AS SEEN ON TV: THORIN OAKENSHIELD

Today's the day when "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" opens in theaters!

THORIN OAKENSHIELD

AS SEEN IN:

"The Hobbit"

CREATED BY:

J.R.R. Tolkien

VOICED BY:

Hans Conreid

TV DIMENSION:

The Tooniverse

From Wikipedia:

Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thráin, son of Thrór, King Under the Mountain is a major character in "The Hobbit" and is mentioned in passing in "The Lord of the Rings". He was the leader of the Company of Dwarves who aimed to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug the dragon, and was the son of Thráin II, the King of Durin's Folk in their exile from Erebor, and the grandson of King Thrór.

In "The Hobbit", Thorin and twelve other Dwarves, mostly relatives of his or others of Durin's Folk, visited Bilbo Baggins on Gandalf's advice to hire him as a burglar, to steal back their treasure from Smaug. He especially wanted the Arkenstone, the Heart of the Mountain.

He alone was not taken by complete surprise when the company encountered a band of Trolls, and he and Gandalf fought valiantly in the Goblin tunnels. Thorin was the first to be captured by the Wood-elves of Mirkwood, and insisted that the other Dwarves not disclose their quest to their captors. He was the first to emerge from the barrels at Lake-town and marched right up to the leaders of the town, declaring himself as King Under the Mountain.

Thorin was furious when Bilbo stole the Arkenstone to use as a bargaining counter with Thranduil, the Elvenking, and Bard the Bowman, both of whom had some claim to the treasure. The conflict was averted by an attack of Goblins and Wargs, and the Dwarves joined forces with the Elves, the Men of Lake-town, and the great Eagles to defeat them in what came to be known as the Battle of Five Armies. During the battle, Thorin was mortally wounded, but before he died he made his peace with Bilbo.

O'BSERVATIONS:

For me, Hans Conreid can do no wrong and I enjoyed his performance as the voice of Thorin Oakenshield. And the depiction of the dwarf leader comes closer to how I envisioned Thorin than what I have seen of Richard Armitage in the role.

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,

it would be a merrier world.

But, sad or merry, I must leave it now.

Farewell."

[Thorin's last words]