If they go the route of the love triangle or throw in a bunch of romantic tension between Jill and Eustace, I don't know what I'll do.

That being said, if Hollywood is bent on throwing in some sort of romance, I think I could potentially compromise with this: an implication that there was someone waiting back home for Rilian. Maybe someone who was friends with him growing up, who realized that she cared about him before he realized that he cared about her, and waited faithfully all the years that he was gone. We do know that Rilian eventually got married at some point, or else the line wouldn't have continued; the filmmakers may be interested in showing the audience who the lucky girl was.

Now, I'd find even this compromise annoying if 1) it took up more than a couple minutes of screen time, and 2) they invented a completely new character.

I think if they're going to go this route, they should just use the willow dryad that attended to Jill when she was staying at Pair Caravel. She's already there, and it would be a good excuse to keep a character that might already be cut. Whatever she says about Rilian could also serve as vague preface to what Jill learns at the Parliament of Owls. But don't be heavy-handed with it; just make it clear by the way she talks about Rilian that she cares very much about the lost prince. If they show a flashback to when Rilian's mother dies, the dryad could also be present at the maying. Then, at the very end of the film when we see Rilian reach Caspian just in time to say goodbye before the king dies, cut to the dryad's face in the crowd for a few moments, showing her watching and crying.

And that's the end of it; just a hint, but hopefully enough to satisfy Hollywood and mainstream audiences. Of course, all of this would require replacing those glitzy special effects dryads with something a bit more corporeal, but while they were pretty, I never liked those much anyway. Plus, they were really at odds with the idea that King Frank's sons married dryads and naiads.

*tiiiiiilts head* *ponders.*

I... actually don't think I'd mind?

WAIT NO STOP *dives away from hurled fruit* But really, I don't think it'd be that bad, as long as it was done in a very understated way (and I think it'd have to be).

It's been briefly touched on, but to be perfectly frank, there's just not enough time for it to be a massive, front-and-center love triangle. Rillian spends 80% of the book, if not more, under a spell and never interacts with the kids at all. So there's no chance for anything there.

But I can see a small "I hate him/wait he actually not that bad" thing happening between Eustace and Jill, and that's not something horribly far from the books. And I'm not even a shipper; I'm just willing to acknowledge that there are parts of the Eustace/Jill relationship that could easily be pulled into something romantic.

So, that being said, I can see there being a possibility of Jill forming a crush on Rillian in that last 20-15% of the film, and Eustace feeling "totally not jealous what are you talking about... maybe a bit" in reaction. I don't think it'd be that bad, and it wouldn't destroy the characters as long as it stays kind of understated.

If they go the route of the love triangle or throw in a bunch of romantic tension between Jill and Eustace, I don't know what I'll do.

That being said, if Hollywood is bent on throwing in some sort of romance, I think I could potentially compromise with this: an implication that there was someone waiting back home for Rilian. Maybe someone who was friends with him growing up, who realized that she cared about him before he realized that he cared about her, and waited faithfully all the years that he was gone. We do know that Rilian eventually got married at some point, or else the line wouldn't have continued; the filmmakers may be interested in showing the audience who the lucky girl was.

Now, I'd find even this compromise annoying if 1) it took up more than a couple minutes of screen time, and 2) they invented a completely new character.

Quite so. These producers do tend to think too much about Pair Caravel and not enough about Cair Paravel. Perhaps a session visiting the vet might cool their romantic urges, but I wouldn't bet on it. Yes, someone leading Rilian away from his father's dead body might make a suitable spouse, and it is obvious that Rilian did get married later on. Hopefully he doesn't make the same mistakes as he did with LOTGK.

It's my opinion that even if no love triangle or romance is written, shippers will find hints of one anyway. So I'd rather go the route of characters interacting in the script, and leave any potential mushiness up to the imagination of the viewer. It'll be more convincing when it's not about what they say but what they don't say... pleaseohpleasefingerscrossed.

Introducing a Narnian potential romantic interest for Rillian is interesting, but leaves you with the glaring question of, "But why didn't she go with the children instead of Puddleglum?" and we don't need to go there unless someone can come up with a cast iron reason why it would be utterly impractical for this hypothetical female to join the quest.

So, that being said, I can see there being a possibility of Jill forming a crush on Rillian in that last 20-15% of the film, and Eustace feeling "totally not jealous what are you talking about... maybe a bit" in reaction. I don't think it'd be that bad, and it wouldn't destroy the characters as long as it stays kind of understated.

You know, that's an interesting thought. One thing that's worth considering is that after Rilian is freed from the enchantment, he's an extremely courteous fellow. He shows concern for Jill after the slaying of the serpent, calls her damsel and says that she is of a high courage and noble blood. When they've left the dark castle and want to catch a gnome for questioning, Jill worries that all of them will come rushing at them as soon as they grab one, and Rilian says, "Then, Madam, you shall see us die fighting around you, and you must commend yourself to the Lion."

That's some serious chivalry right there. I wouldn't blame any girl for looking a bit starry-eyed upon hearing something like that, especially a girl like Jill Pole who gives the impression of someone who's been forgotten and passed over for most of her life. I could also imagine that Eustace would see the look on her face and think something along the lines of, "Bother, I already nearly killed myself jumping off a cliff to save you, and I don't remember you looking starry-eyed about that."

The thing is, neither of those reactions are indicative of having a crush per se, though I imagine that people could perceive it that way if they wanted to do so. I'd say that it's more along the lines of Jill being touched and impressed by Rilian's courtly manner and being treated like a lady and someone of value, while Eustace is a bit annoyed and jealous because he thinks he's been forgotten. It doesn't have to be romantic at all, though it may be enough to appease Hollywood at the same time.

It's my opinion that even if no love triangle or romance is written, shippers will find hints of one anyway. So I'd rather go the route of characters interacting in the script, and leave any potential mushiness up to the imagination of the viewer. It'll be more convincing when it's not about what they say but what they don't say... pleaseohpleasefingerscrossed.

Ditto. I also think that, going forward with the films, following the books as closely as possible is very important as well. That way, Eustace/Jill shippers and Jill/Tirian shippers will still see all of the "moments" that led them to adopt their ship in the first place, and the non-shippers won't be crying foul because it was already in the book. Everyone's happy!

Introducing a Narnian potential romantic interest for Rillian is interesting, but leaves you with the glaring question of, "But why didn't she go with the children instead of Puddleglum?" and we don't need to go there unless someone can come up with a cast iron reason why it would be utterly impractical for this hypothetical female to join the quest.

That's a very good point; I hadn't thought of that. Well, there's the fact that King Caspian forbade anyone from going looking for his son, after so many of the questers didn't return. Still, if she loves him, you think she'd go anyway. (If she's a dryad, though, there may be a limit on how far or long you can wander from your tree before needing to return.) Plus, if the girl doesn't know about the signs, she can't be expected to try to come with them.

Also, at the end of chapter four when the owls are discussing who will go with the children, they say, "If they want to go that way—into Ettinsmoor—we must take them to one of the Marsh-wiggles. They're the only people who can help them much." My best guess is that because the Marsh-wiggles already lived close to the North and were somewhat familiar with the ways of the giants, and were also accustomed to living out-of-doors in a flat, treeless, windy expanse of land, they were especially suited for assisting Jill and Eustace on their quest. It's very interesting, though; I'd never paid much attention to that part before.

The thing is, neither of those reactions are indicative of having a crush per se, though I imagine that people could perceive it that way if they wanted to do so. I'd say that it's more along the lines of Jill being touched and impressed by Rilian's courtly manner and being treated like a lady and someone of value, while Eustace is a bit annoyed and jealous because he thinks he's been forgotten. It doesn't have to be romantic at all, though it may be enough to appease Hollywood at the same time.

Yeah, exactly. I don't think it needs to be anything major at all (as I said before, there's just no time, and certainly not enough time to do it well). But I also don't think it'd be too OOC to add a little nod or two. It'd probably be more realistic, because, as you said, Rilian is one chivalrous dude. It makes perfect sense for Jill to be impressed.

Granted, I wouldn't be surprised if a small thing like that was made to look like a big deal in trailers, but as long as the film itself doesn't go overboard I still think it could be OK.

Now if I were a movie producer... *rubs hands together in a sinister fashion*
I would put out a trailer with half of it being uncalled-for battles and the other half Jill making eyes at Rilian/Puddleglum/Eustace in the mushiest fashion and end with the prelude of a kiss with _____ (insert whichever character you would most hate to see in the situation) Imagine the indignation, the outrage, the frantic pleas of "Can't we do something!"

Everyone would threaten to boycott the movie, but with a few exceptions we'd all go to see it, if only to be able to bemoan the awfulness of it. And then there'd be none of that in the real thing. Because I hate extraneous romance myself.

Good thing I'm not a producer

Plus, if the girl doesn't know about the signs, she can't be expected to try to come with them.

True... true... I'd momentarily forgotten that Glimfeather had warned them not to tell anyone what they were about to do.

I am thinking any hypothetical female would have already tried to rescue Rillian, and explaining all that would take precious minutes away from the story we actually want to see.

Imagine the indignation, the outrage, the frantic pleas of "Can't we do something!"

Imagine the confusion of those who went to the theater to see this romantic fantasy... Something similar did happen with One Night With the King--I think they previewed every single kissing scene in the trailer. To me, it looked way overkill on the romance angle, but it was such a pleasant surprise when I actually saw the movie.

Can appreciate the right to artistic license.

Safe to say I find the addition of the love triangle business distressing enough to NOT see Battle of Five Armies, let alone one added in Narnia that did not exist in the books.

Just don't need the indigestion.

If we go by the estimated ages of the characters in the book, then I think the age difference between Jill and Rilian would be way too drastic for there to be a love triangle. Although Lewis never stated their ages explicitly, I seem to remember getting the distinct impression that Rilian was in his thirties, at least. He's held captive for ten years by the LotGK, and he only returns to Narnia in time to tell Caspian goodbye right before the King (book spoilers)

Since Caspian is extremely elderly by the time of SC, what age must Rilian be, exactly? Even if the filmmakers made Jill college-age, then it seems they'd be hard-pressed to create a believable love subplot between her and Rilian.

Although Lewis never stated their ages explicitly, I seem to remember getting the distinct impression that Rilian was in his thirties, at least.

Yep, you would be right. In the Narnian timeline, it says that he was born in 2325 and rescued in 2356, putting him at around 31.

These producers do tend to think too much about Pair Caravel and not enough about Cair Paravel.

I just want you to know that that may be one of the best one-liners I've ever seen on this site. Love it!

Safe to say I find the addition of the love triangle business distressing enough to NOT see Battle of Five Armies, let alone one added in Narnia that did not exist in the books.

Just don't need the indigestion.

Yes. Ditto. But my hope is with a new production team and (I believe) Gresham being more on board with the script this time around, that the artistic licenses taken will not be so extreme as VDT and The Hobbit.

Imagine the confusion of those who went to the theater to see this romantic fantasy...

Aww, the poor things; I never thought of them! That would make the joke even crueler.

We'll hope that you are right, f_k, and that Gresham (and maybe even MG Company) will steer clear of such things. I mean, not every movie has to have a romance, does it?

I hope that if they think about doing this, they will at least consider the age difference between Jill and Rilian. I mean, Rilian spent 10 years under the LOGTK's spell, he is probably at least 30. This age difference in itself may make them decide not to. On the other hand if they make Jill older, ugh, please no love triangle, scriptwriters and director.

If the studio for Narnia suggests this can we start a fan petition to stop it? I admit I kinda am ok with it (and almost sort of like half of it) in the Hobbit . I can see very well how the director and scriptwriter could do that in Narnia... and I HATE the idea. Partly because it's characters that fans already know and love and partly because it would mess with portrayal of said characters. Lastly and most of all... I think love triangles have been overdone in Hollywood to the point of being cliche.

If they really need a love triangle in the Silver Chair I'd rather they find three new characters entirely...