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The critical and fan backlash was intense. The Lord of the Rings purists, especially Tolkien fans, expressed their dismay and outright hatred for how the series handled beloved characters and lore. Instead of a passionate fanbase, what emerged was widespread disappointment and disgust. Amazon’s response was dismissive, branding critics as "patently evil" and claiming that negative feedback was rooted in hate and bigotry rather than valid critique—a strategy that did little to quell the negative sentiment.