‘THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING’
Please feel free to comment on my review.
‘The Passing Of An Age’
This is a fitting conclusion to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ radio series, which I’ve enjoyed immensely. 🙂
It wouldn’t do, having listened to ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ and ‘The Two Towers’, not to complete the ‘LOTR’ radio trilogy with ‘The Return of the King’. It was before Christmas 2004 that I purchased the third volume. It’s not great as ‘Fellowship’ and ‘Two Towers’, but it has a lovely bonus music disc.
The story’s cast have excelled themselves. They include Ian Holm’s Frodo, Michael Hordern’s Gandalf, Robert Stephens’ Aragorn, John Le Mesurier’s Bilbo Baggins, Peter Woodthorpe’s Gollum, Bill Nighy’s Sam, Jack May’s King Théoden of Rohan and Peter Vaughan’s Denethor of Gondor. Superb! 🙂
I purchased the ‘ROTR’ volume of the ‘LOTR’ as a 4-disc CD set. The story is on Discs 1, 2 and 3 and there’s music on Disc 4. Inside, there is a sleeve notes booklet containing a cast list, the track listings with time durations; a biography of J. R. R. Tolkien, and a listing of all the music featured on Disc 4. 🙂
I listened to ‘The Two Towers’ and the ‘ROTK’ radio versions before checking out the extended edition of the ‘ROTK’ film. Thus I became familiar with scenes featured in the radio series before seeing them dramatised in film. The track listings with time durations for the ‘ROTK’ are as follows. 🙂
DISC 1
1. PROLOGUE (5m 24s)
Disc 1 of ‘ROTK’ begins in the same way as how Disc 1 of ‘Two Towers’ began with a male choir singing ‘The Road Goes Ever On…’ I still couldn’t help feel I was traversing through the Misty Mountains whilst hearing the song. I didn’t think of Sméagol and Déagol fishing as in the ‘ROTK’ film.
We cut to Ian Holm as Frodo Baggins in Bag-End after the events of the ‘LOTR’. Frodo re-lives the harrowing events and pain of encountering Shelob in her lair in the Cirith Ungol tunnel. Frodo screams for Sam and recalls Shelob attacking him before he comes out of his reverie and recovers. 🙂
It’s intriguing how this connects to another scene in the ‘ROTK’ story where Frodo is re-living pains and horrific memories when at Bag-End. It foreshadows what’s to come for Frodo and what decision he has to make concerning his future after the events of the Ring Quest and his return to the Shire. 😦
Frodo provides us with a recap of what has happened in the ‘LOTR’ radio series so far, regarding the conflicts between Rohan and Gondor against Sauron. Mentions are made of King Théoden of Rohan and Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, who lead the battles of the Western Lands against Mordor. 🙂
There are also mentions of Gandalf and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, and Merry and Pippin. Frodo also summarises what happened when he and Sam were guided by Gollum to Mordor before coming across Shelob in her lair and the dreadful choice Sam had to make once he assumed Frodo was dead.
2. GALADRIEL’S STAR-GLASS (2m 40s)
The story follows on from where ‘Two Towers’ ended with Sam being upset that Frodo has been captured by the orcs and taken up to Cirith Ungol. He figures out how he’s going to get Frodo out of the tower of Cirith Ungol. He’s tempted to use the One Ring of Power, but he resists the temptation.
Sam soon makes a run for it and is about to enter the tower of Cirith Ungol before he finds he can’t get in. He’s blocked by the silent Watchers, which can prevent an enemy entering Cirith Ungol. Sam uses Galadriel’s star-glass to get in, but finds he’s rung the doorbell. He gets ready to defend himself.
3. DENETHOR WAITS AND WATCHES (5m 42s)
In Gondor, Denethor waits and watches, as news of the siege of Minas Tirith occurs. Pippin is at his side and he shows concern for him. Gandalf then turns up and tells Denethor the news about Faramir’s failure to protect Osgiliath. He informs Denethor that the Witch-King of Angmar has come.
Denethor doesn’t seem surprised by this news as he seems to have known it already. It’s intriguing how Denethor seems to know these things before Gandalf does compared to how it’s depicted in the ‘ROTK’ film. This connects to a significant aspect in Denethor’s character later on in the ‘ROTK’. 🙂
About some time later, Gandalf tells his news to Denethor about Gondor’s defences gradually weakening. Faramir has also returned, wounded and sick from his attempt to defend Osgiliath. Denethor demands for Gandalf to leave him and asks him to take over the defence of Minas Tirith. 😐
Like ‘The Siege of Gondor’ chapter featured in ‘The Two Towers’ radio volume, there’s not many battle scenes going on compared to how it was done in the film version of ‘ROTK’. I wish we could feel the epic scale of the battles featured in the ‘LOTR’ radio series instead of being told about them.
The performances of Peter Vaughan as Denethor, Michael Hordern as Gandalf and John McAndrew as Pippin are good throughout this chapter. I’ve been able to re-listen to this chapter a number of times to grasp what’s going on, but for most of it, it’s talking between characters, which isn’t exciting. 😦
4. THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL (12m 07s)
Back with Bill Nighy as Sam, he arrives at the Tower of Cirith Ungol to find all but two of the orcs are dead. Apparently, the orcs were fighting over the mithril coat Frodo wore, which is how it was depicted in the ‘ROTK’ film. Chris Fairbank as Shagrat and Sean Arnold as an orc soldier fight it out. 😐
Sam manages to stab and kill Shagrat who comes down the stairs with the mithril coat in a bundle. Once he has killed Shagrat, he struggles to work out to find Frodo in the tower. He soon sings a song called ‘In Western Lands Beneath the Sun’. Bill Nighy does come across as a pretty good singer here.
Sam sings the song to let Frodo know he’s at Cirith Ungol. The orc soldier that Shagrat fought earlier shouts at Frodo to keep quiet. Sam keeps on singing in order for the orc soldier to lead him to Frodo. This works and Sam soon finds Frodo who’s about to be killed by the orc soldier. Sam kills him first. 🙂
Sam and Frodo reunite with each other. Frodo is delirious as he recovers, but thankfully he’s okay. He soon despairs, as he tells Sam the orcs took everything, including the ring. Sam tells Frodo that he took the ring. Frodo demands to have the ring back, but Sam offers to share the burden with him. 😐
Frodo goes crazy before realising he’s under the influence of the ring. After forgiving each other, Sam and Frodo soon fit themselves with orc armour as they make to walk into Mordor itself. At this point, Frodo becomes belligerent and tired, as he and Sam continue the hard journey into Mordor. 😦
5. THE GATE OF GONDOR (8m 30s)
Back in Gondor, Denethor grieves over his son Faramir, as he lies on his deathbed. A soldier enters to ask Denethor what they should do, but Denethor doesn’t care as he leaves it all to Gandalf to handle the defence of Minas Tirith. Denethor is about to go to his pyre and take his son Faramir with him. 😦
Denethor sends Pippin away. Pippin, upset that Denethor is about to burn Faramir as well as himself, decides to go and find Gandalf. This is a contrast to when Pippin attempted to stop the pyre himself before Denethor threw him out. The ‘LOTR’ film version is way more dynamic compared to the book.
At the gate of Gondor, the orcs break in, using the hammerhead called Grond. I could visualise the Grond hammerhead being used to break down the gate of Minas Tirith like in the film. Philip Voss as the Lord of the Nazgûl commands the orcs to break down the gate again and again until they’re in. 😐
As the Lord of the Nazgûl and the orcs enter Minas Tirith and the armies of Gondor scatter, Gandalf stands in their way, telling the Lord of the Nazgûl to go back to the abyss from whence he came. The Lord of the Nazgûl laughs and defies Gandalf, so much like how he defied Gandalf in the ‘ROTK’ film.
Just then, the horns of the Rohirrim echo from a distance, as Théoden’s army has arrived. As the Lord of the Nazgûl flies off to confront Théoden and the Rohirrim, Gandalf is soon called upon by Pippin to rescue Faramir from Denethor. Gandalf agrees, as he and Pippin ride towards the citadel. 🙂
6. THE BATTLE OF PELENNOR FIELDS (8m 48s)
On the Pelennor Fields, the Rohirrim arrive. Jack May as King Théoden leads them, accompanied by Anthony Hyde as Éomer, Elin Jenkins as Éowyn (disguised as Dernhelm) and Richard O’Callaghan as Merry. The battle in the radio version isn’t as good as the movie version, since most of it is in song. 😐
In fact, the song continues to be played not just in this chapter but also in ‘The Pyre of Denethor’ and ‘Aragorn Returns’ chapters. Théoden also seems to know ‘Dernhelm’ already at this point, even though we weren’t given an introduction scene between the two since the last time we heard of Théoden.
The battle takes place and Théoden is soon attacked by the Lord of the Nazgûl, as he ends up crushed beneath his horse. Éowyn comes to defend Théoden, fighting against the Witch-King, much in the same way that it occurred in the ‘ROTK’ film. Éowyn, with Merry’s help, kills the Witch-King. 🙂
Théoden soon dies on the battlefield and Merry has a final farewell scene with him, instead of Éowyn having a last farewell scene with him. It’s interesting and very unusual that Merry is the one who gets to have a farewell with Théoden before he dies instead of Éowyn, as she’s unconscious nearby.
Éomer also comes to say farewell to Théoden and is soon pronounced the new king of Rohan by him. Merry later shows Éowyn to Éomer, as she lies unconscious on the battlefield. Angered and upset by Éowyn being on the battlefield, Éomer soon leads the men of Rohan to ‘ruin and the world’s ending’.
7. THE PYRE OF DENETHOR (6m 37s)
In Minas Tirith, Gandalf and Pippin find Denethor in the Tombs of the Stewards. They manage to stop him burning Faramir and take him out to recover in the Houses of Healing. Andrew Seear as Faramir awakes, murmuring in his sleep. Denethor wants to see him but Gandalf does not allow him.
Gandalf encourages Denethor to go out to the battlements and help defend the city of Minas Tirith, but Denethor isn’t willing to do so. As he wallows in self-pity, Denethor soon reveals to Gandalf and Pippin that he has a palantír. It’s interesting how Denethor happens to have a palantír in the ‘LOTR’.
This is in both in the book and in the radio series compared to the film. It explains how Denethor happens to know so much when he’s at Minas Tirith. I wish more of a point was made that Denethor happens to have seen Frodo being captured by orcs in Cirith Ungol, which would explain his despair.
Denethor shares what he knows of Gandalf’s plans, including that of seeing Aragorn becoming the new king of Gondor. Denethor expresses how he refuses to bow to the Ranger from the North, sharing what he would prefer if he had his own way. He soon commands for his own pyre to occur. 😦
Gandalf is shocked by Denethor choosing his own end. Denethor soon burns himself to death. This of course is very different to how it happened in the ‘ROTK’ film, since Denethor ended up running out of the Tombs of Stewards and falling off the parapet of Minas Tirith, which could be over-the-top. 😀
8. ARAGORN RETURNS (5m 35s)
Back outside, the battle continues as the sea pirates – the Corsairs of Umbar – turn up. Just to point out, we get a mention of the Haradrim in the ‘LOTR’ radio series as well as the Corsairs of Umbar, but we don’t get any mention of the Easterlings or the Mûmakil featured in the battles of the ‘LOTR’.
There’s not even a Corsairs of Umbar pirate featured in the ‘ROTK’ radio version as the ships turn up and they’re empty apart from three welcome heroes. It’s just as well that we have the ‘LOTR’ films to feel the epic-ness of the battles compared to how they’re depicted in the books and radio series.
The men of Rohan become afraid once they see the Corsairs of Umbar, but Éomer commands them to rally round to him. Éomer is determined to fight every foe of Mordor that comes towards them. He and his men ready themsleves to fight the Corsairs. 🙂 There are also no orcs who arrive to meet the Corsairs.
It soon turns out that it’s Robert Stephens as Aragorn who is helming the corsair ships with David Collings as Legolas and Douglas Livingstone as Gimli. Interesting that Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli don’t get to do much fighting at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields compared to how the films did things. 😐
The battle is soon over, as all the men of Rohan and Gondor return to Minas Tirith. Aragorn is reunited with Éomer as they make their way back to Minas Tirith. Later on, Pippin manages to find Merry, who’s injured. Merry walks to Minas Tirith rather than Pippin finding him on the battlefield. 😦
9. THE HOUSES OF HEALING (15m 00s)
At the Houses of Healing, Faramir, Éowyn and Merry lie on their sickbeds. Aragorn is soon summoned by Gandalf, as it turns out that ‘the hands of the king are the hands of a healer’. Interesting this aspect of Aragorn’s character gets touched upon in book and radio compared to film.
There’s a character at the Houses of Healing who doesn’t appear in the ‘ROTK’ film. This is Pauline Letts as Iroeth, who is like a nursing maid at the Houses of Healing. I found Iroeth’s character quite annoying when I heard her on radio, since she does seem to be quite a talker as she’s helping out. 😐
Even Aragorn is annoyed by her when he asks her to bring some athelas, also known as kingsfoil, to help heal Faramir, Éowyn and Merry. In the ‘Fellowship’ film, Aragorn used athelas to heal Frodo for a bit. Soon, Aragorn uses the athelas, healing Faramir, Éowyn and Merry one by one of their injuries.
I like how each of Faramir, Éowyn and Merry recover at Aragorn’s hand. Éowyn is an interesting case, as her love for Aragorn is touched upon. As Pippin is pleased to see Merry recovered, he wonders what has become of Frodo and Sam, as he’s worried about their current journey in Mordor.
Meanwhile in Mordor, Frodo and Sam seem to be lost on their way to Mount Doom. Sam suggests scouting ahead, leaving Frodo to rest and recover since he seems to be rather weary on their current journey. Frodo asks Sam that he’d be careful and Sam assures him that he will. This concludes Disc 1.
DISC 2
1. TRAPPED (2m 12s)
Disc 2 of ‘ROTK’ begins with Sam waking Frodo up. He tells Frodo that Gollum is still following them. Sam wishes that Faramir and his men shot Gollum, but Frodo tells him that Gandalf’s words were “Gollum may have some part to play for good or for ill.” Sam is fearful Gollum’s part to play is ‘for ill’.
As they trudge on through Mordor, Frodo and Sam soon run into an army of orcs and are forced to march with them. This is similar to when Frodo and Sam were captured by orcs in Mordor in the extended version of ‘ROTK’. The orc leader tells Frodo and Sam as well as his kind to keep marching.
2. THE LAST DEBATE (3m 15s)
Back in Gondor, a meeting takes place between Gandalf, Aragorn and Éomer about what to do next. Initially, I assumed this took place inside the citadel of Minas Tirith, but it turns out this takes place on the field of Gondor. Legolas and Gimli don’t seem to be present during ‘The Last Debate’ scene. 😐
Gandalf, Aragorn and Éomer agree to take an army of Gondor and Rohan soldiers to draw out Sauron’s armies and empty his lands. Ironically, it’s Gandalf who motivates Aragorn and Éomer to victory whereas in the ‘ROTK’, Aragorn comes up with the idea about distracting Sauron from Frodo.
I prefer the ‘ROTK’ film version of ‘The Last Debate’ compared to the radio and book versions. A lot of the scene is talking between characters, though not as long as in ‘The Council of Elrond’ scene in both book and radio of ‘Fellowship’. There also isn’t enough emotional weight in the radio version. 😐
3. THE LAND OF SHADOW (3m 23s)
Back with Frodo and Sam, they continue marching with the orc armies in Mordor. Soon, a rabble occurs between the orcs, giving Frodo and Sam a chance to escape. Again, I prefer the film version of the scene compared to the radio version, as the rabble just happens out of nowhere in the scene. 😐
There’s also more peril in the film version of the scene as Frodo and Sam are almost spotted by orcs compared to the radio version which seems to be an incoherent mess to listen to. Frodo also has more struggle in the radio version as he’s suffering whilst Sam encourages him to keep moving on. 🙂
After their escape, the two hobbits rest before they continue their journey to the fiery mountain. There are moments where Sam is talking to himself whilst Frodo’s asleep in Mordor. Frodo wakes up to find Sam talking to himself, which is very amusing, as you consider this is a radio version of ‘LOTR’.
4. LORD FARAMIR AND LADY EOWYN (3m 08s)
Meanwhile in a Gondorian garden, Faramir is by himself before he’s joined by Éowyn. The Gondor/Rohan army led by Gandalf and Aragorn has left for Mordor, and Éowyn asks to join the battle, as she’s feeling apprehensive. Faramir tells Éowyn it isn’t in his power to grant her a request.
Faramir soon reveals to Éowyn that he finds her beautiful and expresses his feelings towards her. Éowyn isn’t ready to return those feelings as she’s feeling more battle-hardened. It’s very interesting how the Faramir and Éowyn’s relationship is formed in radio compared to the film version of ‘ROTK’.
In the film version, it’s Faramir and Éowyn touching each other’s hands and there’s soon a close bond between them. I like how it’s explored in the radio series compared to the film version of ‘ROTK’ since there’s more dialogue between them and Faramir expresses how he feels about Éowyn.
5. MOUNT DOOM (10m 24s)
In Mordor, Frodo and Sam make their treacherous and hard-going journey towards the mountain of fire. There’s a moment when Frodo struggles to carry the ring to Mordor. Sam offers to help him carry, but Frodo lashes out in a crazed rage before he calms down and tells Sam he cannot have it. 😐
Eventually, Sam suggests about getting rid of anything they don’t need. They discard their orc armour. Whether that means Frodo and Sam are naked for the rest of their journey to Mordor, I don’t know. It might be implied in the book, but it’s clearly and thankfully not depicted in the film. 🙂
Sam reminds Frodo of the time that they had stewed rabbit in Ithilien just before they met Faramir. Frodo tells Sam he can’t recall the taste of food, echoing the dialogue that was said in the ‘ROTK’ film. Sam soon chucks away all of their orc armour as well as the pots and pans before carrying on. 🙂
There’s another scene where Sam talks to himself about what to do considering their last leg to Mount Doom. The two hobbits soon come to the foot of the fiery mountain before they stop for a rest. When they wake, Frodo struggles to climb up the mountain and decides to crawl all the way up.
But Sam is determined to help Frodo and instead carries him on his back to the entrance at the Crack of Doom. They soon near the entrance, but then spot the Eye of Sauron atop Barad-dûr, fearful that they’ve been spotted. But it turns out that the Eye isn’t looking at them and is looking to the north. 🙂
6. THE MOUTH OF SAURON (6m 40s)
At the Black Gate of Mordor; Gandalf, Aragorn, Éomer, Legolas, Gimli and Pippin are waiting but there’s no sign of Sauron and his forces coming out to meet them. Interestingly, compared to the film version, Merry doesn’t accompany the company to Mordor as he stayed behind in Minas Tirith.
They soon ride to the Black Gate of Mordor and call for ‘the Lord of the Black Land’ to come forth. They soon meet John Rye as the Mouth of Sauron. The Mouth of Sauron in the radio version is different compared to how I saw him visualised in film terms, as he seems ghastly in the ‘ROTK’ film.
‘The Mouth of Sauron’ scene is also less effective in radio and film versions compared to the book version. In the book, we don’t know that Frodo and Sam are alive or dead as it takes place before we’re told what happened to them in Mordor. So, the tension isn’t great in radio and film versions. 😐
Upon meeting the Grey Company, the Mouth of Sauron tells them that their friend who wore the mithril shirt he brings out to show them is dead. He makes terms with them regarding the future of Middle-Earth under Sauron’s command. There were no terms made in the film version of this scene.
Gandalf takes the mithril shirt as well as Frodo’s sword and elven cloak with the elvish broach, reusing the Mouth of Sauron’s terms. Soon, the armies of Mordor attack. Sadly, there’s not much of a battle outside the Black Gates of Mordor in the radio version of ‘ROTK’. This is quite disappointing.
7. THE CRACK OF DOOM (10m 43s)
At Mount Doom, just before Frodo and Sam are about to enter inside, Peter Woodthorpe as Gollum comes out to attack them. Gollum tries to make Frodo give him back ‘the precious’ as he strangles him, but Frodo manages to fend him off. Sam distracts Gollum, as Frodo gets to enter the mountain.
Sam is almost tempted to kill Gollum off, but Frodo’s words echo back to him about Gollum having a part to play for good or ill. Sam doesn’t kill Gollum and tells him to go away. He soon follows after Frodo, entering inside the mountain. But things don’t seem to be going well once Sam enters inside.
Frodo sounds more evil compared to how he was in the film version, as he refuses not to destroy the ring before putting it on his finger. Sam tries to find Frodo before he’s soon knocked out unconscious by Gollum. Gollum finds Frodo whilst he’s invisible, before he bites off his finger with the ring on it. 😦
Once Gollum has his precious back, he cries out with joy and dances around. Gollum in the radio series is more over-the-top compared to Gollum in the film version of ‘ROTK’. There also isn’t a struggle between Frodo and Gollum, since Gollum accidentally ends up falling into the fires of Doom.
With that, the ring is finally destroyed. There isn’t a scene of Frodo and Sam getting out of the mountain, as I assume we cut from being inside the mountain to outside as they escape. As they end up on the side of the mountain to rest; Gandalf, Gwaihir and the eagles come to rescue them. 🙂
8. LONG LIVE THE HALFLINGS (4m 41s)
Eventually, Sam wakes up in Ithilien to be greeted by Gandalf. It’s interesting how in the radio and book versions of ‘ROTK’ that Sam is the one who gets the attention upon recovering from the quest of the ring, whereas in the film, we see the events of what happened in the aftermath with Frodo. 🙂
Sam also sees Frodo there, as he apparently woke up before Sam did but fell asleep again. Gandalf announces to Frodo and Sam that they are to meet up with the new king of Gondor. It’s also intriguing that Frodo and Sam recover in Ithilien as opposed to recovering in Minas Tirith in the film.
On their way to meeting up with the king, the song ‘Long Live the Halflings’ is played. Frodo and Sam are soon happily reunited with their friends Merry and Pippin as well as Gimli and Legolas. They also meet up with Aragorn, who happens to be the new king of Gondor. Frodo and Sam are thrilled here.
Aragorn soon bows before Frodo and Sam. Frodo tells Aragorn that he shouldn’t bow to them as he’s the king. But Aragorn shows off Frodo and Sam to everyone else, telling them to praise them with great praise. The minstrels begin to sing a song of Frodo and Sam, which Sam is happy about. 🙂
9. THE STEWARD AND THE KING (5m 47s)
Back in Minas Tirith, Faramir and Éowyn sees the eagles coming and Gwaihir’s song is played. As the grey company are returning, Faramir soon proposes to Éowyn, telling her that he loves her. She happily accepts him. It’s intriguing and very heart-warming how Faramir and Éowyn end up together.
Later on, the coronation of Aragorn to become king of Gondor takes place. Faramir also becomes the new steward of Gondor. It’s interesting that even though Faramir is confirmed the new steward of Gondor in both the book and the radio series; it wasn’t established in the film version of ‘ROTK’. 😐
Faramir soon offers the king’s crown to Aragorn. Aragorn says some elvish words before he asks Frodo to take the crown and give it to Gandalf to put on his head. This happens and Gandalf says the familiar words of “Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed” as said in the film version. 🙂
The king’s coronation does seem to be smaller in the radio version compared to the film version. That might be because there isn’t a crowd of people echoing cheers of thanksgiving once Aragorn has been crowned king. It also seems to me that the coronation occurs inside rather than outside. 🙂
Gwaihir’s song also gets played throughout ‘The Stewart and the King’ chapter at certain stages. It’s played when Faramir and Éowyn see the eagles; it’s played after Éowyn accepts Faramir’s proposal of marriage; and it’s played at the very end once Aragorn has been crowned the new king of Gondor.
10. THE WHITE TREE OF NÚMENOR (6m 57s)
Sometime later, Gandalf and Aragorn journey to where a sapling of the White Tree of Númenor came from is formed. Aragorn takes the sapling and brings it back to Minas Tirith to be planted it in the court garden. The dead tree is taken away, but it gets put with where the dead that fought in battle are.
Once the White Tree has been replanted, Arwen of Rivendell soon comes to marry Aragorn. It’s interesting that Elrond and Arwen weren’t there at the actual coronation for Aragorn to become the new king of Gondor as in the film version. Gandalf and Frodo witness Arwen’s arrival to Minas Tirith.
Frodo remarks how beautiful Arwen is, although I’m not sure that’s reflected in the actress who plays her – Sonia Fraser. Arwen sounds older in the radio version compared to Liv Tyler who played in the films. And I know Arwen is not meant to be young since she’s as old as other elves tend to be.
But still, Marian Diamond who played Galadriel sounds younger compared to how Arwen sounds. It’s a shame that Arwen is like in only one scene of the ‘LOTR’ radio series where we can hear her, as maybe her voice would grow on me if she appeared in more scenes. Sadly, it wasn’t to be the case.
When Frodo meets up with Aragorn and Arwen at a fountain in Minas Tirith, he informs them he wishes to leave Minas Tirith and return to find Bilbo in Rivendell before he and his friends return to the Shire. Aragorn agrees to Frodo’s request and Arwen gives Frodo a gift to help through his pain. 🙂
DISC 3
1. THE DAY OF DEPARTURE (4m 18s)
Disc 3 of the radio version of ‘The Return of the King’ is arguably the longest ending in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ compared to the film version’s ending. There are more scenes of character parting with each other and the radio series does follow closely to what happened in the ‘LOTR’ book’s ending. 🙂
The radio series’ conclusion begins with our heroes leaving Gondor and returning to Rohan where King Théoden is buried. The ‘Lament for the Fallen’ for Théoden’s funeral is sung and Merry says a few words of farewell to the king. The men of Rohan hail Éomer, who is now the new king of Rohan.
Éomer silences everyone, telling them that it’s Théoden’s day, not his. Éomer also blesses his sister Éowyn marrying Faramir of Gondor. Aragorn wishes Faramir and Éowyn, and there are no hard feelings between Éowyn and Aragorn. Frodo soon announces that he and his friends have to depart.
There’s a farewell between Éomer and Frodo in one scene together. Éowyn also says farewell to Sam, Pippin, Legolas and Gimli before she and her brother say farewell to Merry. Éowyn gives Merry a horn of silver to take with him. Gandalf also goes with the hobbits, Aragorn and Elrond to Isengard.
2. MANY PARTINGS (9m 11s)
At Isengard, Gandalf and the company meet up with Stephen Thorne as Treebeard. Apparently, the Ents have rebuilt Isengard as ‘the Treegarth of Orthanc’. Once Gandalf enquires about Saruman’s well-being, Treebeard informs him Saruman has now gone, along with his accomplice Wormtongue.
Gandalf isn’t happy with what Treebeard has done, as Saruman could cause trouble wherever he goes. Despite that, the Tower of Orthanc is given back to King Aragorn. Treebeard gives the keys of Orthanc to Aragorn which Saruman gave him. Soon, it’s time for many of the Fellowship to depart. 😦
Legolas and Gimli go off together to explore the Glittering Caves in Helm’s Deep, as promised in ‘Two Towers’. They say farewell to everyone. Some say “Farewell” in Elvish whilst Gandalf says “Farewell” in English. Treebeard also makes to depart and he says what Galadriel said in ‘Fellowship’s prologue.
The film, that is. He says “The world is changing, I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air”. Treebeard says farewell to the hobbits, especially Merry and Pippin. It’s nice how Merry and Pippin say goodbye to Treebeard, especially when talking about the drinks that made them grow. 😀
Aragorn also makes to depart. He says goodbye to Gandalf, Elrond, Merry and Pippin as well as to Sam and Frodo. I like how the dialogue between Aragorn, Sam and Frodo echoes what was said during their first meeting at the Prancing Pony. Aragorn soon rides off and he heads back to Gondor.
3. DON’T ADVENTURES EVER HAVE AN END (8m 15s)
Sometime later, the rest of the company return to Rivendell. It’s interesting the radio series depicts the journey from Gondor back to the Shire in detail, whereas it wasn’t that explored in the film trilogy. We don’t see our heroes return to Isengard, Rivendell and Bree before returning to the Shire.
After the song ‘O Elbereth Gilthoniel’ is played, Frodo is reunited with John Le Mesurier as Bilbo Baggins. I enjoyed how Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin get to be reunited with Bilbo in Rivendell. They start telling him the adventures they’ve had and hopes to get them all written down in his own book.
Months later, Frodo announces to Hugh Dickson as Elrond that he and his friends must continue their journey back to the Shire. More is said about the three rings of the elves and what will happen to them. It’s also revealed Elrond bears one of the three elf rings and so does Galadriel of Lothlórien. 🙂
Frodo asks who bears the third elf ring, but Elrond asks him to not ask him that yet. Very soon, Frodo and the hobbits go to say farewell to Bilbo. As Bilbo gives gifts to the hobbit, including two smoking pipes to Merry and Pippin, it’s clear that he’s getting forgetful and isn’t writing as much as he used to.
Bilbo overhears what Sam says to Frodo regarding that and Frodo is soon given books and writing materials to continue the rest of the story he began concerning the One Ring and everything. Frodo promises to return to Rivendell to see Bilbo, but Elrond tells Frodo that he won’t have to return to Rivendell. 😐
4. HOMEWARD BOUND (8m 50s)
Gandalf and the hobbits continue their journey home. After leaving Rivendell, they pass by Weathertop where Frodo was stabbed by the Black Riders. Frodo’s pain returns to him. Gandalf senses not his wounds can be healed and Frodo wonders aloud about whether he’ll find proper rest.
Eventually, Gandalf and the hobbits return to Bree. There, they reunite with James Grout as Barliman Butterbur and Haydn Wood as Nob. I enjoyed the reunion between the hobbits, Butterbur and Nob and it’s great that Gandalf got to interact with Butterbur as he didn’t during ‘Fellowship’. 🙂
As Gandalf and the hobbits have supper, Butterbur joins them and shares his news to them. Apparently, things haven’t been well in Bree since the hobbits left the place in ‘Fellowship’. Gandalf reassures Butterbur that a new king of Gondor has been appointed and he will soon be visiting Bree.
Butterbur is surprised to hear Strider/Aragorn has become the new king of Gondor. He then remembers and tells the hobbit that Bill the Pony has returned to Bree. Sam is overjoyed and decides to go and see him. Next day, the hobbits leave Bree. Butterbur warns them about the Shire.
He tells them that all isn’t well. As they make their return to the Shire, Gandalf tells the hobbits that he’ll leave them to their business once they get back home. Gandalf soon departs on Shadowfax, and the hobbits continue their journey, not knowing what will await them back home. 😐
5. THE SCOURING OF THE SHIRE (4m 15s)
‘The Scouring of the Shire’ chapter in both the radio series and the book is something that’s never featured in the ‘ROTK’ film. It’s touched upon briefly in ‘Fellowship’s ‘Galadriel’s Mirror’ scene as well as ‘The Voice of Saruman’ scene in the extended cut of ‘ROTK’. It’s intriguing how it gets told here. 😐
The hobbits return to find Hobbiton destroyed. It seems to be worse than what Sam saw in Galadriel’s Mirror. Gordon Reid as Ted Sandyman has also become a villain in Hobbiton. Merry summons the hobbits of the Shire with the horn given to him by Éowyn. The hobbits soon come out.
Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin are reunited with quite a number of hobbits, including Alan Dudley as Farmer Cotton and Kathryn Hurlbutt as Rose. Sam is also reunited with his dad, John Church as Gaffer Gamgee. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin are told what happened to the Shire since they left. 😐
The four hobbits learn that a person called Sharkey has taken over Hobbiton. Eventually, a group of evil men turn up. The four hobbits defend the Shire against them. Initially, I assumed them to be orcs, but these could be the wild men that attacked Rohan. The battle doesn’t seem a very long one.
6. SHARKEY (6m 01s)
Frodo and the hobbits soon go to Bag-End where Sharkey is. They find that Sharkey happens to be Peter Howell as Saruman, accompanied by Paul Brooke as Gríma Wormtongue. It’s interesting how Frodo gets to meet Saruman in the ‘LOTR’ radio series compared to how he didn’t in the film trilogy.
Frodo orders Saruman to leave Bag-End. After hostility from the hobbits and Saruman manipulating them with his words, Frodo eases the tension and insists that Saruman not be slain. Saruman is soon about to leave with Wormtongue before he makes a stab at Frodo. Sam is shocked and upset by this.
Thankfully, it turns out that Frodo was wearing the mithril shirt and Saruman hasn’t hurt him at all. Saruman expresses his hatred towards Frodo and soon mistreats Wormtongue to follow him. Frodo expresses sympathy to Wormtongue. He offers him to leave Saruman and stay behind in the Shire. 🙂
But Saruman reveals to Frodo that Wormtongue killed Lotho, the son of Otho and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, the hobbits who wanted Bag-End from Bilbo. After Saruman mistreats Wormtongue again, Wormtongue ends up killing his master. I’m not really sure how Saruman was killed by Wormtongue.
Some supernatural thing occurred, I believe. Not sure if the same thing happened to Wormtongue or whether one of the hobbits killed him. It’s very different to how it’s depicted in terms of the deaths of Saruman and Wormtongue in the film version. Soon, the hobbits plan to rebuild the Shire.
7. THE MALLORN TREE (4m 49s)
Sometime later, Bagshot Row gets restored. It’s decided to call the new Bagshot Row as ‘New Row’ or as Pippin likes to call it ‘Sharkey’s End’. As the four hobbits and Gaffer Gamgee ponder on what to do with the replanting of the trees, Sam uses the box Galadriel gave him to replant the many trees. 🙂
This includes the tree that was at Bilbo’s birthday party which has been torn down during ‘The Scouring of the Shire’. The new tree which Sam has planted turns out to be a Mallorn tree, which is a common tree planted in Lothlórien itself. It’s intriguing how the Shire’s story in ‘ROTK’ is developed.
In the movie, it was a straight-forward return to home after the quest of the ring is completed. Here, in both radio series and book, effort is made in terms of repairing the damage caused by the War of the Ring when the hobbits went away. I guess the film would’ve been too long if that was adapted. 🙂
Once the Mallorn tree and everything else in the Shire has been replanted, Frodo soon invites Sam to stay with him at Bag-End. Sam is reluctant to do so, as he has a commitment to Rosie Cotton, whom he loves. Frodo suggests to Sam he should marry Rosie and they can stay with him at Bag-End.
8. ROSE AND ELANOR (4m 20s)
Once it’s settled, Sam and Rosie are married and they stay with Frodo at Bag-End. During the time Frodo says in Bag-End however, he has fits of illness from going on the Ring Quest. He hears the voices of Gandalf and Arwen about the wounds he received and what he should do so he can heal. 😦
As Frodo has his fits of illness, Sam and Rosie soon have a baby daughter. Sam was hoping to call the baby Frodo, but it’s not a ‘him’, it’s a ‘her’. Frodo suggests that Sam name his daughter Elanor, which is the name of a flower. Elanor is played by Harry Holm, who is of course the real son of Ian Holm here.
It’s interesting that Harry Holm’s baby noises were used for Elanor in the closing scenes of ‘ROTK’. Days later, Frodo asks Sam and Rosie into his study. He asks Rosie if she’d allow Sam to go with him on a short journey. Rosie eventually says yes, before she goes to attend to Elanor who cries away. 😀
Frodo then shows Sam the book that he’s been writing, which has a different title compared to how the ‘LOTR’ films titled Frodo’s story in Bilbo’s book. In the book and radio series, it’s ‘The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King’. Frodo says to Sam there’s room for a little more. 🙂
9. THE GREY HAVENS (10m 28s)
The final chapter of ‘ROTK’ and ‘LOTR’ has Frodo and Sam joining Elrond, Galadriel and Bilbo, as they make for the Grey Havens. As they make their way to Grey Havens, Bilbo sings his last song. Or rather John Le Mesurier reads the lyrics of ‘Bilbo’s Last Song’ instead of actually singing it for radio. 😦
This is strange since John Le Mesurier clearly could sing when he sang ‘The Road Goes Ever On’ in ‘Fellowship’. He also sang a demo version of ‘Bilbo’s Last Song’, which is very good. So, I don’t understand why he went the route of saying the lyrics instead of singing them in ‘The Grey Havens’.
At the Grey Havens, Elrond, Galadriel, Frodo, Sam and Bilbo meet up with Gandalf, who bears the third elf ring. They’re also joined by Merry and Pippin who seems them off. Whilst Marian Diamond as Galadriel is there, I’m not entirely sure why Celeborn wasn’t present at the Grey Havens himself.
A tearful farewell ensues between Frodo and Sam, as Frodo is about leave Middle-Earth when boarding the ship heading off ‘into the west’. I had tears in my eyes when listening to that scene. Soon, Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel are aboard the ship and heading off ‘into the west’.
‘Bilbo’s Last Song’ is sung by a soloist and once again, I had tears in my eyes. Sam returns home in the Shire to find Elanor crying away and Rosie greeting him. And like how the book ends and how the film trilogy ends, Sam’s last words are “Well, I’m back.” I’m getting tearful writing the end of this. 🙂
10. CLOSING CREDITS (2m 42s)
There’s then the end credits read out by Brian Sibley, who details who’s who in the cast as well as the behind-the-scenes crew of the ‘LOTR’ radio series. These end credits for the ‘ROTK’ radio version are similar to how the ‘Fellowship’ and ‘Two Towers’ end credits on radio are handled. This is consistent.
An interesting point to mention is that there’s no epilogue provided by Ian Holm as Frodo as was the case in ‘Fellowship’ and ‘Two Towers’. Frodo is gone now and all the writing that he did in Bag-End has concluded by the time he had Sam and Rosie meet him in his study, which seems reasonable. 😀
DISC 4 – THE MUSIC
Disc 4 of ‘The Return of the King’ is a bonus disc that contains a list of music from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ radio series. I’ve enjoyed listening to the music and it’s intriguing what songs were performed.
1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS (5m 11s)
This is the signature theme music for the ‘LOTR’ radio series. I love listening to the ‘LOTR’ radio series theme music. It makes me feel that the Fellowship are on their way to Mordor to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. Cues of the theme music are echoed throughout the radio series. 🙂
2. O ELBERETH GILTHONIEL (2m 35s)
This song is sung in Elvish and was performed for the welcome home to Rivendell for Elrond, Frodo, Sam and the others on their return journey to the Shire. Apparently, Elbereth Gilthoniel is the Star-Queen, as she made the stars and established the courses of the Moon and the Sun in Middle-Earth.
3. THE ROAD GOES EVER ON (7m 14s)
This song was performed by Bilbo and Frodo in the early parts of ‘Fellowship’ and it was performed before the prologues of ‘Two Towers’ and ‘ROTK’, presumably sung by Ambrosian Singers. The song ‘Upon the Hearth’, which was sung by the four hobbits in ‘Fellowship’, is also sung by the Ambrosian Singers.
4. IN WESTERN LANDS BENEATH THE SUN (1m 14s)
This was the song sung by Sam when he desperately searched for Frodo who was being held by orcs at Cirith Ungol in ‘ROTK’. I don’t understand why Bill Nighy didn’t perform this song for the music CD of the ‘LOTR’ radio series, as he’s clearly a good singer and it’s someone else singing the song here. 😦
5. SEEK FOR THE SWORD THAT WAS BROKEN (4m 26s)
This piece of music contains Aragorn’s theme, which symbolise the rebirth of light and hope upon his return to Minas Tirith in Gondor to become the new king of men. The lyrics of ‘Seek For The Sword That Was Broken’ sung during ‘The Council of Elrond’ in ‘Fellowship’ are sung by a soloist on the disc.
6. SHADOWFAX (2m 54s)
This is the theme music for Shadowfax, Gandalf’s horse in the ‘LOTR’ radio series. Whilst I find the ‘Shadowfax’ theme music a jaunty tune, it’s perhaps a little too jaunty for my tastes compared to the film trilogy’s music. The same applies to some Elvish music performed during the ‘LOTR’ radio series.
7. O LORIEN (2m 42s)
Speaking of which, this is the song performed during the scene where the Fellowship depart from Lothlórien. It’s heard when Gimli shares his feelings about the Lady Galadriel to Legolas. It’s a nice piece of music and sounds very gentle, especially when the vocalist is performing the song’s lyrics. 🙂
8. FORTH RODE THE KING (3m 13s)
This was a song performed during the scene where the Riders of Rohan are riding off to Gondor for war during ‘Two Towers’. Interestingly, the last part of ‘Forth Rode The King’ was performed in ‘Two Towers’. The track on the music CD has an extra verse that goes before was heard in ‘Two Towers’. 🙂
9. THE MARCH OF THE ENTS (2m 21s)
This song was performed in ‘Two Towers’. This is where the Ents led by Treebeard march to Isengard to make war with Saruman. The song is pretty uplifting and more verses are heard, taken from the ‘LOTR’ book, compared to what was heard in the radio series when the Ents marched off to Isengard.
10. THE BATTLE OF PELENNOR FIELDS (3m 17s)
This is the ballad sung in ‘ROTK’ when Théoden and the Riders of Rohan fought against the forces of Mordor on the Pelennor Fields outside Minas Tirith. I found the song itself rather disappointing, especially since it didn’t make the battle exciting. Most of the song’s lyrics weren’t used in the scene. 😐
11. LAMENT FOR THE FALLEN (4m 35s)
This suite of music contains the lament theme for Boromir, during the beginning of ‘Two Towers’. There’s also the song performed at Théoden’s funeral in ‘ROTK’. It’s interesting how both Boromir’s lament theme and Théoden’s funeral song are played on one track instead of two on the music disc.
12. GIL-GALAD WAS AN ELVEN KING (1m 22s)
Here’s another song which was sung by Sam during the scene where the hobbits led by Strider were making for Weathertop in ‘Fellowship’. Again, I don’t know why Bill Nighy’s rendition of the song wasn’t used on the music disc, as it’s someone else singing the lyrics instead of him, which is a pity. 😦
13. IN CARAS GALADHON (2m 53s)
This is another suite of music featured during the Lothlórien scenes of ‘Fellowship’, specifically when the Fellowship arrive at Caras Galadhon and are welcomed by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. The music does sound very fluty and jovial, compared to what was heard in the previous ‘O Lórien’ song.
14. THE TREE LORDS (5m 09s)
There are two songs performed on this music track. The first song is when Treebeard lists the peoples of Middle-Earth to Merry and Pippin in ‘Two Towers’. The second song is about the Elves looking for Entwives. Whilst I like the songs, how come Stephen Thorne didn’t sing this on the track?
15. GWAIHIR’S SONG (1m 46s)
This song is sung in ‘ROTK’ when Gwaihir and the eagles are celebrating the victory against Sauron, as they spread the news to people like Faramir and Éowyn in Minas Tirith. I could easily visualise the eagles flying in the sky as the song was being played, although I’m not sure if their singing in radio would be realistic.
16. LONG LIVE THE HALFLINGS (2m 27s)
This song was also sung in ‘ROTK’ where the men of Rohan and Gondor are praising Frodo and Sam for destroying the One Ring in Mordor. There’s more incidental music performed in the song whilst the chorus is repeated twice. It’s a jovial song and I imagine is fitting for the victory against Sauron. 🙂
17. THE HEALING OF THE SHIRE (2m 44s)
This happens to be instrumental music of the previous ‘O Lórien’ song. This section of music is played when Sam is planting the Mallorn Tree and what was given to him in Galadriel’s box in the Shire. This is following ‘The Scouring of the Shire’ in ‘ROTK’. It’s a beautiful piece of music to listen to.
18. BILBO’S LAST SONG (3m 36s)
‘Bilbo’s Last Song’ is sung at the end of ‘ROTK’. The song is sung by a soloist and it occurs when Frodo is boarding the grey ships to pass ‘into the west’. There are more verses sung in this track on the music disc and are taken from the book. It’s quite a moving song to listen to in ending the series.
19. BILBO’S LAST SONG (DEMON VERSION) (1m 11s)
This is another version of ‘Bilbo’s Last Song’ sung by John Le Mesurier, who plays Bilbo Baggins in the radio series. Again, why wasn’t this used instead of Bilbo speaking the opening words of the song as opposed to singing it? Surely John Le Mesurier could sing ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ too.
‘The Return of the King’ is a fitting conclusion to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ radio series. I’ve enjoyed the third volume immensely. It was interesting to find how much was similar and different when comparing between the radio series and film trilogy. ‘The Scouring of the Shire’ chapter’s effective. 🙂
I was saddened the radio series came to an end, but I do enjoy listening to it now and again. The radio series adds more to the Middle-Earth experience, providing insight into the story and not just relying on the film trilogy, as I learnt more about what was featured in the books by J. R. R. Tolkien. 🙂
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (Audio) rating – 8/10
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