The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Tolkien's elves, dwarves, and Harfoots are depicted with diverse casting not specified in the source, drawing attention as deliberate changes.

• Arondir, a black Silvan elf
• Princess Disa, a black dwarf
• Diverse Harfoot community

Galadriel is written as a near-infallible warrior whose judgment is consistently vindicated while male leaders (Elrond, Gil-galad, Numenoreans) are shown as wrong or obstructive.

• Galadriel out-fighting and lecturing male soldiers
• Galadriel repeatedly proven right against male counsel
• Galadriel physically dominant in combat scenes

No prominent LGBTQ+, trans, or non-binary characters or storylines are featured in the series.

Casting diversifies traditionally homogenous Tolkien races in a way that reads as a deliberate inclusion choice rather than lore-driven.

• Multi-ethnic elves and dwarves
• Diverse Harfoots and Numenoreans

Some dialogue carries modern thematic notes about belonging and prejudice, but the show is not heavily sermonizing.

• Arondir/Bronwyn cross-species romance framed against bigotry
• Themes of outsiders being judged

Several male authority figures are framed as fearful, foolish, or obstructive contrasted with the heroic female lead, though not an explicit thesis.

• Numenorean leaders portrayed as cowardly or shortsighted
• Male elves underestimating Galadriel

The series compresses thousands of years of Second Age timeline and invents characters and arcs, departing substantially from Tolkien's appendices.

• Compressed timeline of the Second Age
• Invented romances and characters
• Mystery-box reworking of Sauron and the rings' origins