The indecisive Nazgul

[Lily Bracegirdle]

After watching the movie for the third time, I think I understand the way PJ and co. were intending the scene to play. I still don't agree with it, and it took me three times to notice (which isn't very effective in my book), but here it is.<P>I think Kalimac is definitely on the right track:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> The reason the Nazgul wouldn't pounce right away (and he did actually pounce pretty fast) is that he's blind. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I think the Nazgul *doesn't know the Ring is there*. Wait! Just bear with me a moment. <P>1) The Ring senses the Nazgul and takes over Frodo's mind, making him climb to a conspicuous spot where he can be carried off. (There's a parasite that does this to ants, but that's another topic altogether.)<P>2) The Fell Beast sees Frodo and thinks: "Oooh, snacks!"<P>3) The Ring tries to make Frodo put it on, because otherwise the Nazgul won't know it's there. (When I looked closer, Frodo wasn't holding out the Ring to offer it as I had originally thought, but was holding it in one hand, ready to plunge his other forefinger into it.)<P>4) As the Fell Beast swoops lower to carry off his creme-filled morsel, the Nazgul looks totally relaxed, as if it's thinking: "Oh well, the stupid thing is eating another Gondorian. I wonder what's on TV tonight?" It doesn't have the focused attention it should have if it feels the presence of the Ring. (It's not sniffing, etc.)<P>5) Sam tackles Frodo, stopping him from putting on the Ring. At the same instant, Faramir shoots the Fell Beast, which decides that the Hobbit would have given it hairballs anyway.<P>6) The Fell Beast flies off, peeved, and the Nazgul (and by extension, Sauron) is none the wiser.<P>This is what I think PJ intended. It's the only way the scene can make any kind of sense. Otherwise, the Ringwraith is just a big dumb slacker as I originally thought. (I griped about this on the TTT - Osgiliath thread already.) <P>Of course, this makes Aragorn's use of the palantir essential again, which I think is a good thing.<P>HCIsland, thanks for your insightful and enlightening post! It certainly puts PJ's choices in a different light and makes a lot of sense. I still wish Osgiliath hadn't happened and that the turning point had been at Henneth Annun, though. I also wish Frodo and Sam had had a glorious dawn filled with hope just like the other members of the Fellowship.<P>"Most gracious host," said Frodo, "it was said to me by Elrond Halfelven that I should find friendship upon the way, secret and unlooked for. Certainly I looked for no such friendship as you have shown. To have found it turns evil to great good." <P>What do you think?<P>-Lily<p>[ January 26, 2003: Message edited by: Lily Bracegirdle ]