I read an interesting article on LOTR the other day (sorry can’t remember the source), that talked about how the male protagonists in the series were great examples of positive masculinity. Aragorn is shown as caring and displays emotions freely. Close friendships and love are represented among the men as normal and…

“Peter Jackson’s pretty damn faithful adaptations”

Frodo asks The Fellowship for directions. Then he asks Gollum for directions. 

At some point, the people started putting more weight on the Bechdel test than it was meant to carry. It’s a brilliant device that underscores a broad truth about how male-centric Hollywood entertainment is - but it’s not a way to judge if a movie’s gender dynamics are good or not. Heck, the LOTR movie above would…

But they, unlike Frodo and Sam, would’ve asked for directions.

The masculine perspective in LotR is pretty all-encompassing, it’s true. Peter Jackson even expanded Arwen’s role considerably, and she’s barely in it. She, Galadriel, and Éowyn are the only women with any particular agency or significance (unless you count Shelob.) It’s honestly pretty glaring given the immense scope…