Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmovies cut a tragic event fromJ.R.R. Tolkien’s books, andit would have hit even harder afterThe Rings of Power. Although theLOTRmovies and the Amazon show aren’t technically connected to one another, their links to Tolkien’s works make overlap inevitable. And in some ways,The Rings of Powerenhances Jackson’s films in hindsight. Sauron’s depiction is certainlyfixing a problem withThe Lord of the Rings’villain, and the Stranger’s story is shedding light on what Gandalf might have gone through years earlier.
The Harfoot narrative is also poised to lead intoThe Lord of the Rings,asit seems more likely than ever thatNori Brandyfoot will found the Shire. Given the location’s significance to Frodo Baggins' story inLOTRand Bilbo’s adventure inThe Hobbit,it’s exciting thatThe Rings of Powerisrevealing the Shire’s originall these years later. And had Jackson’s films included the final confrontation from Tolkien’s books, it would have hit even harder after watching Nori’sTROPjourney unfold.
The Lord Of The Rings Movies' Cut One Of The Books' Most Devastating Battles
The Scouring Of The Shire Doesn’t Happen In The Return Of The King
The Lord of the Ringsmovies cutthe Scouring of the Shirefrom the end of Frodo’s story, with Jackson determining it wouldn’t work inThe Return of the King. To the director’s credit, his reasons for excluding the battle are valid. In Tolkien’s source material, the Scouring of the Shire takes place afterthe One Ringis destroyed and Sauron is defeated. Tolkien’s point that it would have felt “anticlimactic” after all this makes sense (viaCBR), and that’s not to mention that it would have made an already long finale even longer.
The Rings Of Power Season 3’s Saruman Replacement Has 1 Big Difference To LOTR’s Villain
The Rings of Power has established its Saruman replacement, but the character will be different from the Lord of the Rings villain in one big way.
Even so,the Scouring of the Shire is an important and devastating part of Tolkien’s narrative, as it sees the Hobbits realizing the place they call home isn’t safe from the darkness engulfing Middle-earth. They successfully take the Shire back from Saruman and his forces, but the destruction and loss prove a tragic reminder of all that’s happened. The battle certainly leaves its impact on Frodo and the other Hobbits, and it would be more emotional for viewers after watching oneRings of Powernarrative unfold.
The Scouring Of The Shire Would Have Hit Harder After The Rings Of Power’s Shire Story
Showing The Shire’s Founding Would Make It More Tragic
The Scouring of the Shire would have been an emotional battle if Jackson included it inThe Return of the King,andit would have been even more powerful afterThe Rings of Power’s Shire story.The Rings of Powerseason 2 sees Nori and Poppymeeting the Stoors, and their leader, Gundabel, sheds light on the group’s connection to the Harfoots. She also reveals their longing for a true home, which is clearly positioning the Hobbit ancestors to find the Shire later on.
Seeing the Shire founded — and learning what it means to the Hobbits' ancestors — gives the location even more importance.
Seeing the Shire’s creation — and learning what it means to the Hobbits' ancestors — gives the location even more importance.This would make it even harder to watch the Scouring of the Shire unfold, as Saruman and his forces would be destroying the very thing Nori and the Stoors longed and worked for. This would add weight to the devastation of Tolkien’s Third Age event, with the two narratives once again playing off one another. Unfortunately, they can’t do that afterThe Lord of the Ringscut this major book sequence.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
