Black Hobbits: "The Lord of the Rings" fans outraged by "The Rings of Power"

Created: 06/09/2022, 16:07

By: Janine Napirca

Diversity criticism from viewers of the Amazon Prime Video series "The Rings of Power".

Can fantasy creatures be so-called BIPoC?

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The new "Lord of the Rings" series "The Rings of Power" is enjoying great popularity, with more than 25 million viewers watching the fantasy series on Amazon Prime Video on the first day.

But the prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" is not well received by everyone.

On Facebook, among other things, users vent their anger.

The accusation: too diverse.

Are fantasy creatures allowed to be so-called BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color)?

Amazon Prime Video: What is The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Prequel The Rings of Power About?

Long before the events of Tolkien's novel "The Lord of the Rings", the Elven warrior Galadriel in the Second Age of Middle-earth does not believe that Morgoth's pupil - the dark warlock Sauron - and his orcs no longer exist, even if the Elven prince Gil-galad starts the war declared ended.

While the elf smith Celebrimbor wants to build the hottest forge of all time and hopes for the support of the dwarves of Khazad-dûm, a meteorite falls from the sky among the Harfussers (nomadic ancestors of the hobbits), in whose impact crater the young Elanor Brandyfuss finds the mysterious stranger.

How diverse can fantasy creatures like hobbits, elves and co. be?

© Amazon Studios

Also, people are disappearing in the south of Middle-earth, which is being investigated by the wood-elf Arondir and the human healer Bronwyn.

According to Amazon Prime Video, the Kingdom of Númenór, its Queen Regent Míriel, her advisor Pharazôn, Captain Elendil and his son Isildur will also play a role in the further course of "The Rings of Power".

Facebook: Opinions differ on the cast of the new "Lord of the Rings" series "The Rings of Power".

While some die-hard "Lord of the Rings" fans are very upset about the cast in the new Amazon Prime Video series "The Rings of Power", other viewers are more relaxed about the topic.

A user vents her anger on Facebook and writes: "Because they are fantasy characters, they are subject to races, classes and their appearance, otherwise they are hybrids, period.

Even if it may sound racist to some: There are no classic black hobbits, dwarfs or even elves.

You don't have to push through wokeness and diversity with all your might.

This is a huge problem right now that all films and series are going through.”

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Another user admits, "I don't care if fantasy creatures have any skin color other than white.

In itself, it's even more varied.” However, he criticizes the “excessive wokeness that a tiny and powerful minority can push through anywhere”.

But there are also voices who are very fond of the Amazon Prime Video series "The Rings of Power" from the "Lord of the Rings" universe.

"The series is super cool, I don't care what skin color any mythical creatures have.

I'm super excited for the rest." Another Facebook user notes, "This is about fantasy and I don't think the color of races really matters.

The thing about it is that it's fantasy and skin color doesn't give a shit."

Many fans are eagerly awaiting new seasons of this series

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"Tolkien would turn in his grave": Elon Musk blasphemes about the Amazon Prime Video series "The Rings of Power"

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has a very different problem with the Amazon Prime Video series The Rings of Power.

He vented his anger at the Lord of the Rings prequel on Twitter.

"Tolkien would be turning in his grave," Musk tweeted, before going straight to the source of his anger: "Almost every male character so far is a coward, an idiot, or both.

Only Galadriel is brave, smart, and kind.”

Whether this is also a diversity criticism of a strong image of women compared to a weaker male species or Musk's personal relationship with Amazon boss Jeff Bezos is the reason for the slating - one can only speculate.