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However, streaming service metrics are notoriously difficult to verify, and insiders suggest that these numbers are inflated or overly optimistic. The real story appears to be less flattering: a majority of viewers did not finish the series, falling short of Amazon's minimum target of 50% completion rate deemed acceptable—a benchmark that would have made the show somewhat viable.
The Crumbling Fanbase and Critical Reception
The failure to meet viewer retention goals indicates a waning interest among audiences. The series, widely criticized for deviating from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original lore and allegedly pushing an agenda that many fans found disrespectful, failed to resonate with the core Lord of the Rings audience.