Old Meets Modern: If Bilbo Baggins had a mobile phone…


If Bilbo had a mobile phone

If Bilbo Baggins had a mobile phone in The Hobbit films, it would have significantly changed the story and the challenges that the characters faced. Here are some possible scenarios:

Easy communication:

With a mobile phone, Bilbo would have been able to easily communicate with the other characters, including Gandalf, Thorin, and the other dwarves. This would have made it easier for them to coordinate their plans and avoid some of the misunderstandings that occurred throughout the story.

Faster travel:

Bilbo and the other characters would have been able to use GPS technology to navigate their way through Middle Earth more easily, which would have made their journey faster and less treacherous. They would have been able to avoid getting lost and wandering off course.

Greater safety:

If Bilbo had a mobile phone, he would have been able to call for help in case of emergencies. For example, when the group was attacked by goblins in the Misty Mountains, they could have called for backup instead of relying on Gandalf’s intervention.

Less suspense:

The presence of a mobile phone would have removed some of the suspense from the story. For example, the scene where the eagles rescue the characters from the goblins would have been less exciting if Bilbo had been able to call for help at any time.

What Apps would Bilbo have?

Assuming that Bilbo Baggins had a mobile phone in The Hobbit films, here are some apps he might have had on his device:

Maps:

Bilbo and the other characters would have found this app particularly useful for navigating through Middle Earth. With GPS technology, they could have used the app to find their way through the mountains, forests, and other dangerous terrain.

Notes:

Bilbo could have used this app to keep track of his thoughts and ideas. He could have used it to jot down important information or reminders, such as the names of places he wanted to visit or the names of people he needed to meet.

Weather:

As the characters traveled through Middle Earth, they would have wanted to keep an eye on the weather. With this app, they could have checked the forecast and prepared accordingly.

Translate:

As the characters encountered different languages and cultures, Bilbo could have used a translate app to communicate with others more easily. This would have been particularly helpful when communicating with elves, dwarves, and other non-human characters.

Game:

In his downtime, Bilbo might have enjoyed playing games on his mobile phone. He could have played puzzle games, card games, or other types of games to pass the time and relieve stress.

Torch:

When traveling through dark caves or other poorly-lit areas, the characters would have found a torch app to be particularly useful. This app would have used the phone’s flashlight to light the way.

Tiktok:

Yes, it’s most likely Bilbo would have put everything on TikTok to build his followers, especially putting the ring on unsuspecting friends whilst they were asleep as a “prank vid”.

While it’s impossible to know exactly which apps Bilbo Baggins would have had on his phone, these are some possibilities that would have been useful during his journey through Middle Earth.

Overall, while having a mobile phone would have made things easier for the characters in The Hobbit, it would have also changed the nature of the story and removed some of the challenges that made it so compelling.