I should note that I've read the Silmarillion a few times, and the LoTR maybe a half dozen times. I don't know why but I've always found the mythology to be super interesting to me, and the world felt so rich.
And that’s actually what I’m loving about this series
The movies are great as epic fantasy with a bit of lore as icing
RoP feels like actual mythology
And maybe one of the greatest myths ever