The Beard of Théoden

[Brinniel]

The change that happens in Théoden's appearances is simply too dramatic. All of the sudden his hair is brushed and his huge beard pretty much disappears.

I personally imagined the change to be less dramatic. . . More like a man discovering he is not as old as he thought. He would straighten his back, speak with a clearer voice maybe gain some glimpse in his eye.

Well, as a reader of the books, of course you would feel that way. But subtlety was never meant for cinema. Everything must be overdone, otherwise the more ignorant audience would not understand the true condition of Theoden.

Perhaps we ought to ask a non-reader if they thought the scene was overdone.

In the film, the allegedly cured Theoden spends most of the Helms Deep battle sulking in the cellar, muttering surly, unhelpful comments that belong to the Saruman-infected book-Theoden.

I agree. The one thing I was always bothered about Theoden was his constant negativity not only throughout TTT, but also into RotK...