Part 5/9:
The Myth of 'Respect' for Tolkien
In their attempt to portray reverence for Tolkien’s work, the showrunners highlighted their reliance on Tolkien scholars, like Tom Shippy, to guide their development of the lore. However, the reality appears more complex. Payne and McKay openly stated that if Tolkien did not explicitly describe something, they felt free to “create as Tolkienian as possible.”
For example, they emphasized drawing inspiration from myth and heroic sagas when imagining societies like the Hobbits’ ancestors, despite Tolkien’s clear descriptions in his texts. They argue they try to honor both the “letter and spirit” of Tolkien’s legendarium but often justify crafting new elements in the absence of detailed canon.