This is clearly a fan service and with all the detail and care put into cultivating the middle earth. Lots of folks are complaining that it's starting slow and that's because it's Tolkien and not George RR Martin. Heads aren't going to role and there isn't going to be comically bad villains and over the role betrayals. This show is clearly building towards some epic middle earth battles and the cinematography has been the best I've ever seen in a tv show. The Orcs? Even better than in Peter Jackson's movies. The only thing I would like to see improved in season 2 and on is cleaning up the dialogue and putting a little more substance to the dialogue. Over all solid 8/10 so far.
