Merry at the Black Gate - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

MatthewM · 07-20-2006, 10:13 PM

Was it really needed to have Merry march with Pippin to the Black Gate? Did this bug anybody else? PJ even made Merry hold his arm after stabbing the Witch-King. You think he could have kept him in the Houses of Healing...geez.

I think it would have been great if Pippin just went, like in the books. I also think they should have let Pippin slay a troll. It was his shining moment as his growth from a "Fool of a Took" came full circle...

Essex · 08-06-2006, 11:55 AM

Fair point but it makes it worthwhile when we see the two hobbits charge together following Aragorn before anyone else, for Frodo....!

also, Movie Pippin is given more of a role in ROTK to beef him up a bit, but again, I would have liked to see the Troll attack too.

10-05-2006, 05:27 AM

No merry and pipin belong together. they always have been together. so they should have both went to the gate. otherwise people would have wondered why merry didn't go.

Trotter · 10-05-2006, 09:52 AM

This is a wonderful example of what happens when a director tries to do what the book says and what he wants to do at the same time. If PJ wanted Merry at the Black Gate he shouldn't have made him get wounded, and vice versa.

Sir Kohran · 10-05-2006, 12:55 PM

It does make sense in movie terms, as there is the added emotional power of all the remaining Fellowship travelling to the last battle together for Frodo's sake. Leaving Merry behind removes this emotional fulfilment and completeness.

Laitoste · 10-08-2006, 03:56 PM

I don't see why having Merry at the Black Gate is a big deal, to be honest...when you cut out the scenes at the Houses of Healing, it would have been too confusing to not have him around. He would have just disappeared for large chunk of the film. People probably didn't even think twice about him being wounded--they probably assumed, that with so many wounded, Aragorn & co. would have just rounded up anyone able to stand.

I certainly agree that Pippin should have had the opportunity to slay a troll, and can't imagine why they didn't. They are, after all, big on "character growth," and the audience would have loved it.

07-20-2006, 10:13 PM	#1
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 627	Merry at the Black Gate Was it really needed to have Merry march with Pippin to the Black Gate? Did this bug anybody else? PJ even made Merry hold his arm after stabbing the Witch-King. You think he could have kept him in the Houses of Healing...geez. I think it would have been great if Pippin just went, like in the books. I also think they should have let Pippin slay a troll. It was his shining moment as his growth from a "Fool of a Took" came full circle... __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

10-05-2006, 05:27 AM	#3
OrcLeaderalpha Guest Posts: n/a	no No merry and pipin belong together. they always have been together. so they should have both went to the gate. otherwise people would have wondered why merry didn't go.

10-05-2006, 09:52 AM	#4
Trotter Pile O'Bones Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The South Downs Posts: 24	This is a wonderful example of what happens when a director tries to do what the book says and what he wants to do at the same time. If PJ wanted Merry at the Black Gate he shouldn't have made him get wounded, and vice versa. __________________ Trotter... the Hobbit ranger with the wooden shoes.

10-05-2006, 12:55 PM	#5
Sir Kohran Wight Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: England, UK Posts: 178	Emotion... It does make sense in movie terms, as there is the added emotional power of all the remaining Fellowship travelling to the last battle together for Frodo's sake. Leaving Merry behind removes this emotional fulfilment and completeness. __________________ 'Dangerous!' cried Gandalf. 'And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord.'

10-08-2006, 03:56 PM	#6
Laitoste Wight Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Behind the hills Posts: 164	I don't see why having Merry at the Black Gate is a big deal, to be honest...when you cut out the scenes at the Houses of Healing, it would have been too confusing to not have him around. He would have just disappeared for large chunk of the film. People probably didn't even think twice about him being wounded--they probably assumed, that with so many wounded, Aragorn & co. would have just rounded up anyone able to stand. I certainly agree that Pippin should have had the opportunity to slay a troll, and can't imagine why they didn't. They are, after all, big on "character growth," and the audience would have loved it. __________________ "If we're still alive in the morning, we'll know that we're not dead."~South Park

08-06-2006, 11:55 AM	#2
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	Fair point but it makes it worthwhile when we see the two hobbits charge together following Aragorn before anyone else, for Frodo....! also, Movie Pippin is given more of a role in ROTK to beef him up a bit, but again, I would have liked to see the Troll attack too.