While there are many tragic moments in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, its author found one particular scene to be the most “moving” of all. 

In a rare interview clip shared by the BBC, JRR Tolkien harkened back to the chapter “The Stairs of Cirith Ungol” from The Return of the King, where Gollum has been able to revert to his softer, kinder Sméagol persona. Quite literally, good is winning over evil. Hoping to repent, he looks tenderly at a sleeping Frodo and touches his knee.

Sméagol’s redemption arc cut short

However, when Frodo’s loyal, constant companion Samwise (who has never quite trusted Gollum) sees this, he rushes to Frodo’s defense, shouting, “Take your hands off!”

This, unfortunately, was all........

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