Rings of Power Fixes One of the Biggest Jackson's LoTR Flaws
Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy films are not only highly praised for their adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels but are often considered among some of the best movies in cinematic history.
Any project following Tolkien's works on screen would find it difficult to improve upon. Yet Amazon's new The Rings of Power series has made one significant improvement in a particular area. And it is to do with some of its characters.
The Lord of the Rings starts with the formation of the fellowship to destroy the One Ring, which includes a representative of each race of Middle-Earth. Boromir represents the race of men and Gondor, Legolas for the race of elves, and Gimli for the race of dwarves.
It is in this initial scene that we see Gimli with his dwarven kin. Yet that is one of the last times any other dwarves appear throughout the rest of the films. Gimli is not only a representative of his kind within the fellowship but very much for the entire franchise. We see very few references to his people within the films. Apart from their trip through the mines of Moria (now more of a tomb for his people), there is almost no other representation of their presence with Middle-Earth at all.
Compared to The Rings of Power series, dwarven culture is much more included as part of the show's main plots. Not only are many more dwarven characters introduced, but the series offers insights into their way of life, the traditions of the people, and the homes in which they live. Moria is no tomb for their fallen, but at this time in the story, it is the capital kingdom of Khazad-dûm. Overall the series makes an effort to cover all of Middle-Earth's people in detail and provides the audience with a greater glimpse into the backstory of the dwarves.
What's more, the dwarves in the show are taken quite seriously. Their discovery of Mithril is of major importance to the first season's narrative. And there are many further implications to their continuing presence within the series. Including the overshadowing of the Balrog, who lingers beneath them. Redditors in a r/LOTR_on_Prime thread mention much of Gimli's contribution to Peter Jackson's LotR films was in contrast often more for comedic value.
A vast majority of his dialogue is either a reference to his short stature or a spoof about the dwarves, used to break the dramatic tension within the scene. Not many will forget the line: "we dwarves are natural sprinters".
Viewers have shared their support on Reddit for a better and more authentic representation of the dwarves within the series. Dwarves are much more invested in the story than they were in Jackson's movies, portrayed as more serious characters with greater depth and meaning.
Many fan-favorite characters appear to include Durin VI and his wife Disa, who have received lots of approval online. Hopefully, further narrative about these beloved characters and the dwarves in general, will be included in continuing seasons of the show.