Jay 🇨🇦

I love Middle-earth. I've loved it since first reading The Hobbit in 1985 at five years of age alongside the Chronicles of Narnia, and then the Lord of the Rings at age seven. I've loved every video game adaptation, every radio drama adaptation, every animated adaptation, every film adaptation, and every television adaptation. I've read the letters, the extended works that Tolkien's son put out, I visited The Eagle and the Child on my first trip abroad in 1999 (along with Tolkien's grave), he was the inspiration for my own path to writing fantasy and science fiction as an author, and I am as close as one can get to being a Tolkien "scholar" without dedicating my life to being such. The idea that I am somehow carrying an agenda because I recognize Rings of Power as the latest adaptation for a world that I hold dear, and enjoy the series alongside my wife, is fucking ridiculous. There is no agenda in loving a franchise that you grew up with. There is simply a love for all things Middle-earth. ALL THINGS. EVERY single adaptation has holes we can poke at. Things that we would do differently if we were the creatives in charge. That's called subjective taste. That's art. I have criticized Rings of Power, just like I have PJ's films and video games and other media. I will continue to do so. I have my own subjective views on things, and I share those in my YouTube videos . But the idea that I somehow have an "agenda" for upholding my lifelong love of all things Middle Earth? You don't get to define my lifelong fandom with your performative hatred and over-active imagination of "wokeness". I will not gatekeep Middle-earth from new fans who find the world I love through this latest adaptation. I will, however, defend it vehemently from fake fans who use their bigoted, racist world views to twist it into something it is not: an agenda. #RingsOfPower #RingsOfPowerS3 #TheRingsOfPower #TheRingofPower #thelordoftherings

Peter Jackson's films are regarded as masterpieces, and they were in no way, shape, or form true to the books. Major Omissions Tom Bombadil & The Barrow-wights: Completely cut from the film to streamline the pacing after leaving the Shire, meaning Merry never acquires his special Arnorian blade from the barrow. The Scouring of the Shire: Omitted the late-stage conflict where the hobbits return home to find the Shire taken over by Saruman's ruffians, removing the books' message about home being worth fighting for locally. Glorfindel Replaced by Arwen: The Elven-lord Glorfindel who rescues Frodo on the road to Rivendell is replaced by Arwen to give her a more active role in the first film. Timeline & Plot Alterations The 17-Year Gap Compressed: In the books, a 17-year delay passes between Bilbo's farewell party and Gandalf confirming the One Ring, during which Frodo turns 50. The films condense this into what feels like a few days or weeks. The Army of the Dead at Pelennor Fields: In the books, the ghosts help defeat the Corsairs of Umbar at Pelargir, allowing human soldiers from southern Gondor to sail to the battle of Minas Tirith. In the movies, the ghost army arrives directly at the battle and acts as an all-powerful sweeping cheat code. Elves at Helm’s Deep: Jackson added a detachment of Elves led by Haldir to fight alongside men at Helm’s Deep, an event that never happens in the novel. Character Changes Aragorn’s Arc: Book-Aragorn is confident, proud of his lineage, and actively wants to claim the throne of Gondor from the start. Film-Aragorn is reluctant, burdened by the fear of repeating Isildur’s weakness, and only embraces his destiny over time. Faramir’s Temptation: In the books, Faramir immediately rejects the One Ring and sees its danger. In the movies, he captures Frodo and Sam and takes them toward Osgiliath first, temporarily being swayed by the Ring's power. Denethor’s Portrayal: Book-Denethor is a proud, noble, and tragic steward broken by grief and despair via the Palantír. Film-Denethor is depicted as far more unlikable, petty, and crazed. Théoden’s Possession: Théoden’s slow recovery from Saruman’s influence in the books is portrayed in the films as a more direct magical possession/exorcism scene. --- So when you claim that Rings of Power is somehow "deviating" from the "source material", I laugh at how blatantly you are lying to yourself and to others. It's not about the source material for you. It's not about authenticity to you. If it were, you would be out there raging about what a slap in the face Jackson's films were. No, your "outrage" is purely performative. Because at the end of the day, Rings of Power is an adaptation, just like Jackson's films. And they are going to change MANY things based on the creative vision. Some we'll agree with. Some we we won't. But at the end of the day it brings more fans to Middle-Earth, and that is a GOOD thing. Gatekeep somewhere else. REAL fans support ALL version of The Lord of the Rings, and welcome new faces into the fold with open arms. #RingsOfPower #RingsOfPowerS3 #TheRingsOfPower #TheRingofPower