It cost USD $465M for just the first season.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/amazons-lord-of...

If it's really going to be 5 seasons, why are they cramming everything into the first season? They could have had the first season be about the creation of the rings, Sauron seducing the elves while nobody is aware that he's back (except Galadriel, probably). Introduce Numenorians as this great nation across the sea with beautiful boats. Then do the big war with Sauron where the Numenorians come to the aid of the elves at the last minute (the events in the Appendix completely justify making this super tense and dramatic). Next season, show the Numenorians turn away from the elves, getting jealous of their immortality, have some dramatic events showing how their relationship sours. Then Ar-Parazon takes power, sails his massive fleet to confront Sauron, captures him, Sauron seduces the Numenorians leading to the fall of Numenor. Final season: the Last Alliance between Elendil and the elves.

Instead, they seem to be doing everything at once, leading to a very confused story. They're already foreshadowing events that shouldn't be happening for 2000 years, introducing characters that shouldn't be born for 2000 years. The story is jumping to the end before the rings of power even exist. It seems to be telling the story backwards.

I'm enjoying it too.

I read all of Tolkien's books I could get my hands on as a teenager. That was decades ago but for whatever reason the show so far has reminded me of the books far more than LOTR and Hobbit movies ever did.

Agreed. I commented with more detail as well. I guess a lot of people expected a different show. But if you actually know the source material, it's a good depiction of that, IMO.

Agreed. This show is incredibly good.