My girlfriend watches The Return of the King (Extended) for the FIRST time || Part 2 

Thank you all so much for watching along with us. It's been a fun time going through this Trilogy. Don't forget to check out the video message we received from John Noble at the end of the video. Such a cool experience! And, you know, Patreon blah blah blah www.patreon.com/hthardman

It was mentioned many times in the movies that the elves were leaving Middle Earth as their time had ended. They are going to "Elf Heaven" and Frodo was allowed to go as he was a ring bearer. So when Galadriel told Elrond "The quest will claim his life", she was right but not in the way we may have thought when she said it. Great reactions!

Couple notes on the ending that often go unnoticed: 1. Each separate "ending" ends on a zoom in on Frodo's face and each time you can see his smile fade showing that he's not quite able to find peace. It's not until the final ending where he's leaving that he finally maintains his smile. 2. While Frodo is speaking while Sam is going home, Frodo is telling Sam that now Sam must be present in the Shire and with his family. While Frodo was there, Sam was always going to be torn between his loyalty to Frodo and his responsibilities elsewhere. So Frodo left both for himself so that he could find peace, but also for Sam so that he could truly be present in the life he had. Frodo in a way ends of sacrificing everything throughout these movies. His character gets a lot of hate but his journey in fact was the most difficult, but since it was primarily an internal conflict with the ring, it wasn't as obvious as the more external conflicts that Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, etc went through.

The reason Éowyn had such severe injuries at the end when she was being healed, was because she made contact with the Witch King. First when he hit her shield arm with the mace (you can see that arm pressed up against her body for the rest of the fight), and the other arm was injured when she stabbed him in the face, as you can see her immediately drop the sword and wince in pain. You also see Merry become injured when he stabs the Witch King in the leg. I think in the book, he's just in dire straights as Éowyn is and has to be healed.

Orc: "This fella ain't dead" Sam: "Not dead?" Pippin: "HE'S NOT DEAD!" A+ edit right there

Fun Fact: Sam later went to the undying lands (where the Elves and Frodo go) too since he carried the Ring for a while too, and when Legolas went there he took Gimli with him, Gimli being the first Dwarf to ever go to the Undying Lands

One issue I see a lot of people bring up is asking why Theoden orders the charge into the Oliphaunt line. I get it, it’s suicide for the horses. BUT….. Theoden’s thinking was deeper. He knew that, apart from the soldiers of Gondor, there were also many civilians, women and children, hiding in Minas Tirith. Theoden knew that if the Oliphaunts reached the city walls, then the city could fall and all those civilians would be killed. So his mindset was to protect others, not glory or self preservation.

Jen, I love how much you love Fringe. It is my favorite TV show of all time and I wish more people watched it. I am currently on my umpteenth watch-through of the entire series and this time, after many requests, I've finally gotten my 78-year-old mother to watch along with me! We're in the middle of season 2 and every time I look at the episodes coming up, I get so excited! I think I probably say "Oh yeah! This is one of my favorite episodes!" before each one. LOL

Just a little tidbit: The daughter that Sam picks up at the end of the movie was the actor, Sean Astin's actual daughter. :)

Awesome reaction and analysis! This series is one of my all time favorites, thank you for bringing me along for the ride.

Jenn’s side eyed glance when Sam goes “not if I stick you first” 😂

“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!” That is one of my favourite moments in movie history! Also, I love how the final shot of the movie ends with Sam and his family, as he is the true hero of the story

If they had taken the eagles from the start, which makes the incorrect assumption that the eagles would be willing, Sauron would have spotted them on the approach and sent flying forces to go kill them, and without the army assaulting Mordor the mountain would have been guarded. The whole point was that they had to sneak in and keep Sauron from finding out where the ring was, so flying in would be counterproductive. Gollum attacking Frodo and accidentally falling into the volcano with the ring was also the biggest moral message that Tolkien wanted to deliver with the story, that good could not completely vanquish evil, but also evil is ultimately self-defeating.

after sam's wife died, he went to valinor(undying lands where elves go) as well.. normally, mortals cannot go there but frodo and bilbo were ring-bearers so they were exceptions. sam was considered to be a half ring-bearer and was accepted to valinor. merry and pippin lived in gondor and after they died, they were burried next to aragorn. when legolas and gimli got close to the end of their lives, they too, went to valinor. it is actually such an honour for gimli because he is mortal, not a ring-bearer, and also a dwarf. with them going to valinor, no members of the fellowship left in the middle earth.

Did you know Tolkien had penned an outline for a sequel to the Lord of the rings? It would have been set further in the future to these events with Aragorns grown son.

At 20:20 into the video the LIP Sync is off!!! don’t know if it’s just on my end but the rest of the video the audio does not match your lips.

Fringe is probably my most favourite show of all time. rarely hear anyone talk about it and its exciting.

This movie/series is so powerful. Brings me to tears every single time. Also, important to note that Gandalf bring three eagles at the end. Most likely, one to save Frodo, Sam, and Gollum… 11/11 undisputed Academy goat!

the eagles thingy: couple years ago ive seen a good reasoning that the eagles were Gandalfs original plan... Gandalf met the king of eagles after he was rescued by the eagles from Saruman... they made the plan and were ready and standing by... Gandalf and his supposed ring bearer party would just have to meet the eagles at some agreed meeting spot... so after the creation of the fellowship in Rivendale Gandalf was trying to get the fellowship there to the secret meeting spot... first through the mountain pass and then through Moria... where everything was destroyed by Balrog... even tho...in his last words...Gandalf tried to reveal the secret plan: Fly you fools! (and after Gandalfs return the fellowship was split and Gandalf had no way how to find Frodo... so the plan was logically abandoned then...)

Fun fact. The movie actually touches on Aragorn’s relationship a lot more than the books

Holden and Jen, are quickly becoming my after-work routine. Got my jerk-beef and rice, lets commence the show! Casually found your channel, while looking for more What-IF content. Been hooked since.

Valinor, they left to Valinor! The undying lands. Sam joins him some years later. Also, Legolas built a boat himself and took Gimli there; the only Dwarf that was granted entry.

The Elves are sailing to Valinor, The Undying Lands, which sort of exists on another plane of existence. Eventually, Sam joins them there too.

To Holden’s question about the Eagle debate: In the Fellowship of the Ring when they set off, Gandalf says they must hold their course until they reach the Misty Mountains and from there, their path will turn east to Mordor. Gandalf’s original plan was to lead the group to the Misty Mountains where the eagles live and dwell. And from there they would simply ride them East to Mordor. However when Gandalf apparently “died” in Moria, the fellowship was weakened and tried to continue without him, Gandalf’s loss cost them greatly, for without him, the ring began to corrupt the group more quickly and that’s when Frodo ultimately decided that he must go alone so that the ring wouldn’t turn anyone else against him. Secrecy was always the core to Gandalf’s plan to destroy the ring. The fewer people who knew that Frodo even had the ring, or where he was, the better chance he’d have of getting into Mordor without detection. Even when Gandalf came back as Gandalf the White, he didn’t try to continue his original plan with the Eagles as he knew Frodo would have a better chance without too many eyes being drawn to their presence.

"Denethor" doesn't work unless John Noble plays that part. Solid portrayal of all the character's extremes.

To answer all your questions about "Walter". There was a palantir in the tower behind Denathor. The same type of seeing stone that Saruman had. Even though they don't have the same effect as the ring. Since the ring was Sauron's soul embodied in it. The palantir was basically just a looking glass. Sauron could push his evil energy / aura. Twisting the mind of anyone who was using it. Because of this Denathor knew about the ring early on and sent his favorite son. Sauron basically wanted the leadership of Gondor to fall. That's why Denathor wanted to burn Faramir alive. If you notice right when Denathor catches fire he snaps out of Sauron's control, but by then it's too late. Sauron really didn't know if Aragorn would've lived to take up the mantle as king. Hoping the war for Middle-earth would kill him. That was until Aragorn picked up the palantir and showed Sauron his remade elven sword. To challenge him. Hope this helps. Keep up the great work you too!

In the first movie, Gandalf clearly says flying the ring to Mordor is the easiest route when, as he is about to fall to his death, he tells them "Fly you fools!!!".

The most heart breaking part. This is debatable. Gandalf brought 3 eagles to Mt. Doom. He never gave up and wanted to save Smeagol right till the end

Frodo is leaving with the elves to the undying lands where he will live out the rest of his days free from the scar that the ring left - he has to because of the toll being a ring bearer takes on you, which is why Bilbo also leaves, and why Sam also will eventually have to leave in time(since he also bore the ring, if only for a short time)

It is sort of glossed over in the film, even the extended cut, but source of Lord Denethor's(aka "Walter Bishop", aka John Noble) madness was the same as Saruman's. They each were i possession of Pelantirs(seeing stones) and Sauron infected both their minds a d corrupted their purposes. The only clue to this is that Suddenly Aragornnhas a Pelantir to taunt Sauron in the throne room. This is because it was a different one than the one Gandalf took from Saruman. This second one was already in the throne room where Denethor kept it.

In the books it's explained that Denathor has been using a palantir and Sauron has poisoned his mind into losing all hope. So he knows that Faramir is alive but believes giving him medical attention is pointless because they're all gonna die sooner or later.

0:47 just for Jen giving that reaction, I can see the Patreon patrons voting for them to watch The Hobbit trilogy extended editions lol

The reason the eagles didn’t take Frodo to Mount Doom is explained by Tolkien in his letters. If they flew straight to Mount Doom, they would have stood out like a sore thumb and an easy target. Nazgûl would have had a much easier time finding them and the ring.

[The ring gets cast into mount doom and Sauron is defeated.] Pippin: But what about the ending? Aragorn: You've already had it. Pippin: We've had one, yes. But what about second endings? [Aragorn stares at him, then walks off.] Merry: Don't think he knows about second endings, Pip. Pippin: What about Finales? Conclusions? Denouement? Epilogues? Terminations? Resolutions? He knows about them, doesn't he? Merry: I wouldn't count on it Pip. Half an hour later, Merry is still being proven incorrect.

Gandalf said it in the first movie when they found Gollum following the Fellowship. He foreshadowed the end.

Gimli : I guess that concludes negotiations. Obi Wan Kenobi: You were right about one thing Master, negotiations were short. Padame: No, I call it aggressive negotiations.

The Olyphant’s 🤣🤣🤣 I’m dead. We call him Olyphan-tastic in my group of friends lol

"Upon it sat a shape, black-mantled, huge and threatening. A crown of steel he bore, but between rim and robe naught was there to see, save only a deadly gleam of eyes: the Lord of the Nazgûl... now he was come again, bringing ruin, turning hope to despair, and victory to death. A great black mace he wielded. " -The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"

Gandalf foreshadowed the ending in the first movie when Frodo said that he wished that Bilbo had killed Gollum when he got the ring.

They didn't take the eagles because they didn't want Sauron to know what they were planning. That's why Gandalf chose the Hobbits to take the ring because they are small and can easily sneak around. Sauron didn't even realize Hobbits existed really. Also when Eowyn kills the Witch King. He says no man can kill me because no human man or of the race of man could. When Merry stabbed him with the blade. It was a special blade that made him vulnerable, that's why she could actually kill him. Love yals videos, keep it up 😁👍

Correct me if I’m wrong but the main reason (or at least excuse) for not flying the ring via eagles is that it wouldn’t have been a secret mission and would have easily been sniffed out by the enemy? Like it would have ended up as a battle between the Eagles and The Nazgul (with the Witch King still alive)

Really glad you watched this movie set. This was such an epic offering by Peter Jackson and pretty true to the books for the most part which isn't always the case with these transitions. Really love your content and yours and Jen's impressions from movies and shows. If you have not yet, I recommend watching something that came out last year called One Zoom to rule them all. It is a get together over Zoom with many of the cast and also Peter Jackson. It was an entertaining show with some of the cast interacting and replaying a few significant moments from the films. Also a highlight was when Peter Jackson asks Andy Serkis a question regarding Gollum, Smeagol, and social distancing. Definitely a classic response from Andy. Anyway, thanks again for your content and keep up the good work!

The only reason to watch the theatrical cuts is time saving. Jen is clearly someone who prefer to have access to as much information as possible. Also sometimes the pacing isn't really due to runtime or added scenes but the overall "feel" of the movie which may differ from person to person

Surprised Holden didn’t point out Peter Jackson’s cameo when he was hit with Legolas’ arrow!

if Gandalf shits his pants after he sees whats coming through the door, you are in real real trouble.

Had you watched the theatrical version it would have left you with so many unanswered questions. The extended version answers those unanswered questions. I don’t understand why people don’t see it this way. I mean it’s pretty obvious. I will always go with extended version later if anything.

1:20 fun fact... the dude that Legolas kills on the boat is director Peter Jackson.

Fun fact at the end of the first movie Frodo says I’m glad you are with me to Sam and at the end of this one he says I’m glad I’m with you

its so disturbing hearing this stuff without the soundtrack in the back.

I for one am SOOOO glad you watched the extended cuts! These films are ironically better in the longer cuts because too much critical character development is cut out from the films if you watch them in theatrical versions. Same deal with the Hobbit trilogy; there's such a huge cast that the full cast of characters don't get time to shine if you watch just the theatrical versions. I STILL think that Jen would have liked Fellowship of the Ring more if you had started with the three Hobbit films as she wouldn't be spending the whole film trying to figure out what Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs are and how they differ. The Hobbit films are a better introduction to the world, and the films are best watched in chronological order at this point! When the Elves (and Wizards and Bilbo and Frodo and much later Sam and Gimli) leave Middle-Earth by sea, they're heading to Valinor, the land of the Angels that is removed from the circles of the world and can only be reached by those allowed to go. Gandalf himself is an Angel from Valinor - sent as a messenger by the Archangels (known as Valar). Elves leave Middle-Earth because they have become world-weary; they've tried to extend the magic of their realms on Earth with the 3 Elven Rings but in doing so have made their powers diminish faster. Galadriel herself was forbidden from returning to Valinor for thousands of years because some 8,000 years ago she murdered a bunch of elves in her flight to Middle-Earth seeking vengeance on Sauron's boss for murdering her grandfather and stealing his treasures. But when she refused to take the Ring from Frodo, she "passed the test" and was allowed by God to diminish, and go into the West like the other elves. But for Frodo and Bilbo's services as Ringbearers, they were given special passage on a ship to Valinor by the will of God. Frodo could not have resisted the Ring. Gollum's presence at Mount Doom is not luck. Tolkien wrote that it was a Eucatastrophe, that is, a Good catastrophe - this is the will of God acting through Bilbo and Frodo's merciful allowances for Gollum to live. He compared it as akin to the death and resurrection of Christ, where thereby we all are saved. If Gollum had not been there, Frodo would have been confronted by the 8 surviving Ringwraiths who would have borne the Ring back to Sauron and all would have been lost. This is why mercy is the central message of these books and movies. It is LOVE that conquers all, even if we do not see the hand of God moving until after the fact. The Eagles are messengers of the chief Archangel, Manwë (roughly equivalent to Gabriel and also to Zeus or O∂inn). They do not carry people as great burdens, but rather bear tidings and messages. They agreed to carry Gandalf a short way from Isengard to Edoras, and then later from the mountain Caradhras down to Lórien and finally carried him to Mt Doom to bring Frodo and Sam back, but these are all exceptions. They also only took part in the fight in two specific battles, and do not normally fight. Tolkien himself mentioned that the Eagles were too dangerous of the plot device that could make the journeys irrelevant if used more than sparingly. Ultimately, the Eagles could have been easily shot out of the sky by Orcish arrows, and would have fallen if the Ringwraiths and their Fell Beast flying mounts (what Jen kept calling "dragons") would have prevented them from getting to the Mountain. Anyone who managed to get to the mountain would have the full force of Sauron's eye upon them and would have been overwhelmed by his forces which would have swarmed upon them. The ONLY way they could have made it to the mountain was with great stealth; you saw how quickly the Nazgûl returned to Mount Doom once Frodo revealed himself to Sauron when he put on the Ring. The Eagles would have NEVER arrived in time.

It's been a few years since I've watched any significant footage of this film series, but the final scenes with Sam and Frodo, even as part of this reaction video, still made me tear up.

Funfact: Liv Tyler refused to kiss Aragorns double after the crowning. She wanted to kiss only Aragorn himself

8:41 "Rogue Group, use your harpoons and toe cables, go for the legs!"

Imagine one of the eagles could be corrupted by the ring while taking Frodo to Mordor. And we have an evil eagle master

Watched these three vids on my another account, ( is it is a 55" screen), and commenting from this tablet. I am glad I'd read the book first, (some 20 odd times), in the 80s when my children where tots. Much has been omitted in the movie ofc from the books. It is to be expected. Jackson and crew really pulled this off well. Tolkien is probably the second greatest story ever told. Though I am not a Christian, I can still admit that much. It is strange how popular stories evolve. No jibe, just that we are fallible. There are a lot of stories and people have a tendency screw things up. I've enjoyed your experience of it. gratz on your commitment to one another. ~ cheers

Holden: Top Tier Content Creator Also Holden: Bottom Tier Alcoholic Beverage Taste

Kudos to Holden for uploading an entire series that is 80% muted lol

Fun fact: the actor that plays Gimli is actually 6′ 1″

33:19 Eagles, There aren't many of them, and why not fly over Mordor straight to Mount Doom? Did you *NOT* see the Big Dragon-Like (they aren't dragons) FLYING monsters with undead wraiths on their backs? A number of them Hang around Mordor, patrolling constantly, with or without Nazgul 😉

It's funny, but as a huge fan of the book, Fellowship is my favorite movie by far. Return of the King is great and all, but Jackson really leaned into the cheese. He also really did both Faramir and Gandalf dirty in this movie. Faramir is one of the best characters in the book, and they completely neutered his character in the movies. I hate the deus ex machina with the army of the dead basically being an "I Win" button. Completely cheapens the entire Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Eowyn's stand against the Witch King was so much more epic in the book. Her reveal who she was didn't happen right before she killed him, but when she firsts confronts him. As the reader, it's the first time you even know Dernhelm is actually Eowyn. "A sword rang as it was drawn. 'Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.' 'Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!' Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. 'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.' The winged creature screamed at her, but the Ringwraith made no answer, and was silent, as if in sudden doubt." Jackson then removed what is probably my favorite scene in the entire book by removing Gandalf's stand at the city gates as the Witch King strides through. It was so epic in the book, and the Witch King does not destroy Gandalf's staff. I hate that they basically leveled down Gandalf below the power of the Witch King. In the book, Gandalf the White even tells Pippin the only other being in Middle Earth more dangerous than Gandalf is Sauron himself. "In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face. All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dínen. "You cannot enter here," said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. "Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!" The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter. "Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the city, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of war nor of wizardry, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn. And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns, in dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the north wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

KUDOS to Jen for watching and developing an appreciation. She’s absolutely right: if / when she watches Fellowship again, she’ll likely get a lot more out of it than she did originally. Really hope y’all do The Hobbit. She’ll have much better context for it. I had major reservations about Jackson making three movies out of it. I was afraid he’d just milk it dry and start making stupid shit up. I was VERY pleasantly surprised. Always did want more Thranduil. 🙂

I understand why it wasn’t done but I remember hoping the Scouring of The Shire would be added to the end of the extended edition, it’s such an important part of the books.

12:30 They are both heroes, of course. Sam is just the most "overt" hero of the duo by being so selfless and loyal to Frodo. We all need friends like Sam, and we all need to be a Sam in someone's life. But never overlook Frodo's heroism.

The undying lands is where the elves go when they die. its like their version of heaven. its where the gods that created middle earth reign. Most mortals can never set foot on that hallowed ground but since frodo and bilbo were ring bearers they are allowed to go there. it is in that place only they can find peace from the scars holding the ring burned on their souls.

The eagles didn't fly to Mordor because Sauron had his own air force.

I love that Tolkien didn't have that feminist nonsense scene with Eowyn. Tolkien's take on it was so much deeper.

It's nice she noticed that the ring ultimately wasn't destroyed on purpose. Gollum fell off the edge with it. While this is slightly different to how it happens in the book, it was still ultimately an accident either way. Tolkien did that on purpose. No hero actually defeated evil through their own efforts and its futile for anyone to think he can. Such a person will succumb to the ring, just as Frodo did. That was also why Boromir was so easily affected by it. Tolkien notes that the Lord of the Rings is ultimately about God and Sauron. That's it. It's not about heroic characters defeating evil. God has providence over all and evil will be defeated by Him. The characters are merely instruments of God. Tolkien wrote the books so that the only way that any progress was able to be made toward the destruction of the ring was not trying to destroy the ring, but by acting with love, in humbleness, and duty to others. If Bilbo didn't spare Gollum's life in The Hobbit, and Frodo didn't do so repeatedly on his journey, Gollum wouldn't have been there in the end and the ring wouldn't have been destroyed. If the men didn't march on the Black Gate to draw Sauron's armies away so that Frodo and Sam could get through, the ring wouldn't have been destroyed. They marched on the black gate, not thinking they could defeat the armies of Sauron, but just to help Frodo. They believed they would die, but they did their duty anyway. And, of course, Sam is the perfect example of love, humbleness and duty.

Well Elijah Wood was 18 at the start of filming this movie and Daniel Radcliff was also JUST starting Harry Potter so he'd have been about 11 maybe 12. As "young" as Elijah looks, I don't see him pulling of an 11 year old.

you guys kinda skipped over the dinner song. that was one of the most heart wrenching parts

The Eagles would not have done the "allegedly easy way" because of the danger of killing their whole race - the eagles were few and it would have taken all of them to try an "infiltration" mission. And so they would have seen it as straight suicide - which it would have been had they tried to fly in without an entire war with Gondor to distract BESIDES the key fact that their Arch nemesis would have been the Witch King of Angmar - he whom Eowyn and Merry slayed. So since Mordor's army was whittled down - busy fighting already AND their Witch King Nazgul leader was gone - THAT is why the Eagles could be compelled by Gandalf to come help at that last minute. Another obvious factor - Mt. Doom was always erupting, so it would have been physically impossible to just drop it in - the Eagles, and any other air breathing being - would not have been able to get - or fly in close enough and live to complete the task.

LOTR is filled so much much Christian symbolism its great. Even Gollum had a role to play

Every time she says Legoman I flinch

“It kind of reminds me of soldiers when they come home” That is 100% what Tolkien was trying to convey with these stories.

The look on Jen’s face when she finds out Big H has The Hobbit on BluRay is the same as Theoden’s face when the Nazgûl swoops in 😂😂😂

So a couple wholesome facts about the ends of some characters: 1. Gimli was the only Dwarf allowed to go to the Undying Lands (elf heaven) because of his close friendship with Legolas ( who is a prince among elves) 2. Merry and Pippen both were buried right next to Aragorn because of their service to the kingdom and their friendship

The commonly accepted reasons for why the Eagles aren’t used to carry the ring are as follows: 1- the eagles would refuse to carry the ring 2- the quest requires secrecy and a flock of eagles would have been a big red flag for the enemy. Sauron would have focused more tightly on defense of Mordor 3- it just would have made a terrible story.

I wait for these moments in every reaction, because they all get to me. - "What about side by side with a friend?" - "I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you." - "For Frodo." - "My friends... You bow to no one."

I'm so glad Jen got the similarity between the Hobbits and troops off fighting in foreign lands. Whilst not an allegory; Tolkens experience of war both as a Lieutenant in WW1 and as a citizen of the homefront in WW2 was a key inspiration for his writing. a good example is why Sam is such a great and loyal character - he is based on a amalgamation of the low rank officers - 'batmen' who Tolken observed acting as servants to their more senior officers in the trenches of World War 1.

This is why reading the books are really a must so you can get a full understanding. Bilbo and Frodo we’re invited to go with the elves to the undying lands because they were ring bearers. Sam ends up getting to go as well later on

Regarding Gollum's pivotal role at the end in Mount Doom, I think of the conversation between Frodo and Gandalf in Fellowship: Frodo: 'It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance.' Gandalf: 'Pity? It's a pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play in it, for good or evil, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.'

I would like to mention a plot point that is fairly subtle in the movies but clearer in the books. The those black crystal ball things (called Palantir) are ancient magical objects that allow communication and interaction over great distance. They function like an open telephone line in that anyone who has one is able to "listen in" to the others. Sauron managed to acquire one, and was using it to spy on and psychically / magically assail others who were "on line." Both Saruman and Denethor knew this and also had palantir. Both tried to use the palantir to learn of Sauron's plans and engage in a form of mental battle with him. Sauron's power and corrupting influence was underestimated by both, and their minds were ultimately bent to his will. I think that this makes Denethor a more sympathetic character. He isn't simply and incompetent jerk. He has been vying with the will of Sauron, a task well beyond the capacity of an ordinary man, and had has been mentally broken. When Pippin picks up Saruman's Palantir, he recieves a message meant for Saruman. He sees Sauron's plan to strike against Minas Tirith. Sauron, who knows that a hobbit carries the One Ring, erroneously concludes that Pippen has the ring. This serves a misdirection and explains why Sauron does not act to fortify Mt. Doom or otherwise act in a way that can foil Gandalf's plan.

To Jen's statement of how the Hobbit's felt after the war of the Ring is pretty right on point. Tolkien went through bith World War 1 & 2..and after all that..and even writing the book during WW2. Was just such a weight for him after the war..in a way..Frodo is pretty much a persona of Tolkien in some ways. And as for his fate at the end of this movie mostly is him going into the afterlife, mainly what The Grey Havens is..pretty much a sail to Heaven. I'm so glad you showed Jen these movies..there is so much with these movies and with the behind the scenes of them. It's quite a huge handful and my most favorite movies of all time.

One day after watching this for like the 20th time, I thought that everyone should have a Sam in their life then later I thought that maybe we should all be a little bit Sam for other people.

One subtle detail I love in these movies: whenever there’s a big battle the music swells and gets ultra intense, but as soon as the armies collide it falls silent immediately, leaving you with only the gore and violent sfx of battle. It’s a nice symbolic touch about how we glorify war but often forget how dark and painful it can actually be.

I just finished watching your full reaction on patreon and this edit popped up. Great because I am curious to hear what you guys like and dislike about the trilogy. Also, Jen.. I know you guys are getting married in April, congrats btw. But make sure to check that ring for elfish markings! You.. never.. know..

Those weren't dragons. They're fellbeasts. Dragons are much more impressive. Watch the Hobbit to see one.

Denethor’s “Walter” madness could be contributed to the fact that he had been using a palantir (the seeing stone, same as the one Pippin peered into). Sauron has one, and feeds Denethor visions of the destruction of middle earth. Denethor even uses the palantir after Faramir returns gravely wounded, he comes to Faramir afterwards an even more broken man.

did anyone else noticed in the middle of the video, that the audio was well ahead of the video itself?

I’m sure someone has said it, but the ring not only gets physically heavier (see the bruising on frodos neck as the movies go on) but the ring is sort of slowly poisoning his mind. And the closer to “home” and it’s master that it gets, the stronger that infection takes hold. The ring is an entity of sorts, and as was said about Gollum many times through the movies, it poisoned his mind. So when Frodo is standing there, weak from lack of food, the long journey. No sleep. He was so susceptible to the rings mind. So to speak. And while most humans fold quickly to the power of the ring, it took Frodo that long to get affected so deeply. But there at the end with the weight of it all, he fell to it. And had it not been for Gollum, the ring would have likely gone back to its master. Even fighting for it at the end wasn’t about fighting Gollum, it was just both of them wanting their precious. Also at the end they are all heading to a sort of afterlife. Leaving the human realm. So basically to my understanding or the written words this was the age of men now. And not magic and beasts and mysticism. Frodo no longer felt as part of the world. The damage of the ring went too deep. And so he chose to take his poisoned self away to the afterlife. So to speak.

In the first movie, Gandalf said about Gollum, "It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill. Before this is done, The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."

You can see Holden barely restraining himself from raising his sword arm when Aragorn calls for the stand

This is gonna break Jens heart. Gandalf brought 3 eagles to mount doom at the end. One for Frodo, one for Sam and even one for Sméagol.

They didn't use the eagles for a few reasons firstly is because the eagles are of nature and wouldn't carry it if you remember in Fellowship Frodo offered it two two different people and they realized how corrupt theyd be and get that they said no (Gandalf & Galadriel). Secondly Sauron would've seen it coming and the nazgul would've been there with with a bunch of fellbeasts and the ringbearer couldve been knocked off before that point and they would've lost the ring.

I feel like Gollum trying to take the ring from a Frodo succumbed to Saurons power only to be the reason its destroyed is so symbolic. The corruption of the ring is literally its own downfall. Good begets good, evil begets evil. Nothing evil shall remain and Sauron in a way was the key to his own downfall. I always loved that.

Just an interesting fact, at the end when Gandalf saved Frodo and Sam he came with three eagles. The reason for the third eagle was to also save Smeagol/Gollum.

I know there are many opinions of the Hobbit trilogy (usually negative) but nontheless it's still part of the Lord of the Rings lore and story and well worth the watch. I liked it. Hope to see your reaction to it.

I know of Jen's affection for the military and veterans, not only with the movie connections but overall (and I agree 100%, for mostly the same reason). Since she's a fan of Gimli, I thought I'd share a bit about the actor, John Rhys-Davies. In recent years, he's battled some health issues, and when he does conventions and signings, he is often helped out to his seat because standing and walking is becoming more difficult for him. But any time a veteran comes up to the table (if they're identifiable as such, like wearing a hat or whatever), he stands up to shake their hand and say thank you. Every time. Gimli was heroics, but Rhys-Davies is an icon.

A few fun facts * The Eagle race is on the same stature of mini angels (just like Gandalf and the Wizards) and some would say it's beneath them to let mere humans ride them as a Taxi. * In the Books Saruman doesn't die in Isengard, he escapes and settles down in the Shire while the rest of this movie is taking place. So when the hobbits return they arrive at a Wooden gate and wall and have to defeat Saruman in the Shire.

For why merry and eowyn were almost dead is because of the “black breath” of the witchking. It’s a sort of evil aura that is literally poisonous. Plus all of witchking’s armor and weapons are also influenced with dark spells giving them the same kind of property as the black breath. You could say the witchking is radiated and expels heavy radiation to everyone and everything around him, giving the orcs bonus points and the good guys damage. The dagger/sword merry used to stab the witchking was a special sword made for hurting naz guhls by the sister kingdom of Gondor in the north west. It’s like the good guys form of the morgul blade that stabbed Frodo in part 1. The last thing: the reason why Aragorn had to heal them was because of the “hands of the king”. An idea that the king is so wise and great his healing abilities far surpass great doctors an stuff. Edit: there were 3 eagles flying to mount doom, because Gandalf held out hope that maybe even Sméagol could have survived and would be free of the corruption of the ring. Still awesome move of Gandalf

This is my favourite movie of the trilogy, it has my favourite moments, favourite quotes, favourite story points, favourite locations and favourite scenes from extended version not in theatrical cut... Glad you enjoyed the whole story, both of you.