Poor Farmer Maggot by Figwit
I really missed him! I loved Farmer Maggot in the books, he was like this grumpy old guy that reminded me a lot of a couple of grandparents of friends of mine in my village, when I grew up. I can see why they left him out, but I think it was a real shame because he showed what Hobbits can be like. Tom Bombadil even speaks highly of him, that counts for something!
I certainly didn’t like the cameo, it reduced him to something he’s not: the farmer was most kind, and very hospitable. He would never have chased the Hobbits like that, I’m certain.
2 Comments
I completely agree! I actually read the books after I saw the movies, and I grew to love Farmer Maggot and his hospitality. And in the movie, there are Merry and Pippin running away from this mean-looking old guy! It’s a shame that the cameo portrays him the way it does.
While Farmer Maggot is kind to Sam, Frodo, & Pippin when they arrive, Frodo did say earlier that when he was caught stealing mushrooms as a child, Farmer Maggot beat him & had his dogs chase him away. So if Merry & Pippin were stealing from him, Farmer Maggot’s reaction isn’t unprecedented. It’s a pity the movie only shows his crankier side, but there was a lot of information that the movie needed to be covered &, in the grand scheme of things, Farmer Maggot, while wise & hospitable, wasn’t that important a character in terms of dealing with the Ring.