Last Update: 29 April 2003 + bulletin board

Series Outline

It was an unpopular decision with the fans when the producers decided to get rid of the Hobbits very early on for the television show.  They wanted to get away from ensemble casting and focus on the main three characters.  I suspect that the childlike appearance of the Hobbits is what really worried the producers, as they wanted a 'sexy' image for the show (sex sells) and they were not in touch with their audience enough to realise that the Hobbits also would have been embraced as sex symbols.  At least they retained Gimli, although this was mostly to keep John  Rhys-Davies on the cast to add actor credibility at awards time.

The story outline has the 'big three' searching for the missing hobbits who only appear in the pilot and in occasional guest spots.  To date, they haven't found them, and in the spirit of never resolving a television theme, they probably never will. 

Although early episodes have mostly focused on Aragorn, in an attempt to cash in on his manly sex appeal, fans have been more interested in Legolas, with Orlando receiving almost three times the amount of fan mail.  It's unfortunate that this fan interest has manifested itself in a number of stalking incidents. 

Regular Cast
In quite a coup, the original actors from the movie trilogy were retained for the series.

Viggo Mortensen: Aragorn
Orlando Bloom: Legolas
John Rhys-Davies: Gimli

(Gossip:  Near the end of season one, John Rhys-Davies stated his intention to leave the series.  As he was mostly acting under a large amount of make up (once they finally found make up that wouldn't aggravate his allergies), the producers were going to go with another actor rather than write out the character.  They settled on Ron Jeremy, an actor nick named The Hedgehog, whose previous acting credits included some 2,000 porn movies, and who was eager to break into mainstream acting.  Rhys-Davies was so horrified at the prospect of being replaced by a porn actor, that he eventually stayed for the rest of the series run.)

Synopsis:  During their travels, what remains of the fellowship is embroiled in a huge battle.  The Hobbits are taken hostage, first by one side of the battle, then by the other, and finally escape by themselves, but head off into lands unknown without a guide.  It falls to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli to search them out and rescue them.  This episode has many fight and chase scenes, with even Gimli getting to show his prowess on a horse (this prowess is forgotten in later episodes when convenient for humour value).  The writing in this episode was quite clever, never making it clear just who were the 'bad guys' in the battle, so that even Aragorn and co. are left wondering if they were fighting on the right side after they lose their halfling charges.  This episode is quite a good tail of moral ambiguity, with subtle shadings often missing from most television episodes.

Director:  Peter Jackson

Guest Star/s:  Elijah Wood (as Frodo Baggins),  Sean Astin (as Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee),  Billy Boyd (as Peregrin 'Pippin' Took), and Dominic Monaghan (as Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck), George Takai (as King Winchan of the Easterlings).

Comments:  Warner Bros were smart to get Jackson to direct this episode as it gave credibility to the series from the start.  It was a shame he didn't stay on for longer, or do more than the occasional guest director shot.   Rumour has it that it was only by telling the cast that Jackson would be directing the series that they signed up - not realising he was only doing the pilot.

Note also: a horse was badly injured during the filming of one of the battle scenes, and the resulting uproar from animal welfare activists nearly put an end to production.   This has had the benefit that animal protection in entertainment laws have been strengthened.  The horse, Bon Bon, eventually made a full recover and went on to star in a number of beer commercials.

Episode Title:  Mortality

Synopsis:  Hot on the trail of the Hobbits, the three heroes think they have found an ally with information that will help them.  It turns out that this ally tricked them in order to get to Legolas, as she was betrayed by another elf   many decades ago (she believes), and has become mad with the desire for revenge.   She taints their lembas with a poison that only affects elves.  They have only two days to find an antidote, or Legolas will die.

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  Julie Walters as Eramine

Comments:  Some lovely writing as Legolas faces his own possible mortality, and some wonderfully slashy overtones with both Aragorn and Gimli as they panic over losing their friend.  This episode is definitely one of my own personal favourites.   Orlando does well showing the elf's subtle fear, and Gimli's speech about not all noble deaths being found in battle was quite touching.  Julie Walters was totally OTT though, as if she would be more at home in Monty Python and the Holy Grail than LOTR:TS.

Episode Title:  A Crack in the Mirror

Synopsis:  (thanks Zhi) This episode opens with the fellowship in the heat of battle. They have been able to catch up with the band of Urk-hai and orcs who had captured Merry and Pippin and after a grueling battle, manage to save the hobbits and escape just as they were about to be overwhelmed by their enemies. Blinded by their success they leave an obvious trail for the remaining Urk-hai to follow. After many close calls where the fellowship remain clueless to their pursuers, Legolas is killed in a dark alley where the Urk-hai where hiding. In a fit of rage Gimli manages to kill nearly all the remaining Urk-hai, including the one who killed Legolas but just as he kills the last Urk-hai, he is struck down a half-dead orc.  Aragorn and the hobbits find themselves grief-stricken until Gandalf mysteriously makes an appearance. He offers Aragorn two choices, he can accept his companions' deaths or he prevent their deaths but this means that they cannot save the hobbits.  After much angst, Aragorn informs Gandalf of his choice.

Director: 

Guest Star/s: 

Comments: 

Episode Title:  Going Deep

Synopsis:   Disguised as women, Legolas and Gimli are forced to attempt a dangerous rescue when Aragorn is jailed for the murder of an Easterling prince.  Deep in the dungeons of Gothriar, Aragorn has little to do for the entire episode other than pace (Viggo had filmed all of his scenes the previous week, allowing him to take the week off for personal reasons).  An episode which relied heavily on humour, with Gimli playing the coquettish courtesan in heavy eye make-up, a flimsy scarf all that hides his beard... and when he attracts the attention of a high ranking Easterling general... a scarf is all that hides his modesty!  Orlando gets a chance to show off his vocal stylings when he ends up busking for the coinage necessary to bribe Aragorn's jailors.  He and Elrond (Hugo Weaving in a largely unexplained cameo), do a very nice elven tune (which bares a remarkable resemblance to an old ABBA song), while in full drag.   Drag, for the elves, requires little more than a drop of berry juice on the lips, a scarf, some eye make up, and a lot of eye lash fluttering. 

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  Hugo Weaving (as Elrond)

Comments:  As much as I love Hugo Weaving, his appearance was a largely unexplained and rather over the top tribute to Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.   It just smacked of a ratings grab to have this well regarded actor in the episode.   Personally, though, I love a man in drag and Legolas is just gorgeous in his flimsy dress, with the girlie curled blond hair.  John Rhys-Davies does a credible eye lash flutter, too!  Aragorn's reactions to seeing Legolas in drag fuelled many thousands of fan fictions.

Tolkien purists have mixed reactions to the (politically correct?) use of Arabic looking actors for the Easterlings, instead of Tolkien's original Asianic types, but non-purists think they look 'hot' in all that eye make-up.

Episode Title:  Secrets in the Dark

Synopsis: (Thanks to CJK)  A message reaches the three as they are searching for information near Rohan, that Tosil, son of Bili and a distant relative of Gimli's, has found documents concerning Cylla, Gimli's late mother.  Now Tosil is spreading malicious rumours about Cylla, and since Gloin has not killed him, it is assumed that the rumours are true.  It falls to Gimli to uncover the secret hidden past of his parents and restore Cylla's honour.

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  ________ (as Tosil) and _________ (as Gloin)

Comments:  I adored the interaction between Gloin and Legolas in this episode.  Some very witty dialogue of distrust.  I think the 'tall people banging their heads against the ceilings' in the dwarven caves jokes a little over done, but all in all this was an intense and interesting episode.  Good to see Gimli getting some screen time and plot.

Episode Title:  The Fellowship Files

Synopsis:  From the teaser (thanks to CJK): "When an unseen creature spreads terror in the night, Eomer calls for Aragorn's help.   But is the Fellowship able to deal with such an ancient evil?" 

A strange evil spreads fear on the plains of Rohan.  Babes are being snatched from the cradle; people see ghosts and die in their sleep.  Eomer calls Aragorn to investigate, after a troop of Rohirrim sent to battle the evil are found dead.  The Fellowship tries to find out the creature's whereabouts, but after a skirmish in the dead of night, Legolas and a five year old Rohirrim girl go missing.   Aragorn finally manages to find the creature's lair, and can barely stop Gimli from charging inside.  The mother of the child has an eye for Aragorn, who comforts her in her grief.  Meanwhile Legolas bonds with the child, but also manages to communicate with the creature that holds him captive.  Apparently, the creature's terror-spreading attributes are only a side-effect of its being, and it never wanted to cause so much harm.   When Gimli and Aragorn arrive to rescue the hostages, the creature commits suicide by Gimli's axe.  The episode ends with Legolas saying a long poem in Quenya over the creature's grave. 

Director:  Morgan & Wong

Guest Star/s: 

Comments:  Half the audience protests the illogical development of the plot, while the other half was more interested in pairing Aragorn or Legolas with the widowed mother.  Gimli fans bemoan the lack of sensible character development for the Dwarf.  Tolkien purists search for mistakes in Legolas's poem.

Episode Title:  Sticks and Stones

Synopsis:  N/A

Director:  N/A

Guest Star/s:  N/A

Comments:  This episode wasn't shown here, so I can't make any comments.  I'm still trying to track down a tape.  Does anyone have a copy?   I'll pay the costs.

Episode Title:  Thicker than Water

Synopsis:  (Thanks CJK)  "When Legolas is accused of committing the most grievous Elven crime, kin-slaying, can Gimli prove his innocence before it is too late?"

An Aragorn free episode.  Legolas takes his friend along to a meeting with Mirkwood Elves.  Much ale and wine is consumed, and old Dwarf vs Elf prejudices are remembered.  In the morning, one of the Elven party, a distant cousin of Legolas's, is found dead.  Legolas is  accused of murder, for he was the last to see Oloriel alive, and he is doubly suspicious by being a Dwarf-friend.  Gimli desperately tries to find proof that his friend is innocent, being hindered by the fact that no self-respecting Elf would talk to or confess to a Dwarf.  After much angst, it is revealed that Oloriel's step-brother, Erumelmon was the murderer, the motive was that of jealousy and borderline insanity.  Legolas is released, and the leader of the Elven party admits that maybe Dwarves aren't the ultimate evil they had believed.

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  ____________ as Oloriel and _________ as Erumelmon, with the first of a recurring guest shot role by Duncan Regehr as Thranduil.

Comments:  One has to wonder just how fast the horses were in those days for the amount of travelling back and forth between tribes and countries that these three managed every episode!

About the time this episode aired DC started releasing a comic book tie in.  I managed to get all 12 issues before it was cancelled, and shall put up some cover scans soon.  The books were quite good with interesting stories, although the art could be rather patchy at times.    If anyone already has some scans done, could they send them in?  My scanner isn't working properly at the moment.

Episode Title:  The Prince and the Strider

Synopsis:  (thanks Vanilla666) The big three are told about a special amulet that may help in their quest.  After fighting many perils to get to it (five minutes of screen time in montage style), Legolas and Strider happen to lay their hands on the amulet at the same time and switch bodies.  They decide not to tell anyone so they can get to the bottom of why the amulet switched their bodies.  Things are complicated when Arwen shows up expecting affection from Strider, and they decide not to tell her what's happened.  This leads to Arwen getting angry at a blushing, stuttering 'Strider', while 'Legolas' paces outside the bedroom telling Gimli what horrible things he'll do to Legolas if he doesn't come up with a reason to put out.   Suddenly a peasant comes up to their camp and divulges that Sauron started the rumour about the amulet as a trap to delay them from stopping an invasion on a vital town (previously unmentioned in the show).  They rush out to battle Sauron's forces, which leads to comedic battle scenes of 'Strider' prancing around shooting arrows, and 'Legolas' swinging around a sword which is much too big and heavy for him. 

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  Liv Tyler as Arwen, Steve Tyler as the mad 'guardian of the amulet'.

Comments:  Viewers have pointed out that both Aragorn and Legolas have proved themselves capable of using each other's weapons of choice, therefore the difficulties they had were not really necessary.  Arwen as comedy relief doesn't really work for me, either, plus it's never explained what happened to her after the episode either.  Aragorn's interest in his new 'elf hood' and looks are rather endearing and well done, Viggo does a good job of subtly exploring his new condition.  

Episode Title:  Crisis of Conscience

Synopsis:  I haven't seen this one yet, so I only have the promo information.  Aragorn has a vision of what the world would be like without him (no hobbits, Legolas a slave, Gimli dead, etc).

Director:  ?

Guest Star/s:  I heard a rumour that Stewart Townsend was to play a major role in this episode - can anyone confirm this?

Comments:  I'm not sure if this was meant to be set some years in the future or not.  Can anyone who has seen this episode fill me in on the details or send me a tape?  I've seen plenty of Legolas slave fic from this ep, so someone's got it!

Episode Title:  Today is the Tomorrow of Our Yesterdays

Synopsis:  In an abandoned castle the three shelter in one night, Legolas finds an old mirror and peers in.  His reflection, strangely dressed, steps out of the mirror and starts to talk to them all.  He tells them that he is Legolas many thousands of years from now (Orlando Bloom aged to look about fourty, with a short blond hair style and hidden ears).  He tells them of his life (by his dress we are to assume he's from our current 21st century), how they grew old and died, and of the mistakes they made.  He tells them how he pawned his bow when he was suffering from caffeine addiction, and tells them of a terrible mistake they're about to make - that he has travelled through time to stop them.

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  N/A

Comments:  Not everyone liked this episode, they found the modern Legolas silly or out of character, but I found it quite clever, and loved Orlando's acting in this one.  The switch from easy going modern day Legolas of our time sent into the past into evil-Legolas was really well done.  Orlando does great crazy eyes!

This is the first ep to deal with Legolas' supposed caffeine addiction.  Mercedes Lacky sued the WB over this, claiming the idea that Elves suffer addiction to caffeine was her idea, but the whole thing was hushed over/settled out of court.

Episode Title:  Meets the Eye (first part of a two parter)

Synopsis:  (thank you Louise) Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are called to Ithilien, where the hobbits have been reportedly sighted, but it turns out this is a plot by a minion of Sauron, Vilias Velkrin, holed up in the ruins of Barad Dur and driven insane by too much Orc brew.  Vilias has the hobbits captive in the tower, but has the power to change his appearance.  He appears to each of the main three in turn, conveniently when they are alone, as a different hobbit.  The minion is trying to trap the King of Gondor, and to recreate the glory days of his master.  He tricks them into believing the hobbits are in Morder and in great peril.  Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli discover the truth too late, and the enemy escapes, taking the hobbits with him.  

Director: 

Guest Star/s:  Elijah Wood (as Frodo Baggins),  Sean Astin (as Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee),  Billy Boyd (as Peregrin 'Pippin' Took), and Dominic Monaghan (as Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck).       Michael Ironside as Vilias Velkrin (set to be a reoccurring role if the series is picked up for another season).

Comments:  First part of a two parter.  Due to the wildly veering script quality during this season, it's unclear at this time whether the second season will be picked up, hence the desperation on the part of the producers bringing in all of the Hobbits.  There's a huge push on by the fans to get the season picked up again, with advertisements taken out in Variety magazine and online petitions. 

We urge you to join in!  Save The Lord Of The Rings: The Series!   

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