We are back for Part II of the series analyzing the best and worst added scenes of the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions. You can read the Fellowship of the Ring analysis here.

On to the scenes!

Scene Analysis

Elven Rope/A Little Bit of Home

Sam and Frodo climb down a cliff in the Emyn Muil. Frodo is surprised to find that Sam has kept a box of food seasoning, just in case.

I have nothing against this scene. It’s sweet, funny, and entertaining. The problem is that it’s almost exactly the same as the scene after it (the one where Sam and Frodo share some Lembas bread, and Sam says that’s it’s pretty good for foreign food). Both scenes include a little momentary peril, followed by a warm moment between the hobbits. “Nothing every dampens your spirits, does it Sam?” says Frodo in the next scene. But at the end of the day, the lembas scene is just a little bit better, which is probably why it made it into the Theatrical Edition and this one did not. 

I’m reluctant to cut any scenes between Sam and Frodo, because they spend a lot of this movie sidelined by the Rohan plotline. But padding their story with redundant scenes doesn’t help anything. 

3.5/5 

Include? No

Uruk-Hai Medicine

Pippin notices that Merry is hurt. Their Uruk-Hai captors force-feed him “medicine.” Merry tries to make the best of it, but is clearly weak. 

The Two Towers Extended Edition gives us a lot of Merry and Pippin, who barely appear in the middle section of the Theatrical Edition. This scene is deceptively important for Pippin in particular. Throughout Fellowship Pippin has consistently deferred to Merry, but now Merry is injured and can’t take the lead anymore. Pippin visibly pulls himself together and seizes the initiative by dropping the Lorien brooch so Aragorn can find it. In the Theatrical Edition the action goes unexplained, but here it becomes an important part of his journey toward self-confidence. Plus I love how gross that orc drink looks. 

4/5

Include? Yes

Burning Fangorn/Wild Men

In need of more fuel, Saruman decides to burn Fangorn forest. Later, the leader of the wild men of Dunland swears a blood oath of allegiance to him. 

Here, Saruman does two things, neither of which really need to be shown. While burning Fangorn proves to be a significant decision, there’s no reason to think that Saruman was holding back. We’ve already seen him burn trees in Fellowship.

As for the wild men, the movie forgets about them five minutes after their introduction, so more attention on them feels extraneous. 

On the plus side, I really like the makeup on the Orc Overseer (pictured above). 

2/5

Include? No

Massacre at the Isen

Eomer and his riders arrive at a battlefield littered with orc and Rohirrim bodies. They find the unconscious body of Theodred, the son of King Theoden. 

This scene is another that builds up dead-end storylines. The focus is Theodred, who has (let’s be honest) a fairly minimal role, since all he does is lie comatose and dying for the first half of the movie. 

This is our big introduction to Eomer and Rohirrim, but I much prefer the Theatrical introduction, where we first see them riding dramatically towards the amazing set at Edoras, not rummaging around in the mud looking for a third-tier character. 

3/5

Include? No

Conversation in the Marshes

Gollum complains about his hunger as they travel through the Dead Marshes. He chokes on the Lembas bread. He tells Frodo that the Ring never lets go of you. 

Andy Serkis’ wonderfully dramatic reading of “Then we must staaaarve!” alone makes this scene worth keeping. The scene also does a nice job expanding the relationship between Frodo and Gollum, one of the most important parts of Two Towers. Frodo shows disgust towards Gollum because he fears that he will become like Gollum, so consumed by the ring that he is incapable of enjoying the pleasures of life.

4/5

Include? Yes

Gandalf’s Exposition

On the way to Edoras, Gandalf tells Aragorn that Sauron fears the Heir of Numenor, and that Rohan needs to fight back. He says that Sauron does not know about Sam and Frodo. 

This is my least favorite scene in any of the Extended Edition movies. Unlike many other bad scenes, it has not a single redeeming quality. It’s a transparent excuse for Gandalf to deliver some exposition that the movies don’t trust us to already know. Gandalf gives basically no new information, and instead resorts to obvious chestnuts like “war is coming, Rohan must defend itself,” or “Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose.” 

This is also the most visually boring scene in the entire trilogy. The characters are standing in the dark with nothing visible besides the basic shot-reverse-shot of their faces. They could have filmed it in my basement for all I know. 

1/5

Include? NO!

Traveling Home with Treebeard 

Treebeard carries Merry and Pippin to his home, and passes time by singing to them. They are asleep by the time Treebeard arrives, and Treebeard leaves them to gather the Entmoot. 

A lot of the Extended Edition scenes don’t really add to the story, but the ent scenes feel like they do it intentionally. This scene, for instance, is supposed to be slow, reflective, and a bit boring, just like the ents. That’s why I like it. I also have a soft spot for John Rhys-Davies’ singing. Treebeard’s lines come entirely from Tolkien, although not always from Book Treebeard (“sleep little shirelings, heed no nightly noise” is stolen from Tom Bombadil of all people). 

Tolkien once said that he would rather a film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings cut all the battles than cut the ents. So I’m going to keep this scene, out of respect of the Big Guy himself. 

3.5/5

Include? Yes

Entdraught/Old Man Willow 

Merry wakes and finds Pippin drinking mysterious water that makes him taller. Merry wants some too and they start to fight. They fall among the roots of an old tree, only to find that they are being trapped by the tree. Treebeard arrives and saves them. 

Ah, more Merry and Pippin shenanigans. To me, this scene always felt a bit too contrived and out there. I think it’s because Peter Jackson basically took a whole bunch of different scenes from the book and mashed them together. The Entdraught comes from the Treebeard story, but in the books, Merry and Pippin only notice their growth much later. The Old Man Willow scene is transplanted straight from the Fellowship of the Ring, with Treebeard stealing the role (and dialogue) of Tom Bombadil. Sometimes the movies’ tendency to borrow from unrelated book scenes works well. For example, I like the opening lines of the movie trilogy, spoken by Galadriel, even though they are stolen from book Treebeard. In this case, however, the result is a confused mishmash of a scene. 

2.5/5

Include? No

Theodred’s Burial

The Rohirrim bury Prince Theodred in a cairn near Edoras. Eowyn sings a lament for her cousin. 

This is an absolutely gorgeous scene, from the immaculate Rohirrim armor to the design of the tombs. It may not fit directly into the main plot, but the aesthetics and atmosphere earn this scene a place in the movie. 

Eoqyn’s singing deserves a special mention. The Theatrical Edition has a real grudge against music, and cut many of the songs present in the Extended Edition. While the ones they kept (Aragorn’s Coronation and Pippin’s song for Denethor) are probably the two best songs, they feel a little jarring in the Theatrical Edition. The Extended Editions show us more of Middle Earth’s singing culture, so it feels less weird when Aragorn suddenly starts jamming after being crowned. 

4.5/5

Include? Yes

Aragorn the Horse-Whisperer

In the Edoras stables, Brego, Theodred’s old horse, is panicking. Aragorn calms him by speaking elvish. Eowyn notices him and they exchange a few words. 

I’ll start with the positives. It feels fitting to give Aragorn a connection to Brego, the horse that saves his life later in the movie. Also, the Rohirrim stable is a fantastic set, and deserves some attention. 

However, where this scene doesn’t do Eowyn any favors. The first real conversation between her and Aragorn gives her nothing to do but look amazed at his horse skills. As for Aragorn, he seems to give the horse a lot more attention than Eowyn. Contrast this to Eowyn and Aragorn’s far superior conversation in the Theatrical Edition (“What do you fear, my lady?”). Ultimately, I’m not sure it’s worth it to use a whole scene just to set up a horse’s character arc.  

3.5/5

Include? No

The Ring of Barahir 

As Saruman stews in Isengard, Wormtongue joins him. Wormtongue describes Aragorn, and Saruman deduces that he wearing the ring of the Heir of Isildur. However, Saruman says the line was broken centuries ago. 

Giving a Saruman and his Book of Exposition a scene about Aragorn is a weird choice, since he doesn’t believe Aragorn’s ancestry. This is basically an exposition scene by a character who knows less than the audience does.

The only other purpose this scene serves is to show that Aragorn has a ring, which is never referenced again. I’ve seen the movies almost a dozen times and it took me years before I noticed Aragorn’s ring. Skip!

2/5

Include? No

Faramir’s Intro

As the Ithilien Rangers capture Frodo and Sam, Frodo demands that Faramir set them free. Faramir responds indirectly by wondering whether a dead Haradrim was truly evil. 

Whenever they first appear, major characters should always have an introductory scene that shows who they are. This scene tells us a great deal about Faramir. We learn that Faramir is loyal to Gondor, but not a warrior like his brother. He is sober and reflective and sees no glory in war. The grey morality of fighting is a mature theme that doesn’t get much attention in The Lord of the Rings. Compare this introduction to the one Faramir gets in the Theatrical Edition, where Faramir comes across as an arrogant bully, an impression that never quite fades. 

4.5/5

Include? Yes

Eowyn’s Stew

On the road to Helm’s Deep, Eowyn offers Gandalf some stew. He pretends to enjoy it. They talk and Aragorn reveals that he is in his 80s, because the Dunedain are very long-lived. 

I have to admit, Viggo Mortensen’s face as he tries the stew makes me laugh every time. It makes sense to me that Eowyn would be bad at cooking. It’s not her calling, and her desire to act domestically for Aragorn hints that their relationship isn’t the best thing for her. 

That said, the scene feels rather mean spirited. Eowyn already doesn’t get much to do during the Two Towers except pine for Aragorn, and it seems cruel to humiliate her on top of that. She deserves better. Even the reveal of Aragorn’s age comes across as a dig at Eowyn.

3/5

Include? No

Dreaming of Arwen

In the middle of a multi-dream sequence, Aragorn flashes back to a conversation he had with Arwen just before departing Rivendell. He offers her the Elvish necklace, but she refuses to take it back, telling him it was a gift. 

One big problem in the Aragorn-Arwen relationship is a lack of any real dynamism in their scenes. They just kind of stand next to each other, awkward as Hayden Christiansen and Natalie Portman in Attack of the Clones. The scenes also tend towards repetition. There are only so many ways for Arwen to say in her breathy monotone that she wants to die with Aragorn. Surely the Arwen who saved Frodo by defying all nine Ringwraiths would be able to act a little more expressively. 

We know that these are good actors, so I have to place the blame on PJ for bad direction. None of the Aragorn-Arwen scenes are stellar, but this is probably the worst and most redundant. 

1/5

Include? No

Faramir’s Flashback

After discovering that Frodo has the Ring, Faramir recalls his brother making a speech to the troops after retaking Osgiliath. The brothers celebrate, but the party ends when Denethor arrives. Denethor tells Boromir to go to Rivendell and bring the Ring to Gondor. 

This is one of the most substantial scenes that the Theatrical Edition decided to axe. 

I like this scene because it shows you a different side of both Faramir and Boromir. Boromir is in his element as an inspiring leader of men. Faramir, on the other hand, dearly loves his brother but feels insecure about himself. To be honest, this scene feels vital to understanding Faramir and his decisions in Two Towers. Even the important line “a chance for Faramir… to prove his quality” originates from this scene. 

My one criticism is that it might make Boromir a little too lily-white. Instead of being corrupted by the ring, he is only trying to follow the explicit instructions of his father. 

I also love the decision to give Gondor’s soldiers a moment to shine. Gondor is supposed to be proud realm, the strongest and bravest foe Sauron faces. But in they movies, they never get any heroic moments. They seem rather pathetic when the Witch King arrives and the Rohirrim save them.

I could go on, but this meaty and satisfying scene well worth including in the movie.

4.5/5

Include? Yes

Huorns/Axe in His Nervous System

As the orcs flee Helm’s Deep, the Ent trees have cut off their retreat. The forest kills the surviving orcs. Meanwhile, Legloas and Gimli argue over who killed more orcs. 

I don’t dislike either of these scenes, but both feel extraneous. The ents have already played a key role in defeating Saruman, so we don’t gain anything from seeing them kill stealing from the Rohirrim. As for Legolas and Gimli, the scene is fairly funny and gives Gimli a rare win against Legolas, but it’s nothing special.

Also, maybe this is just me, but Legolas’ kill count of 42 seems way lower than it should be. He kills 17 in the first two minutes of the battle, and I’m pretty sure he kills another couple dozen in the few seconds he has onscreen during the rest of the fight, not to mention the massive ladder full of orcs that he destroys. But that’s just nitpicking. 

3/5

Include? No

Pipeweed in Isengard 

As Merry and Pippin survey the ruins of Isengard, Pippin announces that he’s hungry. The two find a supply of food, and, best of all, pipeweed. 

Of the two post-battle levity scenes, I much prefer this one. Nothing could feel more natural than for Merry and Pippin to revert to their hobbit priorities. Their humor feels more earned and in-character than Gimli and Legolas’ banter in the previous scene. 

Plot wise, the scene doesn’t contribute much, but you have to view it in the context of the film’s pacing. While Fellowship had too many slow scenes at the end, the Two Towers Extended Edition only ends about fifteen minutes after Eomer’s arrival at Helm’s Deep. There is plenty of space for a few fun and humorous scenes right after the big climax. 

4/5

Include? Yes

Leaving Osgiliath 

Faramir leads the hobbits to the exit to Osgiliath. They tell him that they are headed for Cirith Ungol. Faramir warns them of a danger in the pass. Sam explains to Gollum why Frodo had to betray him at the forbidden pool. Gollum claims no hard feelings. 

I don’t like this scene. Faramir has already said the hobbits are free to go, so showing them actually leave Osgiliath isn’t necessary. What’s more, the ham-fisted foreshadowing of Shelob is also redundant with Gollum’s much creepier hint in the last scene of the movie (“we could let… her do it”). 

But my biggest problem with the scene is Faramir’s treatment of Gollum. We know from his introductory scene that Faramir is a thinker who doesn’t see the world in black and white. Yet he treats Gollum with a constant brutality that’s hard to justify. Maybe it made some sense when Gollum was an unknown interloper on the secret campsite, but even in this scene, Faramir throws, throttles, and threatens Gollum. A great way to show your quality, Faramir. 

2/5

Include? No

Wrap-Up

The Two Towers Extended Edition is a lot beefier than Fellowship, with seventeen major additions. I think that seven of them deserved to be included. The Two Towers includes some of my favorite extra scenes, like vital additions to Faramir’s story and Theodred’s Burial, but it also has some of the worst, like Gandalf’s terrible exposition scene and The Ring of Barahir. 

Feel free to share your opinions in the comments, and stay tuned for The Return of the King Extended Edition analysis.