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I want a sitcom about Legolas and Gimli, in which they've fallen through a dimensional portal and are living in a small flat in Brooklyn.
They have to work in the gig economy, and there's a subplot about whether the old lady who lives next door is actually Sauron.
They have to work in the gig economy, and there's a subplot about whether the old lady who lives next door is actually Sauron.
There's a recurring joke where at least a couple of times a season members of the original film cast turn up as random one-line extras. Making Gimli and Legolas double-take every time.
"Aragon?! ARAGORN! Legolas! It's ARAGORN!
"Read my badge dude. My name is Alan. You want Mayo on this sub or not? C'mon man. There's a queue."
"Read my badge dude. My name is Alan. You want Mayo on this sub or not? C'mon man. There's a queue."
Bombadil, over the course of the show, becomes a successful music streamer on Twitch. Much to the annoyance of Legolas who has to do cycle deliveries for UberEats https://twitter.com/garius/status/1276790880196796418
Nah. That's not Bombadil. The local weed dealer is a shifty dude played by Elijah Wood.
"LEGOLAS! Frodo was here again! He has sold us some of his finest hobbit leaf!"
"Gimli, this is dried banana skin. Again. You need to stop letting him in." https://mobile.twitter.com/GreyAreaUK/status/1276792356860198912
"LEGOLAS! Frodo was here again! He has sold us some of his finest hobbit leaf!"
"Gimli, this is dried banana skin. Again. You need to stop letting him in." https://mobile.twitter.com/GreyAreaUK/status/1276792356860198912
An orc runs a gym and NO ONE EVER COMMENTS ON IT.
Legolas gets FURIOUS about this at first, then there's an episode where the orc starts spotting Gimli on the weights, they become friends, and everyone learns a lesson about judging based on appearance. https://mobile.twitter.com/Weregopher/status/1276828955866206208
Legolas gets FURIOUS about this at first, then there's an episode where the orc starts spotting Gimli on the weights, they become friends, and everyone learns a lesson about judging based on appearance. https://mobile.twitter.com/Weregopher/status/1276828955866206208
This annoys Tom Bombadil even more because they STILL refuse to accept he is who he says he is, even after they start chilling with the orc
Okay, thought more about how I'd write the Legolas/Gimli show. We cold open. That is, the series just starts with them in the Brooklyn apartment, resigned to the situation. We don't explain how they got there.
That's shown in short flashbacks over the course of the season.
That's shown in short flashbacks over the course of the season.
Very first scene is just Legolas shopping in a corner market. Then walking home.
Legolas walks in and the lights are off. He puts the bag down and turns them on then jumps back because Gimli is already home.
Gimli frantically gestures at him to turn them off. Legolas looks confused. Gimli gestures more.
Then there's a cheerful knock.
"Bombadil" Gimli sighs
Gimli frantically gestures at him to turn them off. Legolas looks confused. Gimli gestures more.
Then there's a cheerful knock.
"Bombadil" Gimli sighs
Also, there's a whole flashback episode where we discover WHY Legolas can't get a driving license. So has to do UberEats cycle work.
The DMV worker is the Mouth of Sauron and keeps finding excuses petty reasons not to give him one.
But no one believes him. Not even Gimli.
The DMV worker is the Mouth of Sauron and keeps finding excuses petty reasons not to give him one.
But no one believes him. Not even Gimli.
Oh, and the plan would be to use careful set construction and camera work to make sure that it's only at the end of the second season that the audience realise Legolas and Gimli's apartment only has one bedroom.
IT'S CANON. READ THE APPENDIX.
IT'S CANON. READ THE APPENDIX.
This would also retroactively screw with all the IMDB nerds who by then would have been all:
"They can't possibly afford a Brooklyn two bed on their salaries. This show is so unrealistic"
"They can't possibly afford a Brooklyn two bed on their salaries. This show is so unrealistic"
Show title decided: https://mobile.twitter.com/garius/status/1277503639901396992
Close. Sean Bean appears in one episode EVERY season, as a random non-speaking extra. He always dies in the background at the end of that episode.
Gimli and Legolas never see this. It always happens behind them. https://twitter.com/ChloePrevett/status/1277518269071720448
Gimli and Legolas never see this. It always happens behind them. https://twitter.com/ChloePrevett/status/1277518269071720448
Exactly. Which adds to the joke. People familiar with the films, but unfamiliar with the books will probably assume that Tom IS lying about being from Middle Earth as well. https://twitter.com/akpimages/status/1277517619399098368
Nah. What gives the whole series legs is making sure that the REAL LOTR character appearances are rare, and hiding in plain sight (e.g. the Orc, Mouth of Sauron).
The majority of cameos are original actors in 'blink and you'll miss it' mundane roles. https://twitter.com/robert_scragg/status/1277524340595138562
The majority of cameos are original actors in 'blink and you'll miss it' mundane roles. https://twitter.com/robert_scragg/status/1277524340595138562
They have to be a split second of confusion for Legolas/Gimli
E.g. Legolas is having a rant about bike chains as they walk down a street. They buy bagels. 2min later Legolas stumbles over his rant and thinks 'wait was that...'
Ian McKellen was wordlessly running the bagel stand
E.g. Legolas is having a rant about bike chains as they walk down a street. They buy bagels. 2min later Legolas stumbles over his rant and thinks 'wait was that...'
Ian McKellen was wordlessly running the bagel stand
It would be much harder to keep it on the 'surreal' rather than 'parody' side of comedy tropes then.
I think the power of the idea comes from the audience being familiar already with the characters and not having to mentally substitute them in. https://twitter.com/andrewcb/status/1277527925810749446
I think the power of the idea comes from the audience being familiar already with the characters and not having to mentally substitute them in. https://twitter.com/andrewcb/status/1277527925810749446
It works because LOTR is genuinely both a wonderful read (or watch) and a piece of cultural and literary importance. It is a 'serious' thing.
So taking the serious people from it and making them worry about stuff we have to worry about is what makes it funny.
So taking the serious people from it and making them worry about stuff we have to worry about is what makes it funny.
Because sure, it's EASY for Legolas to look effortlessly cool while sliding down some stairs on a shield. We all saw that.
But carrying a fixie up four flights of stairs to an apartment? Much harder to pull off.
But carrying a fixie up four flights of stairs to an apartment? Much harder to pull off.
