December 3, 2002

Why Wait for Cover of Darkness?
Terrapin

First I'd just like to say that I love Fellowship.. I think it is a brilliant adaptation of a tricky text. I've just watched the extended dvd with the director/writers commentary-- Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens are great people who really love the story, and I believe pretty much all the changes they made for the film were justified.

With that out of the way.. I just have a quick question about one of Aragorn's lines that I'd like people to have a go at answering. This has bothered me since the second or third time I saw the film, but it doesn't seem to be something many people have picked up on.

When the fellowship stop at Amon Hen, Legolas says "We should leave now." and Aragorn replies "No. Orcs Patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."

Now, surely orcs (aside from the Uruk-Hai, which Gandalf specifically mentions as exceptions) hate sunlight, and would be far more likely to patrol the eastern shore during the night than during the day. So why does Aragorn say this?

I know the most likely explanation is "The writers made a mistake", but I wonder if anyone can come up with an explanation that is consistant with the world and story?

this is the one line in the film that really bothers me.. hope someone can come up with a good answer. thanks,

Saul