I have to say there were several points tonight where I almost had to pull over and let the great battle and heroics wash over me. It’s hard not to well up with tears as Merry overcomes his fears and helps slay the Nazgul lord, or to listen to the final words of a great king, or to hear the survivors and new king resolve to meet the challenge to the death or to see the fear of the black ships turn into joy when the banner is that of Aragorn and to see the fear fill those who expected the black ships to be filled with more blackness and doom. I was about overcome as Eowyn, shieldmaiden of Rohan, stood her ground and declared

“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.”

and then she lopped the head off that fearsome mount and regathered her strength to fell her foe on the field of battle, surrounded by death and near to her dying uncle, King Théoden.