Like it or not, any big IP that has a spinoff with a female lead will become lightning rods for misogynist and racist fanboys online; shows like The Acolyte and House of the Dragon saw several cast members getting harassed online by toxic fans, and even Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was met with the same kind of toxicity.
As it turns out, one of the series' main stars, Morfydd Clark, was unprepared for the backlash for her Galadriel that came out online.
Morfydd Clark on Toxic LOTR Fans
Talking to Elle, Clark discusses the unexpected backlash that her Galadriel received when The Rings of Power came out on Amazon Prime Video. She says, "I was just totally unprepared when season 1 came out… I've seen a really dark side of what it means to be someone who [anyone] can write a message to on Instagram, and a really lovely side."
Clark has noted that many of the comments had been coming 'primarily from men' who had taken issue with the Lady of Lothlorien's being written as a warrior and being framed as the series' protagonist.
Though some people weren't fans of Clark's character, she does say that there have also been some who were supportive of her take. "What certain people didn't necessarily enjoy about her, other people did… She takes up space; she's unapologetic," says Clark. I didn't want her to act like a human woman who's been taught not to be abrasive." One specific characteristic Galadriel has is that she has 'no shame built-in.'
Same Complaints, Different IP
Any fan who follows a big franchise online knows that there has always been a very loud side of fandom that brands itself as 'anti-woke' and throws vitriol at any new project that tries to put the spotlight on minorities like women, people of color, or LGBTQ+ members. Star Wars probably has the most infamous fandom, but fans also find their way into online communities for Marvel, DC, and, yes, Lord of the Rings.
It also doesn't help that others use 'inconsistency with lore' as fuel for hating on a show. Almost every subversion from the canon in House of the Dragon had become an excuse to bash the series, and the same has been done for Rings of Power.
If any of these bashers did the research, though, they'd find that the series pretty much adheres to much of the source material, from details to character descriptions. The showrunners are also working closely with the Tolkien estate to ensure that the show stays faithful to the true themes of Middle-earth lore.
The Fandom Strikes Back
For now, fans have been calling for the studios that own the franchises to step up for any of their actors facing discrimination. After the whole fiasco with The Acolyte, fans have been asking Lucasfilm to step in and take a stand against toxic fandom:
So far, no precedent has been set, but somebody better start now. Creatives have been veering away from working on franchises because they expect a backlash from the anti-woke mob whenever they want to do something new.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.