There’s 1 ‘Lord of the Rings’ Book Scene I’ll Never Forgive Peter Jackson For Skipping

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Of all the parts of The Lord of the Rings books, there’s one chapter I really wish had been included in Peter Jackson’s movies. While the films are fantastic and remarkably true to the source material – some of the best fantasy adaptations ever made – certain elements from the books didn’t make the cut, and it’s interesting to think about what was left out.

Sir Christopher Lee was a truly wonderful performer, and I’ve always been a huge fan. While I appreciate his performance as Saruman in the films, I think Peter Jackson’s version simplifies the character as presented in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. The movie Saruman is a great villain, but he loses some of the depth and complexity found in the original novels, largely because the film focuses less on the character’s mysterious and spiritual side.

“The Voice of Saruman” Is One of ‘The Lord of the Rings’s Greatest Chapters


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Many online discussions point out that the movie The Return of the King left out “The Scouring of the Shire,” and while I think that section is a great part of Tolkien’s books, I actually prefer another powerful chapter: “The Voice of Saruman.” This chapter, found in The Two Towers after the Battle of Helm’s Deep, shows Gandalf and the heroes traveling to Orthanc to try and convince Saruman to change his ways, offering him one last chance to be redeemed.

Gandalf cautions his friends about Saruman’s persuasive ability – a powerful, almost magical way of speaking – as Saruman tries to avoid being defeated. When Théoden finally confronts the man who has plagued his kingdom, Saruman appears as a gentle, harmless old man, and almost convinces Théoden to join him. Here’s a short passage from Tolkien that beautifully illustrates the effect of Saruman’s voice and captures the scene’s atmosphere:

You know, whenever anyone actually heard that voice, they could rarely recall the specific words. And even when they tried, the memories felt…weak, almost as if the power had drained away. What everyone did remember, though, was how incredibly pleasant it was to listen to. Everything it said just sounded so sensible and insightful, and it stirred up this sudden urge in them to appear wise themselves, to live up to the impression the voice created.

Saruman is talking to King Théoden while Gandalf waits nearby. Gandalf understands he needs to let Théoden decide for himself whether to trust Saruman or see through his deception. Ultimately, Théoden chooses wisely, and Saruman immediately changes from being falsely kind to openly hateful and angry, attacking those who oppose him.

They call Eorl’s hall a simple, rough place – more like a tavern for outlaws than a royal home, with children and dogs running wild. It’s been far too long since anyone faced justice for their crimes. But judgment is coming, slowly at first, then swiftly and severely. Do what you want with that information… I honestly don’t know why I bothered explaining it to you.

The change in Saruman’s voice is remarkable. We’ve already noticed how he uses it to control and influence others, drawing them in with its power. Now, we’re seeing its destructive potential. It’s a voice filled with malice and decay – one that directs armies of orcs and craves the One Ring, all while being enhanced by the strength of a powerful wizard.

After that, Gandalf does something the movies leave out: he gives Saruman one last opportunity to abandon his wickedness and fight alongside them against Sauron. But Saruman is too proud and bitter about being thwarted by the Fellowship. Gandalf then breaks Saruman’s staff, destroying the wizard’s source of magical power and removing a major danger in The Lord of the Rings.

One of the most interesting things about this part of the story is that Tolkien’s villains are often unseen forces. Sauron, for example, remains a distant threat, and the Witch King acts as his agent. This makes Saruman’s direct appearance in this chapter especially striking, as he’s the first villain readers truly see causing so much fear in Middle-earth. He represents the darkness itself, and how Tolkien brings it to life.

How Saruman Differs From ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Books to Films


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The magic in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films, much like in Tolkien’s books, is presented as mysterious and subtle. Tolkien doesn’t depict magic as a set of rules or formulas – it’s very different from the more structured magic systems you might find in a Brandon Sanderson novel. Because of this, it’s a bit of a letdown that Saruman, a key figure representing this kind of magic, is portrayed as a rather simple villain in the movies.

As Isengard grows more powerful in The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, viewers witness Saruman’s strength. However, the films don’t fully show how he gained that power. We see the results of his actions, but not the cleverness he used to initially acquire Isengard from the Rohirrim, or the manipulative tactics he employed to almost win over Théoden despite the harm he’d inflicted on Rohan.

You know, as a huge Tolkien fan, I always felt like the Caradhras scene was the only time the movie really captured Saruman’s power like it was in the books. Seeing him up in Orthanc, just boom his voice across the mountains and trigger that avalanche from miles away… it was chilling. Legolas instantly recognizing that ‘fell voice’ – that sense of pure, elemental evil trying to bury them – that was perfect. It really showed what a force of nature Saruman was supposed to be.

We clearly see how Grima Wormtongue influences others, but the story doesn’t really let us see Saruman’s full power. In The Fellowship of the Ring, he attempts to convince Gandalf to join the dark side, but his evil is so obvious that it quickly leads to a fight, rather than the clever battle of minds shown in “The Voice of Saruman.”

I haven’t even discussed what happens to him in The Return of the King, where Grima Wormtongue betrays him by stabbing him in the back on top of Orthanc. This part of the story, known as “The Voice of Saruman,” was cut from the final version of The Lord of the Rings movies, leaving out important details about this complex character from Tolkien’s books. While I enjoy the films, they simply can’t include everything from the original story.

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2025-10-26 17:04