[Mithadan]

Good to see you Blind Guardian.

Pretending that RoP is a myth or tale independent of (or unreported by) Tolkien may be an option available to some here. However, the series is using characters, places and a general mythological setting familiar to me. The Hobbit movies almost lost me at the depiction of Radagast, and did lose me in goblin town. Tauriel was simply annoying to me, though perhaps I would have enjoyed her character in a non-Tolkien setting.

Attempting to view RoP as if it were unrelated to or independent of Middle Earth is not an option for me. For this reason, I hope that its quality and faithfulness to at least the spirit of the Legendarium is enough to let me enjoy it. There are gaps in the "history," particularly in the Second Age, broad enough to craft a believable effort to fill in the empty spaces so long as some creditable attempt at consistency is made.