The Return of the King - Sméagol and Déagol

Sméagol and Déagol fight scene from lotr rotk

[fresnelfringe]

The fact that the ring was left lying in the middle of the most pristine & peaceful haven is just pure literary genius on the part of Tolkien. Even in the most quiet and lovely places lies a potential seed of war. Corrupting the most ordinary of folk.

[czomolungmen]

It started so innocently. Beautiful, sunny day, fishing... What really could go wrong?

[MonoKrohm_]

Amazing how there was absolutely zero animosity between them before Deagol took the ring from the river. The second they both laid eyes on it, their lives were over.

[abdelarch]

Dude was super creepy even before he got the ring.

[callum]

You know what the sad part is?

Out of the two of them, Deagol was the lucky one...

[Tobidecai]

1:43 I just noticed how the birds fly away when he opens his hand and reveal the ring

[ryanplaysbass]

Probably the most disturbing scene in the film

[birdobirdson]

"It'sss my birthday... and I WANTSSSS IT...."

Dat creepiness.

[timovangalen]

This scene was originally supposed to be a flashback in Two Towers, after Frodo calls Gollum by his old name in the Dead Marshes. Peter Jackson decided to make it the opening scene in Return of the King instead, which I think is brilliant for a number of reasons:

1. It subverts expectations. Fellowship opened with the Battle of the Last Alliance, and the Balrog fight kicked off Two Towers. How does Return of the King start? Two hobbits fishing.

2. It reminds the audience of how powerful and evil the Ring is, and why it must be destroyed. Within seconds of laying eyes on it Sméagol and Deagol are at each other's throats.

3. Smeagol's transformation into Gollum is one of the creepiest scenes in movie history. Jackson's horror movie credentials are undeniable, and this helps set the tone for the darkest film of the trilogy.

4. Anyone who hasn't read the books is now going to be worried that Frodo and Sam may end up killing each other over the Ring.

[BlueMaxx]

Sauron's laugh as Sméagol stares into his dead cousin's, Déagol's, face. The subtleties are great in this film.

[Destroyer]

So that fish is one of the reason the war began?

[RR-uhys]

Just him saying those words "Deagol!" with enthusiam at 1:54.... These were his last moments as Sméagol before the ring would forever slowly corrupt and devour him for the rest of his life.. So sad..

[Hinkuintiaani]

3:28 Sauron's laugh..
It's these amazing small effects in the background that create the atmosphere in the film...

[supermovies]

I was 8 when I watched this scene. Scared the shit out of me... And it still does..

[masamune]

I’ll never forget how cool it was, as a huge Tolkien geek, obviously knowing the plot and the characters, to be sitting in the theatre behind an adorable young couple, who were clearly experiencing “The Return of the King”, and probably “The Lord of the Rings, ” in any form for the first time. When Deagol says “Sméagol, I got one” there was a moment of silence, and then the young lady goes, in a very whisper-quiet, no -disturbing way, “OMG that’s Gollum! Him, it’s Gollum before he was Gollum!” to which the husband excitingly exclaimed “no way...no way! Omg You are right, it’s him!”
I was just happy for these people to experience that intriguing moment of realization, and the genius of both Tolkien and Jackson in that moment, and it’s silly but it made the moment so memorable for me...it helps me forget that I balled like a dumb giant baby at the “Grey Havens” scene...🙂

[Brekstahkid]

You could tell smeagol was a little off

[rosecassidy]

if you think about it, if deagol had killed smeagol than he would have been corrupted by the ring and lived a lfe of torture and be just like the Gollum we know. so i guess He died in a better way than smeagol does

[vague]

I always feel so bad for smeagol here. It started so nicely and the cousins seem to truly care about each other. It's just such a display of pureness and innocence being corrupted and destroyed. It's a rather heartbreaking scene.

[jordangroff]

It's like a Hobbit version of Cain and Abel or something.

[FablesOutofSpace]

Scarriest transformation I have ever seen. You can literally feel the power of the ring.