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clar's avatar

The difference between Tolkien and the writers who come after him can be stated as the difference between “I am no man” and “I need no man”… I disagree with you that it was not agenda-driven - even allowing for the fact that portions of the plot are similar to what Tolkien wrote in the Appendix, Wulf’s motivations toward the end seem to be more about getting revenge upon “her” and proving himself better than Héra (which he predictably fails at). He’s acting like an incel who’s been rejected by the Strong Feminist heroine. Thus Héra’s defeat of Wulf seems like the perfect feminist comeback to patriarchy and toxic incel culture. Thanks, but Tolkien already managed to make strong female characters who still loved males and got married, so there’s no need to try and convince me that these two things are mutually exclusive.

Also, Héra’s motivations remain exactly the same from start to finish, and she is exceptionally good at everything from swordfighting to mountaineering. Mary Sue, anyone?

P.S. Did they have to rip off Éowyn and make the feminist rejection so on the nose with that scene? You know the one I’m talking about.

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Emily H's avatar

I enjoyed it and will watch it again! I went into it already invested in Rohan where it sounds like you didn't (or at least not as much), and I wasn't expecting it to be a big-budget epic.

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