[Guess That Show] Fun fact: if the show doesn't interest you, you can just not watch it

I don't mean to alarm any of you guys, but the one and only authority on what is and isn't Lord of the Rings canon died in 1973.

That's right -- with the exception of the writings of the Professor published posthumously, nothing in the LotR franchise has actually been canon! Movies, games, now shows -- none of them can actually affect what was written by JRRT in his lifetime. What this means is that the new show -- get this -- is not actually canon, and never would have been!

In addition, not only can the show not affect canon, it also can't impact any previously made films! Neither of Peter Jackson's film trilogies will have to acknowledge what happens in TRoP. This is actually due to a little-known phenomena called time, which caused Jackson's films to be released before TRoP.

What this means is one of two things: if the show is good, we'll have something to look forward to for five seasons. If it's bad, we have the option of just not watching it because it won't affect anything! Unlike other prominent media franchises, like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, no new canon content is being made (and that which is being published was written before any prominent Tolkien adaptation), so any new media can be safely ignored.

It truly is wonderful how one can just choose not to engage in something they dislike, isn't it?

Edit: upon further reflection, my initial post can easily read as me asserting that the show is immune to criticism given its noncanonical nature. That's not a sentiment I meant to convey -- if a show is deserving of criticism it should be criticized. I'm sorry if my post seemed to reflect that point of view. I also see how "it won't affect anything because it isn't canon" is a flawed argument, as the show will influence future LotR media, regardless of that media's relationship to this show. I do, however, stand by my view that much of the concern regarding this show is hyperbolic