News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| A Case of Mistaken Identity by Conquistadora | 45 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2021 |
| Nicely written! I couldn’t bring myself to watch the third Hobbit movie, but what had been shown of Thranduil by that point was already bat-sh** crazy … so, yeah. This works as a very nice ‘appendix’ (so to speak, as Tolkien like appendices so well :-) to those stories which show him in a better (and, IMO, more realistic) light. Very good info, I really enjoyed! PS - I only recently got Morgoth’s Ring — have only read Finrod and Andreth so far, but looking forward to the rest. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/8/2019 |
| Conquistadora! You write such a ringing defense of Thranduil. Thank you. Point by point you disprove the misconception citing Canon text. I don't understand why he he gets such a bad rap. He is defensive and protective, yes, because life had taught him he needed to be. Is he maybe a little rough around the edges, yes. But again life lessons! He through the sheer force of his will, charisma and the strength and dedication of his elven warriors he maintains Mirkwood. Having rewatched the Hobbit trilogy and also watched on YouTube the Hobbit film blogs that PJ produced during the making of the films, I think that Peter jackson and Pippa Boyens also had a less harsh view of Thranduil. Not quite sure the finished version of Thranduil that appears on screen quite meets up with the vision of him they speak of in the blogs. But it is none the less an Interesting portrayal. I do love Lee Pace's Thranduil, while harsh and some lines are troubling I think he portrays the restrained hurt and tight control of someone who has been hurt a great deal and has closed off a large portion of his emotional life in order to fulfill his duties. And in the end he does open up a little to realise what his closing off has cost him, namely his son. Granted that last paragragh was a bit tangential to your wonderful and very thorough discussion, hope you didn't mind. :-)) Author Reply: So glad you enjoyed it! I agree about the (very right) conclusions Peter Jackson and Co reached about Thranduil as a character not quite making it to the screen intact. Oh, well. Thanks for all the comments! :) | |
| mystarlight | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/1/2019 |
| Could you please tell me where the last two articles could be found? I would love to read them. Author Reply: It was so long ago that first one seems to be lost, but I was able to find the post by Karri in a few places. http://www.lotrgfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=3089 :) | |
| earthdragon | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 12/23/2015 |
| I fully agree with you that Thranduil has been badly slandered. I have read both LOTR and The Hobbit many times and, in neither book does Tolkien say that Thranduil is bad-tempered, despotic and a bad father. If Legolas never mentioned that he was the Crown Prince of the Greenwood, it is more likely because he simply wanted to be treated as an ordinary elven warrior, rather than as royalty. I certainly agree that if he had endured an abusive childhood, he would not have grown into the cheerful elf that accompanied the Fellowship. As regards the dwarves, well they were their own worst enemies when they strayed into elven territory. Why on earth wasn't Thorin honest with Thranduil and simply say that they were on their way to Eribor to reclaim his long lost kingdom from Smaug. He didn't have to mention treasure - especially since it was probably already common knowledge that all dwarven kingdoms had vast hoards of gold, mithril and precious stones. Why else would a dragon have taken up residence, since they love treasure as much as a dwarf does. I would imagine that Thranduil would have been (justifiably) more concerned about what damage the enraged dragon would do once it was disturbed by the dwarves. I wonder how Thorin was planning to dispose of the beast, if it was just he and the dwarves fighting it. As for Thranduil's alleged greed, I think there is more proof that it is the dwarves themselves who are greedy, as well as being ruder and far more arrogant than any elf. Sadly, it seems that many fan fiction authors are referring to Peter Jackson's warped view of Thranduil the fabulous, rather than reading Tolkien properly | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 12/29/2013 | |
| Thank you for sharing this. It is an eye opening especially to those like me whose perception of the characters lies almost entirely from what we saw in the movie. I love reading fanfiction especially ones that tackles the relationship between legolas and thranduil or just legolas in general. Therefore, it is no suprise when there were few times I unfortunately tumbled upon fanfics that fall under thranduil bashing category or the one that I really cannot accept that is the incestuous relationship between my favourite elfs. That is just wrong in so many level. Your essay brings a whole new understanding of King Thranduil's character. It also make me love and respect him even more...maybe not as much as I love his movie verse son but love is love. Goheno nin for my poor grammar. | |
| Ybs | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/28/2013 |
| Wow! What an essay! You've raised some fantastic points here and I wholeheartedly agree with your closing remarks, particularly that line of "a tribute of a "fan" becomes an insult to the author." I myself can't stand it when some fans don't see past the movie to the deeper philosophical and moral implications that are so abundant in Tolkien's original works. It was such a pleasure to read this essay! I wish you all the best for any future writings. ~Ybs Author Reply: Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Now you're making me want to make time to write again. :) | |
| nessie6 | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/4/2010 |
| Yaay! A very good, well thought-out defense of my favorite Elven-king! I hardly read stories featuring Thranduil anymore, unless they are written by daw the minstrel, whose Thranduil is my favorite by far (good father, good king and based pretty much off of canon facts). I want to send this to every person who has ever written Evil!Thranduil and wish they'd see sense. Thank you for writing this :) ~nessie~ | |
| Lirulin | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/17/2009 |
| Thanks so much for writing this essay! Your points are all extremely valid and you have obviously done a lot of research. I think it's great how you applied the passages from Morgoth's Ring to Thranduil. I'm sure that the Sindar were not that much different from the Noldor, they were all elves after all and had the same origin. I can't list everything I liked, otherwise I'd be sitting here tomorrow or simply quote your whole essay. :) So just a few point. I think it's wonderful that you raise the issue of The Hobbit being essentially from Bilbo's point of view. Before leaving the Shire he had most likely never seen an elf and knew nothing about them, and who knows what the dwarves told him on long evenings around the campfire. No matter how much he came to esteem Thranduil afterwards, I can well imagine that something of these first accounts he heard was stuck in his subconciousness and came out at least partially in his writings. I hope that makes sense. :) And then I liked your point that Thrainduil is perfectly within his rights to detain the dwarves while they walking through his realm without permission. His was a country at war, and you can never be too suspicious at times like these. And if I remember correctly (I hope I do!), there were also dwarves fighting on Sauron's side during the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age. It is truly not to be wondered at that he what a group of dwarves who are unwilling to state their business is doing in his realm. Apart from that, I would have been a bit miffed, too, if some uninvited guests had disturbed my festivities three times... ;) I had never thought about Thranduil having had to move so often, always losing his home, and how that likely affected him. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I've always liked him, but as you've said, there has been such an increase in these Evil!Thranduil stories that I haven't dared to read any fanfictions about him in the recent time. I really don't understand where these people get their evidence from. I think Tolkien made it very clear that elves are inherently good. Doesn't it say in the Hobbit, "but they were elves, and that meant good people"? Or something similarily. Sorry, I've been rambling on for way to long. My compliments on a well researched essay with wonderfully supported arguments that should convince everyone of Thranduil's greatness. I'm now going to read your other stories, they promise to be great if this is any indication. :D Many greetings! Author Reply: I'm very glad you enjoyed it. :) Thanks for a great review! | |
| Adrianne | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/13/2007 |
| Well met, Coriel! A great little essay, well documented, well written and well presented. I salute you. | |
| Dairwendan | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 5/14/2006 |
| Though I disagree that homosexuality is an "unworthy and hideous perversion", I wouldn't be surprised if, as a product of his time and a follower of his religion, J.R.R. Tolkien may have unfortuantely agreed with you on that point. That said, your research and scholarship are spot-on, and I am happy to see such a well-formed study of Thranduil, proving him to be a good elf, a good father and a good king. Dairwendan Author Reply: I thank you for offering your opinion civilly. That's something I'm always glad to see. It's not that I want to be unduly discriminatory, but the issue does remain a point of no compromise for all true Catholics. And thank you for the review. :) | |