The only lore-breaking thing that I find actually problematic is dropping an Istari down in the middle of the second age, which suggests the Valar are already taking the threat of Sauron really seriously, which IMO defeats the main thematic point of the second age, of Elves and Men using their combined strengths to defeat a major enemy without the assistance of the Valar.
Beyond that, I'm pretty satisfied with the series so far. Like indes said, I'm just happy to be back in Middle Earth, and IMO they got the feel of it pretty right, which is the most important thing.
Also, regarding Galadriel swimming across the ocean, she definitely didn't. She would likely know that the isle of Numenor isn't far from where she abandoned the elvish boat (one could see Tol Eressea, the first island off the shore of Valinor, from the top of Numenor). Swimming in that direction was easily her best chance of rescue, whether it's reaching Numenor herself or getting found by a Numenorian boat. If anything it's less plausible that a ragtag group of humans from the southlands were able to sail a ship so far to the west.
|