Why Tauriel and Legolas' Romance in The Hobbit Trilogy Disrupts Tolkien's Universe

The introduction of Tauriel and Legolas' romantic relationship in The Hobbittrilogy has become a controversial topic among fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's work. While the original books did not include these characters, their inclusion at times feels out of place with the beloved source material. This article explores why the filmmakers decided to make these characters a couple and how it disrupts the established storyline.

The Logistical Flaws of Adding Tauriel and Legolas

One of the central issues with introducing Tauriel and Legolas as a couple is the blatant contradiction with Tolkien's original work. Tauriel, an elf-woman, and Legolas, an elf, are both characters invented for the film adaptations. Tauriel first appears in the film trilogy, while Legolas debuts in the sequel, The Lord of the Rings. This insertion creates significant logistical problems, especially when these two characters form a romantic relationship.

Disruption of Tolkien's Universe

In the books, Legolas and Tauriel do not exist, and their characters are entirely original to the film adaptations. This decision introduces a sense of disconnection to the established universe. For instance, in Tolkien's stories, characters like Legolas and Gimli have a growing friendship. Tauriel's character including a romantic storyline within the context of that friendship would have required significant narrative adjustments.

The creation of Tauriel as an elf-woman, rather than an elf, further complicates the storyline. While Legolas is a well-established elf, Tauriel's creation disrupts the natural flow of the universe. Tauriel's romance with Legolas creates significant issues, as she would not have existed in Tolkien's pre-The Lord of the Rings narratives. This makes it difficult to explain where Tauriel had been during the events of The Lord of the Rings and why she is not mentioned by Legolas or any of the other characters.

Logistical Flaws and Character Development

One of the most significant logistical flaws is how Tauriel and Legolas' storylines work together. If Tauriel was romantically involved with Legolas, it would have required a major retcon in the narrative. Tauriel wouldn't have been able to be absent during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, as she clearly exists in the film version. However, Legolas, who was known to be involved with Tauriel, remains unaffected by her absence in the books. This mismatch is a clear indication of how the film adaptations impacted the established canon.

The decision to make Tauriel a love interest for Legolas also affects the characters' futures. If Tauriel was to die, Legolas's response would have been significantly different in the film compared to the books. In the films, Legolas seems almost unconcerned, which doesn't align with the source material where Legolas shows genuine grief and sorrow.

Selection of Tauriel's Love Interest

The choice of who Tauriel would be romantically entangled with is another point of contention. In the books, Tauriel is not involved with any character, as she is a new addition to the narrative. The filmmakers, however, needed to create a romantic interest for Tauriel. Given the constraints, this story arc narrows down the possibilities. The option to choose from among the dwarves is limited, as most of them do not appear in The Lord of the Rings. This leaves the filmmakers with a challenging choice.

The character of Thorin is eliminated due to his advanced age and the fact that he doesn't appear in the original books. This leaves Fili and Kili as the primary candidates. However, their age and the fact that they would not make it out of The Hobbit (dying in the battle against Smaug) limits their viability. Ultimately, the decision might have been influenced by the actors' chemistry, with the filmmakers possibly flipping a coin to decide whom to pair Tauriel with.

Conclusion: Why It Matters

The inclusion of Tauriel and Legolas' romance in The Hobbittrilogy disrupts the established continuity of Tolkien's universe. While the film adaptations provide a different, unique perspective, it's important to recognize the changes made to the source material. The choice to create these characters and develop romantic narratives around them is a clear step away from Tolkien's original vision, which focuses on the relationships and adventures of the existing characters.

Ultimately, the creation of Tauriel and the romantic storyline between her and Legolas highlights the challenges of adapting a beloved literary work into a film series. It's a reminder of the importance of maintaining continuity and the potential impact of introducing new characters and storylines.