Part 5/10:
Lindsey Weber, an executive producer, claimed to Vanity Fair that The Rings of Power would reflect the "actual world," implying that diversity and inclusion are natural extensions of Tolkien's universe. Yet, critics argue that Tolkien’s original Middle-earth was racially and culturally diverse in a way that didn’t require "modern" reinterpretation or forced inclusivity.
The core worry among fans is that these efforts distort Tolkien's mythos. Tolkien himself aimed to craft an epic that was accessible and relevant across ages but did so through a universe that was not explicitly designed to serve modern political agendas. The concern is that by injecting contemporary identity politics into the narrative, the series compromises the timelessness it claims to uphold.