Hobitit

Finnish live action fantasy television miniseries

Hobitit

Genre| Miniseries
Written by| Timo Torikka
Directed by| Timo Torikka
Starring|

* Matti Pellonpää
* Martti Suosalo
* Vesa Vierikko
* Ville Virtanen
* Kari Väänänen
* Leif Wager

Composer| Toni Edelmann [fi]
Country of origin| Finland
Original language| Finnish
No. of episodes| 9
Production
Producer| Olof Qvickström
Production locations| Ryhmäteatteri theatre, Yle
Running time| 9 × 30 minutes
Production companies| Yle
Ryhmateatteri [fi]
Original release
Network| Yle TV1
Release| 29 March (1993-03-29) –
24 May 1993 (1993-05-24)

Hobitit (The Hobbits) is a nine-part Finnish live action fantasy television miniseries directed by Timo Torikka, originally broadcast in 1993 on Yle TV1.[1]

It is based on a six-hour play, Taru sormusten herrasta (The Lord of the Rings), put on by Ryhmäteatteri theatre company at the Suomenlinna Summer Theatre, with many of the same actors; the play was in turn an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The series quite faithfully adapts the events until The Council of Elrond, and then focuses on the journey of the Hobbits Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee. The series was praised in the Finnish press. The Finnish Tolkien society wrote that Hobitit had captured the book's spirit and atmosphere, despite its small budget.

## Plot

[edit]

The series is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, in nine episodes. It omits the parts where the Hobbits Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee are not present. The narrator is an older Sam, who tells his story to an audience of young Hobbits several years after the events of the War of the Ring.

In the first episode, titled Bilbo, Sam provides a brief account of the origin of the One Ring and how it came into Gollum's possession. Bilbo Baggins finds the Ring and defeats Gollum in a game of riddles on his way to the Lonely Mountain. In episode 2, Tie ("The Road"), Bilbo celebrates his birthday and leaves the Ring to Frodo. On Gandalf's advice, Frodo and Sam leave the Shire; their friends Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took join them. In episode 3, Vanha metsä ("The Old Forest"), the Hobbits travel through the Old Forest, getting into troubles with Old Man Willow and then with a Barrow-wight. They are saved in both cases by Tom Bombadil. Meanwhile, Gandalf heads for Isengard, where he discovers Saruman's betrayal.

In episode 4, Pomppiva poni ("The Prancing Pony"), the Hobbits arrive at Bree's Prancing Pony Inn, where the host Barliman Butterbur gives them a message from Gandalf. They meet Strider (Aragorn), who guides them towards Rivendell, but the Black Riders start to pursue them. In episode 5, Konkari ("Strider"), the Black Riders wound Frodo but the party manages to reach Rivendell, where Frodo is healed. At The Council of Elrond it is decided that the Ring must be destroyed and the Fellowship of the Ring is formed. In episode 6, Lorien, the Fellowship travels south via Moria, where the Orcs attack them and Gandalf apparently dies in a fight with a Balrog. The others flee under the leadership of Strider to Lothlórien, where they meet Galadriel. After travelling further south along the Anduin, the Fellowship breaks up: Frodo and Sam continue the journey to Mordor on their own, while Merry and Pippin are captured by the Orcs and Boromir is killed.

Hobitit focuses on Frodo and Sam's journey.[2] Here they realize Gollum is on their trail in the Emyn Muil, as Mount Doom erupts in the background.

In episode 7, Mordor, Frodo and Sam travel through the Emyn Muil to Mordor and face Gollum, who they force to be their guide. It is mentioned (but not shown) that Pippin and Merry freed themselves and helped the Ents destroying Isengard and exiling Saruman; they rejoined with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, as well as with Gandalf, who managed to survive the fight with the Balrog. In episode 8, Tuomiovuori ("Mount Doom"), Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to the Black Gate, which proves to be impassable, and then brings them to Cirith Ungol, where Frodo is paralysed by Shelob.

Finally, in episode 9, Vapautus ("Liberation"), Sam saves Frodo and helps him to reach Mount Doom. At the last moment Frodo declares the Ring as his own, but Gollum bites it from his finger and falls into the mountain's fire, destroying the Ring. Sam and Frodo wake up in Gondor, where they are reunited with Gandalf, Pippin and Merry, and hear that Aragorn has become King of Gondor. The Hobbits head home with Gandalf, who leaves them after reaching Bree; they have to free the Shire from Saruman's rule. Frodo travels to the Grey Havens to leave the Middle-Earth, and Sam concludes his story, hinting that he will soon do the same.

## Production

[edit]

The actor Timo Torikka wrote and directed Hobitit.

The production was based on a six-hour play, Taru sormusten herrasta (The Lord of the Rings), put on by Ryhmäteatteri theatre company at the Suomenlinna Summer Theatre in 1988 and 1989, directed by Raila Leppäkoski [fi] and Arto af Hällström [fi]. The broadcaster Yle had the option of adapting the play directly to television, but this approach was rejected as making no sense on screen. An alternative approach that was considered, was producing a children's series centered on Toni Edelmann [fi]'s musical arrangements of Tolkien's poems that had been used in the play, but it proved difficult to relate them to the story, and the idea was abandoned. Instead, it was decided to tell the story from the Hobbits' perspective, cutting other parts of Tolkien's narrative. The series was written and directed by Timo Torikka, who had played Pippin in the play, and co-written by Edelman, who had composed the play's music.[1]

Hobitit featured nine episodes of 30 minutes each; these aired from 29 March to 24 May 1993, and rerun in 1997–1998.[3] Most of the actors repeated their roles from the play, with fresh talent of Jari Pehkonen [fi] as Pippin and Leif Wager as Elrond. Filming locations included the Ryhmäteatteri theatre company's stage in Helsinki and Yle's studio production facilities. Some sequences were shot outdoors with natural backgrounds, while a large number of scale models were used for scenes such as of the Shire and the village of Bree. Studio sequences were filmed using bluescreen, allowing landscapes to be added digitally by chroma key compositing.[4]

## Coverage of the book

[edit]

The series focuses on the quest undertaken by the Hobbits Frodo and Sam to destroy the Ring. Accordingly, it omits the parts of Tolkien's novel, such as the epic battles, that are not seen by these characters.[1][2]

Coverage of the novel[2] Tolkien
Book | Hobitit
(numbered episodes) | Excluded events
not seen by Frodo and Sam

|
|

I | 1) Bilbo and the Ring 2) The Shire 3) Old Forest 4) Bree 5) Weathertop | —————
II | 5 cont'd) Council of Elrond 6) Moria, Lothlórien | —————
III | 6 cont'd) Parth Galen (Isengard is mentioned, not shown) | Rohan, Battle of Helm's Deep, Isengard
IV | 7) Emyn Muil 8) Black Gate, Cirith Ungol | —————
V | ————— | Battle of Pelennor Fields; Battle of the Morannon
VI | 9) Mount Doom, Scouring of the Shire, Grey Havens | —————

## Reception

[edit]

In a review in Helsingin Sanomat, Jukka Kajava praised the new family series for its strong story. He admired the acting, including Kari Väänänen's Gollum and Pertti Sveholm [fi]'s Sam Gamgee.[5] Four years later, when the series was rerun, Kajava was more critical, stating that the concreteness of the television adaptation might limit the viewer's imagination too much compared to the original work.[6]

Juho Gröndahl, writing in the Finnish Tolkien Society's magazine Legolas in 2004, recalled that Hobitit had succeeded in "capturing the atmosphere and spirit of the book" despite the fact that it was created "on a small budget in quite shocking sets". In addition to the successful acting and "pensive appearance", he attributed the success of the series to a clear choice of perspective, not trying to tell the whole story of Tolkien's novel but focussing on Frodo and Sam's journey. Similarly, Gröndahl was doubtful of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, as he felt that the "epic and flamboyant side of the book that is emphasized in [Jackson's] film adaptation is not the most enduring and interesting aspect" of Tolkien's work.[2]

## Cast

[edit]

The series's cast included the following actors and their roles:[7]

* Taneli Mäkelä – Frodo Baggins [Frodo Reppuli][5]
* Pertti Sveholm [fi] – Samwise Gamgee [Samvais Gamgi][5]
* Jari Pehkonen [fi] – Peregrin Took [Peregrin Tuk]
* Jarmo Hyttinen – Meriadoc Brandybuck [Meriadoc Rankkibuk][8]
* Vesa Vierikko – Gandalf [Gandalf Harmaa][5]
* Kari Väänänen – Gollum [Klonkku],[5] Aragorn/Strider [Konkari]
* Ville Virtanen – Legolas
* Tomi Salmela [fi] – Gimli
* Carl-Kristian Rundman [fi] – Boromir
* Martti Suosalo – Bilbo Baggins [Bilbo Reppuli][8]
* Esko Hukkanen [fi] – Tom Bombadil[9]
* Leif Wager – Elrond
* Matti Pellonpää – Saruman
* Mikko Kivinen [fi] – Barliman Butterbur [Viljami Voivalvatti]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Hietanen, Leena (18 June 1991). "Yle teettää oman sovituksen Taru sormusten herrasta-sadusta" [Yle to produce its own version of the tale of The Lord of the Rings]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
2. ^ a b c d Gröndahl, Juho (2004). "Loputtomien näkökulmien kirja" [A Book of Endless Perspectives]. Legolas (in Finnish). 30 (1/2004). Helsinki: Finnish Tolkien Society: 5.
3. ^ Matilainen, Ville (23 June 2015). "Taru sormusten herrasta kääntyi Suomessa kesäteatteriksi ja lopulta Ylen tv-sarjaksi" [The Tale of the Lord of the Rings turned into a summer theater in Finland and finally Yle's TV series]. Yle Elävä arkisto (Live Yle Archive) (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
4. ^ Sihvola, Sampsa (1993). "Tarina Sarjan Herrasta" [The Tale of the Lord of the Series]. Legolas (in Finnish). 6 (1/1993). Helsinki: Finnish Tolkien Society: 7–11.
5. ^ a b c d e Kajava, Jukka (29 March 1993). "Tolkienin taruista on tehty tv-sarja: Hobitien ilme syntyi jo Ryhmäteatterin Suomenlinnan tulkinnassa" [Tolkien's fables have been turned into a TV series: Hobitit's look was created by the Suomenlinna Group Theatre]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
6. ^ Kajava, Jukka (28 December 1997). "Hobitit". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish).
7. ^ "Hobitit". Video Detective. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
8. ^ a b Robb, Brian J.; Simpson, Paul (2013). Middle-earth Envisioned: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: On Screen, On Stage, and Beyond. Race Point Publishing. p. 66\. ISBN 978-1-937994-27-3. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
9. ^ Mansikka, Ossi (22 January 2020). "Tiesitkö, että ysärillä tehtiin suomalainen tv-sarja Sormusten herrasta, ja tätä kulttuurin merkkipaalua on nyt mahdotonta enää nähdä" [Did you know that a Finnish TV series about The Lord of the Rings was made in the 90's, and it is now impossible to see this cultural milestone again] (in Finnish). Nyt.fi. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Hobitit at IMDb
* Hobitit playlist on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

The Lord of the Rings

* J. R. R. Tolkien
* Constructing The Lord of the Rings

About|

* Volumes
* The Fellowship of the Ring
* The Two Towers
* The Return of the King
* Stories
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| Languages|

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Poetry|

* A Elbereth Gilthoniel
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Other|

* Artwork
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| Themes|

* Addiction to power
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Influences|

* Antiquarianism
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Techniques|

* Anachronism
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* Ambiguity
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Peoples|

| Maiar|

* Balrogs
* Sauron
* Wizards
* Gandalf
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* Saruman

|

Free
peoples|

* Dwarves
* Balin
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* Elves
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* Legolas
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* of Gondor
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* of Rohan
* Éomer
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* Théoden
* Wormtongue

Monsters|

* Barrow-wight
* Gollum
* Nazgûl
* Witch-king of Angmar
* Old Man Willow
* Orcs
* Shelob
* Trolls
* Wargs
* Watcher in the Water

Other|

* Eagles
* Goldberry
* Tom Bombadil

World|

| Geography|

* Middle-earth
* Eriador
* Bree
* Old Forest
* Rivendell
* The Shire
* Bag End
* Gondor
* Harad
* Lothlórien
* Mirkwood
* Moria
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|

Battles|

* Helm's Deep
* Pelennor Fields
* Morannon

Things|

* Mithril
* Oliphaunts
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* Phial of Galadriel
* Rings of Power
* One Ring
* List of weapons and armour

Related
works|

* The Hobbit
* The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
* Errantry
* Fastitocalon
* The Sea-Bell
* Donald Swann
* The Road Goes Ever On
* Bilbo's Last Song
* The Silmarillion
* Unfinished Tales
* The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien
* The History of Middle-earth
* The Children of Húrin
* The History of The Hobbit
* Beren and Lúthien
* The Fall of Gondolin
* The Nature of Middle-earth

Adaptations and derivative works

Books|

* Bored of the Rings (1969)
* The Last Ringbearer (1999)
* Muddle Earth (2003)

Illustrations|

* A Map of Middle-earth
* Pauline Baynes
* Barbara Remington
* John Howe
* Alan Lee
* Margrethe II of Denmark
* Ted Nasmith

Theatre|

* Fellowship! (2005)
* The Lord of the Rings (2006)

Music|

* Bo Hansson
* Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings (1972)
* Johan de Meij
* Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings (1988)
* Led Zeppelin
* "Ramble On" (1969)
* "Misty Mountain Hop" (1971)
* "The Battle of Evermore" (1971)

Radio|

* The Lord of the Rings (BBC, 1955)
* The Lord of the Rings (NPR, 1979)
* Hordes of the Things (1980)
* The Lord of the Rings (BBC, 1981)
* Der Herr der Ringe (1992)

Film|

| Animated|

* The Lord of the Rings (Bakshi, 1978)
* The Return of the King (Rankin/Bass, 1980)
* The War of the Rohirrim (Kamiyama, 2024)

|

Peter Jackson
series|

* The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
* The Two Towers (2002)
* The Return of the King (2003)

Music|

* "Concerning Hobbits"
* "Into the West"
* "May It Be"

Approach|

* Production
* Hobbiton Movie Set
* Peter Jackson's interpretation
* Picturing Tolkien
* Tolkien on Film

Other|

* Sagan om ringen (1971)
* Khraniteli (1991)
* Hobitit (1993)
* The Rings of Power (2022)
* music

Fan-made|

* The Hunt for Gollum (2009)
* Born of Hope (2009)

Video games|

* Journey to Rivendell
* Game One
* Game Two: Shadows of Mordor
* War in Middle Earth
* Vol. I (1990)
* Vol. I (SNES)
* Riders of Rohan
* Elendor
* Vol. II: The Two Towers
* The Fellowship of the Ring
* The Two Towers
* The Return of the King
* War of the Ring
* The Third Age
* Game Boy Advance
* The Battle for Middle-earth
* Tactics
* The Battle for Middle-earth II
* The Rise of the Witch-king
* Conquest
* Aragorn's Quest
* War in the North
* Lego The Lord of the Rings
* Guardians of Middle-earth
* Shadow of Mordor
* Shadow of War
* Gollum
* Return to Moria

| The Lord of the Rings Online|

* Mines of Moria
* Siege of Mirkwood
* Rise of Isengard
* Riders of Rohan
* Helm's Deep
* Mordor
* Minas Morgul
* War of Three Peaks
* Fate of Gundabad
* Before the Shadow

|

Tabletop role-
playing games|

* Middle-earth Role Playing
* The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game
* The One Ring Roleplaying Game
* Adventures in Middle-earth

Board games|

* Middle Earth
* War of the Ring
* Gondor: The Siege of Minas Tirith
* Sauron
* Lord of the Rings
* War of the Ring

Card games|

* Middle-earth Collectible Card Game
* The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game
* The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

Other games|

* Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game
* Lego The Lord of the Rings

* v
* t
* e

Middle-earth in motion pictures

Middle-earth Enterprises

Animation|

| Short film|

* The Hobbit (1967)

|

Films|

* The Hobbit (1977)
* The Lord of the Rings (1978)
* The Return of the King (1980)
* The War of the Rohirrim (2024)

Live-action|

| Peter
Jackson
film
series|

| The Lord
of the Rings|

| Films|

* The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
* The Two Towers (2002)
* The Return of the King (2003)

|

Aspects|

* Accolades
* Peter Jackson's interpretation
* Music
* Production

The Hobbit|

| Films|

* An Unexpected Journey (2012)
* The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
* The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

|

Aspects|

* Accolades
* Original characters
* Music

Television|

| TV films|

* Sagan om ringen (1971)
* The Hobbit (1985)
* Khraniteli (1991)

|

Series|

* Hobitit (1993)
* The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–present)
* music

Fan films|

* The Hunt for Gollum (2009)
* Born of Hope (2009)

* Category

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