One of the things that makes hobbits so special, both inTolkien’s original worksand in the subsequent Peter Jackson movie adaptations, is their unique blend of lifestyles. On one hand is their peaceful idyllic life, wanting to avoid adventures and stay out of trouble. On the other is their mischievous curiosity and their habit of sticking their noses where they shouldn’t, because they love how the gossip and the drama liven up their quiet existence. It is an age-old motif within film and TV in which the inquisitive protagonist leaves the safety and comfort of their small home and embarks on a huge adventure that will change their life and the lives of those around them forever. The hobbit protagonists in Tolkien’s stories are no exception.
Clearly, the same can be said forthe harfoots in the latestRings of Powerepisodes. The elder harfoots are a jumpy, paranoid sort of people, stuck in their old ways, hiding from the outside world and constantly moving from place to place. They do what they have always done, because it has always kept them safe, and they see no reason nor want to change. But the younger harfoots have begun to wonder about the world outside their small existence, about what else lies out there in the huge world that they have always been cut off from. Once curiosity takes hold, there is absolutely no stopping them. They all have wild and excited hearts beating in there somewhere, although many of them have forgotten how to listen to it. But once the calling for adventure is awoken, there is no turning back.
RELATED:Rings of Power: Scenes That Took Inspiration From The Peter Jackson Movies
This is demonstrated beautifully in the character of Nori, aka Eleanor Brandyfoot, a wide-eyed and impish young harfoot who never does as she’s told and is never where she is supposed to be. Dragged along for the journey is her best friend Poppy Proudfellow, who is more sensible, but also deeply loyal. Together these young beings get themselves into all sorts of trouble, much like two other prankish and willful hobbits: Merry and Pippin. Fans have already noticed several similarities between the original duo intheLord of the Ringsmovies, and the two new companions in theRings of Powerseries. Not only are Nori and Poppy joined at the hip, and never seen without each other just as Merry and Pippin are, the two sets of duos also share a remarkable ability to disobey the people trying to keep them safe.
All four characters have good hearts and good intentions, but often cause more harm than good. Pippin knocks the helmet down the well in theFellowship of the Ring, while Nori is off with the meteor man instead of helping her father with the chores. One scene fromRings of Powerin particular is very reminiscent of Merry and Pippin: the scene in which the young harfoots are seen picking berries outside the boundaries of their settlement. Clearly they know they’re not supposed to be there, and that there will be negative consequences if they are caught. Yet, the temptation of the fruit is just too much. It’s clear this isn’t the first time they’ve gone gathering where they shouldn’t — and that only makes it more alluring, because they’ve gotten away with it before. The exact same can be said of the scene in theFellowship of the Ringin which Frodo and Samwise run into Merry and Pippin inFarmer Maggot’s field. They, too, have been pinching crop that they’re not allowed to, and have also clearly made it a frequent habit.
Both sets duos act as a wonderfulcomedic relief in an otherwise dark and intense timeof their world. For Merry and Pippin, it’s their witty come-backs and their banter with one another that lightens things up, plus the fact that their antics never go quite to plan. This has already been reflected with Nori and Poppy in the scene in which they wheel the man in the meteor up the hill, so that they can hide him somewhere safe whilst they go back to get him supplies to bring the following morning. They spend the entire journey up the hill squabbling, just like Merry and Pippin do. And when they finally get to the top, they are too busy arguing to notice the wheelbarrow running away back down the hill.
But beyond the comedy and the mischief, the thing that makes Nori and Poppy most like Merry and Pippin is their hearts. They are both brave, and loyal, and willing to stand up for those who need them. They are all heroes, because they all fight for what they believe is right, and they love with the full strength of their beings. Merry and Pippin both made history within the War of the Ring, and fans are excited to see what fate has in store for their harfoot counterparts.
