5 Lord of the Rings extended edition scenes that make it even better

The Lord of the Rings is a franchise that remains a fan favorite. The trilogy of epic fantasy and adventure films by Peter Jackson was adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's namesake novels. The titles of all three films, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King, are in alignment with the three book volumes.

The extended editions of these films are equally popular among viewers. So, if you are wondering which one of them is worth a watch, we have curated a list of five such extended scenes that make the trilogy even better.

5 Lord of the Rings extended edition scenes that shouldn't be missed

1) The mourning of Théodred

In 2002's The Two Towers, Théoden's son Théodred dies during battle. Théoden is then shown grieving his son's death, which adds a layer to the overall emotional weight. However, it's missing from the theatrical cut. But in the extended cut, Théodred's funeral is shown where Éowyn sings to her late cousin.

2) Introduction of Hobbits

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the makers opt not to explain who and what the Hobbits are. It was especially confusing for those who had not read the books. Luckily, in the extended version, Bilbo ends up explaining things in detail. He talks about the customs, lifestyle, and habits of all the Hobbits out there.

3) Aragorn faces off against Sauron's Mouth

In The Return of the King's extended edition, there is an extra scene where several warriors confront the Mouth of Sauron. Moments later, Aragorn chops off the head of the Mouth with his sword. This scene helps in building tension before the Battle of Black Gate takes place.

4) Wood Elves leaving for the Undying Land

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, we see Frodo's group witnessing a set of Wood Elves before they embark on their journey. They realize that these Elves are heading towards the Undying Land through Middle-earth. This scene, in the extended cut, plants a seed for the ending of the next installment.

5) Gimli and Legolas are doing kill counts

A still from Fellowship of the Ring | Image via Warner Bros. YouTube

In the extended cut of The Two Towers, we see a moment that strengthens the bond between Legolas and Gimli. They start as foes, but towards the end, they become good friends. After each fight, the two compare their kill counts. As the film is about to conclude, they finally determine which one of them has the highest kill count. This scene is missing from the theatrical cut.

All these extended scenes add layers to the subplot or character growth that may have felt rushed in the theatrical cut. It's understandable that the makers also had to keep the runtime in mind before chopping off these scenes. But one can realize that these scenes further elevated several elements in all three films in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.