I am surprised that this has not gotten more responses.
My initial reaction is what
Bethberry does not want; there's plenty of good stuff in the appendices to base a story upon without taking a red pen to "canon." The counterpoint is that no matter what Amazon did, there would be folks that would complain.
And while Bethberry doesn't seem to want a list of complaints, here are some suggestions where things could have been different.
- Don't make Galadriel a warrior princess. But I get this. Amazon did what Tolkien did. "Unwin wants a sequel. What can I hook on to from what I wrote to create a new story with a bridge to the old story." Galadriel is the "hook."
- No need for the magic tree. Simply take 10 minutes to explain why the Elves might want their Three Rings (and the others).
- No need for the Stranger. Again, I get the "why." He's popular and compelling.
- No need for Halbrand as portrayed. The Annatar/Sauron the corruptor story is fine.
- Why kill Celeborn (if he is "dead")?
- Make Gil-Galad and Celebrimbor better and more compelling characters. They are important to the story are JRRT wrote it.
Just a few quick thoughts.