🦅Eagles at the end (movie)

[Redbutcher]

Hi,
I was just looking again at the movies and I'm still in doubt about something.
After the destruction of the ring, three eagles comes to pick Sam and Frodo.
Can we suppose that the third one was for Smeagol?
(Sorry if already asked, but I didn't find the answer).
Thanks

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

One was to carry Gandalf -- at least in the books. I don't remember how it went in the movies.

 

[Redbutcher]

One was to carry Gandalf -- at least in the books. I don't remember how it went in the movies.

The one with Gandalf take Frodo. Another one take Sam. That's why I suppose that the last one was for Smeagol

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

OK. Well, that's PJ &Co.

 

[Ent]

It is not made clear in LoTR which of the three eagles picked up the hobbits.

The paragraph simply reads:
"Side by side they lay; and down swept Gwaihir, and down came Landroval and Meneldor the swift; and in a dream, not knowing what fate had befallen them, the wanderers were lifted up and borne far away out of the darkness and the fire."

The best assumption would be that the two unencumbered by Gandalf picked up the hobbits.

Gandalf specifically asked Gwaihir to bear him.
"‘Twice you have borne ME, Gwaihir my friend,’ said Gandalf. ‘Thrice shall pay for all, if you are willing."

Then he specifically asked Gwaihir to bring TWO others...presumably for Sam and Frodo.
‘Then come, and let your brother go with us, and some OTHER (singular) of your folk who IS (singular) most swift!"

Three birds for three people.

Though it's "possible" that Gandalf may have hoped Gollum somehow survived, it is doubtful. He had long ago said Gollum may yet have a part to play, in his foresight. It may well be he had at last foreseen what that part would be - else he would likely have asked for yet another bird to come.

A little bit of speculation, but I believe fairly sound given the evidence at hand.

p.s. - it's been awhile since I watched 'the movie' and noticed which eagle actually picks up Frodo... but that part doesn't matter to me. If it's Gwaihir carrying Gandalf, it's all about 'screen time' though it could have been handled differently, more accurately, and with the same 'screen time'.

Gwaihir's only roles in the flight in LoTR are to carry Gandalf, and that it is Gwaihir that first spots the Hobbits when things clear a bit, and begins the spiraling descent.