annihilatedthenightstalker

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

You know, it's kinda funny how much of high fantasy centers around kings and nobility and courtly intrigue considering that the archetypal high fantasy, Lord of the Rings, had the rather explicit moral of "saving the world is up to this backwater hick and his gardener because no politician, least of all inherited nobility, would have the ability to see past their own ambition and throw away a weapon". Oh sure, Aragorn is a great king and all, but there's a reason he's over there running a distraction ring while the hobbits do the real work. Sauron loses because he gets distracted by kings and armies and great battles (i.e. typical high fantasy stuff) letting Frodo and Sam sneak through his back door and blow it all to hell.

Just saying, maybe old Jirt knew what he was saying when he said that the small folk doing their best and holding to each other was more powerful than a dozen alliances and superweapons and we should respect him for it.

#tolkien #lotr #lord of the rings

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

Rereading the Lord of the Rings series recently, and it's so fascinating to me how much the series is a denial of the typical juvenile power-fantasy that is associated with the fantasy genre.

Like, the power-fantasy is the temptation the Ring uses against people It tempts Boromir with becoming the "one true king" that could save his people with fantastic power. It tempts Sam with being the savior of Middle Earth and turning the ruin that is Mordor into a great garden. It tempts Gandalf and Galadriel with being the messianic figure of legend who brings salvation to Middle Earth and great glory to herself.

The things the Ring tempts people with are becoming the typical protagonists of fantasy stories that we expect to see. and over and over we see that accepting that role, that fantasy of being the benevolent all-powerful hero, is a bad thing. LotR is about how power, even power wielded with benevolent intent, is corrupting.

And its so fascinating how so much of modern fantasy buys into the very fantasy LotR denies. Most modern fantasy is about being that Heroic power-fantasy. About good amassing power to rival evil. But LotR dares not to. It dares to be honest that there is no world where anyone amasses that power and remains good.

I guess that's one of the reasons its so compelling.

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

@forrestfaedom THIS

It kind of wrecks me when the media reduces Legolas to the overpowered hot guy who defies gravity.

Like...

Did we watch the same movies?

Not only is this guy just an insanely honorable and fierce member of the Fellowship, but he's an infinitely heartfelt and dedicated friend. He would go to the ends of the earth to follow Aragorn, to save Merry and Pippin, to fight in the name of Frodo Baggins.

He's lost his mother, he was raised by a grieving and emotionally absent father, he was sheltered from the rest of the world for years, he went from insulting and threatening dwarves to protecting and practically EXISTING for one. Not to mention everything he did post war of the ring, uniting his people yet removing himself from his royal status??

And just to think, he has to grapple with immortality. To other elves it doesn't matter, but to him, his entire life has become these mortal friends he's grown to call family. And he has to go on living while they all slowly die.

And yeah, he's a fucking INSANE FIGHTER. Like BEYOND REASON.

I get that to the dude bros he's just a hot guy for the girls to thirst over but in reality he's just as complex as the rest of them and I'd really like for us to acknowledge it for once.

#legolas #lotr #middle earth

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

Fuck and the whole time, in the back of Legolas's mind (of perhaps the very front where he had to constantly shove it down and silence it) was the sea, the whole time and yet he stayed, and he planted and he loved and he sang and he traveled and watched his friends grow old and their kids grow up, all while he was burdened with longing for somewhere else, and finally only one was left, and he was torn in two, between the dwarf and the sea, still choosing to ignore that gnawing ache, but then, the dwarf went with him- and he didn't have to choose anymore. Finally, he was free.

#THIS OMFG #IM SOBBINGGGGNJFKDKD #and legolas is so undermined as a character #yet this is such a crucial aspect #legolas greenleaf #lotr #tolkien #middle earth #the fellowship

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

just two best friends sharing in each other’s journeys…

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

every single elf who sees Gimli and Legolas thinks of them as "the weird elf prince and his dwarf boyfriend" but to the dwarves they are "Gimli The Sex Symbol and his cringefail elf boyfriend"

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

"i cant watch shows about fantasy kingdoms without thinking about how they should be abolishing the monarchy" that my friend sounds like a skill issue

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

MIRANDA OTTO  as ÉOWYN ↳ the lord of the rings: the two towers (2002)

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

What about side by side with a friend?

#i dont sob over this scene every time YOU DO #OH GOD IM ILL OVER THEM #lotr #legolas #gimli

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

To me, it's the kind of thing where I think they have normal conversations and have fun behind the scenes. It's just that there was a lot of drama (ofc) and plot so it was all serious. I also just think it's one of those things where they just get each other and a lot of times they don't really need to say something to know it when it comes to the other person.

Idk they're cool though ✨️

people who are Aragorn x Arwen stans how does their relationship work like what do they talk about? or are they like those taciturn couples who just read each others' minds and go riding

#aragorn #arwen undomiel #aragorn x arwen #lotr #lord of the rings

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

Battle of the Five Armies: Thranduil

Thranduil was my favourite character coming out of The Hobbit. I’ve already touched on him a bit in my Tauriel post, but now’s the part where I talk about him in particular.

This… might run long.

Spoilers for The Hobbit, book and movies. Also pictures.

Keep reading

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

Of all the lotr horses why does absolutely no one talk about Arod??? LIKE- HES THE GOODEST BOY.

He's the unofficial third wheel when aragorn isn't around, he loves to trot, and legolas calls him his friend in the books!! Like please I love him so much you guys give him some love.

#lord of the rings #tolkien #lotr #middle earth #legolas #arod #lotr horses

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

LOTR Triptych, by Yaroslava Murashko.

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

extremely controversial opinion but no thranduil (movie) was not a good father or king

#lord of the rings #tolkien #lotr #middle earth #sorry i had to say it

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

Hello please reblog this if you’re okay with people sending you random asks to get to know you better

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

8x11 larp and the real girl is a gay dean manifesto, to ME

[annihilatedthenightstalker]

Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?