From this week's
fannish5.
You are given the opportunity to erase from existence five episodes, scenes, or lines of dialogue from canon. Which five get the axe?
Well, since changing things would really change the whole story, I'm going to go for the five dumbest things I think the character should have known better than to do.
- Elwing refusing to give up the silmaril. She'd seen the destruction of Doriath, and should have known that the sons of Feanor would do the same again. So, Elwing, give up the darn jewel.
- Finrod swearing lifelong oaths of friendship to dirty mortals and their descendants. Have you not seen the ill effects oaths have? Next time, throw in a few provisos, such as "Offer not valid on quests for Holy Jewels". Maybe it will save you from being eaten by a werewolf.
- Maglor giving in to Maedhros/Maedhros not listening to Maglor, however you want to view it, when they were debating whether or not to steal the silmarils from Eonwe's camp. Really, the whole, "the Everlasting Darkness shall be our lot, whether we keep our oath or break it..." -- ooh, pwnage. I'm all for loyalty and all, but don't be so dogged.
- Turgon not listening to Ulmo's warning. Way to go, buddy. Two gold stars for that one.
- This is not so much a "should have known better", but I would change Maedhros trusting the traitorous Men before the 5th Battle. Stupid, untrustworthy men. You know, for all that's happened to this point, Maedhros strikes me as surprisingly optimistic concerning people's trustworthiness. Or maybe he's just somewhat desperate for forces that he's willing to overlook suspicions that can't be proved.
Ok, I think that covers it. There are a lot of things that part of me wants to change, but at the same time cutting scenes or dialogue (not that there is much in the Silmarillion, and even less that I'd want to cut) would have such an impact on the rest of the story that I would feel guilty changing the subsequent events, because I love the story as it is. Obviously, having Elwing surrender the silmaril or having Finrod live would drastically change things. But I adore what-if questions! Like, if Finrod lived, would he then be a werewolf? (And would he like to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts? Just kidding on the last.)
Of course, the problem with what-if questions is that they tend to create AU plot bunnies...
Mood:
Geeky