Movies Like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Frequently asked about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Common questions people search for, with answers written by us at MoviesPack.

• Why does Bilbo hide his discovery of the One Ring from Gandalf and the dwarves?▾

  Bilbo keeps the Ring secret because it has already begun to exert a subtle corrupting influence over him, making him possessive and secretive about it. When Gandalf asks him to reveal all he found in the Goblin tunnels, Bilbo lies by omission, claiming he found nothing useful — a behavior entirely unlike his honest hobbit nature. This is the first visible sign in the films that the Ring is actively suppressing Bilbo's will to disclose it.

• What is Dol Guldur and why does Gandalf go there alone?▾

  Dol Guldur is a fortress in southern Mirkwood that has become a source of spreading darkness and shadow across the forest. Gandalf suspects the evil emanating from it is connected to the Necromancer, a mysterious figure he fears may be the dark lord Sauron returning in a new form. He goes alone to confirm this suspicion, and inside he discovers the Necromancer is indeed Sauron, who has been slowly rebuilding power in secret — a revelation that sets up the wider War of the Ring arc.

• Why does Smaug recognize the smell of a dwarf on Bilbo despite Bilbo wearing the Ring and being invisible?▾

  Smaug is an ancient and extraordinarily cunning dragon whose senses — particularly smell — far exceed those of ordinary creatures. While the Ring renders Bilbo invisible to sight, it does nothing to mask scent or sound, so Smaug detects the unmistakable odor of dwarf-company clinging to Bilbo even as he remains unseen. Smaug also perceives Bilbo partially through the spiritual dimension, hinting that powerful beings can sense the Ring's influence even without seeing its wearer.

• What is Thorin's ultimate goal in reclaiming the Arkenstone, and why does it matter beyond treasure?▾

  The Arkenstone is the Heart of the Mountain — a legendary gem that serves as the royal symbol of the line of Durin and the rightful claim to the throne of Erebor. Whoever holds it commands the loyalty of the dwarven clans, meaning Thorin needs it to unite the seven dwarf houses under his kingship and legitimize his rule. Its significance is therefore political and dynastic, not merely material, which is why its absence gnaws at Thorin and why Bilbo's later decision to withhold it becomes such a profound act of betrayal in Thorin's eyes.

• Why does Smaug fly toward Laketown at the end rather than continuing to fight the dwarves inside Erebor?▾

  Smaug correctly deduces that the people of Laketown sheltered and supplied Thorin's company, making them complicit in the attempt to rob him. He decides to punish Laketown as both revenge and a demonstration of power, intending to burn it to the ground before any resistance can be organized. This decision also reflects his arrogance — he dismisses the dwarves as no real threat and turns his wrath on the more vulnerable human settlement first, which proves to be the tactical choice that ultimately costs him his life in the following film.