a more detailed analysis of the role Dol Guldur will play in the upcoming film may be made. We saw several snippets of Gandalf and Radagast in the ancient, abandoned fortress, now inhabited by Sauron, a.k.a. The Necromancer. Though Dol Guldur was only a side-story in An Unexpected Journey, it will play a much more important role in The Desolation of Smaug...
Way, way back in the beginning of last year, the first official trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released. If you recall, large portions of the trailer, featuring scenes in Dol Guldur, did not appear in the movie. Knowing Peter Jackson, this was by no means an accident. We saw Gandalf fighting an old, ragged figure, whom we think is none other than Thrain, the father of Thorin Oakenshield.
We saw this scene again in the trailer for The Desolation of Smaug, which probably means that this scene is important. Yet this brings up another question. When does this occur? In An Unexpected Journey, Gandalf gives Thorin a map and key from Thrain. The book tells us that Gandalf gained these artifacts by venturing into Dol Guldur and finding Thrain a prisoner there. So, this is either a flashback in time, or the figure dueling Gandalf is not Thrain, or Peter Jackson deviates from the book.
It is very unlikely that this scene is a flashback in time. Gandalf has both his staff and his sword. If you remember, Gandalf found his sword in the troll cave, after he had given Thorin the map and key. Peter Jackson would not have allowed such a lapse in attention to detail. This has to be after Gandalf leaves the dwarves on the edge of Mirkwood.
The second possibility is that this bearded figure is not Thrain. Because of the motion-blur and quick movement, it is impossible to tell if this figure is dwarf-sized or not. He is wearing dwarvish-style clothing, and he does have a beard to be proud of, so he very well could be Thrain. All the facts point towards him indeed being Thorin's father, but we cannot know for sure.
The last option is that Peter Jackson twists the original story. This is the most likely, for, with the information known, there is no other way to explain the inconsistency with Thrain and his map and key. I am sure this will all be explained in the movie, but for now we are left with many questions.
Come back again for Part Two, in which I will discuss the High Fells and Radagast the Brown. If you have any questions, ideas, or simply want to give your own opinion, be sure to leave a comment!
