Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Shelob
Assume that the instant Grima made a move to attack Saruman Legolas fired, then since Grima is so much closer to his target it's virtually impossible for Legolas' arrow to save Saruman (unless arrows that defy gravity can also move at virtually impossible speeds). Then if Legolas took even a second to judge Saruman and make a desicion then Grima is already 'that' much closer to his target and the arrow will need 'that much more time', so Legolas would probably shot only out of retribution, not prevention, at that point (I'm assuming he'd be able to tell the hopelessness of trying to save Saruman at that point).
|
Great analysis. Watched the scene again last night, and Wormtongue has stabbed Saruman twice before Legolas's arrow flies, and so it is retribution. If Legolas wanted to help Saruman, then he would have shot three arrows at once - one to kill Wormtongue and the other two (catching Saruman's robes) to nudge him back off of the edge. Then, par for the movies, Gimli would say something sarcastic...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Shelob
...someone suggested that they could have had a nameless soldier shoot Wormtongue instead of Legolas. To me that idea makes more sense and keeps it more within the spirt of the books.
|
But this wouldn't have worked either. Gandalf silences Gimli twice in regards to slaying Saruman, as he wants him alive and I think that everyone would follow Gandalf's lead (though Theoden would have liked to see Saruman dead). Theoden almost begs Grima to leave Saruman, and so none of the Rohirrim would try to kill Grima unless ordered to do so by the king. So the Gandalf tribe want Saruman alive, and the Rohirrim don't want Grima dead. And yet...
Grima kills Saruman, which must have warmed Theoden's heart, but then gets killed by Legolas. Is this why Theoden isn't really excited about helping Gandalf and Aragorn in regards to Gondor?
Maybe Saruman could have turned to fight Grima, and realizing that it was going to take more than a few holes to kill the wizard, Grima tackles Saruman off of the edge, yelling "Rohan" or "Eowyn" or something as they fall.