One of the more debated elements among fans of The Rings of Power since its initial release, has been the inclusion of the ‘Harfoots’ within the series.
Portraying the show’s interpretation of an early travelling community of Hobbits, these characters most likely represent the ancestors of the Shire’s inhabitants including Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Considering it is improbable for these latest characters to have quite the same level of central importance to the story as the Hobbits that come later. Some fans are questioning why they are included in the series at all.
What’s wrong with including the Harfoots?
So why is it so problematic to include Harfoots within the series? It predominantly stems from the relevance of Hobbits to Middle-Earth. Hobbits are a very central theme in Tolkien’s books.
Representing the protagonists of both his series of ‘The Hobbit’ and also ‘The Lord of the Rings ‘. Yet it is in these novels that it is made clear the simplicity of Hobbit culture. Unlike other races of Middle-Earth, there is no mention of them making any significant contributions to the development of the world until Bilbo sets off on his unexpected journey. This is very much a primary theme within the story, which highlights the efforts of Hobbits such as Bilbo and Frodo as extraordinary in comparison.
Why the Harfoots represent nostalgia-bait
If the Harfoots’ presence in the series is not to represent Tolkien lore accurately, we can only assume that they are included for the sake of nostalgia. As much as Amazon wants to make a series that appropriately represents Tolkien’s style and ethos, they must also pander to an audience and its expectations. For many current LoTR fans, their introduction will have been Peter Jackson’s film franchises. Something which Amazon is evidently aware of, as can be seen from some very similar visuals throughout the series. Therefore, the inclusion of Hobbits may have felt like a necessity to deliver something familiar to please a segment of its audience.
Of course, this may not have affected viewers as intended. Because the series is tied to Tolkien lore, they are limited with how prominently they can include any Hobbit characters within the series. It would be odd to have a Harfoot sub-plot that interferes with pre-events to the novels so drastically but is never referenced in the original works. The result is the Harfoots appear shoe-horned into a story they do not yet belong to. This is an opinion many of the viewers seem to also share so far. Only as the series continues, will we see where these Hobbit Harfoots will lead. Yet the personal investment in these characters seems offset compared to others in the show. Characters who are not bound by the same restraints of the book.
