauron's resume. In fairness, though, you missed the best one. He is a master of shape shifting and disguise, and all he did was change a wig.
@evanflynn4680
17 сағат бұрын
The Elves were too human. In Tolkien, yes, there were beautiful, almost saintly Elves that were kind and good. But there were also Elves who personified power, whether that was mysterious and subtle power from Galadriel, obsessed and brilliant power from Feanor, or great warriors like Gil-Galad and Fingolfin. For that matter, all Elves who saw the Two Trees of Valinor had their light shining in their eyes like stars. Elves were not human, and they should have been made to look as uncanny valley as possible, not just people wearing fancy robes.
@krisderuysscher
Күн бұрын
You’re absolutely right
@mojobag01
Күн бұрын
You are gentle and kind. This is not a time for gentle and kind. This is cynical pap with some very snide agendas attached.
@AdanALW
Күн бұрын
As an idea, maybe continue to break down current ongoing fantasy TV, especially with issues in execution. I think The Witcher from Netflix might be a good series for this kind of honest analysis. Maybe that could work with the algorithm, and I certainly would be interested in what you would have to say.
@Th3Nark
Күн бұрын
Yeah it's sad what they've done to Tolkiens work... Trying to make it for a "Modern Audience" was just stupid. It's a timeless story IMO and it has a HUGE inbuilt fanbase. If they just made the show for the actual fans they would of had more viewers and picked up new fans just from it being a quality story. But this... shipping everyone they can, the kiss annoyed the shit out of me as well, the weird relationship vibes they put between Celebrimbor and Sauron, pointless love stories, constant MEMBER-berries being forced in... Honestly, there is just so much bad. Too many dumb choices made by people with little talent or care for the source material thinking they know better than the author.
@bragestensen
Күн бұрын
Really enjoy your analysis.
@DapperJay5
13 сағат бұрын
The thing that bothered me the most was the two main characters manipulated by sauron (celebrimbor and adar) after doing what he wants and from as far as we know falling for his manipulation turn around at the end and say they knew he was sauron and still went ahead and did what he wanted anyway. Then the show still tries to portray sauron as a grand mastermind spinning a great Web of lies and deceit, how if everyone knows his still the only reason he succeeded is because the other characters are morons.
@simongervais9302
Күн бұрын
they should have just followed the plot... let Annatar be a friend to the elves and deceive them for many years
@Er2_Official
Күн бұрын
There is a loud background voice in some parts of the video.
@cimerian-dog
5 сағат бұрын
While rings of power is one of my biggest disappointments in recent years, the penguin has been a delightful surprise. There's still hope for tv shows that make simple things right, like making a villain an actual VILLAIN.
@RMartian76
Күн бұрын
I think you have a typo in the graphic at the end. Says "fast faced swordfighting" when it should read "fast-paced sword fighting." It should also read "song-based magic system."
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
Thanks for the heads up!
@BaldorfBaldorf
Күн бұрын
This show could have been just Celebrimbor and Sauron making rings, if the writers actually knew how to write.
@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t
Күн бұрын
I think one of the biggest problems with the show is that they've tried to make the Elves relatable by taking away what makes them Elvish. It's why that last scene with Gil Galad's speech, and the cheering and fist-pumping fell so flat for me. It's too... human. Also, why are all the other Elves down (in a van... wait) by the river, and on both sides with their wounded, but Galdriel and the main cast (well, there we go for an out of universe reason) up a hill? How does that make sense?
@AlexisLopez-pb8ms
Күн бұрын
I was looking forward towards Anatar and really bad ass Celebrimbor and I didn’t get manipulation, I got alot of gaslighting and crying. What is this. The fact that the directors and actors thinks is good TV should be an indication that they have no idea of the brilliance of J.R.R. Tolkien. My hope is that these big studios don’t ever get the rights to my other favorite stories like “Of Beren and Luthien”, The children of Hurin and the fall of Gondolin.
@alicekibbe
Күн бұрын
You did well to comment on this series constructively. I agree. It's a mess. It could have been done well. They were give the keys to the city by amazon. They went on a drunken rampage of ego fueled debauchery.
@tydembele7285
22 сағат бұрын
Thanks for the content
@AlaniTheScriptMage
12 сағат бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@bahardan8544
Күн бұрын
The only character i could empathize with all through the series has been Sauron 🙄
@johnord684
Күн бұрын
The greatest tv show ever made ,well in the minds of the showruiners ,who are a pair of hacks
@sionnadehr3313
22 сағат бұрын
7:36 The writers of the show don't believe "the old world" has anything valuable. They are so coked out on their ideological drivel that they literally can't conceptualize an old world with splendor, glory, beauty, and honor without feeling the need to deconstruct it. And - before people accuse me of being political - let me tell you that modernity as a whole has begotten this mindset. Politics doesn't matter. This is a universal issue for everyone born in the modern era: a blatant disregard for those people and ideals that came before us because we are somehow better than them.
@garethlewis4586
Күн бұрын
Rings of Power was, at best, average TV and at worst, an affront to the fans. However, I still think both seasons were better than the godawful Hobbit movies. I think that despite its many shortcomings, there were some positives. I have enjoyed your takes on the series as a non-lotr nerd, all the best to you and Molly!
@XraynPR
Күн бұрын
I think the Hobbit movies are better, despite not being good and becoming worse each movie. They atleast have less character inconsistencies and downright disrespect for the the source material (theres no need to say more on the latter than Cirdan shaving in like his second scene ...)
@parallelpinkparakeet
Күн бұрын
@@XraynPR I agree with you. While The Hobbit had its share of problems that really irked me, it was at least entertaining to watch (usually) and seemed to respect the source material enough to where it actually felt like a LOTR story. ROP felt like a homework assignment to get through.
@brimstonewinpete9306
Күн бұрын
Its like they told a bunch of preschoolers to write lord of the rings in crayon
@Pdotta1
20 сағат бұрын
“It’s a shame”, that’s all you have? The lack of care in writing, in editing, the smallness, the ignorance - Arondire dies and come back is just an editing error that nobody have enough respect for any of us to care about. Ma’am we don’t need to beg people to make things for us.
@AlaniTheScriptMage
12 сағат бұрын
As of writing this, I have made 18 videos about this show. I think I've already proven that "it's a shame" is not all I have to say about this subject.
@moon-moth1
10 сағат бұрын
This show is very frustrating, with the writing being so infuriatingly nonsensical. But most of all, it just makes me sad. Because its potential just _oozes_ off the screen. The show looks amazing, most of the time, with interesting, beautiful set and costume designs. The actors are overall great. The cinematogaphy, especially in S2, is solid. The soundtrack is geat. And all that, all that talent, is completely undermined by atrociously bad, contrived writing. Such a shame.
@Sindraug25
Күн бұрын
I find it impossible to believe that they spent $1 billion on this show. Everything is small-scale. As you said, anything large-scale is in the background and brief. The rest of the time, they are on small sets with small numbers of people. The actors are unknowns, so it couldn't have been them eating up the budget. The writers are terrible, so again, there can't be much money going to them. What on Middle-Earth did they spend all that money on?!
@Makkaru112
23 сағат бұрын
90 percent of the mulla was laundered. Fact.
@alcoholfueledgaming9431
Күн бұрын
Show is horrible. I won't call them writers but the people who wrote this nonsense have no clue what they're doing. Sharknado was better written.
@yzimon123
Күн бұрын
Ben from Lost is more of a deciever than Sauron
@WonderKidWunderkind-ig1ms
Күн бұрын
Your commentary is AMAZING! Let me know if you ever need an editor to help with engagement and promo. As a fellow “Tolkien Nerd” I selfishly hope your channel explodes in growth. Best wishes!
@madwellmusic8995
Күн бұрын
Its off topic but madam, you look stunning in blue
@pablosplinter5530
Күн бұрын
I stopped watching this train wreck after a few episodes can someone catch me up... Did the elves end up taking all of the Numenorean's jobs?
@joshb7326
Күн бұрын
Sounds like you really enjoyed it then?
@haxic
Күн бұрын
Season 2 made me unsub prime. TROP is a joke
@captainhurricane5705
Күн бұрын
The whole Hobbit storyline from season 1 onwards should have been removed; it's boring, it's stupid, and entirely made up. Come to think about it, so was the Isildur and the 'Southlands' nonsense. Take those out, concentrate more on developing the other plotlines, and it might have been better.
@wavetactics13
Күн бұрын
This season was simultaneously too much and not enough to make me care about most of it.
@Vandbærer
Күн бұрын
Lots of sighing. Can't blame you though.
@Khellzhao-ue8hu
Күн бұрын
Them juggs
@ValeYard13
Күн бұрын
Middle-Earth: Speed-Run Edition. I can’t watch anymore.
@Will_Parker
22 сағат бұрын
It's amazing how literally nothing happens in the two Numenor storylines and barely anything happened to the fake Gandalf and totally not hobbits. This entire season could have been maybe 2 episodes, it's incredible how much completely useless garbage was added into the already garbage show. The fact you were able to be monetized JUST for having a negative opinion on rop is proof of how bad it is lol
@mbdzel
Күн бұрын
the show sucks and anyone claiming to be a Tolkien nerd should not be shilling for it on any level. just tell everyone it sucks and cancel your amazon video subscription.
@gnubbiersh647
Күн бұрын
Finally!!!
@maxxfatal
Күн бұрын
You need new friends 😂
@AlaniTheScriptMage
Күн бұрын
I don't mind having friends that hold different opinions to me. Makes for fun discussions.
@brianthomassen2209
Күн бұрын
Rings of Power is a repugnancy and an abomination. It is the coopting of an intellectual property in service to a social agenda, coupled with horrid writing. It is not Tolkien.
@imonlyonesam
Күн бұрын
Of all the critics of Rings of Power, I wish the showrunners/team would watch your videos, because you present your criticisms clearly and without absolutely going off the rails like some others do. Feels like it's very hard to dismiss any of your points as "extreme" or irrational in the way that it might be understandable to hand-wave others away. Have really enjoyed watching your series of reviews (much more than RoP itself unfortunately 🥲).
@ian-flanagan
Күн бұрын
I think the reason they “go off the rails” is because: 1) A story (like every lie) has inconsistencies, and the aim is to distract you from them for long enough. Once you lose immersion, everything feels bad, so it’s easy to slip into nitpicking and biased appraisal. 2) Emotion: in theory I support our cultural heritage being shared and even adapted/interpreted for foreign or global audiences (“appropriated”), but RoP is not that. It’s abusing an instance of brand recognition (which happens to be our cultural heritage) for financial gain. To make it worse, it feels like the same thing happening to any culture except my own would be denounced as “insensitive”. I dislike so much on the story-meta level, and I notice that biasing my story-internal reactions. So yes, if my salary went up every time I leaned into that, I’d probably lean into that. It doesn’t make it incorrect
@tylerskiss
Күн бұрын
Very few critics who talk about this show are “extreme”, but these Showrunners are so arrogant and thin skinned that they make decisions to antagonize Tolkien fans and it’s become a cycle of hate.
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