Władca Pierścieni: Pierścienie Władzy

After finishing the first season, I'm not exactly bursting with enthusiasm, but I was bracing myself for something far worse. I've come to expect that every successful venture (like the Lord of the Rings trilogy) will eventually be milked for sequels and prequels until we're left with a weak imitation, akin to tea steeped in hot water five times over. So far, it seems the creators haven't strayed too far from the source material, though they did miss the mark on several occasions. What bothered me most were the dull and uninspired dialogues, the excessive use of CGI, and an overwhelming amount of slow-motion shots (most of which seemed unnecessary; such as the frequent studies in equestrian riding). It wasn't the disaster I had anticipated, but I can't say I was entirely satisfied either, although there were a few bright moments that caught my attention. / Lesson learned: "It will be our duty to forge for him a tomb, granting him the immortality in stone." Either the people of Númenor had a very unconventional burial practice, or I simply don't get it. (29.08.2023)

Honestly, I was quite skeptical because I couldn't fathom how the creators would adapt Tolkien's Silmarillion under the current conditions. By "current conditions," I mean the prioritization of quotas and political correctness over the story itself. After watching the first episode, it's clear that the creators only loosely drew inspiration from the rich source material. Instead of the originally ethereal Galadriel, we got a mix of Xena and Geralt. Rather than delving into the nuances of different species, the production seemed more focused on races. The whole concept felt rather strange. However, I was expecting much worse, so I surprised myself with a three-star rating. / Lesson learned: When building a ship, rely more on science than on its desire for light. 3*- (19.08.2023)

The first episode didn't impress me much, but it was passable. However, the second one largely confirmed my dark fears. Galadriel's story has veered so far off track that it's become a bizarre parody. Besides the names of some characters, there's little left of Tolkien's world; instead, we have a sea serpent, an evil mole, and some boulder-smashing. Once again, the creators leaned heavily on exaggerated CGI and epic musical scores, neglecting the story and basic logic. In Khazad-dum, I would rather expect albinos among the inhabitants. It's underground after all, right? (20.08.2023)

It's pretty clear now that the creators were merely teasing with the pilot episode, because the subsequent ones left me feeling nothing but disappointment. The future Gandalf acts like an oversized toddler, which seems rather peculiar for a semi-divine being. His ramblings and clumsy interactions with the harfoots seem aimed at explaining his eventual close relationship with hobbits. Speaking of the harfoots, I couldn't help but notice their collective behavior, thinking, and "progressive" slogans, which give off strong communist or socialist vibes. While the third episode didn't feature boulders being crushed, there was a tug-of-war with chains, and for me, the main story remains sidelined in favor of various secondary subplots. I'm still puzzled by the slow-motion shots, which would seem more fitting for horse races. / Lesson learned: Ugly orcs are clearly easier to create than beautiful elves. (21.08.2023)

Knowing the book source material, which this series deviates significantly from, one might expect me to be outraged. However, I quickly adjusted to the idea that this adaptation shares little more than the names of key characters with J.R.R. Tolkien's work. So, I set aside the inconsistencies and approached the episode as a standalone fantasy. A good fantasy should have an engaging plot, but here it was mostly dialogue (and not particularly captivating at that). Not much unfolded, and when action did occur, it was riddled with typical flaws. Once again, divine intervention was needed to save the day, and I learned that orcs apparently have a distaste for shooting at stationary targets. It seems they find it unfair. / Lesson learned: If you dig deep enough, you can find coal, silver, gold, precious stones, mithril, a balrog... (24.08.2023)

Kudos to the creators for achieving something rather unexpected. Despite a lackluster story, weak dialogues, and particularly poorly developed and cast characters, they've somehow turned me into a fan of Adar/Sauron. Adar is currently the only character I find intriguing. Who else is in the mix? There's a strangely comedic duo with an elf and a dwarf, an incredibly unlikeable elf (with an equally stiff performance), a blacksmith I've never heard of (translation: never read about), an almost drooling Maia, and that unsavory gang from the South. However, to be fair, I must admit the creators provided some humor that had me laughing until I cried. A standout scene: soldiers standing at attention, powerful music swelling, and then... an unlikeable blonde woman slowly steps onto the deck of the ship. I nearly wet myself. So, as I mentioned, Adar held the fifth episode together for me. / Lesson learned: Adar could score some points by starting the OLM movement. (26.08.2023)

The sixth episode earned an extra star from me, not because it dazzled with improved quality, but because it finally injected some action into the plot. However, let's not overlook the usual assortment of peculiarities. Imagine a "genius" architect constructing a tower whose stability hinges on a single piece of rope. Is it absurdity or brilliance? I'd lean towards the former if I was supposed to live in such a structure. Arda had fourteen Valar and Valier, so it seems the series won't skimp on dei ex machina, as seen in the Númenorean invasion. Speaking of which, Númenoreans were supposed to have three or maybe four ships (I'm unsure if the fourth or fifth one burned down), but I'm left wondering how many soldiers and horses can cram onto such a vessel. Probably a lot. Not to mention how the Númenoreans knew when and where to strike. Then there's the ongoing issue of slow-motion shots, and I can't help but marvel at how Galadriel is not just a mix between Xena and Geralt but seems to have a good dose of Cossack blood as well. / Lesson learned: Avoid standing below active volcanoes. (27.08.2023)

I'd said before that I would try to overlook any deviations from the brilliant source material, but I just couldn't let this one slide. From Galadriel's monologue, it became painfully apparent to me that the creators killed off Celeborn – the bastards! Even someone who hasn't read Tolkien's works but has seen The Lord of the Rings film trilogy would scratch their head at how Celeborn miraculously appeared alive and well. WTF?! It's now crystal clear to me that the Harfoots are the most cynical, selfish, and hypocritical beings in Middle-earth, as demonstrated by Largo Brandyfoot's speech that included the line "We stay true to each other." I nearly burst out laughing. And to top it off, I discovered that the creators might need a compass, given how the South Land magically transformed into an eastern threat. Well, alright, I suppose I can concede that Mordor was situated in the east-southeast. Overall, this episode goes to show that the creators are a bit lost in their direction, and they barely earn that one-star rating from me. / Lesson learned: Do not enter a burning tavern. 1*- (28.08.2023)

I was happy to see that the creators got the color of the gems in the rings right. Plus, I was also impressed by Gorthaur's alter ego, as the creators (quite unexpectedly for me) stuck to the book's original concept that the Enemy was behind the idea of the Rings, and he infiltrated among the elves in one of his forms. Although he was supposed to resemble an elf for this purpose, it didn't bother me because it worked within the context. Despite the long dialogues and slow shots, everything seemed to be on the right track until things shifted after the feminist visit from Rhun and the rather melodramatic ending with the harfoots. That really dampened my good mood. / Lesson learned: Banging a fool's head against a rock a few times might get them talking, but you'd better not let anyone see you doing it in case something goes wrong. (29.08.2023)