So-called Tolkien fans launched the hate train against Rings of Power before the series had even aired, leading to an immensely polarizing first season. Reception to the show’s debut season has been mixed, with some fans declaring it an utter failure and others leaning on the show’s better qualities, and potential for future seasons. The backlash against the show came in many forms, but its most insidious was blatantly racist. People pushed back against all of the characters of color, but took particular offense at the inclusion of Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir.
The immense amount of hate hurled at Córdova in the wake of his casting hardly slowed the actor down, and in fact “galvanized” his performance, according to a recent interview with the 35-year-old actor. He was so prepped for the backlash, in fact, that Córdova even found the time to suss out Sauron’s identity long before viewers were littering Reddit pages with “H = S” theories.
The furor around both Rings of Power and House of the Dragon is just starting to die down, but a number of upcoming fantasy endeavors are filling the hole left by both series’ conclusions. One upcoming Netflix series, which mixes a touch of fantasy flavor into its horror approach, is already making waves, as fantasy fans look forward to the release of 1899.
Ismael Cruz Córdova figured out who Sauron was before you did
The true identity of Sauron was a looming mystery through the entirety of Rings of Power’s first season, leaving fans to propose theories and wild guesses about where the Dark Lord of Mordor was hiding. Arondir actor Ismael Cruz Córdova was apparently on the “Halbrand is Sauron” train long before viewers were rattling off the theory, and even made attempts to trip Halbrand actor Charlie Vickers up during filming.
Early trailers for 1899 delight Dark fans and fantasy buffs alike
It’s not quite a fantasy series, but Netflix’s upcoming 1899 has just enough fantasy flavor to entice fans of the genre. A fresh trailer for the series, which is expected to arrive on Netflix on Nov. 17, 2022, sparked excitement through the community, as fantasy fans shared their excitement for a new thriller from the creators of Dark.
The racist backlash to Rings may have made Córdova’s performance stronger
A number of the stars in Amazon Prime’s Rings of Power were the target of near-unceasing hate when the series dropped, but none were quite so unpopular among the racists as Ismael Cruz Córdova. He was the target of consistent racist backlash, but the 35-year-old recently admitted that the hate only made his performance more vital. He reportedly felt “galvanized” by the backlash, and used it as fuel to better his showing on-screen.