I just wanted to do a brief overview of which characters we've chosen as episode protagonists throughout this season.
A few comments on what makes a character a protagonist. First off, each episode can have only one protagonist. There can be other key characters with important roles, but the 'protagonist' slot isn't one that can be shared. Another character may be the key character driving a different subplot, but that does not make them the episode protagonist. If they are working against the protagonist, they are the antagonist!
Secondly, the protagonist can't be passive. It's not enough that the protagonist 'be there' while important events are happening, they have to play a role themselves. This makes it tough for a character like Thuringwethil or Celeborn, who do a lot of 'observing'. You'll note that in the episodes where they step into the protagonist role, they are a lot more active than usual!
Third, the protagonist is meant to be our point of view character throughout the episode. We can have 3rd person omniscient storytelling (we don't have to be literally following this character around), but the protagonist should appear in all 4 Acts of the story - a late introduction or early departure is disqualifying.
To combine the above points - the climax of the episode should occur when the protagonist takes an important action during the 4th Act, and we the audience should be viewing this event from their vantage point.
With that intro out of the way, here are our Season 4 Episode protagonists:
Who is missing from this list? Most notably, Círdan. He was such a key player in the unearthing of the kinslaying secret, and yet, he's never actually the protagonist there. When that comes to a head, he's the antagonist of Thuringwethil's storyline! (And plays a key supporting role in the Thingol-centric episode where the truth finally comes out fully.) Given how minor a role Doriath will play next season, I think we owe it to ourselves to have Círdan step up in his role as spokesman for the Sindar viewpoint in Beleriand, and the one (outside of Galdor in Gondolin) most actively working with the Noldor. We've set that up this season - but let's make sure we don't drop the ball there.
No, wait, scratch that, where is Galadriel??? She had her own narrative arc this season, and we very clearly separated her from the rest of the Noldor. People talk about her in her absence. And yet...she's never a protagonist? How did that happen??
Another surprising absence is Edhellos. She plays such a major role in Episodes 6, 8, and 9, that you might suspect she was a protagonist at some point. But unfortunately for her, she has a lot of stuff done *to* her, and isn't ever calling the shots. She has choices to make and scenes where she is the point-of-view character, but ultimately she isn't an episode protagonist. She's a supporting character role.
Surprising appearances are likely...well, to be honest, all three of our female protagonists. Thuringwethil is least surprising, as her protagonist role occurs after 2 episodes of her active plotting being made clear to the audience. It seems a natural progression...and is only surprising because she is a villain. But Lúthien and Díriel are more in the 'come out of nowhere' camp. Which is fine; Díriel's role in 'her' episode doesn't need much set-up; she is thrust into it as a prisoner. Just because she's the central character of that episode doesn't change her place in the season or her overall importance to the larger arcs (ie, she remains a minor character overall).
The episodes with the least clear protagonist are 4 and 10. These are both ensemble-let's-traipse-all-across-Beleriand episodes, and so a single character or storyline through from beginning to end isn't as clear. We did at least try with Fingolfin in Episode 4, and with Episode 10, Maedhros is making (or forcing others to make) the decisions (though obviously Turgon and Finrod feature prominently. Likewise, there's a lot going on at the Mereth Aderthad, but since Lúthien steps up to confront Sauron in the climax, she is the protagonist.
And interestingly, we begin and end the season with the heroism of Fingon. But while he's working very much alone in Episode 1, by Episode 13, he's commanding others and collaborating fully with Celegorm. Interesting to see the Season's reconciliation arc play out in that contrast. Fingon must be a Slytherin, because he gets what he wants! (Just kidding, I know Fingon the Valiant is a foolhardy Gryffindor, through and through.)
[Script Outlines are all viewable here, if that helps with recalling what is happening in each episode:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lYvsNjUcoI1Vsyeq8KV_fQtcRZPThGDt ]
A few comments on what makes a character a protagonist. First off, each episode can have only one protagonist. There can be other key characters with important roles, but the 'protagonist' slot isn't one that can be shared. Another character may be the key character driving a different subplot, but that does not make them the episode protagonist. If they are working against the protagonist, they are the antagonist!
Secondly, the protagonist can't be passive. It's not enough that the protagonist 'be there' while important events are happening, they have to play a role themselves. This makes it tough for a character like Thuringwethil or Celeborn, who do a lot of 'observing'. You'll note that in the episodes where they step into the protagonist role, they are a lot more active than usual!
Third, the protagonist is meant to be our point of view character throughout the episode. We can have 3rd person omniscient storytelling (we don't have to be literally following this character around), but the protagonist should appear in all 4 Acts of the story - a late introduction or early departure is disqualifying.
To combine the above points - the climax of the episode should occur when the protagonist takes an important action during the 4th Act, and we the audience should be viewing this event from their vantage point.
With that intro out of the way, here are our Season 4 Episode protagonists:
- Fingon (The Laughter of Morgoth)
- Curufin (The Disposessed)
- Fingolfin (Swords and Councils)
- Bilbo [Frame is B-plot, but A-plot is the 'secret' of Thuringwethil spying on the Noldor] (Realms of Beleriand)
- Lúthien (Mereth Aderthad)
- Thuringwethil (The Sun Doth Still Shine)
- Thingol (King's Ire)
- Díriel (Bottomless Dread)
- Angrod (Dagor Aglareb)
- Maedhros? (Builded from Sand)
- Aredhel (Devices of the Heart)
- Celeborn (Mighty Kings)
- Fingon (The Long Peace)
Who is missing from this list? Most notably, Círdan. He was such a key player in the unearthing of the kinslaying secret, and yet, he's never actually the protagonist there. When that comes to a head, he's the antagonist of Thuringwethil's storyline! (And plays a key supporting role in the Thingol-centric episode where the truth finally comes out fully.) Given how minor a role Doriath will play next season, I think we owe it to ourselves to have Círdan step up in his role as spokesman for the Sindar viewpoint in Beleriand, and the one (outside of Galdor in Gondolin) most actively working with the Noldor. We've set that up this season - but let's make sure we don't drop the ball there.
No, wait, scratch that, where is Galadriel??? She had her own narrative arc this season, and we very clearly separated her from the rest of the Noldor. People talk about her in her absence. And yet...she's never a protagonist? How did that happen??
Another surprising absence is Edhellos. She plays such a major role in Episodes 6, 8, and 9, that you might suspect she was a protagonist at some point. But unfortunately for her, she has a lot of stuff done *to* her, and isn't ever calling the shots. She has choices to make and scenes where she is the point-of-view character, but ultimately she isn't an episode protagonist. She's a supporting character role.
Surprising appearances are likely...well, to be honest, all three of our female protagonists. Thuringwethil is least surprising, as her protagonist role occurs after 2 episodes of her active plotting being made clear to the audience. It seems a natural progression...and is only surprising because she is a villain. But Lúthien and Díriel are more in the 'come out of nowhere' camp. Which is fine; Díriel's role in 'her' episode doesn't need much set-up; she is thrust into it as a prisoner. Just because she's the central character of that episode doesn't change her place in the season or her overall importance to the larger arcs (ie, she remains a minor character overall).
The episodes with the least clear protagonist are 4 and 10. These are both ensemble-let's-traipse-all-across-Beleriand episodes, and so a single character or storyline through from beginning to end isn't as clear. We did at least try with Fingolfin in Episode 4, and with Episode 10, Maedhros is making (or forcing others to make) the decisions (though obviously Turgon and Finrod feature prominently. Likewise, there's a lot going on at the Mereth Aderthad, but since Lúthien steps up to confront Sauron in the climax, she is the protagonist.
And interestingly, we begin and end the season with the heroism of Fingon. But while he's working very much alone in Episode 1, by Episode 13, he's commanding others and collaborating fully with Celegorm. Interesting to see the Season's reconciliation arc play out in that contrast. Fingon must be a Slytherin, because he gets what he wants! (Just kidding, I know Fingon the Valiant is a foolhardy Gryffindor, through and through.)
[Script Outlines are all viewable here, if that helps with recalling what is happening in each episode:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lYvsNjUcoI1Vsyeq8KV_fQtcRZPThGDt ]
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