The Fall of Denethor

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Fifth Age Podcast: Tolkien Stories

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In this, the last part of our conversation about the Stewards of Gondor, we discuss a whole mess o’ stuff. We talk about some of the issues Erica has with the Two Towers theatrical release, Rivendell’s used car sales, Boromir failing, and Denthor not being able to even. 1:06 how long after finding Boromir does Faramir find Frodo? 1:24 he knows Boromir is dead, but this is the first Frodo hears of it 1:40 Frodo assumes that if the company’s wall died, nobody else could have made it. 2:10 movie/book scene of Boromir trying to take the ring. 3:07 Frodo takes the ring away, Boromir falls on his face, all better! 3:45 Boromir fails the rest of the ring but redeems himself. 4:15 Boromir was looking for Isildur’s bane and asked the council to bring the ring to Gondor. 4:50 Galadriel tests everyone and Boromir fails immediately. 5:30 Boromir held out for a long time. He doesn’t try to take the ring until the decision to go east or west is upon them. He was lost by the time they left Moria. 6:00 Boromir blows his horn as soon as he sees the odds in his fight. 6:55 Boromir blows horn in Rivendell and Elrond is all, “DUDE! Did you JUST?!?!? 7:05 we took the Tombadil down when we stopped selling used cars in the second age! 7:30 Boromir sounds the horn for very few reasons. Like reminding himself that he’s fighting. 8:00 the ring as a catalyst. 8:20 Boromir wants the ring as a weapon against Mordor. Especially once he finds out what it is. 8:45 when Faramir tells his story, Denethor has already figured out what’s going on with the palantír. Knows that Faramir let Frodo go. 9:03 UNLIKE the movie 9:15 Dan’s reasoning for why the movie is how it is: it’s clearer than if he just lets him go, like in the book. 10:50 Erica disagrees. Hates the Frodo in Osgiliath scene (for several reasons but also) because it’s a Boromir decision. 11:30 in the book, it shows Faramir easily passing the test that Boromir failed. It illustrates the differences between the brothers. 11:40 Faramir presents himself to Denethor for judgment, tells his story and says “I hope I have not done ill”. 12:50 Denethor disagrees with Faramir’s decision. Thinks he’s weak. 13:35 Faramir’s courage is standing up for what’s right, not charging into battle. So Denethor tries to get him to prove himself by sending him into battle in his brother’s place. 14:35 asks if there is a captain that will do his lords will IN FRONT of other generals like Prince Imrahil. Not cool, Denethor… not cool. 15:15 the movie puts Faramir in a worse position to show his courage more starkly. 15:40 book Faramir needs Frodo to leave so he doesn’t put himself and his men in danger. 15:57 movie Faramir does what Boromir would have done and realizes its wrong 16:05 Dan: Faramir gets a redemption arc in the movie! Erica: in the book, he doesn’t need one! 16:18 other things Erica hates about the Frodo in Osgiliath scene. She almost walked out of the theater… almost. 16:50 the Nazgûl is a BIG problem, but it’s very dramatic. 17:05 Erica might hate it, but it serves a cinematic purpose 17:33 no rivalry between Boromir and Faramir. 17:55 extended version of RotK has great scene with Boromir and Faramir in Osgiliath. 19:54 Faramir comes back poisoned, Denethor looks at the palantír, Sauron shows him utter destruction, and Denethor loses it 21:00 list of things Denethor is dealing with right now. Erica forgot to add that even if the war is won, Denethor will lose his status because Aragorn will take the throne. *side note: Denethor didn’t directly send Boromir to Rivendell. However, he could have ordered both sons not to go. There was a chance that Rivendell had a weapon that could help win the war so he had to let someone go investigate it. He trusts that Boromir will know what to do if that weapon is useful and doesn’t trust Faramir’s judgement as much. See also,