My wife and I watched the first episode last night and I had the exact same reaction you describe. Part of the problem, I think, is that they are trying to please everybody, with too many characters. And why is it that all the human characters (with one exception), are repulsive? Why does the hero have to be a warrior Galadriel? There is no hint in the original trilogy that she is an expert at combat. Couldn't they have created a new character (which they essentially have done, but taken the safe route of making her Galadriel)? That they are balancing this mess on Galadriel and Elrond demonstrates that the writers are taking the lazy way out. I too will keep watching, but only for a limited number of episodes if it doesn't get better.