If you havnt read the books - believe me, this plot is going exciting places.
Highly recommend!
Yes, there are changes from the Silmarillion. How could there not be. That is a massive book written more as a reference for Tolkien than as a single cohesive narrative. It’s not the kind of writing that would translate directly to video. It needs some translation. I got out my 1977 edition to peruse after the shows, but am not surprised if there are differences.
Also, yes, there are some dark skinned people in this new work. Big deal. If that kind of thing “takes you out of the story” then perhaps you should ask yourself why that is.
I’ve never understood why people get so worked up about stuff like this.
Nothing changes within the narrative itself. In-show characters don’t acknowledge the character’s newfound darker skin tone. The character stays true to the original vision - except that their skin is darker.
I would be outraged if Dev Patel played an English knight and then was shown eating Indian food or wearing Indian clothes. That’s breaking the consistency of the narrative and the authenticity of its world.
But Dev Patel simply plays an Englishman - with English habits and speech. Nothing within the world is changed to match the actor’s skin color or heritage. Rather, the actor’s skin color blends into the narrative’s world.
I find it mildly offensive when they reduce my identity to the color my skin. My identity is far richer and includes everything from food and clothing to customs and traditions.
An Indian actor playing an Egnlishman with English customs and traditions does nothing for me. It would take an Indian actor playing an Indian man for me to take this “diversity” seriously. Of course, that would mean creating entirely new narratives and stories, which, of course, Hollywood can’t and won’t do.
So we get brown and black actors shoehorned into pretending to be white - the lowest common denominator of “diversity”.
The dark skinned people are fine. I especially like the diverse proto-hobbits.
The thing I really, really hate, that takes me out of the story, is the lens flares.
What, have you forgotten the tale of the ancient cinematographers of the elves preferring it for its authenticity, even going so far as to commission elven spell-smiths to add it in their visions?