Fans of The Lord of the Rings are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming Prime Video series The Rings of Power, which is set to begin streaming in September. As with any screen adaptation, there is always a fear that the story fans will see in the new series will not line up with the one they read in Tolkien's original works. Of course, screenwriters often take their creative liberties to ensure that a story will appeal to TV audiences, and writers for Rings of Power are likely to have done the same.
However, while the new series is likely to be different than the tales outlined in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, that doesn't mean that it won't be adequate. After all, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy greatly diverted from the original books, but audiences still regard the films as classics. Right from the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, Jackson made several significant shifts regarding the nine characters that made up the Fellowship and their quest. From the members' personalities to their motivations and the ways they made decisions, there were several big differences between the Fellowship in the book and that of the movie.
The Fellowship's Main Objective
Frodo Baggins has some of the best LOTR quotes, and indeed, the Fellowship was formed after he volunteered to take the Ring to Mordor and destroy it. The other members then offered their various weapons and skills to assist him, with Gandalf leading the way. This was the gist of the situation in the movie, but a critical point was missed.
In the book, it is clear that the reason for such a rag-tag gang of various races was to help ensure that Sauron never found out what they were up to. The Dark Lord assumed that whoever had the Ring would rise and use it against him, which is precisely what the Council wanted him to think. The group needed to make as little sense as possible to ensure that Sauron never figured out their true goal.
Aragorn's Personality
In the movie, Aragorn was only dedicated to helping Frodo destroy the Ring. He saw it as a way to make amends for the sins of his ancestor, Isildur. The idea of Aragorn taking up the crown was too much to consider at that time since he lacked the confidence that he deserved to rule.
In the book, however, Aragorn knew from the beginning that he would be King. While he did want to prove to the people that he deserved the crown through actions and not just blood, he never doubted it himself. He loved his kingdom and his people, and he was concrete in his belief that his rule would bring better days if only they could destroy Sauron.
Merry And Pippin's Trouble Making
In the movies, Merry and Pippin were the mischievous comic relief. Audiences first meet them as they steal a giant firework from Gandalf and cause chaos when they set it off. Next, the two only end up roped up with Sam and Frodo since they were trying to escape Farmer Maggot with some stolen vegetables and ran into the traveling duo.
None of this happened in the book. In fact, Meriadoc Brandybuck was one of Frodo's closes friends and was very involved in his plans to leave the Shire. Peregrin Took, who has some of the best quotes from the Lord of the Rings movies, was not even considered an adult by hobbit standards and was certainly boisterous and playful. Still, he was loved and respected by his community.
Frodo And Sam's Relationship
In the movie, Frodo and Sam were great friends before leaving the Shire. Sam had been Frodo's gardener for years, which helped them develop a family-like friendship that ensured that when Sam heard that Frodo planned to leave the Shire, he was bound and determined to go with him.
Sam had also been Frodo's gardener in the book, and his father had been the Baggins' gardener for years before him. However, while there was respect and care between the two, their real friendship didn't develop until they had set off on their journey. In fact, Sam first acted more like a servant than a friend, often calling Frodo "Master" and acting embarrassed to reveal personal details about himself.
Gimli And Legolas' Animosity
In the movie, Legolas and Gimli throw a few insults at each other when they first set off with the Fellowship, but it isn't long before they become close friends. They remained competitive, and Gimli especially hated to think of the elf seeing him as weak or unable, but overall, their relationship was one of the best in LotR.
This pair was essentially the same in the books, but their animosity ran even deeper and for a longer period. There is more explanation about how Legolas' father had once imprisoned Gimli's father. Ultimately, Gimli volunteered to go with the Fellowship because he did not trust the elf's intentions. They only became friends in Lothlórien after sharing their grief and meeting Galadriel.
Gandalf's Decision Making
Gandalf's character in Lord of the Rings had a few differences from the books to the movies. While Gandalf is often seen as anxious in the films, he is more sure of himself and objective in the books. This likely made him seem more relatable to audiences, but it also changed how Gandalf made decisions.
In the movie, Gandalf feared traveling through Moria. He knew what the dwarves had uncovered and wished to go around the mountains instead. In the book, however, Gandalf had been the one to suggest going through Moria, but Aragorn was vehemently against it. This made it seem as if a part of Gandalf understood his destiny and knew the path the group must take to ultimately see success (even if it didn't look that way at first).
Boromir's Temptations
In the Fellowship of the Ring movie, Boromir was reluctant to go along with the decisions made by the Fellowship. He wished to bring the Ring back to his father in Minas Tirith and did not respect Aragorn as the rightful king until moments before his death. However, this was not the case in the book.
Boromir certainly had his own opinions in the book, but he proved loyal and capable of putting his thoughts aside in favor of a fair vote. However, as the Ring began to influence him, his personality changed far more dramatically than in the movie. Frodo observed him muttering to himself, rocking, and sweating, which became increasingly worse before his eventual betrayal.
The Balrog
The fight between Gandalf and the Balrog is a favorite scene for book and movie fans alike. In the movie, the beast was described as a creature of shadow, but once it emerged, it appeared to be a giant demon-like monster to successfully terrifying effect.
In the book, the Balrog was described very differently. It is revealed that they were once Maiar, the same godlike being as Gandalf, that had fallen into the service of evil. Therefore, the Balrog in Moria was in the form of a man taken over by flame and shadow. The description was frightening, but the effect of the film was a little stronger, creating one of those movie scenes that always leave audiences with chills.
Saruman's Influence
Throughout the Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers movies, audiences can see what Saruman is up to firsthand. They see him destroy the forests, build his army, and develop strategies for war. They also see him send spells and curses at the Fellowship, forcing them to take the road through Moria.
In the book, however, readers only see what is happening with the Fellowship from Frodo's perspective. While Gandalf stated that Saruman was using magic to impede them, the disgraced wizard didn't know precisely where the Fellowship was. After all, the purpose of the mission was to travel undetected.