The Hobbit’s Most Hated Character Got a Violent Death in Extended Cut Only

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Peter Jackson transformed J.R.R. Tolkien’s brief novel into an extensive film trilogy by introducing fresh characters and expanding upon existing ones for the second movie, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” To make the Lake-town Master comical, he required another character to engage with, leading to the creation of a councilor character named Alfrid Lickspittle, played by Ryan Gage. Intriguingly, Gage had initially auditioned for Drogo Baggins, Frodo Baggins’ father from “The Lord of the Rings,” but wasn’t included in “The Hobbit” trilogy. However, Jackson and his team were so taken with Gage’s performance that they decided to cast him in a different role, ultimately choosing Alfrid for him.

As a devoted cinephile, I must confess that among all characters in Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth saga, Alfrid was undeniably one of the least endearing. He served as an obsequious minion to the Master, contributing significantly to his tyrannical reign over Lake-town residents. The Master, for lack of a better term, was sluggish and incompetent, thus Alfrid was left to carry out most of his orders. Repeatedly, Alfrid demonstrated cowardice, foolishness, and an alarming absence of empathy or compassion. He was intentionally grating, and some spectators felt that he was given too much screen time.

In the theatrical versions of The Hobbit trilogy, it appeared as though Alfrid would face retribution for his actions, but this never materialized. However, in the extended edition of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, an extra scene was added that saw Alfrid meet a peculiar and dramatic end. This moment brought immense satisfaction to Alfrid’s numerous detractors. Yet, since the extended editions of The Hobbit are not as well-received as those of The Lord of the Rings, some fans might be unaware of how Alfrid met his demise.

Alfrid Lickspittle Did the Master of Lake-town’s Bidding

Actor Name Ryan Gage
Birthplace Coventry, England
Birthdate January 17, 1983
First Acting Role Judge Dredd (1995)
Awards Won Capri Breakout Actor Award (2016), British Independent Film Festival Award for Best Actor (2016)

As a movie aficionado, I’ve often found myself drawing parallels between Alfried and the treacherous Gríma Wormtongue from “The Lord of the Rings.” Indeed, they shared some intriguing resemblances. Both were gaunt, oily men who donned dark garments and walked with a stoop. Similarities aside, Alfried and Wormtongue held distinct roles. In contrast to Alfried, Wormtongue proved to be a formidable force as the sinister advisor to King Théoden of Rohan. However, it’s essential to note that Wormtongue was significantly more capable than Alfried in his position.

In simpler terms, Wormtongue was a cunning deceiver, employing deceit and trickery to achieve his goals. It’s possible that he might have continued controlling Théoden had it not been for Gandalf, who used magic to help the king regain his senses. Despite his wicked nature, there were hints of humanity within Wormtongue, as he yearned for love and even attempted to win it.

On the other hand, Alfrid was devoid of depth or complexity. He was a bumbling character with no virtues to speak of. To make matters worse, Théoden was a noble man who only followed Wormtongue’s advice because Saruman had clouded his judgment. However, Saruman was just as detestable as his treacherous advisor, if not more so.

For the first time in “The Desolation of Smaug”, Alfrid made his presence known when Bard the Bowman attempted to smuggle Bilbo Baggins and others into Lake-town hidden inside barrels full of fish on Bard’s boat. Alfrid, a city official, declared that Bard was not authorized to import fish and ordered the guards to empty the barrels into the lake. Bard countered by stating that throwing away food would only worsen the Master’s standing among the citizens. Despite his initial refusal, Alfrid conceded but before departing, he warned Bard: “You’re quite the hero in their eyes, Bard, the champion of the masses? You enjoy their favor now, boatman, but it won’t last… The Master is watching you closely. Remember: we know where you reside.” Alfrid was worried that the people of Lake-town would rally behind Bard to overthrow the Master, and more significantly, himself.

Alfrid Lickspittle Survived Smaug’s Attack on Lake-town

  • Lake-town was also called Esgaroth, though Tolkien did not state the meaning or language of this alternate name.
  • Lake-town was located on the Long Lake; it was connected to Mirkwood by the Forest River .
  • Concept artist John Howe cited Russian and Norwegian architecture as his main inspirations for the aesthetic of Lake-town in Jackson’s films.

In the assault by Smaug on Lake-town, the Master and Alfrid attempted to flee aboard a ship laden with riches. Alfrid complained it was sluggish, suggesting they lighten the load, leading the Master to push him off. Ironically, this act inadvertently saved Alfrid’s life as Smaug’s body crashed onto the Master’s boat and claimed his life. After reaching safety during The Battle of the Five Armies, Alfrid attempted to seize authority over Lake-town, asserting, “With the Master gone, his deputy inherits the power – and that is me!” However, the citizens of Lake-town rejected him. Instead, they elected Bard as their new ruler, addressing him as King Bard. He had been a hero during Smaug’s attack, and he also traced his lineage to Girion, the Lord of Dale, making him of noble descent.

After attempting to slay Alfried, the mob was halted by Bard, who exclaimed, “Haven’t you had enough of death?” This instance mirrored a scene from Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Despite his earlier disdain for Bard, Alfried now sought his friendship, reinforcing Alfried’s cowardice and hypocrisy.

In simpler terms, Alfrid was more concerned about currying favor with the most influential person rather than doing what’s right or helping those in need. During this situation, Alfrid, who was entrusted with a few tasks by Bard, unfortunately proved to be greedy and selfish, opting for personal gain over helping the people of Lake-town when they were under attack by Orcs. Instead of trying to save the townspeople or standing up against the Orcs, Alfrid disguised himself as an old woman, stole as much gold as he could carry, and attempted to escape from the turmoil.

Alfrid Lickspittle Brought About His Own Demise in The Hobbit

As a fervent admirer looking back, I recall an instance in the heat of battle when Bard valiantly spared Alfrid’s life, only for Alfrid to succumb to a fit of rage. In a heated moment, he yelled, “Keep your distance! I don’t answer to you. The people trusted you, they followed your lead. The Master’s mantle was within your reach, and yet you chose to abandon it all. Why?” To the dismay of spectators, Bard showed leniency towards Alfrid, even permitting him to retain his wealth. In the cinematic version, this marked Alfrid’s last appearance in the trilogy, leaving viewers with the impression that he had slipped away unscathed. However, in the extended edition, Alfrid’s fortune proved short-lived. Foolishly, Alfrid sought refuge within a catapult during the ongoing battle, which unfortunately was positioned near where…

As the troll brandished its massive weapon towards Gandalf, Alfried found himself in a state of terror. He let out a bloodcurdling scream and frantically flailed about, accidentally causing a golden coin to slip from his garment. This coin struck the catapult’s release mechanism, propelling Alfried straight into the troll’s maw. In his untimely demise, Alfried inadvertently performed a useful act. The troll died choking on Alfried’s body, preventing it from harming Gandalf further. The troll slumped to the ground, and with this fall, Alfried was squashed under its massive weight. A torrent of gold coins spilled forth from the dead troll’s mouth, serving as a stark reminder of the perils of greed. It is important to note that Alfried did not survive the events of The Battle of the Five Armies, contrary to what the theatrical cut might suggest.

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2025-05-12 08:04