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Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[LOTR] How would the movies change if Saruman had not joined Sauron but instead aided Frodo and Gandalf?
gpt
**Fellowship of the Ring:** Gandalf is never imprisoned, reaches the Prancing Pony on time, and the early escapes from the Black Riders are much easier with his help. Frodo doesn't get stabbed. The Fellowship never needs to even try Caradhras or Moria, instead advancing south across the plains to Isengard itself, catching Gollum in the process and locking him away. Saruman has already invited Celeborn and Galadriel to Isengard, where they hold a Council of Saruman mirroring the Council of Elrond. The Fellowship receive their gifts; Aragorn and the wizards and elves retire to pool information and plot their course, while the hobbits are dismissed to raid the kitchen.

This is when Boromir tries to steal the Ring. He's infuriated that Aragorn is allowed to sit among ancient powers while he's literally sent to the kids' table. He finds a willing accomplice in Wormtongue, but Gimli and the other hobbits drive them off. Boromir grabs Gollum from Orthanc's dungeons to act as his guide and flees into the night with Wormtongue in tow.

Meanwhile, fearing that the "big four" upstairs are being tempted by similar greed and are about to come down and take the Ring, Gimli and the hobbits hop on some minecart or other fast vehicle of Saruman's and head out. The movie ends with Team Frodo in the lead, Team Boromir behind, and Team Wizard wondering where the hell everyone went.

**The Two Towers:** At long last, Sauron raises his hand. The eastern gates of Moria open wide, and orcs, trolls, and tentacle monsters without number pour forth onto Fangorn, Lorien, and Isengard. The middle of Middle-Earth is now a complete mess. The Balrog rips his way up from underground to lead the Siege of Orthanc.

But to the east, with no Uruk-Hai and with both Gondor and Isengard helping to defend against Mordor orcs, Theoden and Rohan are in good shape militarily. The problem is that Boromir is a prince of Gondor, Rohan's ally, and spins a tale that has the Riders out looking for a dwarf warrior and four hobbits who are part of the total hideousness happening right next door. Fortunately, the first to find Frodo is Eomer, who, like Faramir, realizes this temptation must be removed and speeds the hobbits on their way.

As a relief expedition arrives from Rivendell, the defenders of Orthanc counterattack, killing the Balrog and scattering the orcs enough to make a way out. The elves go back to Lorien; everyone else heads toward the White City.

**The Return of the King:** Denethor's mind is now even more corrupted by the Palantir than in the movie. The Ringbearer at first moves through his lands unimpeded, but when Boromir arrives and reports, Denethor insanely redeploys his army to keep the wizards and their escort of Riders from catching up to Frodo, while Boromir and a few henchmen gallop east to grab the Ring.

Mordor sends forth its legions. Denethor realizes too late his mind was not his own. Mordor orcs and ringwraiths kill Denethor, invade Minas Tirith with little resistance, and rename it Minas Ortheri, the Tower of Conquest.

Everything becomes about keeping pursuers from the Ringbearer. Aragon and the wizards lead the Riders in a costly, militarily useless attack on Sauron's new city, drawing his attention and forces away from his borders. Merry and Pippin separate from the group to lure most of the Rangers out of position so Frodo can get past. There's an awesome duel in the woods where Gimli kills Faramir to keep him from Frodo.

Again with Gimli's help, Frodo and Sam get past Shelob and cross the wastes.

Boromir stages his final bloodbath. He backstabs Wormtongue and Gollum, brushes aside a weakened Gimli, and follows Frodo and Sam into the mountain. Sam fights him and even breaks his sword, but still Boromir pushes on. Frodo claims the Ring; like Isildur before him, Boromir cuts it from his hand with the broken hilt. He falls into the Cracks of Doom; Sauron and all his works are destroyed.

90 minutes later, the movie ends.