LORD OF THE RINGS: Morfydd Clark's Unexpected Response to Series Backlash
Morfydd Clark, the talented actress portraying Galadriel in LOTR: The Rings of Power, fearlessly confronts the show's critics despite the backlash it received during its first season
It is widely known that Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power received various critical opinions from viewers throughout its first season. However, Morfydd Clark seems to have a surprisingly practical perspective on such reactions.
While the stars of The Rings of Power continue to face racist attacks from fans, there are valid concerns expressed by the show's viewers. The Lord of the Rings series started off strong, with impressive viewership numbers in its initial episodes. Unfortunately, those numbers declined rapidly as audience interest waned over the season, with only 37% of US viewers and 45% of international audiences sticking around until the end.
Some credit the disappointment to a lack of cohesion and direction on The Rings of Power's part, with season 1 appearing to serve as an overly expensive prelude to the main storyline. However, Clark, who portrays Galadriel, remains unfazed by these critiques; she appears to embrace them. "I believe art is meant to be critiqued," Clark shared in an interview with Den of Geek. "It doesn't truly exist as a work of art if it's not open to observation and discussion. I've been involved in several horror films, and I've genuinely enjoyed engaging in conversations about them. I think it's a similar experience with fantasy, as it resonates with different individuals in unique ways. So it has been quite fascinating, genuinely. My sister is quite active online and she frequently sends me intriguing excerpts from people's discussions about what they took away from [The Rings of Power]."
However, Clark is not ignoring the racist backlash against actors of color in The Rings of Power. He distinguishes between critique and abusive behavior, calling out those who use racism as an excuse to harass the show's stars. Clark takes pride in the show's diverse cast and welcomes artistic critiques. The harassment became so severe that even Lord of the Rings movie actors spoke up against it.
The first season of The Rings of Power primarily establishes a more focused storyline for the second season. Starring alongside Clark are Markella Kavenagh, Robert Aramayo, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Nazanin Boniadi, Tyroe Muhafidin, Charles Edwards, Daniel Weyman, Owain Arthur, Charlie Vickers, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and Maxim Baldry. These actors portray both new and returning characters in a Middle-earth set prior to the events of the original Lord of the Rings. In this time, the Dark Lord Sauron has seemingly disappeared. However, appearances can be deceiving, and by the season's end, each character's life has been irrevocably altered as Sauron returns and obliterates a once-great kingdom of Men to establish his new realm of Mordor.
The writers of The Rings of Power will genuinely consider valid criticisms for season 2. Rest assured that those worried about their honest complaints being overshadowed by racism can feel relieved. Let's hope that the actors receive some relief from these attacks while the show can fully realize its potential.
Stream season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video.
Source: Den of Geek
