Could it have worked?

[Cailín]

I completely agree with the Osgiliath scene in the Two Towers being unnecessary. It was not very interesting, not very convincing and not even very sensational after the impressive scenes of the battle of Helm's Deep.

Though the extended version made it all somewhat better, I was disappointed in PJ's portrayal of Faramir. I also don't agree that it made the Ring look more powerful and harder to resist, for it is easier to believe someone turning away from it directly than someone who had already a mind to take it and then eventually decide against it. It is rather like smoking (though, naturally, the Ring was a bit more powerful - and arguably more lethal - than a cigarette): it's easier to turn away from it all together than to give up once you've decided to start.

I do think the flashback scene would have been a great idea. In general, I'd say that Faramir's so-called character arch annoyed me most in all the Lord of the Rings movies.