Elves such as Arondir and dwarves such as Princess Disa receive non-European casting that overrides the source material's northern European mythological foundations, with parallel alterations applied to Harfoots and Númenórean figures including Queen Regent Míriel. These are not organic additions but deliberate production decisions that insert contemporary diversity requirements into a setting defined by its original cultural specificity. Creator and cast statements explicitly position the series as multicultural inclusion meant to mirror 2022 society and reject any 'all-white' depiction of Middle-earth, elevating this framing as a core justification for the changes.

The resulting audience reception shows intense backlash, including review-bombing tied directly to the casting choices rather than isolated plot issues. This combination of forced casting, overt creator intent, and measurable viewer rejection demonstrates how the progressive elements function as intrusive mandates that erode the work's fidelity to its source and alienate its primary audience.