“Bard essentially represents the humanity of the story, so when he was confronted by Thranduil, who was a very selfish character, thousands of years old, embittered and willing to go to war over jewellery, I think what we saw was a man trying to break Thranduil’s veneer of harsh Elven coldness. Bard had no wish to see more bloodshed, nor expose his children to more terror and pain. Thranduil is like an aristocratic millionaire while Bard is a humble working-class man. Beings from two very different worlds, he and Thranduil would never have met had it not been for the situation at the Mountain, so they are forced to collaborate in order to achieve what they realize are very different but not incompatible aims.
There was a lovely scene in which Gandalf was talking and Thranduil looked over at Bard and raised his eyebrows; here we go again; a great demonstration of the understanding they had come to, together.”
- Luke Evans
“Thranduil respected Bard. I think in Bard he saw a man with honour, strength and dignity, with whom he could work. What’s more, Bard killed the Dragon. What’s next? If that doesn’t earn respect, what would you have to do? There is nothing but respect and honour for a man who has done something like that.
While we were filming I found that relationship really interesting. Thranduil had fought Dragons, so he knew how hard they were to kill, and this man had killed one, so whatever he needed Thranduil was happy to provide. Thranduil would stand by his side. Besides, Bard might be the solution to the Dwarf problem.”
- Lee pace
