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Culture War Roundup for the week of September 5, 2022

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The problem with Galadriel isn't so much her unrestrained ability but the form it takes. She's supposed to be a beautiful but prideful maiden who grows into the wise sorcerer-queen we see in the third age through experience.

Her skill is cunning, not strength. She's an enigmatic plotter with an inscrutable mind, not some formidable warrior.

Having her prancing around killing giant beasts feels like if you made a biopic of Talleyrand where he keeps shooting people himself.

Her being a warrior doesn't bother me too much. There are enough references by Tolkein to her Amazonian disposition and whatnot (I think one of her knicknames is literally "man-maiden" or something similar) in various versions of the Legendarium to justify that choice.

My problem is that she has the personality and motivations of a YA protagonist. She's been placed in the role of "plucky young hero who is the only one aware of the coming evil but is constantly belittled and looked down upon by the 'adults,' despite being right about everything." Even though at this point in the story she is canonically the oldest, wisest, most noble person currently present in Middle Earth. She's supposed to be an exiled revolutionary leader forbidden to return to Valinor because decided she would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven, but the character doesnt have any of that gravitas on the show.