Recommended music: Three Days Grace – Never Too Late [See last week’s post for the epic music from this scene]
It’s #TolkienThursday! Today, I want to share one last ToyBiz Lord of the Rings figure from The Two Towers. This time, it’s another version of Aragorn!
At the climax of the Battle of Helm’s Deep, the fortress is falling, the Wall has been breached, and the last defenders are trapped in the Keep. With dawn near and hope almost gone, Aragorn reminds King Théoden about the prophecy that dawn will bring victory. Rather than waiting for defeat, Théoden decides to face danger directly:
Théoden: “So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?”
[The Uruk-hai keep trying to break the door.]
Aragorn: “Ride out with me.”
[Théoden turns to face Aragorn.]
Aragorn: “Ride out and meet them.”
Théoden: “For death and glory?”
Aragorn: “For Rohan. For your people.”
Gimli: “The sun is rising.”
[Aragorn looks up to the window as the sun rises.]
Gandalf (voiceover): “Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.”
Théoden: “Yes. Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep, one last time.”
Gimli: “Yes!”
[Gimli climbs up to blow the horn.]
Théoden: “Let this be the hour when we draw swords together.”
Théoden: “Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn!”
Aragorn and King Théoden lead one last, desperate cavalry charge out of the gates. This act of courage turns what seems like a hopeless attack into a moment of glory. They break through the Uruk-hai just as Gandalf and Éomer (or Erkenbrand in the books) arrive at sunrise with reinforcements, changing the course of the battle.
This Aragorn figure came with Brego in the Deluxe Horse and Rider Set, released around the time The Two Towers hit theaters in 2002. Even today, the figure’s resemblance to Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn is impressive for the scale. Toy Biz did a great job with the details and paint, and they used different materials, like a flexible rubber coat and a soft-goods cape.
It took a full year, but I believe that wraps up coverage on every ToyBiz figure released for The Two Towers. If I find another variant I missed, I’ll cover it later. For now, let’s get ready for next week and Return of the King!
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