The Rings of Power is back, and despite the second season being generally regarded as better than the first, there are still a lot of hate-watchers. The showrunner has responded to this negativity, thanking the actual fans, and poking fun at the "trolls".
J.D. Payne, Showrunner of The Rings of Power, has responded to critics of the second season, describing them, albeit lightheartedly, as "trolls".
Great Viewership Numbers Let Down By Mediocre Ratings
Amazon's most-expensive series yet produced, The Rings of Power, has entered its second season. And sadly, user ratings suggest the show isn't meeting everyone's expectations.
Currently, only 59% of viewers on Rotten Tomatoes are giving it a thumbs-up (as of September 13), which is still higher than season one but not great.
According to an interview from The Hollywood Reporter with J.D. Payne, the season is at least doing well in terms of viewership, and is one of Amazon's most successful in this regard (exact figures not given).
Love or it, hate it people are watching, and Payne had a few words for those tuning in.
To the fans of the second season, he said:
The Fellowship had to look to each other, and those who support it, and remember what it’s fighting for. And when we see that millions of people are watching this and responding so positively to it — that’s who we’re fighting for.
It's nice to see that the showrunner has some nice words for the fans, but he also had some words for the hate-watchers:
And those who watch every episode and [negatively] write about it on social media and make YouTube videos, we’re happy to have you guys, too. It wouldn’t be a journey through Middle-earth without some trolls along the way.”
That line must have been a real eureka moment in the writing room, high-fives all around.
But the sentiment seems perhaps a little unfair. Of course, there are those hating for hating's sake, but there are also sincere fans who have valid points of criticism, especially those who have read The Lord of the Rings or the Silmarillion .
Amazon have promised to release at least another three seasons, let's see whether Payne takes any constructive criticism on board.