As a long-time fan of Tolkien’s works and an ardent viewer of fantasy shows, I must admit that my feelings about The Rings of Power are a bit of a rollercoaster ride. On one hand, I’m thrilled to see Middle-earth brought to life once more on the small screen. On the other hand, as someone who has read the books multiple times and holds them dear, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment when the show veers off from the source material or fails to capture the magic I found in the pages of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
J.D. Payne, the Showrunner for “The Rings of Power“, playfully referred to those criticizing the second season as “trolls.
Great Viewership Numbers Let Down By Mediocre Ratings
The pricier-than-ever Amazon production titled “The Rings of Power” has moved on to its second season. Regrettably, it appears that the series is not living up to viewers’ anticipations based on user ratings.
As a gamer, I’d put it like this: While I’ve been checking out the ratings for this game on Rotten Tomatoes, I see that only about 59% of players are giving it a thumbs-up (as of September 13). That’s higher than the first season, but it’s not exactly blowing me away either.
Based on a discussion with J.D. Payne featured in The Hollywood Reporter, the season has been performing quite well in terms of audience engagement, making it one of Amazon’s top performers in this area (specific viewer numbers were not disclosed).
Love or it, hate it people are watching, and Payne had a few words for those tuning in.
To the fans of the second season, he said:
The Fellowship had to look to each other, and those who support it, and remember what it’s fighting for. And when we see that millions of people are watching this and responding so positively to it — that’s who we’re fighting for.
It’s pleasing to note that the showrunner expresses appreciation towards the fans, yet he also has a few remarks for those who enjoy the show with a negative bias.
And those who watch every episode and [negatively] write about it on social media and make YouTube videos, we’re happy to have you guys, too. It wouldn’t be a journey through Middle-earth without some trolls along the way.”
That line must have been a real eureka moment in the writing room, high-fives all around.
However, it appears that the opinion might be somewhat biased. While it’s true that some individuals criticize without reason, there are genuine supporters who offer constructive criticism, particularly those who have thoroughly engaged with or studied the subject matter.
Amazon has pledged to produce at least three more seasons; we’ll find out if Payne incorporates any helpful feedback moving forward.
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2024-09-13 15:09