If PJ was just interested in keeping TT running time down, then he could have jettisoned the gratuitous 'Aragorn MIA' section. I would agree that he made this decision to build up the Frodo/Sam action in ROTK. Once they are clear of Shelob, Cirith Ungol and Gollum, then it's just a slow plod to the Cracks of Doom, and all the narrative interest would be with the other characters back in Gondor. We'll need to see the result, of course, but it might well be a wise decision.
|