I agree that Galadriel is a force in the first season and her character is pushed to a lesser role as others take the spotlight. There could have been a way to do that without diminishing her aura.
My favorite storyline so far is the dwarves and how pivotal they are to the rings’ creation and the fall of the elven city. I’m especially mesmerized by how they sing to the mountain for guidance and permission to mine. When Disa started singing and the mountain responded, I got goosebumps!!
Hey Ellen, I did watch GOT, but did not get into the more recent prequel series. I loved GOT. Having read some of the books, I think it is one of the rare cases of a movie or TV adaptation largely living up to the original. Season 8 was the big exception--rushed, sloppy and the wrong ending. Have not written about it though. What are your thoughts?
I read about four of the books but stopped after the killing off of some favorite characters. Likewise, I got into GOT until it became too violent and that was it for me.
That said, my brother considers it one of the greatest series ever and is now re-watching it. I did appreciate the excellent plotting, characterisation, and production values, but in the end couldn't overcome my inability to watch torture and my need to have a character I really identified with. My brother loves Arya and the Mountain, and I have to say I enjoyed them too and the Jon Snow storyline.
I read the books that came out before the series ended— which extended past the writings. That’s when the storyline started to feel rushed and disconnected, which it was! But I’ve watched the series 4x now, and still consider it the best fantasy show produced. House of Dragons got off to a slow start, but I’m starting to see character development that intrigues me. The jury is still out! 🐉
Some of the violence is certainly over the top. I think the killing off of favorite characters goes hand-in-hand with the overall series' pessimistic view of humanity. No one is saved just because they are good. It's a shocking message for us because most Western storytelling tries its damndest to give us happy endings!
I made it maybe 4 episodes into season one and I was having a fine enough time watching it but then time passed. And more time. And then an age. I realized just now while commenting that it's probably been a year and I never thought to go back and continue watching. Much like its Tolkien earthly landscape, this show is Mid.
Many valid points, in particular, in relation to the adaption and exploitation of Tolkien's worlds. However I loved Galadriel in the first series, she lit up the screen, in the second possibly because of direction, she seems hardly present.
Overall, there's too much going on in the show, too many stories- a cast of thousands, a concept which is popular these days in a lot of fantasy & Sifi books, almost with the hope of screen adaptation it seems, and it can be exhausting to the viewer.
The stage Irish of the Harfoots, and Etonesque accent of the Elves is embarrassing and clumsy, and drags down the show a lot, but I will still watch it for the grandeur and epic nature of some of the set pieces, and just hope it doesn't devolve into the woke soap opera that The Witcher became.
Thank you Geoffrey for stopping by and taking the time to comment. You have a good point re. the storyline being too crowded. Of course, whether we find a character appealing is personal and subjective--I think Morfydd Clark is good for "cute" roles but not for someone with the history and "weight" of Galadriel. I think we agree on the set pieces! I did not see the Witcher so can't really comment.
Thanks Daniel! I actually did not finish Season 2, and went into it with some trepidation. I was hoping they would right the ship after a messy Season 1 and they just made things worse.
I agree that Galadriel is a force in the first season and her character is pushed to a lesser role as others take the spotlight. There could have been a way to do that without diminishing her aura.
My favorite storyline so far is the dwarves and how pivotal they are to the rings’ creation and the fall of the elven city. I’m especially mesmerized by how they sing to the mountain for guidance and permission to mine. When Disa started singing and the mountain responded, I got goosebumps!!
Given your views on this, I would love to hear your views on Game of Thrones, if you watched it. (Or did you already write about that?)
Hey Ellen, I did watch GOT, but did not get into the more recent prequel series. I loved GOT. Having read some of the books, I think it is one of the rare cases of a movie or TV adaptation largely living up to the original. Season 8 was the big exception--rushed, sloppy and the wrong ending. Have not written about it though. What are your thoughts?
I read about four of the books but stopped after the killing off of some favorite characters. Likewise, I got into GOT until it became too violent and that was it for me.
That said, my brother considers it one of the greatest series ever and is now re-watching it. I did appreciate the excellent plotting, characterisation, and production values, but in the end couldn't overcome my inability to watch torture and my need to have a character I really identified with. My brother loves Arya and the Mountain, and I have to say I enjoyed them too and the Jon Snow storyline.
I read the books that came out before the series ended— which extended past the writings. That’s when the storyline started to feel rushed and disconnected, which it was! But I’ve watched the series 4x now, and still consider it the best fantasy show produced. House of Dragons got off to a slow start, but I’m starting to see character development that intrigues me. The jury is still out! 🐉
Some of the violence is certainly over the top. I think the killing off of favorite characters goes hand-in-hand with the overall series' pessimistic view of humanity. No one is saved just because they are good. It's a shocking message for us because most Western storytelling tries its damndest to give us happy endings!
I made it maybe 4 episodes into season one and I was having a fine enough time watching it but then time passed. And more time. And then an age. I realized just now while commenting that it's probably been a year and I never thought to go back and continue watching. Much like its Tolkien earthly landscape, this show is Mid.
I sort of forced myself to keep watching in the hopes that they would find their footing and things would improve. Oh well....
Many valid points, in particular, in relation to the adaption and exploitation of Tolkien's worlds. However I loved Galadriel in the first series, she lit up the screen, in the second possibly because of direction, she seems hardly present.
Overall, there's too much going on in the show, too many stories- a cast of thousands, a concept which is popular these days in a lot of fantasy & Sifi books, almost with the hope of screen adaptation it seems, and it can be exhausting to the viewer.
The stage Irish of the Harfoots, and Etonesque accent of the Elves is embarrassing and clumsy, and drags down the show a lot, but I will still watch it for the grandeur and epic nature of some of the set pieces, and just hope it doesn't devolve into the woke soap opera that The Witcher became.
Thank you Geoffrey for stopping by and taking the time to comment. You have a good point re. the storyline being too crowded. Of course, whether we find a character appealing is personal and subjective--I think Morfydd Clark is good for "cute" roles but not for someone with the history and "weight" of Galadriel. I think we agree on the set pieces! I did not see the Witcher so can't really comment.
A great essay. I did not last long with this series.
Thanks Daniel! I actually did not finish Season 2, and went into it with some trepidation. I was hoping they would right the ship after a messy Season 1 and they just made things worse.