Sadly what you say is true @Deimos.
Even some of my friends and acquaintances who are around in their 40s like me, have those comments and only put up with current light reading...or some no reading at all.
I personally know that I am not a great reader, more time goes than I would like between books, and I have not read too many different authors. But for me, if is difficult to read a book because its writing is not simple and easy to digest as in modern works, it really challenges me and I try harder to enjoy it, and as I adapt to his writing, I enjoy it more.
I know that the limitation is in me, because I do not maintain the habit of reading over time, I can't think of blaming the authors.
Valkrist wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 6:54 am
How sadly right you are.
One of the arguments regularly trotted out by the staunchest defenders of this show is how it will introduce so many more people to Tolkien and get them to want to read the books, and so that's good and therefore book defenders should just shut up and take the win.
Well, the unfortunate counter to that is not only all that you just mentioned, but also the fact that since what Amazon has put out doesn't even remotely resemble anything that Tolkien wrote, those driven to the books in the hopes of finding more of what they saw on screen are in for a rude awakening. It's as if all that you've ever been fed and learned to like are turnips, and when you suddenly have some steak and Lobster put in front you, you don't know what to do with it and dislike the taste because you lack the ability to appreciate it since all your palate can handle are turnips.
The end result? More people will be put off by Tolkien than drawn into his literary world as a result of this drivel. The movies, on the other hand, had more success with this because Jackson made a decent attempt at preserving the story, dialogue, and spirit of Tolkien as much as he could. You can recognize the author within the frames of those movies. The Amazon show almost seems to take preverse pride in doing the exact opposite.
I think the same, most of those who turn to the books looking for explanations about the show, will not find it, and end up more with frustration than with love for Tolkien's work... it has no comparison with the LOTR movies, where the differences of the telling were few and the explanations about the doubts are in the canon.
Some friends of mine who have read LOTR but not the Silmarillion (because they have not wanted because some have in at home) and are watching ROP have called me asking questions about the show. Questions like "Who is Adar?" or "Who is the man with the meteorite?" and many other things... and the most I have been able to say to them is... "They will be who the writers of the show want them to be, because none of that is in the books."
I think reading a book wanting to know its history is not the same as reading it looking for specific answers and in the end not finding it... surely many will not keep a good memory of the time dedicated to it.
Lindir wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:42 am
I think the pendulum has swung a little too much the other way. There’s a drive to be overly positive about the show, but it’s blocking genuine criticism. I’ve read people saying it’s better than the Hobbit movies. The Hobbit movies certainly have their flaws but they’re better written.
Yes, as you comment, there is an irrational positivism towards the show. As much as all wish new content from Middle-earth, I wish it too, I don't understand how can't be aware of the flaws in the series. I see true blindness... it could be said that there is a toxic positivism (since they like to use the term toxic today for everything)
There are many things that I like and they all have their flaws, and talking about this flaws and imagining how it could be better seems enriching to me.
Levidas wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:15 am
Yup, completely agree with you on that.
I've tried to make myself clear there, sometimes, but with little to no success... Nobody really seems to care; well, let them be happy (I guess
)
Yes, you are one of the few who try to create a bit of a critical spirit in FoU, but the truth is there is no way.
Deimos wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:10 am
What fun it must be as a screenplay writer answerable only to beancounters.
Unpopular, badly written character? No problem! Let's just do a 180 remake and, voila! She's likeable, lovable, adorable.
And so the doll to be made in her likeness and marketed to 9 year old girls who aspire to be a warrior princess will fly off the shelves.
That's right, Galadriel will surely change radically, it seems that the writers needed a deluge of criticism to realize that their poor writing of the character did not make her seem like a strong and independent woman as they intended, but an insufferable immature and impulsive young who did not knows how to behave.
This shows that they are not only bad writers, but also that their arrogance and lack of self-criticism is disproportionate.
Yes, surely they probably won't even give an explanation for the change and it will seem that Galadriel, in addition to being unbearable, is bipolar. But still, if they do, I'm not complaining, because if Galadriel starts behaving like Galadriel, the plot of Numenor (if her continues in this splot) will become at least decent and enjoyable, like the plot of Khazad-dûm.
And the thing about toys is something inevitable nowadays and it doesn't bother me either... and the truth is that at my age I also buy a few.
BladeCollector wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 5:00 am
As far as Tolkien and Rings of Power, if its not someone's thing then thats 100% awesome. I dont like the walking dead, but for all I care, the walking dead can run for 100 seasons, if other people like it, let them enjoy it.
There are so many people that want something cancelled or taken off the air because they dont like it.
I personally do not want it to be canceled and fail, I would like it to improve and be what it should have been from the beginning ... or at least improve enough faithful as possible and have an enjoyable script and characters. I am aware that at this time, after a full season, it is difficult to straighten the show.
But if the series had been fixed from the beginning, instead of fortifying itself in pride and arrogance, from the moment when it began to criticize because it was already evident even only with the promotional material that all those changes and failures existed, this is not it would have happened
But instead of that those responsible dedicated themselves to lying, like when it was criticized that we didn't want modern policies inserted in the series, and the showrunners came out saying that they wouldn't have them... to now find ourselves with Numeronians complaining about illegal immigration ( "the elves will come to take away our jobs") or the personality changes of characters as important as Galadriel in a disastrous way, only to show the current idealized stereotype of the modern and independent woman... today, being rebellious and not having husbands is the only way to show your strength and independence.
I like Walking Dead, but I enjoy it less and less, and I am aware that is because the more it separates from the original material, the more the series is worsens... as an example there is Fear the Walkien Dead, which I think is infinitely worse than TWD, or the last season of GOT.
And sorry everyone for my slowness and backlog of responses...I want to join the debate, it's very interesting, but my English writing is so slow and I fall behind all the time..
![Embarrassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)