I made Gaël watch LOTR: The Rings of Power Season 1

Quick Overview

The reviewers find "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 1 to be largely unearned and lacking in proper development, with a significant disconnect between its high budget and its storytelling, character development, and visual execution, often comparing it unfavorably to Peter Jackson's films and noting a prevalence of clichéd dialogue and awkward pacing.

Key Points: Reviewers describe "The Rings of Power" Season 1 as "unearned" and lacking proper development, failing to create stakes or emotional connections for the audience. The dialogue is frequently criticized as clichéd and not in the style of Tolkien, with original dialogue struggling to capture the source material's essence. Galadriel's decision to swim across the ocean is questioned for its logic and execution, with the reviewers wishing her past experiences were shown to justify her actions. The show's massive budget is contrasted with its perceived shortcomings in pacing, visuals, and character introductions, with comments like "You have a billion dollars. Who do you get?" and "They just don't show anything. Spend a billion [ ] dollars. You don't even show anything." Comparisons to Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films highlight a perceived lack of the same depth in character portrayal and storytelling, with casting also being a point of criticism. The reviewers note that even halfway through the season, it feels like "nothing's happened," and that the show is a "shell of what the Jackson films are."

Context: The video is a review of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 1, with hosts Adam and Guy discussing the first episode. One of the hosts, Guy, has no prior knowledge of the show, making his reactions a key focus. They frequently compare the series to Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films, evaluating its adherence to lore, character development, dialogue, and overall production quality, particularly in light of its significant budget.

Detailed Analysis

The video features a review of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 1 by two individuals, Adam and Guy, with one reviewer (Guy) deliberately avoiding prior knowledge of the show. They discuss various aspects of the first episode, frequently comparing it to Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films. Key criticisms include a perceived lack of proper character and plot development, leading to unearned emotional moments and a general inability to care about the characters. The dialogue is often described as clichéd and not reminiscent of Tolkien's writing style, despite the show's attempt to emulate it. Visuals and action sequences are also critiqued, with comments on awkward pacing, strange sound design, and moments that feel like parodies or "90s vibes." Specific plot points and character introductions are questioned, such as Galadriel's seemingly illogical decision to swim across the ocean and the introduction of non-canonical characters without sufficient buildup. The show's massive budget is contrasted with its perceived shortcomings, with the reviewers questioning directorial choices and the overall execution. Despite acknowledging some potentially interesting lore references, they conclude that the show fails to establish stakes or meaningful connections for the audience, leaving them feeling that "nothing's happened" even halfway through the season.