Aragorn & Eowyn: Avant les Paths of the Dead

[Lady Elwen]

Right... excuse the French - trying to think of a catchy way to say "before the Paths of the Dead".

This will be short, since I'm running out of time, but the thing with Faramir and Eowyn brought it up again.

So can I just say that the theatrical version of RoTK made Aragorn look like a completely unemotional, careless jerk with the way he brushed off Eowyn?? Agh!!!

The EE redeemed him somewhat...

~ Elwen

[Elbereth]

Aucun pardon nécessaire, mon amie!! (Do you actually speak French? If not, sorry... Probably apparent, but that translates to "no pardon necessary, my friend!")

Anywho, yes... Good point. I though the theatrical version made Aragorn look so callous and cruel to Eowyn. It really irritated me, since I had originally seen it as an equally hard thing for him to do, since he cared for her, but not in the way that she desired, and that hurt him as much as it hurt her. Perhaps I'm off base, but that was my interpretation.

The EE was much better, although still odd - it at least allowed him to explain himself a little more, in a way that I really think should have been left alone for the theatrical release. It took a little of the edge off, putting back some of the softer lines, which I really liked.

Eowyn isn't quite as weak as they showed her in that scene, which bugged me for some reason... I saw her with the offering cup (can't remember the name right now... sorry) and just taking it by surprise, leaving that hurt until later...

Aragorn isn't really that kind of a jerk - he can come off as commanding, but that is rare, and to be expected, seeing's he does have the royal bloodlines. He can't be expected to sit in the shadows and take orders without a word, especially with his skill level. I don't think the scene did either Eowyn or Aragorn justice.

~ Elbereth

[Lady Elwen]

Haha yes, I do.... As an SL, through my classes, but yes, sort of.... (Thanks for the trans. though - the system is picky about foreign languages...)

But yes, that's exactly what I meant. In the book, one of the statements after his parting with Eowyn was something about how only those near to him could see the pain he bore, or something like that - I don't have the book on hand right now.

And perhaps I simply misinterpret that, but I really thought that meant that he cared for her, simply as a friend, as opposed to that of a romantic love interest, and I found that much nicer. So yes, I had the same interpretation.

I understand the time constraints the movie underwent, but still - I think that really screwed around with Aragorn's character too much.... He isn't that callous. Half the time, he spends his energy trying to shield himself from being discovered, hiding in the corner and waiting, so how does that come off as what it did?

And agreed - Eowyn somehow doesn't strike me as the type to fall apart right then and there. In that, I think I share that with her - put up a mask, wait for everyone to leave, let whatever it is sink in, and thenfall apart...

The EE at least showed Aragorn in a better light - less of an imposing jerk who wanted her out of his way so he could leave to fulfill a destiny he didn't want, and more of the person whose character is really defined...

~ Elwen

[Natalie]

I read an interview with Miranda Otto somewhere where someone asked her that question...

Can't remember her exact response, will have to dig out the website to see if i can find it again, but it said something along the lines of

There not being enough time due to the time restraints and all to completely xeplain it blah blah and also it was filmed twice...

Yes twice, the version in the EE was filmed a day AFTER the one for Theatrical version and it was meant to be like that...

Something like they thought it would be interesting to see how it turned out...

and I can't remember what the scene is in the theatrical version as i haven't watched them in AGES so i'll have to go by my limited knowledge

That Aragorn acted like that, so that he wouldn't hurt her more if she found out the harder way (e.g. finding out herself!)

But then men are not exactly good at that quarter so....

Hope that helped, and i really need to find where i read that interview...

~Natalie

[Angel]

Mmm i understand where you're coming from however. When i first saw that scene, i thought "Wow, never thought Aragorn would actually tell it like it is right in her face". I always thought he'd do it a little more gentler (is that a word? lol) but...

~ Angel ~

[Libby]

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[Lady Elwen]

Yeah, it just didn't come off right - the overall tone of Aragorn was too... harsh and coarse...

And I heard that, too, Nat - I just fail to comprehend the logic. It really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but I suppose it's just was well. Filming it twice didn't really help, in my view, and the theatrical release gave Aragorn a very distorted persona. The EE at least managed to mitigate a little of that disappointment.

~ Elwen

[Mithwen Delbaeth]

Before the POTD Aragorn did sound too harsh on Eowyn. But in the EE he kind of made it up with his "I have wished you joy since first I saw you" and touching her face.

[Lady Elwen]

Yeah, he did. I was referring to the theatrical release, simply because so many would never read the books or see the EE and would be left with that image of Aragorn. *shudders*

But yes, the EE did make him look a good deal more to the Aragorn one would expect, although I personally think that even that was pushing it...

~ Elwen

[Elbereth]

And the funny thing is that technically, much of what he said (shadow and a thought, etc.) was said to Eomer, not Eowyn, in the Houses of Healing. It's odd. It's also annoying.

~ Elbereth