Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series is on the horizon and has drawn a lot of criticism from Tolkein fans. For good reason. Modern adaptations of classic literature ignore what makes these stories great and, rather than create something that is faithful to what was created, is morphed into something…inferior. Unfortunately, the general audience neither cares or wants to know about such things. They want the latest, trendiest shows to watch while fandoms are demonized by the companies hoping to bank on watered-down and modernized tripe. So how can fandoms hope to stop woke Hollywood from creating these fanfic, self-inserted dog water movies? Boycotting is always the best option. But the inevitable mass adoption of watch parties will have a large impact on Hollywood and mainstream media that fandoms could utilize.
Obviously, boycotting is the ideal solution to having a true effect on companies. However, as my experience has taught me over the past decade of trying to convince gamers to boycott video games over anti-consumer practices, draconian DRM, Chinese involvement, Pro-child Grooming, Pro-child mutilation, and other issues people who are outraged by these things, which seems to be too few, don’t have the fortitude to follow through on their tepid convictions. They will say the right things for the Likes and views, but when people stop looking, they go right back to doing whatever they want.
In essence, a hedonistic existence is more preferable than a moral one.
So an alternative to an outright boycott is the mass adoption of watch parties. Over the past two decades, watch parties have become a point of contention for the media to try and stop before adapting to the inevitable by offering their own watch party services in order to try and be able to keep track of viewership numbers. Which is important for media companies since viewership numbers drive ad revenue.
Now, when I am talking about watch parties, I’m talking about watching with friends and family in your home, a public venue, or via an online service that companies such as Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and Amazon would have a hard time tracking.
To put it simply, one screen with multiple viewers.
Now, earlier I claimed that the mass adoption of watch parties was inevitable. Why I say this is because here, in the United States, our economy is plummeting and an unavoidable recession is going to occur. A recession for which the countdown began the second the economy was shut down due to the Coronavirus and implementation of hysterical lockdowns.
As inflation continues to rise, shrinkflation results in less food for your buck, and jobs being cut the average household will be forced to cut back on their spending. Naturally, this means subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, and the rest will continue to see ever-declining numbers in subscriptions. Many are already seeing drops in their numbers due to woke agendas, subpar offerings, horrendous adaptations, and other issues that fail to keep consumers interested.
And these companies are feeling the pain.
Recently, Netflix started cracking down on shared passwords in an attempt to stop the hemorrhaging of, as they see it, lost potential revenue. Paramount+ is offering a special sale to try and entice new customers to subscribe under the guise of a bundle that combines Paramount+ and Showtime programming. Meanwhile, Amazon is panicking over The Rings of Power as it has offered free seating at 200 select theaters. Most likely an attempt to artificially boost its viewing numbers.
So as the economy continues to buckle, people will have to make sacrifices. But they will try to hold on to the things that entertain them as much as possible. Which is why there could be a dramatic increase in family and friends movie nights. Which is a great thing.
Media streaming platforms certainly realize the positive effect of offering a watch party service on their platforms that increases subscription retention. But a watch party over a streaming service is nothing compared to going over to a friend or family member’s house to sit down and watch a movie or show together.
Mass adoption of watch parties by the average person is going to happen. But as it starts to happen, fandoms can utilize this to help their cause. Everyone wants to see the latest things and be a part of the water cooler conversation. But fandoms need to find ways to hurt the media companies that continue to degrade and bastardize beloved works that were great before modern writers and creatives decided to take hold of them.
Amazon’s The Rings of Power appears to be the most heinous example of this to date as, the closer we get to its premiere, the more outspoken the cast and crew have been. From claims of “We are telling the story now” to erasing Tolkien’s work in the name of modernity, calling fans and critics racists (a time-honored strategy from companies these days), and many more examples that includes an ignorance of Tolkien, his work, and his messages coupled with the fact that Amazon doesn’t have access to the source material except what can be gleaned from the trilogy.
The fandom must deny Amazon the viewership numbers it is desperate to have as the series premieres. They must make an effort to keep the user reviews and critiques honest as the shill media will drool over the show for its “diversity,” “inclusivity,” and “modernity.” But most especially, support all of the true Tolkien fans and trustworthy critics who have spoken out against what Amazon has been doing with The Rings of Power on social media and YouTube.
Content creators that Amazon and the shill, mainstream media has tried to vilify, ostracize, and silence. It’s why YouTube curated the dislikes and comments sections for The Rings of Power’s trailers which were lambasted and derided by the fandom. To make it seem like there was no such outrage or criticism in an attempt to make people feel like they were alone in their opinions. Meanwhile, the general audience who has never read Tolkien or his works, but just want to watch the latest thing, applaud the mediocre offering being presented to them. Not knowing the disrespect for the author and the lore being blatantly put on display.
So watch it together. Make fun of The Rings of Power online and mock the lack of talent that went into creating it. The media uses the internet and so can we; to fight back as best we can. And one of those ways is to have watch parties with those of us who love Tolkien and the world he created.
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