The Harfoots, one of the 3 Hobbit species, the Stoors being another, were in the region the show depicts them as being in at the time the show is set. They aren't invented out of thin air and dropped into the story and I think that considering the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings revolve around them, and that one of them will be Sauron’s downfall, it would feel strange not to show their origins. I'm sure if the series was a Hobbit free zone there would be articles criticising the writers for missing an opportunity. Also, now that the Ents have appeared, they would be the only race of the Free Peoples not to be included.

As to the wizard, he couldn't be Saruman without there being a total narrative collapse so I'm glad that's been written off as an idea. I know that the wizards shouldn't be in it but I'm glad they are. By the time of the Jackson films magic is in decline in Middle Earth and it makes sense to take advantage of the series being set in a more wonderous age. It will be great to see how they invent the story of the blue wizards from the ground up.

Funny how even the writer of this article refers to the Adrogums as monsters and the Doctor turning into a monster while complaining at how they were described by the Doctor. Especially as a far less human race appears in the story who are monstrous in their actions and attitudes also appeared in the story, namely the Sontarans.

The story does have some interesting moral commentary about food animals and how we justify eating something because our culture say it's fine while judging other cultures for what they eat. However I agree that the Second Doctor was poorly served by the script.