I mentioned this on Discord, but I got to see the first two episodes in Cinemark XD, and this show is MEANT to be viewed on the big screen. This is the most expensive show in history, and it shows, and the only way to truly appreciate it is to view it on as big a screen as possible.
I saw episode 3 last night on my LG 55” 4K QLED, and though it was still impressive, I felt it wasn’t quite the experience of the first two episodes.
As for the show itself, I wouldn’t call myself a Tolkien purist, so I can appreciate it for what it is. The changes & liberties taken don’t really bother me. I like the characters, especially Elrond and Deesa. Galadriel, though the casting is great, I’m still not totally onboard with her arc thus far. But I’ll give it time.
I do hope meteor man is not who we all think he is, and that it’s a red herring. But it’s looking more & more like it’s exactly who we all think he is.