First look at Evangeline Lilly in 'The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug'

[Galadriel55]

First impression: Is she the long-lost daughter of long-lost Maglor of something? She looks Feanorian.

Second impression: She looks old and not too beautiful. Bad job, whoever was working on her.

Third impression: Is that quiver hanging on her waist? I think we only saw the ones on the back in LOTR.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

First impression: Is she the long-lost daughter of long-lost Maglor of something? She looks Feanorian.

Well, red hair was exclusively limited to Mahtan's line... but then again, PJ doesn't have access to that material so he's free to do as he pleases.

The quiver seems to be hanging on her waist indeed. More practical than having it on the back, in my opinion.

I reserve my judgment till I've seen what PJ does with her. I'm not too hopeful because we know what he's capable of, but hey, somebody's got to be the captain of guard, and unlike many, while I'm skeptical by default about all PJ's additions, I don't have a problem with her being a woman.

[Kuruharan]

Wait...I must be way out of the loop, but I thought I read something that said her character had been cut.

Also, there is something about the ears that is bothering me...they are too noticable or something.

And, because of the recent Star Trek movie, I look at her and think "Vulcan."

[Zigûr]

I have no particular objection to her appearance, although I can't help but feel a slight "cut-price Arwen" vibe for whatever reason.
The most objectionable thing I've heard about this character is the alleged Elf-Dwarf romance (involving Kíli, perhaps?). Seems to just perpetuate the previous film's attitude that Dwarves are only "interesting" if they're basically just short Men.

Incidentally, is there a particular reason, do you think, that Tolkien never (to the best of my knowledge) suggests "half-Dwarves" or any interbreeding of that kind? Besides the insular nature of Dwarven culture, I mean. I always supposed that being "adoptive" children of Eru, there was something slightly alien about them in almost a physiological sense which put something of a divide between them and the explicitly "human" races which interbred: Elves, Men (including Hobbits) and Orcs (assuming they were Fallen Children). That's my more lore-based reason for why I find the romance rumour a bit dodgy.

Knowing PJ's tendencies though she'll probably end up with about three lines of incidental dialogue in large group scenes and lots of shots of her and Legolas intercut fighting spiders, werewolves, goblins, Ringwraiths, giant robotic Saurons, mûmakil riding slightly larger mûmakil, and Azog. Well, maybe that last one's a bit far-fetched...

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Incidentally, is there a particular reason, do you think, that Tolkien never (to the best of my knowledge) suggests "half-Dwarves" or any interbreeding of that kind? Besides the insular nature of Dwarven culture, I mean. I always supposed that being "adoptive" children of Eru, there was something slightly alien about them in almost a physiological sense which put something of a divide between them and the explicitly "human" races which interbred: Elves, Men (including Hobbits) and Orcs (assuming they were Fallen Children). That's my more lore-based reason for why I find the romance rumour a bit dodgy.

Well, inter-racial combinations were rare even between Men and Elves, and they were fundamentally more alike then Dwarves were to either. Add that to the fact that Dwarven women could have had longer beards than the male part of the equation, and maybe there lies the explanation.

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Knowing PJ's tendencies though she'll probably end up with about three lines of incidental dialogue in large group scenes and lots of shots of her and Legolas intercut fighting spiders, werewolves, goblins, Ringwraiths, giant robotic Saurons, mûmakil riding slightly larger mûmakil, and Azog. Well, maybe that last one's a bit far-fetched...

That's far too restrained for PJ.

[Bêthberry]

There were warrior women in ancient mythologies--the Amazons. They were even said to resort to mastectomies in order to improve their use of weapons.

So, like Aganzir, I don't necessarily object to adding a female character (which I view as less troublesome than mucking up Arwen). I just don't have much faith that the director will handle the character well. Or the writers for that matter.

It would be really nice, for instance, if the added new female character passed the Bechdel test.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

It would be really nice, for instance, if the added new female character passed the Bechdel test.

You know, Tolkien was able to present us with strong, memorable female characters like Morwen, Éowyn, and of course Galadriel, without coming near Hollywood-type clichés. Can PJ pull that off? Not if the past is any indication...