Yes, the time is almost upon us folks! This fall the highly-anticipated billion-dollar Amazon series based on J.R.R Tolkien’s work is finally arriving and in a fascinating (and long) article from Vanity Fair we got a first glimpse back into a world I cherish dearly. Here’s the post: Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings Series Rises: Inside The Rings of Power.

It’s a great read. And here are the photos of the brand-new adventure and some of the characters that will inhabit it.

As you can probably imagine after seeing these photos, there’s been a lot of discourse surrounding this show in the past day. Once again I have been harshly reminded how many people can be so bigoted and misogynistic over something that is entirely fictional and open to interpretation.

Amazon decided that in 2022 the look of Middle-Earth would not be filled with heroes who only have pale skin. Instead, they decided to do something great–be inclusive–and they’re being torn to shreds over it.

Not only are people mad that they’re going to have look at POC in a franchise they cherished (obviously) for its lack of diversity but they’re mad that Galadriel is a bad***. As if she hasn’t always been one. As if their brains have short-circuited just by seeing a woman in armor and wielding a sword.

No, this show is not woke, it’s just reflecting the world we live in, and that’s beautiful. Do I have my reservations about this series? Heck yeah, I do. But no single photo is going to make me lose my whole mind over the series.

I can’t wait to see the trailer on Super Bowl Sunday!

I thank you for reading and I hope you have a spectacular day.