Omae wa mou shindeiru!

Middle-earth shots of the week

I was rewatching the Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition) and I realized that there is a bit of foreshadowing/dramatic irony in the film that is accurate to the book cannon, bu ends up not working for the movie cannon because they kill Saruman off at the beginning of the third film.

Basically it's during the scene at the Green Dragon where everyone is drinking and having a good time, but Gaffer Gamgee is gossiping about the strange happenings of the world and how he believes there is a war brewing, but one of the men with which he is gossiping (Sandyman i think) ends the conversation by saying "Well it's none of our concern what goes on beyond our borders. Keep your nose out of trouble and no trouble will come to you."

Now for those who read the book this is a big moment of dramatic irony because we know that the residents of the shire "mind their own business" for the duration of the story, but the run off of evil still gets to them and the Shire gets conquered by evil in the absence of our protagonists.

However, despite this conversation happening in the first film, they ultimately choose to eliminate this part of the story from the films by killing Saruman early instead of letting him fulfill his complete narrative purpose. And honestly, it's kind of sad because the general point of this same conversation in the book and the burning of the Shire that comes later is to make a point about how if we ignore the bad things happening in the world, that 'evil' will eventually reach us too.

It struck me while revisiting the unabridged LOTR audiobook that the only part of Sam's adventures that his father would really appreciate and approve of would be the part where Frodo introduced Sam to Faramir, future steward of Gondor, as "Samwise son of Hamfast," and the Gaffer would probably be lunching off of that for the rest of his life.

Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider by Stephen Hickman

The sky was clear and the stars were growing bright. 'It's going to be a fine night,' he [Frodo] said aloud. 'That's good for a beginning. I feel like walking. I can't bear any more hanging about. I am going to start, and Gandalf must follow me.' He turned to go back, and then stopped, for he heard voices, just round the corner by the end of Bagshot Row. One voice was certainly the old Gaffer's; the other was strange, and somehow unpleasant. He could not make out what it said, but he heard the Gaffer's answers, which were rather shrill. The old man seemed put out.

'No, Mr. Baggins has gone away. Went this morning, and my Sam went with him: anyway all his stuff went. Yes, sold out and gone, I tell'ee. Why? Why's none of my business, or yours. Where to? That ain't no secret. He's moved to Bucklebury or some such place, away down yonder. Yes it is – a tidy way. I've never been so far myself; they're queer folks in Buckland. No, I can't give no message. Good night to you!' Footsteps went away down the Hill. Frodo wondered vaguely why the fact that they did not come on up the Hill seemed a great relief.

And if not for Gaffer Gamgee's very hobbitish distrust of strangers, this would have been a far shorter book. Because that's a honest-to-Mordor nazgûl asking after Frodo.

“The job that takes the longest is the job that’s never started” —Gaffer

Anyone struggling with procrastination, I am happy to lend you the Gaffer for an hour or two any time.

After lunch, the Sackville-Bagginses, Lobelia and her sandy-haired son, Lotho, turned up, much to Frodo's annoyance. 'Ours at last!' said Lobelia, as she stepped inside. It was not polite; nor strictly true, for the sale of Bag End did not take effect until midnight.[...]

She snorted, and showed plainly that she thought the Gamgees capable of plundering the hole during the night. Frodo did not offer her any tea.[...]

It had been officially announced that Sam was coming to Buckland 'to do for Mr. Frodo and look after his bit of garden'; an arrangement that was approved by the Gaffer, though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as a neighbour.[...}

'Our last meal at Bag End!' said Frodo, pushing back his chair. They left the washing up for Lobelia.

I know, I know, we’re starting The Big Journey, it’s Important, but I’m living for the hobbit pettiness and internal drama.

Thank you, Mr. Gamgee, I appreciate that you think I look friendlier than a Nazgul

Prophetic.

Not SamFro!

Middle-earth shots of the week

maybe the idea that hobbits elope as a rule isn't carried over into lotr canon but i've decided that it is because it makes frodo and sam fucking off to crickhollow together so much funnier like it literally looks like they've gotten married. the gay rumours must've been insane.

A page from the "Old Gaffer's Shire Almanac" booklet wall calendar I'm working on for 2024, which will be included in the "Hobbit Lore Bundle" reward for the new Kickstarter project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tamburngospels/a-very-hobbit-adventure