Reblog To Remind Prev They're Not A Bother And Their Presence Is Wanted

so so sorry to all the underrated faves i couldn’t fit on here (farmer maggot)

(i know butterbur was kind of in the films, but he got way way way more depth and dialogue in the books and was like a flushed out character rather than a quick cameo)

War of the Rohirrim spoilers:

I understand that Hama had to die. I do. I understand that he absolutely had to die in the specific the way that he did, because Hama as a character represents the valor and honor of the people of Rohan (exemplified in his mastery of song, which is how those values are upheld in the community and passed along to the next generation), and Wulf, who rejects these values, had to kill him in a dishonorable way to represent his attempt to destroy the values of the Eorlingas and prove that valor and honor are worthless. And I understand that Hama’s instrument being passed to others represents that that valor and honor did not die with him, and could not be destroyed by Wulf. I understand this! I do! But also, have you considered: it made me sad

I was out on a ramble with one of my dogs just now, and it really was a nice ramble. Bit of trespassing, bit of ice. Walking right overtop the stream, as it's been quite cold for the past few weeks, though it was relatively warm today. It was along a part of the stream I'd never been along, as it is decidedly not our property, and not conveniently along the road.

So I was out rambling, and came across a very nice tree arch, a bridge, some kind of abandoned tiller thing??? and a couple frozen waterfalls. It was along a very briar and bramble and bush filled section of the creek, though, and I had to get a little creative getting around some of these obstacles.

My dog, however, had no such qualms. He was off darting over and under all these brambles and branches and all such, and often looked back to see why I was being so slow, while I clumsily, cumbersomely, awkwardly crawled under branches or carefully held back thorns as I attempted to step over them.

I felt rather like a parent whose child was trying to show them something, squeezing between fenceposts that the parent had to either climb over or go around, as the child wonders why their parent's being so slow.

And then I wondered if that's how Aragorn felt traveling with the hobbits? He's been in these woods since he was 2, knows every tree and rock and leaf. He knows what he's doing. But they're traveling and there's a briar patch, and he's all ready to tell the hobbits 'alright, we'll have to cut through this. get behind me so you don't get hurt.' ... But they're already darting under and around and through it like Brer Rabbit himself. Pippin calls back 'Strider, you wouldn't even let us stop for second breakfast! what are you doing back there?' And even injured Frodo is skipping through it like a deer, and he's wondering how exactly he thought he was this great woodsman when these hobbits who have never stepped a foot outside of the Shire in their lives are just. staring at him. from the other side of the briar patch. that he can't get through.

Eomer and Eowyn only talk to each other once in the films

but they communicate so much.

When Eomer first returns with a wounded Theodred, an entire dialogue is shared between Eomer and Eowyn without a single word passing between them.

This mutual look of concern, they're both on the same page.

Eowyn then goes on to look at Theodred's wound. It's interesting that Eomer now looks curious above all things, he's waiting on Eowyn's judgement.

Eowyn looks at the wound and grimaces. It's bad. Theodred isn't going to survive this.

She looks to Eomer, who looks back at her in grim resignation.

They go to Theoden to inform him of the situation. As Eomer walks by Eowyn, he doesn't speak to her or interrupt her, but he puts his hand on her back as he passes. Even when the focus is on other things, he is giving her that gesture of support and fondness. That it is done without fanfare shows that this sort of affection is commonplace.

They both stand before the throne, both of them united in their attempt to reach through to their uncle. They're a team, a unit.

Eomer throws down proof that Saruman, who Grima is trying to protray as a friend to Rohan, is sending his soldiers to terrorise their people.

Eowyn gives Grima a death glare, challenging him to refute her brother's accusations. She's on Eomer's side, Eomer's team.

Eomer sees Grima looking at Eowyn, and knows what he wants. It fills him with fury.

Eowyn sees her brother choking Grima against the wall. She looks on in cold silence, then walks away.

When Aragorn reveals that the beacons have been lit, Eowyn rushes into the throne room, drawing to a stop at Eomer's shoulder. They wait together for Theoden's judgement.

When it comes, and Theoden sends Eomer to muster the troops, Eomer bows, but even before he has fully straightened up, his eyes go to his sister.

Again, no words exchanged, simply a look of common understanding. They both know what the risks are, they both know what is at stake, for the world, for their country, for their family.

Before Eomer leaves, he touches Eowyn's arm, before walking away.

With Eomer gone, we see a steely determination come into Eowyn's eyes. Now there's something Eomer's missing, now Eomer's back is turn and there's something about sister that she's keeping from him. She's riding to battle.

The one time they speak to each other, they're in opposition. About Merry, about Eowyn, about war.

The words are harsh. Eomer is stern, Eowyn is defensive.

But Eomer puts his hand on Eowyn's shoulder. He doesn't say "I don't want you to get hurt, I don't want you in battle", but that hand on her shoulder, tells the audience that's exactly what he's saying.

Those small moments of physical affection culminate in one great moment, when stern, stoic Eomer discovers Eowyn on the battle field, and breaks down in tears, cradling her and rocking her like she's a child.

And his devotion to her ultimately shown in him sitting small and hunched, tucked in on himself, crouching down in armour for what seems to have been a lengthy space of time, as he sits by her side, waiting for her to be healed.

This is such an effective way of showing to an audience that two characters love each other, when there is a limited time window. The movie needed to crack on to cover the ground it needed to cover, and with so many important dynamics to reveal to the audience, the creators needed to be time effective. Eomer and Eowyn don't share much screen time, but the looks exchanged, the passing moments of intimacy, tells us clearly that these are two people greatly fond of each other, and have been fond of each other a long time.

The lack of spoken dialogue almost enhances it. Little is said between them because little needs to be said. They already know. The one time they do speak, it's when they're quarrelling, because that's the only moment when they need to use words. The rest of the time, a gesture, a look, is enough.

It's a cliché to say that Tolkien's experiences in WWI affected all aspects of his writing, how he wrote about friendship and grief, how he wrote about desolate blasted landscapes. But I wish someone who knows more about Tolkien's military career could help me understand how Tolkien related to retreats. His description of Faramir keeping his people together on the retreat from Osgiliath is one of the best-written sequences in the trilogy, and hardly anyone remembers it. It's about a desperate retreat, and a leader whose presence, whose strength manages to keep it from turning into a rout. There's something very vivid in the descriptions: don't break formation, don't start running or they'll pick you off one by one, keep together, keep moving, hold all of that fear at bay. Tolkien describes that retreat as genuinely heroic, a superhuman act of will, one that exhausts Faramir almost to death, and Denethor still does not accept it as heroic because it's a retreat. It saved men but it lost territory, therefore in his eyes it's a failure.

Tolkien has strong opinions about heroic retreats, in the Silmarillion he sometimes gives the retreat-through-the-dangerous-wilderness plotline to female characters (Emeldir, Idril), he always writes them with respect. Sometimes, getting out of there and keeping most of your people alive is a great act of valour. I feel like he must have had a personal experience about what it means to retreat, and what it means to hold a retreat together, and what it means to get no thanks for it.

The thing about Wentworth is. If Anne rejected him you know he'd go straight back to sea and take all the most reckless assignments cos life just ain't worth living without Anne in it. Sorry but Darcy would absolutely not throw his life away like that. He has Noblesse Oblige (bullshit) responsibilities. He has a kid sister he has to in loco parent. Knightley would probably marry Jane Fairfax lbr. Tilney would be just fine. The sense and sensibility crew are so yawn idk but we do know that colonel Brandon suffered heartbreak but p much got over it by being grumpy.

Wentworth is 100% a true romantic hero. Anne was absolutely right to spend 8 years pining.

Custom bookmarks, front and back, commissioned by the spouse of a big fan for her Christmas set of the anniversary editions. Bonus lenticular bookmark for The Black Cauldron.

5 seconds later...

Driving lessons with the SHIELD family.

The difference between Howl and Gen is that Gen won't try and weasel his way out of the things he really really doesn't want to do.

What are some of your favorite fictional teams and crews? Groups of characters whose relationship is founded on the goal of accomplishing something together. They might become close friends and important presences in each other's lives--or just finishing the mission without biting each other's heads off might be a win--but either way, they have to work together and use each other's skills. I love this type of dynamic--tell me yours!