The Best LotR References And Hidden Details In The War Of The Rohirrim Movie

Being a standalone animated prequel to the film adaptations of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, War of the Rohirrim explores the realm of the horse lords during the reign of Helm Hammerhand through the perspective of his daughter Hera. While this film can be enjoyed without seeing the other films, fans of both the books and film trilogies can find several Easter eggs to enjoy.

These Easter eggs could range from returning members of the cast to mentions and references that bear relevance to the larger world of Middle Earth. Mentions of locations, characters, and elements tie together the narrative of Hera’s journey and the future of Rohan and her people.

10

The Watcher In The Lake

When a rabid Mumakil chased her, Hera lured the beast into a swampy, shadowy forest, heading towards a murky lake that hid a terrifying secret. Once the Mumakil closed in, it was caught and devoured whole by a familiar enemy of the Fellowship, a Watcher in the Water.

It’s unclear if this ancient creature was the same beast that attacked the fellowship near the Gates of Moria or if it’s related due to several distinct differences in its appearance. Either way, it was a fun and dynamic reference to the dark threats of Middle Earth’s mysterious monsters, some that lurk just under the surface.

9

The New Lord Of Isengard

The aftermath of the War of the Rohirrim saw the crowning of Freleaf as the first king of the second line of Rohan’s royalty. It was also the moment in the film where Saruman the Wise was introduced as the new lord of Isengard, the region once under Wulf’s domain.

Saruman’s appearance and presence were directly inspired by Christopher Lee’s portrayal, costume design, and the staff appearance in the Peter Jackson trilogy. Even the single voice line he had was from archived audio of Christopher Lee’s performances, bringing the posthumous performance of the character back for a minor epilogue scene, showcasing the character’s relationship with the people of Rohan.

8

The Narrator Of Our Tale

Miranda Otto returns to this spin-off tale as her character, Eowyn, from the live-action trilogy. Her role is to narrate Hera’s adventures and the trials and tribulations of her family and people during the War of the Rohirrim. Having her narrate the story makes it feel like a folk legend she passes on to her own people long after the film’s events, giving the story a similar feeling to Galadriel’s narration of the Last Alliance during the Fellowship of the Ring.

Eowyn is a beloved character in the Lord of the Rings films, and her character traits and moments are shared with Hera, a headstrong Shield Maiden who is thrust into impossible battles and overcomes the odds for her people and family. Having Eowyn narrate Hera’s tale brings together the idea that these Shield Maiden legends inspired her on her own journey.

7

Banners Of The Rohirrim

The Banners of Rohan’s different houses and territories were given special attention this time. Each of them represents the different families that supported the throne of Edoras. They were mostly in the background of the live-action films. Here, they were identified based on lands like the Westmarch, Westfold, and a torn banner representing the Shield-Maidens.

Showing the banners of Rohan’s many champions and households shows the expansive reach and influence of Rohan as the ally of Gondor and a significant force against the threat of Middle Earth. It also gave more attention to the culture of Rohan, which wasn’t shown or focused on in the live-action films.

6

The Eagles And Language Of Wizards

After Hera was introduced feeding a chunk of meat to a fledgling Great Eagle, she returned to Edoras, mentioning how they could speak in the language of wizards and are the carriers of divine messages across Middle Earth. This directly references the roles of the Eagles in Tolkien’s works.

In truth, the Great Eagles of Manwe could speak in the books and have spoken in the animated adaptation of The Hobbit by Rankin/Bass. This aspect of their portrayals has yet to be shown in Peter Jackson’s work, but having it mentioned as a part of Hera’s motivations is a great callback to the greater lore and mysterious magic of Middle Earth.

5

Gandalf’s Unexpected Invitation

The epilogue of War of the Rohirrim shows Hera on a new adventure with Olywn. But before they embarked, Hera mentioned receiving an unexpected invitation from a mysterious figure who wanted to know what the orcs were doing. The letter she received is marked with an oddly familiar rune symbol. The symbol represents Gandalf’s presence and awareness of the film’s events.

This rune is very close to the appearance of the rune Gandalf left on Bilbo’s door, which marks the door that Thorin’s company would gather towards during The Hobbit. This was a nice shout-out to one of Middle Earth’s most influential figures, and it opened the door to any of Hera’s future adventures she may have away from Rohan.

4

Fréaláf’s Miraculous Charge

In the climactic siege battle at the Hornburg, Fréaláf appeared alongside his host from Dunharrow to end Wulf’s siege and drive away the army of the Dunlendings. The presentation and the charge of Fréaláf’s Rohirrim are very reminiscent of the final battle scene from the Two Towers when Gandalf and Eomer came to reinforce Theoden and Aragorn.

The whole scene is nearly a back-to-back recreation of the climatic battle, from the time being at the break of dawn to Fréaláf and his calvary descending from the high ground towards the Hornburg. This scene is a callback to the iconic cavalry charge scene from the live-action climatic battle.

3

The Burning Of Edoras

Peter Jackson initially planned for a scene in the Two Towers where Edoras is burned by the marching legions of the Uruk-Hai after Theoden evacuated his people to Helm’s Deep. However, due to complications and budget issues, the concept was scrapped.

However, he was able to return to this idea during the battle of Edoras in the War of the Rohirrim when Wulf successfully broke through and sacked the city with the Haradrim mercenaries and the Mumakil. The scene also included Haleth’s fight atop the Mumakil, referencing Legolas’s memorable scene when he took down a Mumakil and its riders in Return of the King.

2

The Horn Of Helm Hammerhand

During the Long Winter, Helm Hammerhand, having lost his two sons, was overwhelmed with grief and rage, becoming a “wraith” that attacked Wulf’s army throughout the winter siege. During his attacks, a mysterious horn will sound and echo across the snowstorms whenever he attacks the army, spreading fear and death during the bitter winter.

The sound effects of the Horn signaling Helm’s attacks are the same sounds used for the large Horn of Helm Hammerhand that Théoden ordered Gimli to execute during his final charge against the Saruman’s army. Hearing it again through Helm’s attacks during the War of the Rohirrim gives a great sense of continuity and connects the two eras of Rohan’s history.

1

Mordor’s Orcs

Hera briefly encounters a pair of orcs voiced by Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, who portrayed the hobbits Pippin and Merry, respectively, from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. These two are shown in a minor scene, looting and feasting on the dead troops of Wulf’s army. Among some items they found, they also collected several rings while muttering why Mordor would be interested in them.

For fans old and new to the Lord of the Rings, this is a clear-cut reference to the Rings of Power, specifically, the One Ring. A ring forged with the essence of Sauron and one of the most powerful magical relics in all of Middle Earth. Orcs searching for this ring 183 years before the events of The Hobbit suggests that Sauron has reemerged long before Bilbo found the Ring and has been planning his conquest long before any of the main players came to be. It is a great Easter egg that subtly foreshadows the conflicts in the Lord of the Rings.