J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books are known for their complex lore, which has allowed for several film adaptations, including the upcoming Prime Video series The Rings of Power. The show will begin streaming in September of 2022 and will follow the events of Tolkien's Second Age, which spanned several thousand years. This means audiences can expect several key plot points from all over Middle-earth that establish the foundation for the familiar story of Frodo and the Ring.

If The Rings of Power demonstrates the same attention to detail that director Peter Jackson showed in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, it is likely to see similar success. The three films went beyond outlining the stories of Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, and the rest and included subtle details that greatly enhance the story and characters. These details have been spotted by fans over the years, who have shared their finds with other die-hard "Ringers" on Reddit.

Gandalf's Hidden Pipe

A split image showing Gandalf's staff with a pipe secretly placed in it and Gandalf smoking on the right from The Lord of the Rings.

Gandalf was a Maiar, which is something like a deity or angel in Tolkien's universe. He came to Middle-earth disguised as an old wizard to help in the fight against Sauron, but while there, he discovered several comforts that he enjoyed. The most notorious of these was pipe weed, to which he credited the hobbits of the Shire.

Gandalf loved to smoke so much that it appears he could never be without a pipe. Redditor Hrhdhrhrhrhrbr pointed out that if audiences look closely, they can "see that Gandalf carries his pipe in his staff." Unfortunately, this is only the case for Gandalf the Grey's staff, so Gandalf the White must have had to find a new place to keep his favorite vice.

Mr. Underhill

frodo and sam at the prancing pony

Before The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, which described Bilbo's adventures. There were connections between the two works, from familiar faces to, of course, the One Ring. However, there is another connection that many fans might not have noticed.

In The Hobbit, Bilbo tells Smaug he is from "under the hill," and the dragon starts referring to him as Mr. Underhill. Redditor Kodiak_attack pointed out that this was the alias used by the hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring when they checked into the Prancing Pony. "I feel silly for finally having made the connection after all these years," this Redditor said, but several other fans stated that they had missed it as well.

The Gear Of The Nazgûl

A split image showing the Nazgul on their horses on the left and the witch king weaking his helmet on the right from The Lord of the Rings

While the Lord of the Rings books metaphorically described Sauron as having an all-seeing eye, the movies chose to demonstrate this literally, placing the iconic fiery eye on top of Barad-dûr. This became a symbol for Sauron in both Middle-earth and the real world.

Redditor Martijngamer pointed out a small design detail that further demonstrated the iconic nature of the eye of Sauron. "The horses of the Nazgul in Lord of the Rings have the Eye of Sauron on their chest riding gear." This small detail was insignificant in the grand scheme but greatly demonstrated the meticulous detail that Jackson took in creating his films, and ensured that everyone knew who the dark Nazgul served in LOTR.

Boromir's Death

Boromir dies in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Even though Boromir had tried to betray Frodo, he made up for it by giving his life to protect Merry and Pippin. He proved to have a good and true heart, but the orcs were too much for him. His death was a touching scene for the characters and the audience, and the mournful score only added to the moment.

But there was more to the music playing during Boromir's death than audiences likely noticed. Redditor Blueeyed87 shared that the Elvish lyrics are translated to "I do not love the sword for its brightness or the arrow for its swiftness. I love only that which they defend," which are words stated by Boromir's brother in the book.

Boromir And Isildur's Comparison

A joined image of Boramir injured by three arrows on the left and Boromir holding the One Ring on the right from The Lord of the Rings

Isildur was the first to possess the One Ring after Sauron, and he proved that the strength of men in LOTR would often fail against the Ring's temptation. He refused to destroy the Ring when he had the chance and instead tried to keep its power for himself. But it betrayed him, and he died with three arrows in his back.

Redditor Jpl5253 noticed a similarity between Isildur and Boromir, who also fell prey to the temptations of the Ring. However, while Isildur was blind to the Ring's evil, "Boromir sees the Ring's corruption [and] betrays the Ring" by choosing to fight the orcs and protect Frodo and the hobbits. Three orc arrows still took his life, but it was in his front instead, proving that he had faced his faults instead of trying to run from them.

Boromir's Bracers

Aragorn confronts the Army of the Dead in The Lord of the Rings

Boromir was one of the first impactful deaths of the trilogy. He represented the faults of the race of men while also demonstrating the ability for bravery and genuine goodness. His relationship with Aragorn was especially important, as the films portrayed Boromir's eventual acceptance of his king as a way to help Aragorn accept his status himself.

Redditor ImTheTroutman noticed evidence of Boromir's impact on Aragorn in a simple article of clothing. Throughout Fellowship of the Ring, Boromir wears leather bracers with the White Tree of Gondor. This Redditor pointed out that "after [his] death, Aragorn puts [them] on as a way to honor him," adding that he would wear them for the rest of the trilogy.

Frodo And Sam's Companionship

a split image showing Frodo and Sam huddled together on the left and photos of Frodo and Sam saving each other by grabbing their hands on the right.

While a lot happened to the hobbits between Fellowship and Return of the King, there are several parallels between the two films that help audiences see the value of the characters' relationships.

For example, Redditor NateTheGreat2221 shared images from both films, showing how similar they are and stating that "the scene where Frodo saves Sam in Fellowship of the Ring mirrors when Sam saves Frodo in Return of the King." This demonstrated how Frodo and Sam had been equally important in their task, and neither could have done it without the other.

Gollum's Eyes

The Lord of the Rings Gollum Eye

The severe loneliness that Smeagol experienced during his isolation with the Ring caused his identity to fragment. He eventually forgot who he had originally been and began to refer to himself as Gollum. However, when Frodo reminded the tormented creature who he had been, he began to cycle back and forth between both personas.

Redditor Topsy_Turvy_Town noticed a difference between Gollum's appearance when he switched. "[his] pupils are tiny when he is in his "Gollum" persona, but they become much bigger when he switched to 'Smeagol.'" This is consistent throughout the movies and can help audiences know which version of Gollum they see.

Gimli's Sense Of Smell

Aragorn politely tastes the stew Eowyn brought him

While most of the scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies were serious and dramatic, the trilogy also had its share of comedy. One scene that audiences enjoy is when Eowyn cooks stew for the group, but when Aragorn tries it, it is evident by his reaction that she is far from a good cook.

Before Eowyn gave Aragorn the stew, she first offered it to Gimli, who refused it. This was strange, considering there was little that he liked more than a good meal. Redditor Basicallyagiant noted that "Gimli had said that dwarves have a good sense of smell, indicating that Gimli knew the soup was bad." This was why he refused to take any.

An Oath To Frodo

Aragorn at the Battle of the Black Gate

Composer Howard Shore hid several important details in his music for The Lord of the Rings, and eagle-eyed (or eared) fans like Tulkas_7 are here to point them out. This Redditor explained that in Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn swears an oath to protect Frodo, but that wouldn't be the last time audiences hear his words.

"In Return of the King, as [Aragorn] charges into the Black Gate, the chorus sings the same words in Sindarin," Tulkas_7 said. These words were a reminder of why Aragorn was ready to risk his life and that he had been true to his word.

NEXT: The 10 Best Couples In Lord Of The Rings & Other JRR Tolkien Canon