Stop Hating Rings of Power, Tolkien F–ed Up Up First
Both racial insensitivity and changes to Tolkien's works for the sake of wokeness have been criticisms of RoP since its release.
However, one fan insists the series is instead attempting to correct some of Tolkien's prejudiced views that always existed within his books.
Talking about their views, and explanations of RoP compared to LotR, YouTuber @verilybitchie has recently produced a lengthy video explaining just how "Tolkien F***ed Up First".
Particularly concerning matters of race and class. Labelling racial subjects within the books as "complicated", the video goes on to describe Tolkien's views of race within Middle-Earth, how modern adaptations have (in part) got it wrong, and also defends RoP for updating its content from the book's more insensitive connotations.
As many critics of the LotR have often noted, the books demonstrate a clear divide between good and evil. Displaying the heroes as always fair and beautiful.
Contrastingly, many of the evil characters are often depicted with darker skin and conventionally ugly features. Of course, Tolkien in life was not a white supremacist; and often commented against such matters.
Those that come to his defence argue that Tolkien's fabrication of the orcs was meant to symbolise the evils of humanity, as well as the light against the dark.
Yet the literal adaptations of these stories on-screen by Peter Jackson set an unfortunately racially implied precedent.
Tolkien's use of language to describe the orcs was purposefully used to dehumanize them in the eyes of the reader. They are meant purely to represent an archetypical "other".
An enemy which was made to be disposed of, and could be killed by heroes without care or thought. Nevertheless, orcs are still very much described as people; much the same as humans and elves.
Their intended extinction from Middle-Earth is a most certain form of genocide.
In this respect, RoP makes steps to positively address the uncomfortable side in how they have been previously depicted. The orcs we meet in the series appear with lighter skin colours.
They were also former slaves bred by Morgoth himself. Now freed by former elf and ancestor Adar, they are simply looking to go on with their own lives freely.
Although they are still inherently evil, the series directly highlights the hypocrisy of Galadriel's threat of disposing of them all.
Which we know then happens at the end of Return of the King.
Sure, they have added a more diverse cast compared to Jackson's interpretation of the works, with interracial groups of characters throughout, but this move seems shallow at best.
The show's most prominent characters are still mostly played by white actors. And the use of Irish and Cockney accents for the Harfoots and Orcs presents its own issues of classism and inequality.
Still, the show has taken some steps to update the racial and cultural views of the Tolkien era, and deserves at least a few brownie points for trying.