"Vhagar"

"Vhagar"

2022

Of all the dragons that have so far appeared in House of the Dragon, Vhagar's design is the one that has impressed me the most. The nailed the look of a huge, powerful beast, but ancient, whose best days are probably behind her. I love all of that wrinkly, sagging, dull colored skin, and the scars, and the wings riddled with holes. I love the way she flies heavily through the air, almost like a whale, and how her roars, in contrast with the other dragons, are low pitched and croaky.

A great grandmother of dragons indeed.

"Gandalf the White"

2022

His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; his eyes under his deep brows were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand. Between wonder, joy, and fear they stood and found no words to say.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", by J.R.R. Tolkien

Unarguably the most miraculous moment in the Lord of the Rings: Gandalf's return to Middle-earth, and to the Fellowship, with newfound power and in a midst of white radiance. Masterfully portrayed by Peter Jackson in the Two Towers adaptation, where the scene's soundtrack gives the sense of a choir of angels accompanying Gandalf on his return to life. There's a feeling of something more than magical happening here, something divine, which is of course the case.

"Poison Drawn from a Wound"

2022

...the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. Only Gandalf could be seen, standing white and tall before the blackened hearth.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", by J.R.R. Tolkien

Another awesome Gandalf moment for my list of Two Towers scenes. This is a moment that I appreciate more in the films than in the novels. In the texts Tolkien gives conflicting accounts on what exactly afflicts King Théoden: wether he is merely ill and in despair, or being given bad advice by Wormtongue, or bewitched by Saruman, or a combination of all three. Consequently, it's not altogether clear what it takes for Gandalf to heal him: wether if it's his display of power at the hall of Meduseld, or his words of hope and encouragement to the king afterwards, or again, a combination of those two factors. I like in the films that there's no room for doubt that Théoden is under an actual spell, and that it takes, for want of a better word, for Gandalf to "exorcise" Saruman out to restore him to his strength.

Another thing that I really love about this scene is that, short of Sauron dragging him to thralldom in Mordor, this is a realization of Saruman's worst possible nightmare. In his heart he always knew that Gandalf always had greater inner power and wisdom than he, but up until that point he could always lord his higher station over him. Not anymore. Now Gandalf outranks him in every possible way.

"World Jaguar Day"

2022

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

"Men against Men"

2022

He wondered what the man's name was and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", by J.R.R. Tolkien

A small scene from a small passage, but a very significant one in that it portrays Tolkien's antiwar thoughts. I am glad that in the Extended Edition they give those lines over to Faramir, him being after all not a warrior by choice. 

"Ophiophagus"

2022

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa)