The Rings Of Power Finale Writer Cried While Writing That Harfoot Goodbye Scene [Exclusive]

Writers — they're just like us! If you thought we fans were the only ones getting all caught up in our feelings while watching these larger-than-life stories on such an unimaginably wide canvas, think again. "The Lord of the Rings" has always boasted a sincere streak that tugs right at the heartstrings of its fans, revealing author J.R.R. Tolkien as something of a softie when it comes to fantastical adventures, the power of friendship, and the nostalgic comforts of home. The symbolic representation of these ideas have traditionally come courtesy of the hobbits, the home-loving little folk with big feet and even bigger hearts. Frodo, Sam, Bilbo, and all the rest may be completely different characters, but they all share many of the same qualities that make them so easy to root for and identify with.

Perhaps much of the success surrounding "The Rings of Power" can be traced back to its own version of halflings: those hearty harfoots. Elanor "Nori" Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards), Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith), Marigold Brandyfoot (Sara Zwangobani), and Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) all provided much of the heart and soul throughout the first season of the new series. This came to a head in their last scene together in the recent finale, which featured the tough family of harfoots saying their final goodbyes as Nori parted ways with her clan to seek out adventures together with the Stranger (Daniel Weyman). The bittersweet sequence didn't leave many dry eyes among viewers, but we can now count at least one "The Rings of Power" writer among those of us who wore their hearts on their sleeves while crafting this moment.

In a recent exclusive interview, /Film's Jenna Busch spoke to "The Rings of Power" finale writer (and "Breaking Bad"/"Better Call Saul" alum) Gennifer Hutchinson about her thought process while sitting down to write out this heartbreaking goodbye sequence between the lovable harfoots. Even before that moment, the finale saw Sadoc go out tragically while trying to save his friends, though he was at least granted one last sunrise to watch before his passing. With the threat taken care of and Nori left to figure out her next steps, every viewer likely knew what was coming up next — yet another tear-jerking moment as the harfoots said goodbye to one of their own. When asked about her own emotional state while writing this episode, Hutchinson replied:

"It's funny you say that, because the Nori goodbye, when she says goodbye to her family and Poppy, I cried when I wrote that scene, and I cried every time I revised it. So no, I could not get through it without crying."

As much as the actors and directors deserve the credit they receive, television writers are oftentimes the unsung heroes (not unlike the harfoots, in fact!) who fly under the radar despite spending the most amount of time with these characters. In that light, it's little surprise that writing such an emotionally charged scene would take a toll, even during the revising phase. The mark of an effective story is one that moves people to tears — writers and viewers alike.

Check out the full interview here.