We, the fans of Lord of the Rings, believe that Amazon's 'Rings of Power' series has fallen short of the beloved source material created by J.R.R. Tolkien. While we understand the desire to expand Middle Earth on screen, this show has not respected the deep lore, characters, emotional impact, or unique ambience which has made Tolkien's work timeless. 

From directly taking full scenes from Peter Jackson's adaptation to taking shortcuts when it comes to respecting the lore, this adaptation has lost the heart and soul of what makes it feel remotely related to Tolkien's works. This show has instead offered a version that feels disconnected, inconsistent, and commercially driven. For many of us, the heart of Middle Earth- the themes of courage in the darkest of times, friendship despite all odds, and the beauty of a world beyond any typical person's imagination- feels lost amidst uninspired writing and storytelling choices. It feels like an entirely original show splicing in bits of Tolkien lore to keep the name brand. The betrayal of Tolkien's legacy has been painful to watch for fans who have invested years in these stories.

As fans who cherish The Lord of the Rings, we call on Amazon to stop all further seasons of The Rings of Power. Create an original show instead, but leave our fandom alone. We want media that honors the integrity of Tolkien's original vision, where characters like Legolas and Aragorn promote strength and healthy masculinity, and characters like Éowyn show women (like myself!) how to be strong and brave. 

I would like to add a note that this is not an attack on diversity, as I am a female person of color and in multiple other minority groups, this is simply me addressing this show as a Tolkien fan since childhood. Forced diversity is not good diversity either. 

With all that is said, let me address the fans directly. Let us fight for Middle Earth and keep it true to what made the stories great beyond measure. The characters in various Tolkien novels fought for Middle Earth in an in-story sense and now it's our turn to fight for the essence of the stories themselves. We were taught to be brave, now we get a chance to use that bravery that was instilled in us from these stories.

Directly from the books: "Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!"