The Lord of the Rings movies conclude with Frodo leaving for the Undying Lands, and an early scene from The Fellowship of the Ring teases this outcome long before it happens. The ending of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy matches that of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, and it fits well with the burden Frodo carries throughout the narrative. Frodo’s decision to go to Valinor makes a lot of sense after everything he goes through, and it teases the possibility of him finally finding some much-deserved peace.

Frodo’s ending in The Lord of the Rings is even less surprising after one Fellowship of the Ring moment, which subtly foreshadows his fate. Frodo may not realize he’ll end up sailing to Valinor at this point of the story — in fact, this scene takes place before he even agrees to bring the One Ring to Mordor. However, Jackson’s first Lord of the Rings movie perfectly sets Frodo up to become one of the legendary figures he and Sam are so in awe of, alluding to him leaving Middle-earth in the process.

An Early Fellowship Of The Ring Scene Foreshadows Frodo Going To The Undying Lands

It Serves As A Mirror To His Return Of The King Ending

The Fellowship of the Ring foreshadows Frodo’s fate when he and Sam watch the Elves traveling to the Undying Lands right after leaving the Shire. This happens early in their journey, and there’s no indication that either of them could ever follow. For much of The Lord of the Rings, the Undying Lands is presented as a resting place for the Elves and the other immortal beings of Middle-earth. However, Frodo and Bilbo are able to travel there after bearing the burden of the One Ring.

By placing this at the beginning, The Lord of the Rings offers a perfect mirror for Frodo’s fate in The Return of the King. Comparing this scene with his final moments on-screen, it’s easy to see how much he grows over the course of the story. It also drives home that this is the only real ending for him after carrying the One Ring. It may not seem that way as early as The Fellowship of the Ring, but the story starts building to this inevitability early.

Fellowship Perfectly Sets Up Frodo’s Story & Eventual Fate In The Lord Of The Rings

He Becomes As Legendary As He & Sam Think The Elves Are

Part of the reason The Fellowship of the Ring‘s foreshadowing works so well is because this scene sees Sam and Frodo looking upon the Elves with awe. For two characters who have never left the Shire, witnessing immortal beings on their journey to Valinor is a big deal. It’s like seeing legends come to life. But by the end of the story, Frodo becomes a legendary figure in his own right.

His story comes full circle in a satisfying way in The Lord of the Rings.

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As Eowyn notes in the trailer for The War of the Rohirrim, everyone in Middle-earth knows of the War of the Ring. This means they know about Frodo and the sacrifices he makes, even if they don’t know him directly. He’s just as extraordinary as he believes the Elves are by the time he departs for the Undying Lands at the end of The Return of the King. With this in mind, his story comes full circle in a satisfying way in The Lord of the Rings.