History Fridge / TheLordofTheRings

* At first glance, with it's ridiculous StoryBreakerPower, the Army of the Dead would've been handy at the Black Gate as the armies of Gondor and Rohan were devastated at the Siege of Minas Tirith. However, there are actually reasons why Aragon would only use them to save Minas Tirith instead.

*** The fact that the Haradrum and Easterlings showed up on Sauron's doorstep as full unquestioning allies of his likely indicates that they failed in their mission. Sauron would have likely turned on them once Gondor and Rohan would have fallen; wise counselors would have managed to convince them of the folly of said alliance.

* Saruman preferring Sauron to the wizards in his own order makes more sense if you recall that both Sauron and Saruman had been Maiar of Aulë, Vala of technology and craft. The guys were easy to find common language, which went beyond just being tacticl allies: there is a common train of thought - as in, reliance on unusual technology - between Sauron's Grond and Saruman's gunpowder.
** Of course, on a meta level it rather reflects Tolkien's deep suspicion of modern industry, as most clearly shown in the Scouring of the Shire.

* Saruman preferring Sauron to the wizards in his own order makes more sense if you recall that both Sauron and Saruman had been Maiar of Aulë, Vala of technology and craft. The guys were easy to find common language, which went beyond just being tacticl allies: Isengard under Saruman and Mordor under Sauron even look alike, and there is a common train of thought - as in, reliance on unusual technology - between Sauron's Grond and Saruman's gunpowder.

* At ''The Return of the King'''s climax, we see [[spoiler: Frodo hanging over the edge of the Crack of Doom, exhausted and guilt-ridden for allowing himself to succumb to the Ring’s corruption; unsure if he still wants to live. Meanwhile, the Ring is not quite destroyed as it sits and shimmers on top of the magma. It would seem that the Ring is using the last bit of its power, of its very existence, to try to claim Frodo’s life (just as Galadriel had forewarned). For its influence lies not only in corruption but also making one give into despair. Frodo is at his weakest, so it would seem like he would give up all hope and fall. However, Sam would not have any of it as he pleads with Frodo to take his hand and not let go; to not give into despair. Hearing his best friend’s pleas, Frodo uses what little strength he has left to take Sam’s hand. At that moment, what sway the Ring had left over Frodo was no more as it then disintegrates into the magma. What makes this scene so brilliant is that it illustrates that no matter the influence of evil, no matter the weight of despair, love will always triumph and that hope will prevail. That strength can be found even at one’s weakest of times.]]

* Aragorn throws apples to Merry and Pippin from over his shoulder and out of line of sight. Aragorn is descended from the line of the Kings of Arnor, the Northern Kingdom of the Kingdoms in Exile. Arnor encompassed much of what the Shire was by the end of the Third Age. Hobbits are known for their skill in rock-throwing.

* The flag of Rohan is a white horse upon a field of green with the sun shining behind it. What happens at the end of ''The Two Towers''? Gandalf, riding a white horse, leads the cavalry charge of the green-cloaked Rohirrim to Théoden's aid, with the [[{{CueTheSun}} sun rising behind them.]] Also happens in Return of the King, with Théoden, riding Snowmane, leads a mass of green cloaks with the sun rising behind them (albeit from the wrong direction).

* Shortly after Pippin arrives in Minas Tirith, the Gondorians start a rumor that he's a "prince of the halflings," which he sees as a gross misapprehension. But even though all the specifics are wrong, the rumor [[AccidentallyAccurate is closer to the truth]] than it has any right to be. Pippin is next in line to become Thain of the Shire, so if anyone could be called "prince of the halflings," it'd be him.

* When relating his fight with the Balrog Gandalf says:"Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day." These are ancient abominations that Gandalf refuses to talk about. Even huorns were given some mention. The worst part is that unlike with the other monsters of middle earth it's unlikely that they were hunted to extinction. Meaning "they" could be still be there...waiting for us.

* When relating his fight with the Balrog Gandalf says:"Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day." These are ancient abominations that Gandalf refuses to talk about. Even huorns were given some mention. The worst part is that unlike with the other monsters of middle earth it's unlikely that they were hunted to extinction. Meaning "they" could be still be there...waiting for us.

** The two other wizards are said to have gone into the East, where they are fighting the Enemy on a different front (that was where the Garden of Eden was.) Radagast never had power to confront Sauron directly; his job was to nurture the spirits of plants and animals. and fight in a different way. Only one wizaerd left the fight,

* While the charge of the Rohirrim is one of the most epic movie moments ever, a lot of people thought it was slightly deflated by the ridiculous reaction shot of the stunned Orc commander. He couldn't really believe that three volleys of arrow fire would turn back the charge, could he? But from his position at the bottom of the hill, he couldn't see the vastness of the Rohirrim army. He couldn't imagine that Rohan could field a much larger force than the one Gondor sent to attempt to retake Osgiliath, which he had easily slaughtered. For Rohan to commit so many troops to the battle, they would have to leave their own lands undefended for the benefit of an ally, a risk that he couldn't imagine taking. So he's stunned not just by the fearlessness of the charge, but by the fact that so many Rohirrim are there at all!

* Creator/OrlandoBloom's performance is rather stiff, but he becomes much more expressive whenever Legolas is speaking Elvish. So it might be that Legolas himself is inexpressive because he's not very comfortable speaking Westron. (Elves are known to be very insular, and Elrond and Arwen might be better at Westron because they're leaders and expected to have contact with the outside world. Meanwhile, [[AWizardDidIt Galadriel is magic.]]) Now that ''Film/TheHobbit'' is out we know that he was raised away from the other races, was a bit racist towards Dwarves and later befriended a young Aragorn. That explains why he is so reserved all the time but gets emotional when Aragorn is insulted (the Council), presumed dead (the Cliff) or in danger (Mordor). He is more comfortable around Aragorn but not around the others because he doesn't know them ''at all''. He does start joking with Gimli once they start up a friendship. Everything is done for a reason.

** To some, this idea is quite {{Narm}}y, with the StarWars trash compactor immediately springing to mind...