"Rings of Power" criticism via Charles: manque d'amour

Charles sends me a link to the above criticism of "The Rings of Power," the core of which is that the writers for the show lack love for the story they're trying to tell, and this lack of love reveals itself in the silly character development. This could indeed be the essence of the problem. All of the other accusations thrown at the show—which the above commentator sums up as (1) meandering plot, (2) politics, and (3) butchered lore—could all be pointing at this essential problem. If you lack love for the story, then you won't care about plot development or pacing. You'll also see the story as a mere vessel for your own political ideology, and you certainly won't give a hoot about whatever legendarium—the world-building that came before your world-building—might undergird the original tale.