Monday, July 22, 2013

TheOneRing.net "HAPPY HOBBIT" review

JRR Tolkien's written work combined with visionary Peter Jackson's film adaptations of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT have touched and inspired millions of people. A significant two of these people are active OneRing-ers and sisters, Kellie and Alex Rice from California.

As fans of Tolkien, Kellie and Alex (nicknamed Kili and Fili after the young dwarves from THE HOBBIT) incorporate Middle Earth into their daily lives, in a way that is both modern and old-fashioned. As such, it seems the perfect idea for them to display this lifestyle through their YouTube/OneRing webseries, Happy Hobbit.

The show Happy Hobbit is very much Middle Earth from a modern-day perspective. The way these two enthusiastic fans put it together involves a lot of helpful and informative instruction mixed with pure entertainment and no small amount of slapstick. There are surprises throughout each episode and you've no idea what's going to happen next, since they never repeat themselves or use "the same old jokes." They make everyday things, some that people would normally not pay much attention to, look exciting and fun.

They even make watching a movie trailer more exciting than it already is, posting a reaction video of The Desolation of Smaug trailer (only to be noticed by Sir Peter Jackson himself and then shown to the main elf actors on the film). One thing's for sure, if Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly thought it was good, it must mean something. "I think they outperformed us," says Lilly after watching the reaction video.

As far as fans go, I think these girls have reached a level of fan-dom that other Ringers like myself would aspire to be. And I don't mean being noticed by the cast, but their dedication to Tolkien's work and making it part of their lives, and showing so much support that it reaches the attention of other Ringers alike. It is certainly my favorite webseries, no exaggeration.

"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, an I like less than half of you half as well as your deserve." If you don't already like/know Happy Hobbit, I highly recommend it for anyone in support of the masterpieces Tolkien created for us.