End of Return of the King

[Galadriel55]

Hi stryfe, welcome to the Downs!

Yes, I also had a similar feeling, and I'm sure many other Downers did as well. But compared to some of Tolkien's 1st Age stories that have a sense of finality that leaves nothing, emptiness, after them (I am talking about The Children of Hurin in particular, but The Silmarillion is full of these as well), LOTR has a gentler, bittersweet sense. All the characters have their end. Frodo and Sam left, unable to enjoy the peace in Middle Earth. But we know that they will be happy in Valinor - as happy as they could be. It's a logically happy, but emotionally sad ending. This doesn't make it less touching than the others, though. Just different.

In my opinion sad endings are better than happy ones, in general. There are many who disagree with me, but... happy endings don't have that effect. They don't leave something empty in you. Sad endings leave you more to think on.

LOTR has a nice, gentle, sad ending. COH has a bang-all's-lost sad ending. The Silmarillion has a slow/gradual defeat sad ending. The Hobbit has a now-I'm wiser-and-grown-up sad ending. That's one reason they're all so different but so touching at the same time.