Including Tom Bombadil may be a no-win scenario for The Lord the Rings: The Rings of Power

As a lifelong fan of Tolkien’s masterpiece, I must say that including Tom Bombadil in Amazon’s “The Rings of Power” has left me with a feeling reminiscent of finding an Elven shoe in my dishwasher – utterly bewildering and slightly off-putting.

One unusual episode in J.R.R. Tolkien’s cherished Lord of the Rings trilogy unfolds early in The Fellowship of the Ring, following Frodo and his companions as they depart from the Shire while carrying the One Ring. They traverse a forest and cross paths with an eccentric character named Tom Bombadil, who dons a blue coat and yellow shoes. He is known for his songs and conversing with trees. Moreover, he seems to be so old and potent that the One Ring, the object causing turmoil throughout Middle-earth, holds no sway over him.

Tom often assists the hobbits in various tricky situations, guides them forward, and then is seldom mentioned again afterwards. He doesn’t quite fit into any of the intricate details of Tolkien’s elaborate mythology or significantly impact the main storyline. As a result, many adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, including Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, choose to omit him entirely. Even seventy years after the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, fans continue to debate about his role and purpose.

In my view, attempting to give significant importance to the character Tom Bombadil might not be wise. He was initially introduced in Tolkien’s poem “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil,” which predates both “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” I suspect that J.R.R. Tolkien included Tom in his epic trilogy for a less profound reason, such as finding him amusing and wanting to include him without any deeper purpose.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel excited about the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel show on Prime Video. They’ve brought in Rory Kinnear, known for his role in Penny Dreadful, to play the enigmatic Tom Bombadil. In this series, set far before our familiar Lord of the Rings story, Tom resides in the barren lands of Rhûn. It seems he’s going to mentor a character named the Stranger, who might just be Gandalf, given his forgetful TV ways. There’s even a hint that Tom once trained the enigmatic Dark Wizard who rules over these regions with an iron fist.

In a manner reminiscent of “The Rings of Power,” it’s amusing enough, yet seldom leaves me truly captivated. However, I find myself pondering if the series wouldn’t have benefited more by not exploring the enigmatic figure of Tom Bombadil.

Why including Tom Bombadil is destined to please no one

Being an ardent admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, I can’t help but notice the discrepancy in the portrayal of Tom Bombadil on “The Rings of Power.” In “The Lord of the Rings,” Bombadil is a character who seemingly disregards the larger narrative unfolding around him. For instance, when the idea of entrusting the One Ring to his care arises, Gandalf warns that Bombadil would likely lose it due to his indifference towards its significance – a testament to his casual attitude towards events that are critical in the grand scheme of things. This contrast between Bombadil’s apathy and the importance of the One Ring as depicted in “The Rings of Power” seems somewhat at odds with Tolkien’s original intentions for the character.

Remember this: The One Ring is the pivotal element around which the entire narrative of “The Lord of the Rings” revolves. However, Tom couldn’t care less about it. It holds no significance for him, and vice versa. This is why Tom effortlessly detaches himself whenever someone endeavors to adapt “The Lord of the Rings”; he doesn’t identify with the story, he plays a minor role in it, so an adaptation lacking him doesn’t suffer much by his absence.

In “The Rings of Power,” Tom Bombadil shows concern. He was invested enough to mentor the Dark Wizard and the Stranger, both characters tied to a larger narrative, which contrasts with the Tom Bombadil we encounter in “The Lord of the Rings.” Furthermore, he doesn’t devote as much time to singing whimsical tunes in this adaptation.

For avid fans of “Lord of the Rings” yearning for a faithful adaptation of Tom, this development may not sit well with you. I’ve come to terms with the fact that “The Rings of Power” isn’t striving too much to adhere to Tolkien’s mythology; listing all the differences would make this conversation longer than one of Tolkien’s books. Instead, I choose to appreciate it for what it offers, distinct from the original lore.

In essence, if viewers aren’t able to recognize the on-screen Tom Bombadil as the character they know from the books because he is too different, then we must appreciate him as a unique creation tailored for this TV series. However, at this point, I’m uncertain whether he effectively fulfills that role within the show.

If I were someone unfamiliar with “The Lord of the Rings” and only watching “The Rings of Power,” encountering a seemingly insignificant cottage dweller who suddenly imparts knowledge about magic to a crucial, potentially powerful character like The Stranger would feel odd and underwhelming at this stage in the story.

The show seems to have placed Tom in a predicament where he is comparable to his book counterpart, yet distinct enough for longtime fans to notice the differences. However, he doesn’t appear to be developed enough as an independent character, which might not captivate viewers who are new to the story.

Could things shift significantly during the second part of the season? I certainly hope they do, but I’m worried that the season may conclude without satisfying anyone where Tom is concerned.

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2024-09-11 16:41