{"id":114908,"date":"2022-09-02T08:59:25","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T13:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=114908"},"modified":"2022-09-02T08:59:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T13:59:27","slug":"amazons-rings-of-power-is-awesome-for-the-casual-fan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2022\/09\/02\/114908-amazons-rings-of-power-is-awesome-for-the-casual-fan\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon’s ‘Rings of Power’ is Awesome for the Casual Fan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the co-owner of this website, having been here from the very beginning, I\u2019ve seen my share of online Tolkien<\/a> community related collective anxiety. Our massive community is not dissimilar to that of Star Wars<\/a><\/em> – we have our whacko fringe segment and we have the numbers to attract a matrix style army of Russian bots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weeding through all \u2026 of \u2026 that \u2026 noise (if that sounds exhaustive, that’s intentional)<\/em> is so hard to accomplish in 2022. Apparently with age, comes wisdom, and apparently with wisdom comes the ability to dissect myself from most<\/em> of the drama in the lead up to \u2018The Rings of Power<\/a>.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, did I occasionally get caught up in the tasty morsels of \u2018Tolkien with nudity\u2019 or the \u2018Gam(of Thrones)ification\u2019 of Tolkien? I admit – it caught me every few months. But all in all, through most of this journey to September 2nd, I found myself more concerned about aggressively protecting the \u2018good\u2019 in our community. Protecting those of us who don\u2019t tell you how to enjoy your Tolkien. Aggressively pursuing the bad actors, trolls and goblins of the online space. Yup, I\u2019m looking squarely at you Twitter. Your cesspool of existence had me pretty close to closing down our official account a few times! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Calisuri & Xoanan get One Rings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just a Casual Fan…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All that said, I decided to write my thoughts on \u2018The Rings of Power\u2019 today because I feel I may represent a segment of our community that simply is Tolkien adjacent<\/em> these days. Sure, we were avid fans and very active 20 years ago, but work, families, and simply time have calmed that passion down\u2026just a tad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I should also mention, for the umpteenth time, that I am a \u2018Hobbit\u2019 and \u2018Lord of the Rings\u2019 reader. I tried to read the Silmarillion ages ago\u2026not again. Nope, I didn\u2019t read the Histories of Middle-earth or the new books that mystically appear every few years. I\u2019m just a fan of Tolkien\u2019s most popular works – judge me if you will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the multiple premiere\u2019s happening around the globe, TORn staff were attending and reporting through the generosity of Amazon. Last week, I had actually scored a pass to the NYC Premiere, but after an enjoyable vacation I came back with a cold worthy of Sauron\u2019s envy. I had even bought a sweet outfit for the occasion, but alas, it was not to be. (Nope, it wasn\u2019t COVID, oddly enough.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So like everyone else, I waited patiently until the show premiered last night on my Amazon Prime<\/a> account. I should also note, that I\u2019m such a casual fan these days, that I ended up watching the first half of the Penn State vs. Purdue American football game (PS – Penn State is where this website found its genesis)<\/em>, before deciding to check to see if \u2018The Rings of Power\u2019 was out a bit early. And yay\u2026it was!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it begins. Lights off, Apple AirPods Pro Max activated, and let\u2019s do this! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first thought\u2026 my first reaction\u2026 Welp\u2026 this is exactly what I wanted to see. They got me. I\u2019m in. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m going to share a minor-spoiler stream of thoughts. I\u2019m doing this for those of you who are like me – casual, Tolkien adjacent<\/em> fans. Folks who may not be the most educated Tolkien scholars of the bunch – nor – *gasp* – really want to be. Folks who don\u2019t want to participate in the drama of the community and just want to watch a good show and celebrate<\/strong> with the community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So my quick review: this show nails it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted – no, needed – a thread – a connection to the films I so loved 20 years ago. \u2018The Rings of Power\u2019 delivers big time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a few clear reasons why\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n