Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power I can't stand a chance, as I have to contend with a series of harsh reviews from Tolkien fans. The series has always been a mix of things, deviating greatly from the original novels and Peter Jackson's. Lord of the Rings But the second season, which has been streaming on Prime Video since August, has seen another notable change that has sparked heated debate among fans.
Season two begins to gradually build the story as Sauron (Charlie Vickers) and Galadriel (Morfydd Clarke) search for new allies. Meanwhile, Adar (Sam Azelden) gathers the Orcs, whom he considers family, to wage war against Sauron. However, during a sequence in episode three, “The Eagle and the Sceptre,” Rings of power The series chose to portray the Orcs in a sympathetic light, something previous additions to the franchise had avoided, which sparked significant controversy.
Rings of Power: The Orc Controversy, Explained
Contrary to popular belief, Goblins in Rings of power They are more sympathetic, and often show a strong reason for waging war on the people of Middle-earth.In contrast, both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit The Trilogies proved that Orcs are driven by hatred and a desire for destruction, and have no ulterior motive other than to follow and serve their masters. Furthermore, In Tolkien's mythology, orcs are described as corrupted beings created by Morgoth, to be used only as instruments of war.However, one of the latest episodes Rings of power Season 2 contradicts the franchise's traditions, as it often does.
In episode 3, An orc elder tries to convince Adar to avoid conflict with Sauron, wanting to stay in Mordor, where he can live in peace with his family and away from all the bloodshed.After Adar reminds him that as long as Sauron lives, the orcs will never be free and peaceful, the orc approaches his partner and embraces her warmly. As if that wasn't enough to stir up controversy, the creators also reveal an orc baby in the arms of the female orc.
So far in the films, we have never seen a female orc, but rather a newly born orc, as Tolkien has always portrayed them as monstrous creatures capable only of violence. Ultimately, this scenario sent the wrong message to many viewers of the series, and when combined with the many other changes introduced so far, Many began to criticize the book for its portrayal of orcs as sympathetic creatures.In other words, fans of Tolkien's writings claim that these changes make the series an unfaithful adaptation, especially considering that the fantasy stories are an important factor in the overall story.
Why is the concept of orc families justified?
While having ulterior motives behind actions, whether good or evil, makes the show ten times more interesting, in some cases the opposite is true. Throughout all the previous films in the saga, the Orcs have been a nightmare for the people of Middle-earth, playing a crucial role in many wars, such as the Battle of Helm's Deep and the Battle of the Five Armies.
In all cases, their cruelty was relentless, which often leads one to wonder whether they were capable of showing an ounce of mercy to their enemies, including women and children. However, Orcs from Rings of power They give us a different perspective, even if it is sometimes more brutal than what is shown in the movies, as they try to survive in this world and find a place to raise their families.far from the control of individuals like Sauron and the hostility of the Children of Ilúvatar.
It definitely contradicts what Peter Jackson said. Lord of the Rings It depicted the essential nature of orcs, but some of Tolkien's works claimed that orcs were capable of familial relationships. The Silmarillionin the section entitled “On the Coming of the Elves and the Capture of MelkorThere is a short passage that correctly sums up Tolkien's view of sympathetic orcs. It says:
“They were corrupted and enslaved by slow cruelty; and so Melkor raised the hideous race of Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, who were later their bitterest enemies. The Orcs lived and multiplied after the manner of the sons of Ilúvatar. In the depths of their dark hearts the Orcs hated their master whom they served in fear, and who was the sole creator of their misery. This was perhaps the most vile and most hateful act of Melkor to Ilúvatar.”
The Silmarillion He confirms that Orcs served their masters out of fear, not respect.As shown in Rings of powerWhere Adar treats the Orcs as if they were his own children. Similarly, the main Orcs we saw in the First Age were under the control of the Dark Lord Morgoth, while in the Third Age, they were under the control of Sauron. Since then, Rings of power The story takes place in the Second Age, when the orcs were freed from Morgoth and no longer served under the evil Sauron, so it stands to reason that the orcs could also be compassionate beings living meaningful lives of their own free will. So, do you think the depiction of the orcs in Rings of power Is it justified?
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is now available to stream on Prime Video.
