Re-imagining the Ringwraiths

[William Cloud Hicklin]

One thing to keep in mind is that, as The Hunt For the Ring tells us, the Ringwraiths were under orders to operate covertly. Not quite "never let anyone see you," but rather "do not draw attention to yourselves." Hence the absurdity of PJ having one of them arbitrarily behead some random Shire-hobbit,* just for the eevuls, or having them ride down Bree's gates and smoosh the poor keeper - at least not on that night.

We are told that on a subsequent night five Riders tore down the gates and rode through Bree like a whirlwind... but this was because they had the scent now and the quarry was afoot; moreover they now had the W-K with them, who would have had the authority to dispense with discretion at this juncture.

*PJ the B-horror director just can't help himself. See also Dead Marshes zombies, demonic Bilbo, beheading the Mouth etc etc etc.