This is something I was blown away by too; for a 750 million dollar show, there sure are a lot of scenes where nothing happens.
By far, my favorite example is the scene where Elrond challenges a mountain dwarf to a rock-splitting competition. As viewers (even ones unfamiliar with LOTR), we know the outcome of this contest. The only thing they need to show us are these two characters after the competition, breaking down their relationships as begrudging friends. Instead, we spend more than a minute-and-a-half watching a rock splitting montage. Completely pointless from a storyboarding and writing perspective, especially considering that the outcome doesn't circumvent our expectations.
My second favorite example is even dumber; the third episode has another pointless 90-second scene of Galadriel riding a horse and smiling in slow-motion. I'm not joking, the entire scene looks like one of those HDR demo shots you'd see on a TV at Best Buy.
The show is genuinely difficult to watch, but don't take my word for it. Watch the first episode for yourself and take a shot every time you audibly sigh, you'll never want to watch an Amazon original again.
Edit: links to both scenes below
- Elrond & Durin: https://youtu.be/KT6ldSEVHCU
- Galadriel Riding: https://youtu.be/4ZqMRAb3zKk
By far, my favorite example is the scene where Elrond challenges a mountain dwarf to a rock-splitting competition. As viewers (even ones unfamiliar with LOTR), we know the outcome of this contest. The only thing they need to show us are these two characters after the competition, breaking down their relationships as begrudging friends. Instead, we spend more than a minute-and-a-half watching a rock splitting montage. Completely pointless from a storyboarding and writing perspective, especially considering that the outcome doesn't circumvent our expectations.
My second favorite example is even dumber; the third episode has another pointless 90-second scene of Galadriel riding a horse and smiling in slow-motion. I'm not joking, the entire scene looks like one of those HDR demo shots you'd see on a TV at Best Buy.
The show is genuinely difficult to watch, but don't take my word for it. Watch the first episode for yourself and take a shot every time you audibly sigh, you'll never want to watch an Amazon original again.
Edit: links to both scenes below
- Elrond & Durin: https://youtu.be/KT6ldSEVHCU
- Galadriel Riding: https://youtu.be/4ZqMRAb3zKk