Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsmasterful tradition & inclusivity. Timely mirror held to our huge societal problem of manchildren
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2024
LotR is a mixture of Bronze Age Celtic and Germanic, early mediaeval Anglo-Saxon, and French late mediaeval influences. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is set in Middle-earth, which is Tolkien's imagined version of Earth's past and is reminiscent of medieval Europe. The book incorporates many medieval elements, including:
Cosmology: The Silmarillion has a medieval cosmology.
Culture: The Riders of Rohan's culture is influenced by Beowulf.
Weapons and armor: The book uses medieval weapons and armor.
Heraldry: The book includes heraldry.
Languages: The book uses languages such as Old English and Old Norse.
Tolkien also drew inspiration from other sources, including:Celtic myth
Tolkien's elves are influenced by the Irish Tuatha Dé Danann, and his idea of undying lands beyond the Western ocean comes from Celtic myth. The Welsh language also inspired the Grey-elvish Sindarin.
Archaeology Tolkien may have been influenced by the discovery of the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Sutton Hoo in East Anglia, which occurred around the time he began writing The Lord of the Rings.
England...Tolkien based the Shire, the land of the Hobbits, on the West Midlands of England, where he grew up!!!! Notably Tolkien painted this series a tribute to the love of his country and to the love of the lands filled with the beloved kinfolk who are comically introverted, nosy, mannered, sometimes humpty dumpty esque, easy going people who, quirky may they have been, loved a simple life of comforts, friendship, family and laughter. Political ideations were not the hand upon the pen that moved to form these beautiful stories. These stories served as histories accessible to those of the same heritage. There was somethign that needed to be oreserved in that telling that has been somewhat lost in the hollywood modernization and dematerializing of the current that swept through the heart as the lifeblood of the lore. Which many many have complained about since season 1 dropped. The story has sharply moved away from one of the few truly dedicated pieces of sci-fiographical-historical, forged in the micro-heritages in those green knobs and hills and thick pea soup fog that poured across the lands of many of these families and origin stories for many families shared of Tolkien. They are not easily accessed or represented today in society by any agency or device with any currated love and interest, any longer, and the quirks and the histories so beautifully woven into the book lost traction in the series to feed that hollywood modernity, which I admire for its impact in inclusivity and to be particular the actors of varied heritage from that of the original storyline, had the most moving and touching monologues and impacts on the story. So there is a give and a take. I am empathetic to those who are cult fans of the story and their heritage preservation and retelling through magical lore. I am also empathetic to performances that were supremely excellent and necessary in the new show, that have been welcome and necessary expansions into the new lore to create a depth and an emotional cadence that was splendid and fresh. More than comfortable with the changes, want to get more lore too.
SPOILER ALERT:
it instead focused on a storyline central to a single "sexy milf" with an intense nose job, humiliating her human son by starting rumors in a town of racist humans by her public intimacy with a really good looking elf who's also happens to be part of a military occupation, run by himself and his fellow elves in lands of humans with no desire to be occupied. Her son is somehow 50 and 14 at the same time. "Muthuuuuhh!" dominates 1/2 of his entire dialogue. The lessons I absorbed from this mother and her manchild son were that: menchildren everywhere today should keep being raised by mothers who dont want their precious little goblin boys to have to do anything, be anything, work for anything, worry about anything, learn anything, have any integrity, have any self control, have any initiative, and always wait for mommy's instructions, because he's mommys perfect pumpkin who never needs to rise to anything because mommy can always be there to get another daddy, and her hate for her first daddy makes it so her son cant ever do a single wrong in the world! And she can always find a new dad for her boy, "elf occupier" or not. "Town shame" or not. And that any new dad she chooses, always needs to sacrifice the world to save her first, and let her son do the same mistake. Instead of the other way around, despite being obsolete and a simple delay to the end of world for her regardless. But the little turd bumpkin of a child can do nothing but hide in a well for purpose. OH and when it comes to cauterizing a wound in a life or death situation for a family member, really oddly they made a metaphor for breastfeeeding, and an inability to stop latching way past the point of healthy, helpful, or normal, like the cauterizing he has a weird problem with fear of starting and then weirdly difficulty stopping long after "its good.... STOP!". Needing little pats on the back from his mommy at every step.
Nearly 18 and he sulks about with his mom whos just failing to teach any family lessons. Whereas Isil and his father and sister have more family values and sitdown dinners about honor and responsibility and duty. DIsa, Durin and their two sons, Wrestling generational disagreemnets with the kingI certainly respcted and loved. Family is the heart of the hearth of many of these stories. Whatever form of friend, kin or true blood shapes them, brandyfoots, with poppy proudfellow (more strength, courage, proper charachteristics, bravery, honor, loyalty, and commendability then all the boys in the show and shes just a little girl, who has had everything taken from her.) Why must it always be the girls to be the ones who must be with honor. Men need to be shown with honor. Theyve become complacenet lazy and useless in most of society as result of watching losers be losers being losers. Girls are the royalty of our society today, and without them we'd be lost at see without a boat, a paddle, planks or a southlander.
Going back on the terms of family storytelling, and different shapes they take, Sadok as father of the community protector of the voyages. Hes wonderful, Exemplary, respectable. Marigold is too good for Largo. Eleanor struggles withe her postiion in her coming of age heros voyage. The stranger becomes a powerful ally in a family in crisis. What humanity towards another can do when you least expect it, when you dont expect anything in return. All the families, I truly love. As far as elendil and kin, his family has its problems but, thats families. They work together to help guide eachpother to the right direciton. Though the daughter is being led astray by another persuasive "charmer" and male example of modern day mistakes for young men. The only noble young man in the series is Elrond, Erondir, Ontamo, Valandil, King of the Southlands (before he agrees to be king of the southlands). Miriel needs a good husband that is supportive but useful. Shes wonderful and needs a partner to be on her 6. In summary, great series, merits several watches for many things to be picked up on if you are familiar. I think this series highlights a great problem in middle earth that persists in our own world today taking hold like wildfire, which is modern day failures of young men raised by narcissistic parent(s), namely mothers with apron strings, or loveless agressive fathers who arent really dads, or kids caught in the middle of parents who didn't plan for kid and suffer for it heartbreakingly. Meanwhile unprepared parents who think their angels are perfect and never realize duty and honor and responsibility are necessary at raising boys properly with dignity, duty, honor and respect. THis mirrors our society in many ways, and I cannot wait for season 2!!!