Anecdotally, I've known only a handful of people who've watched the show & none of them have anything good to say about it. I couldn't make it through season 1. I love Tolkien's world, but this show didn't feel like it at all. The show doesn't effect Tolkien's work at all as it has little to do with it, & if it inspires people to read the books all the better. Congrats for you all that are digging it though.