Lord of the Rings TV series gets multi-season order at Amazon

[Andsigil]

I was thinking about this thread the other day. Assuming that this series doesn't become a cesspool of intersectional politics, I'd genuinely like to see all original characters and storylines, with the known Tolkien characters in the background or in cameo appearances.

The reason for this is because we already know the fates of the existing characters, which takes some of the adventure out of the story.

Example: Aragorn is in a cliffhanger ending. Well, it's not really a cliffhanger because we know that, no matter what, Aragorn will survive to appear later in Rivendell and save Middle Earth afterward.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

Example: Aragorn is in a cliffhanger ending. Well, it's not really a cliffhanger because we know that, no matter what, Aragorn will survive to appear later in Rivendell and save Middle Earth afterward.

How about Aragorn's younger, and decidedly not as smart, missing brother Bewilderon? Lost in the woods as a youth (because he's unable to get his ranger badge as an Elf Scout), he gets raised by an irascible but loveable family of Orcs who, try as they may, just can't get Bewilderon to assimilate into Orkish society. Much humor and confusion ensues as Bewilderon and Aragorn's paths keep crossing throughout Middle-earth.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

How about Aragorn's younger, and decidedly not as smart, missing brother Bewilderon? Lost in the woods as a youth (because he's unable to get his ranger badge as an Elf Scout), he gets raised by an irascible but loveable family of Orcs who, try as they may, just can't get Bewilderon to assimilate into Orkish society. Much humor and confusion ensues as Bewilderon and Aragorn's paths keep crossing throughout Middle-earth.

Younger? Identical twins, surely?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Younger? Identical twins, surely?

Who eventually turns to evil out of jealousy of the "perfect" Aragorn, and ends up becoming the Mouth of Sauron! They ought to hire me as a writer.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Who eventually turns to evil out of jealousy of the "perfect" Aragorn, and ends up becoming the Mouth of Sauron! They ought to hire me as a writer.

Nah, the real twist will come (at the end of season three or four) when Aragorn is killed and Evilagorn takes his place as part of some long con to infiltrate Lórien--but it turns out that Arwen is there and he falls as head-over-heels as his twin did and he commits to BEING Aragorn thenceforth and was actually the Strider that we come to know in The Lord of the Rings all along--the pipeweed (such an unelvish habit) is the only indicator left.

[Faramir Jones]

Formendacil, I found what you wrote here interesting:

Nah, the real twist will come (at the end of season three or four) when Aragorn is killed and Evilagorn takes his place as part of some long con to infiltrate Lórien--but it turns out that Arwen is there and he falls as head-over-heels as his twin did and he commits to BEING Aragorn thenceforth and was actually the Strider that we come to know in The Lord of the Rings all along--the pipeweed (such an unelvish habit) is the only indicator left.

However, I then asked myself this question: 'Should you be giving certain people bad ideas?'

[Boromir88]

I just wonder about the balance there... ~Inzil

It is a difficult balance, but can be done. Sounds like they're trying to go with a "faithful fan-fiction" approach. Not too dissimilar from our RPG structure on the 'Downs. I was never very involved in the role-playing forums here, but I always appreciated the structure to keep it grounded in Tolkien and Middle-earth, and not stray into the Star Wars realm of fan-fiction.

We could only guess at this point...but maybe "completely original" in terms of characters and plot, but a "faithful adaptation" in terms of setting, background and overall vision (in what leads up to Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings").

It can be successful and funny that essentially the Lord of the Rings isn't so much a black and white battle between good vs. evil. It's more about the battle between Hope and Despair. "Hope" in the even the very wise can not predict all ends, there's always a "Fool's Hope." Despair in "there is no hope, I know and can predict what the end is going to be." For me, when I think of the Hollywood business, despair has won. I know we're going to get the same recycled, uninspiring, dumbed down attempts to be "original" and appeal to the masses.