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r/lotr•
tpklus

2 LotR Questions (movies)

I have recently rewatched the movies. 2 things came to mind-

Why doesn't Gandalf tell Gimli that the dwarves in Moria are dead? It feels like a scummy move to just have him blindsided while in the mine.

Did Gandalf get resurrected in Fangorn Forest or did he just travel there himself? Seems odd that he would pop up there. Also, the fact that Treebeard knew he was there despite being asleep(?) Or in a tree coma or something. If they did meet before then Gandalf missed an opportunity in Making strategy with the Ents.

I read the books some time ago but don't remember straight answers to these questions.

Edit: Just thought of a new question. Why didn't the Fellowship take the Eagles straight to Mt. Doom..... jk ;)

Posted Dec 3, 2020, 2:26 AM UTC

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HarlowGumshoeElf•

I’m going to answer from the book perspective here. Gandalf and Gimli both know that Balin and company had gone into Moria some time ago and that no one had heard from them for a long time. Everyone had assumed that something bad happened to them but there had been no confirmation so in the book Gimli is interested in Moria because he wants to find out what actually happened to Balin and not so much because he thinks he’s going to party with fellow dwarves.

Gandalf was resurrected at the top of Zirakzigil (where he died) Gwaihir flew him to Lothlorien where he got some news duds and he caught up with us from there.

5
tpklusOP•

I think I do remember that part in the books. It's difficult because I saw the movies first then read the books so my memory is probably distorted there.

Dang, what would Gandalf do without the eagles. He should have fought to be resurrected as one (not sure if possible). Because he needs their help quite a lot in his adventures.

1
SeanClaudeGodDamn•

Gandalf didn't know for sure if the dwarves in Moria were dead. Keep in mind that a lot of time had passed since he had been there and Gloin took dwarves back to Moria after to taking back the Lonely Mountain.

He got resurrected at the top of the Caradhras. He traveled to Fangorn looking for Aragorn and team while he was on his way to Rohan. In the perspective of the movies I guess that's good enough.

2
tpklusOP•

In hindsight it seems obvious the dwarves were in trouble. I mean no one has heard a thing about them in decades and Gandalf seems to know a Balrog is under the mountain. I mean he could have at least sat down with Gimli and explained what may have happened. Although, I think in the books Gandalf and Gimli do mention it but don't say too much for fear of it actually being true.

I guess in the movie, they tried to pull a switcheroo on who the white wizard in Fangorn would be. I guess the divine intervention to resurrect Gandalf also led him to Fangorn to meet up with the fellowship there.

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SeanClaudeGodDamn•

Yeah, I agree with you. I guess there is a different mindset in the books that might be a reflection of the world JRRT lived in that doesn't really align with how we look at things today.

These kinds of things aren't unique to this author so I don't worry about it too much personally.

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HarlowGumshoeElf•

Balin not Gloin

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SeanClaudeGodDamn•

Good call. Balin it was. It's getting late.

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matradora11•

About the Ents: In the books Treebeard and Gandalf have a long conversation before Gandalf sees merry and pippin, but in the movies they probably cut it so it's more suspenseful and to save time. I think Gandalf did strategize with the Ents in their conversation

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tpklusOP•

Man I need to reread the books. I totally don't remember that part. I know this is against a lot of lotr preferences but I do not like the Tom Bombadil or Ent parts so I probably just skimmed right through it lol

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ZoroXLee•

Gandalf knows many things and constantly doesn't tell others info because of reasons. He's kind of a dick lol

It's been a couple of years since I've rewatched LotR and the hobbit and more than a decade since I read them, so I'm not sure about the Ent thing.

I need to rewatch it this weekend.

0
tpklusOP•

Definitely at some parts he is more mysteriously cool rather than helpful. The parts with Gimli and the mines definitely highlight that fact.

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OOC0NN0R•

About the dwarves: He just straight up didn’t know, it’s obvious he had heard some shit about the balrog as saruman says in the movie but my guess would be it’s all rumours and speculation and he just was more wary of going into the potential demon death mine than knowing exactly that the balrog had awoken and killed all in Moria

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tpklusOP•

Seems obvious in hindsight, but ya Gimli acted completely oblivious and Gandalf was just not trying to help him understand.

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