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In South Park's 6th season, they made an episode entitled The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers. This episode spoofed all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
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{{disambig-more|Two Towers|[[Two Towers (disambiguation)]]}}
'''The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers''' is the 13th episode of the 6th season of ''South Park''. It was originally broadcast on [[13 November|November 13]], [[2002]]. The episode is a spoof of [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]. The boys go on a quest to return a copy of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' to the video store.


==Plot==
Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny (whose soul has been absorbed by Cartman), are playing ''The Lord of the Rings''. Stan's parents have rented ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'', and tell the boys to bring it to Butter's parents so Butters can borrow it. After they have left, Stan's parents realize the tape has been mixed with ''Back Door Sluts 9,'' "the most hardcore porno ever."


{{Infobox Television episode
Stan's parents drive to Butter's house, but meet the boys returning home having already delivered the tape. They convince the boys to go on a quest to retrieve the tape as it "holds an evil power." The boys eagerly comply. They return to Butters' house and take the tape, but not before Butters, though not understanding the nature of it, has watched and become obsessed with it.
| Title        = The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers
| Series      = South Park
| Image        = [[Image:613 image 07.jpg|200px|]]     
| Caption      = The boys learn of their quest.
| Season      = 6
| Episode      = 92
| Airdate      = [[November 13]], [[2002]]
| Production  = 613
| Writer      = [[Trey Parker]]<br>[[Matt Stone]]
| Director    = [[Trey Parker]]
| Guests      =
| Episode list = [[List of South Park episodes|List of ''South Park'' episodes]]
| Season list  = {{Infobox South Park season 6 episode list}}
| Prev        =
| Next        =
}}
'''"The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers"''' is episode 92 (or 6.13) of the [[Comedy Central]] series ''[[South Park]]''. It was originally broadcast on [[November 13]], [[2002]]. It was one of 10 episodes chosen by Parker and Stone to appear on the ''South Park: The Hits'' DVD, and Parker himself has praised the episode as “Just a perfect example, to us, about how much fun the show can be when it’s just kids being kids.”<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celluloidandvinyl.com/2006/09/28/a-stroll-through-south-park/ |title=A Stroll Through South Park |accessdate=2007-10-16 |publisher=Celluloid & Vinyl}}</ref> The episode is primarily a spoof of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' trilogy, with several events and characters substituted into the narrative.


==Plot synopsis==
Returning home, the boys run into some sixth graders, who take the tape and realize that it's a pornographic movie. They try to steal the tape, but the boys escape. Amazed at the tape's strange power, they take it to the High Elf of Faragon (Clyde). A council with most of the fourth graders decides that Talangar the Black (Token) should watch the tape to determine its power. He returns expressionless, announces that he's not playing anymore, and leaves. Convinced of the tape's power, the council decides that it must be returned to the Two Towers video store "from whence it came," and forms the "Fellowship of ''The Lord of the Rings''," consisting of Stan, Kyle, Cartman (with Kenny), Craig, Jimmy, and Filmore.


The episode opens with [[Stan Marsh|Stan]], [[Kyle Broflovski|Kyle]], [[Eric Cartman|Cartman]], and a disembodied [[Kenny McCormick|Kenny]] ([[A Ladder to Heaven|sharing Cartman's body]]) playing "''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''." [[Randy and Sharon Marsh|Stan's parents]] have rented the movie ''The Lord of the Rings'', and tell Stan, Kyle & Cartman to bring it to [[Stephen and Linda Stotch|Butters' parents]], as they had asked to borrow it. Still caught up in their game, the boys see this assignment as a "quest", and set off on their journey. When the boys leave, Stan's parents try to watch ''Back Door Sluts 9'', a [[pornography|pornographic movie]] described as the most "hardcore" porno ever and the "single most vile, twisted, dark piece of [[pornography|porn]] ever produced."  It is said that ''Backdoor Sluts 9'' makes ''Crotch Capers 3'' look like ''Naughty Nurses 2''.  To their horror, they discover that Randy accidentally got ''The Lord of the Rings'' video and the pornographic movie mixed up, and realize that Butters is now watching it at his house.
Stan's parents, worried that the boys have not returned, show up to Butters' house. Seeing Butters' (and later Token's) strange behavior, they realize that he has watched the tape. Assuming that the other boys will also watch it, they contact the other parents and go on a desperate search to find their children and "put it into context."


The two drive to Butters' house, and come across the boys returning home, having already delivered the tape. Stan's father plays into the boys' imagination and sends them on their greatest quest ever: retrieve the tape, as it "holds an evil power." Excited, the boys eagerly comply and set off toward Butters' house. They arrive and take the tape, but not before discovering that Butters, though not realizing the nature of it, has watched the movie and becomes obsessed with it. Excluded from the game and denied the video, Butters becomes steadily more [[insanity|insane]], and remains secluded in the basement, muttering about his "precious" and generally acting like [[Gollum]]. At this point the Marshes, who have grown worried that the boys have not returned, show up. Distraught at Butters' behavior, they assume that the boys now have the tape and are watching it. Contacting the other parents, they go on a desperate search to find their missing children and "put it into context."
The Fellowship loses Jimmy, Craig and Filmore after a run-in with the sixth graders. Butters, who has been following them, offers to guide them to the store in an attempt to get the tape back. They arrive with the sixth graders in hot pursuit, but Butters refuses to let go of the tape. Kyle throws Butters with the tape into the return drop box.


Returning home, the boys run into some 6th graders, who look inside the box and realize that the tape is actually a pornographic movie. Although they try to take the tape, the boys are able to escape and decide to take it to the council of the High Elf of Faragon ([[List of students at South Park Elementary#Clyde Donovan|Clyde]]). At the council, at which most of the fourth-graders are present (in ''The Lord of the Rings'' costumes), it is decided that to determine the tape's power, they should send one of their own to watch it for a few minutes. Talangar the Black ([[List of students at South Park Elementary#Token Black|Token]]) is volunteered, and steps inside his house for a moment. He soon comes out, expressionless, and announces that he's not playing anymore without an explanation. Now truly convinced of the tape's power, the council decides the tape must be returned to the Two Towers video store "from whence it came", and forms the "Fellowship of ''The Lord of the Rings''", which consists of Stan, Kyle, Cartman (with Kenny), [[List of students at South Park Elementary#Craig|Craig]], [[List of students at South Park Elementary#Jimmy Vulmer|Jimmy]], and an unnamed kindergartener (possibly Filmore).
Angered at losing their movie, the sixth graders threaten to beat up the boys, but flee when the parents arrive. The parents go into a detailed explanation about sex, touching on explicit subjects, astonishing the boys who never actually watched the tape. The episode ends with Butters clutching his "precious" among a pile of other returned tapes in the drop box.
 
The boys go to the store and, after avoiding a run-in with the 6th graders (in which their party loses Jimmy, Craig, and the kindergartener), join Butters. He offers to guide them to the store in a thinly veiled attempt to get the tape back. Soon all the boys wind up at the Two Towers, and with the 6th graders in hot pursuit they desperately try to return the tape to the drop box. When Butters refuses to let go of it, Kyle throws him and the tape into the drop box. Angered at losing their movie, the 6th graders threaten to beat the boys up, but flee when the parents arrive. The parents then go into a long discussion with the astonished boys about [[sexual intercourse|sex]], touching on such subjects as [[69 (sex position)|69ing]] and [[List of sex positions|double penetration]]. The boys (who never actually watched the movie that their parents are so graphically describing) are speechless. The episode ends with a view of Butters, clutching his "precious" among a pile of other returned tapes in the drop box.


== Parallels with ''The Lord of the Rings'' ==
== Parallels with ''The Lord of the Rings'' ==
Many actions and events in this episode [[parody]] those in the ''The Lord of the Rings'' itself. The title in itself is a parody of the trilogy, incorporating all three of the titles into the episode's name.
Many actions and events in this episode parody those in the ''The Lord of the Rings'' itself. The title in itself is a parody of the trilogy, incorporating all three of the titles into the episode's name.
 
===Character comparisons===
* Stan &mdash; [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]
* Kyle &mdash; [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]
* Cartman (and Kenny) &mdash; [[Gandalf]]
* Clyde &mdash; [[Elrond]];
* Jimmy &mdash; possibly [[Boromir]]; in one scene takes on role of Gandalf
* Craig &mdash; [[Aragorn]]
* Jason &mdash; [[Legolas]]
* Butters &mdash; [[Gollum|Sméagol/Gollum]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spscriptorium.com/Season6/E613secrets.htm |title=The Secrets of "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers" |accessdate=2007-01-28 |author=Westwood, Willie |format=HTML |publisher=The South Park Scriptorium }}</ref>
* Filmore (the kindergartener) &mdash; [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]]
* Pip &mdash; possibly [[Legolas]] or [[Glorfindel]]; it is certain that the character is an elf
* The 6th graders &mdash; [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]], [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orc]] armies/Goblins, [[Balrog]]
* [[List of students at South Park Elementary#Kevin|Kevin]] &mdash; a [[Imperial Stormtrooper|storm trooper]] (related to [[Star Wars]] and not ''Lord of the Rings'')
 
=== Events ===
* At one point, the boys hide under a massive root in order to hide from the 6th graders, who try to sniff them out, much like the Hobbits’ first encounter with the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (film)|The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.
* In the scene when the 6th graders meet on their bikes, a building in the background can be seen which says “More Doors Doors” (Mordor’s Doors), which is a reference to [[Mordor]].
* When the boys arrive at Clyde’s home, Cartman says the word “mellon” (friend), which is actually the password used by Gandalf to enter the Mines of [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]] in the ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (film)|The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.
* Clyde’s council parallels Elrond’s council. During the council, Stan says: “I will take it, ” a quote from Frodo during the council scene in ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. Cartman also closes his eyes mournfully in response, in the same way Gandalf did in Peter Jackson’s film ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (film)|The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.
* In the scene were the boys pass a "Country Cafe" Kyle says that someone's following them and Cartman responds by saying "It's Butters, he's been following us for like 2 hours". This parallels a scene in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" where inside [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]] Frodo says he sees something and Gandalf tells him that it's Gollum and he's been following them.
* Jimmy stands in the road and attempts to stop the sixth-graders by saying, “You shall not pass!” (the same words Gandalf said to the Balrog on the bridge, before sacrificing himself to stop it &mdash; in Peter Jackson’s film). However, because of Jimmy’s stutter, he can’t finish the line in time, and gets run over by the 6th graders’ bikes before finally saying “...p-pass.”
* The boys escape from the sixth-graders by crossing a river, in a similair fashion to the four Hobbits crossing the ferry in the Shire. The sixth-graders, like the [[Nazgûl|wraiths]], keep going to find a bridge. The timing of the scene, after the Fellowship has already set about on its way to the Two Towers/Mordor, makes the scene also analogous to the crossing of the [[Brandywine]] river. Cartman claims the sixth-graders do not like water, which Craig dismisses as foolish (he then leaves with the kindergartener to play [[Harry Potter]] with the other children; Cartman then yells at him saying: “Fine! Go play your Harry-Butthole-Pussy-Potter!”). It nevertheless works, because the sixth graders fear that the water will rust the chains on their bicycles.
* At the end of the episode Butters, like Gollum, is reunited with his “precious”. Gollum falls toward the center of [[Orodruin|Mount Doom]] and Butters to the bottom of the drop box. There, at the bottom of the box, a pile of already returned red colored video boxes gives the effect of Butters about to sink into his own lake of lava.
 
== Censorship ==
* Almost all of the sexual positions and techniques described by the kids’ parents have been edited out in the syndicated version (the ones cut were ones involving double penetration, [[69 (sex position)|69-ing]], urination, and defecation during intercourse).
* When Token explains what happened in the porno film, the first part in which he mentions "a woman with four penises inside of her at once" and her being urinated on later was cut in syndication.
* The Comedy Central promo for this episode has a scene where Cartman calls a group of kids who are playing [[Harry Potter]] “Dorks!”; the change was made so the South Park promos could be aired during time slots which carried lighter TV-PG or TV-14 ratings. In the actual episode, he shouts “Fags!”
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
{{Episode navigation|parent=[[List of South Park episodes|''South Park'' episodes]]|prev=[[A Ladder to Heaven]]|next=[[The Death Camp of Tolerance]] }}
{{South Park Hits 1}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers, The}}
* Stan - [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].
[[Category:South Park episodes: Season 6]]
* Kyle - [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]].
[[Category:Tolkien fandom]]
* Cartman (and Kenny) - [[Gandalf]].
[[Category:Middle-earth parodies]]
* Clyde - [[Elrond]].
* Jimmy - possibly [[Boromir]]; in one scene takes on the role of Gandalf.
* Craig - [[Aragorn]].
* Jason - [[Legolas]].
* Butters - [[Gollum|Sméagol/Gollum]].
* Filmore - a kindergartener, whom the boys call a [[Dwarves|dwarf]]; [[Gimli]].
* The 6th graders - [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]], [[Orcs|Orc]] armies/Goblins, [[Balrogs|Balrog]].
* The boys hide under a massive root while a sixth grader try to sniff them out, parodying the Hobbits’ first encounter with the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraith]] in both [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]] and ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.
* In the scene when the sixth graders meet on their bikes, a building in the background can be seen which says "More Doors Doors" (Mordor's Doors).
* While waiting for Clyde to open his door, Cartman says the word "[[mellon]]", the password to the [[Doors of Durin]].
* Clyde's council parallels Elrond's council. During the council, Stan stands up to say: "I will take it."
* After losing half of their party, when Kyle observes that someone's following them, Cartman responds that, "It's Butters. He's been following us for like 2 hours." This mirrors Gandalf's observation in [[Moria]].
* Jimmy stands in the road and attempts to stop the sixth graders by saying, "You shall not pass!".
* The boys escape from the sixth graders by crossing a river. The sixth graders, like the [[Nazgûl|wraiths]], keep going to find a bridge.
* The sixth graders are about to beat up the boys before the parents arrive to save them, mirroring the arrival of the [[Eagles]].
* At the end of the episode Butters, like Gollum, is reunited with his "precious". Gollum falls toward the center of [[Orodruin|Mount Doom]] and Butters to the bottom of the drop box. There, at the bottom of the box, a pile of already returned red colored video boxes gives the effect of Butters about to sink into his own lake of lava.


[[fr:Le Retour de la communauté de l'anneau des deux tours]]
==External links==
[[nl:The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers]]
* {{WP|The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers}}
[[ru:Возвращение братства кольца в две башни]]
* [http://southpark.wikia.com/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Fellowship_of_the_Ring_to_the_Two_Towers "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers"] at [http://southpark.wikia.com/wiki/South_Park_Archives South Park Archives]
[[Category:Parodies]]

Latest revision as of 05:17, 4 November 2023

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
 This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name Two Towers refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Two Towers (disambiguation).

The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers is the 13th episode of the 6th season of South Park. It was originally broadcast on November 13, 2002. The episode is a spoof of The Lord of the Rings (film series). The boys go on a quest to return a copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring to the video store.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny (whose soul has been absorbed by Cartman), are playing The Lord of the Rings. Stan's parents have rented The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and tell the boys to bring it to Butter's parents so Butters can borrow it. After they have left, Stan's parents realize the tape has been mixed with Back Door Sluts 9, "the most hardcore porno ever."

Stan's parents drive to Butter's house, but meet the boys returning home having already delivered the tape. They convince the boys to go on a quest to retrieve the tape as it "holds an evil power." The boys eagerly comply. They return to Butters' house and take the tape, but not before Butters, though not understanding the nature of it, has watched and become obsessed with it.

Returning home, the boys run into some sixth graders, who take the tape and realize that it's a pornographic movie. They try to steal the tape, but the boys escape. Amazed at the tape's strange power, they take it to the High Elf of Faragon (Clyde). A council with most of the fourth graders decides that Talangar the Black (Token) should watch the tape to determine its power. He returns expressionless, announces that he's not playing anymore, and leaves. Convinced of the tape's power, the council decides that it must be returned to the Two Towers video store "from whence it came," and forms the "Fellowship of The Lord of the Rings," consisting of Stan, Kyle, Cartman (with Kenny), Craig, Jimmy, and Filmore.

Stan's parents, worried that the boys have not returned, show up to Butters' house. Seeing Butters' (and later Token's) strange behavior, they realize that he has watched the tape. Assuming that the other boys will also watch it, they contact the other parents and go on a desperate search to find their children and "put it into context."

The Fellowship loses Jimmy, Craig and Filmore after a run-in with the sixth graders. Butters, who has been following them, offers to guide them to the store in an attempt to get the tape back. They arrive with the sixth graders in hot pursuit, but Butters refuses to let go of the tape. Kyle throws Butters with the tape into the return drop box.

Angered at losing their movie, the sixth graders threaten to beat up the boys, but flee when the parents arrive. The parents go into a detailed explanation about sex, touching on explicit subjects, astonishing the boys who never actually watched the tape. The episode ends with Butters clutching his "precious" among a pile of other returned tapes in the drop box.

Parallels with The Lord of the Rings[edit | edit source]

Many actions and events in this episode parody those in the The Lord of the Rings itself. The title in itself is a parody of the trilogy, incorporating all three of the titles into the episode's name.

  • Stan - Frodo.
  • Kyle - Sam.
  • Cartman (and Kenny) - Gandalf.
  • Clyde - Elrond.
  • Jimmy - possibly Boromir; in one scene takes on the role of Gandalf.
  • Craig - Aragorn.
  • Jason - Legolas.
  • Butters - Sméagol/Gollum.
  • Filmore - a kindergartener, whom the boys call a dwarf; Gimli.
  • The 6th graders - Ringwraiths, Orc armies/Goblins, Balrog.
  • The boys hide under a massive root while a sixth grader try to sniff them out, parodying the Hobbits’ first encounter with the Ringwraith in both The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
  • In the scene when the sixth graders meet on their bikes, a building in the background can be seen which says "More Doors Doors" (Mordor's Doors).
  • While waiting for Clyde to open his door, Cartman says the word "mellon", the password to the Doors of Durin.
  • Clyde's council parallels Elrond's council. During the council, Stan stands up to say: "I will take it."
  • After losing half of their party, when Kyle observes that someone's following them, Cartman responds that, "It's Butters. He's been following us for like 2 hours." This mirrors Gandalf's observation in Moria.
  • Jimmy stands in the road and attempts to stop the sixth graders by saying, "You shall not pass!".
  • The boys escape from the sixth graders by crossing a river. The sixth graders, like the wraiths, keep going to find a bridge.
  • The sixth graders are about to beat up the boys before the parents arrive to save them, mirroring the arrival of the Eagles.
  • At the end of the episode Butters, like Gollum, is reunited with his "precious". Gollum falls toward the center of Mount Doom and Butters to the bottom of the drop box. There, at the bottom of the box, a pile of already returned red colored video boxes gives the effect of Butters about to sink into his own lake of lava.

External links[edit | edit source]

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