After copious amounts of viewing of the latest Vlog (see the embedded video at the bottom), I’m just wondering what are the two individuals (clearly citizens) from Lake-town, doing in the “desolate” Dale?
What could possibly occur that drives both men and women to the destroyed city? Surely it isn’t a flashback as the snow settling on the burnt stonework is clearly visible — and hence during the time the Company passes through Dale.
Could they be fleeing, exiles of sort — after Smaug’s attack? The man seems to be carrying a basket with him too…
For some reason, I keep thinking this is part of the third Film, possibly before the Battle of the Five Armies, which sees a skirmish between the Lake-towners and the Elves against the Goblins/Orcs — hence, why we see Gandalf, Legolas, Tauriel and Thranduil all in Dale (in the Vlog), seemingly fighting (but that could be part of the BOFA itself).
Then again, it still doesn’t explain what these citizens are doing so far away from home…
Plus, I’ve noticed that, when Luke Evans (at the end of the vlog) explains what happened to him on the first day back on set (and he almost falls in the water), he grabs hold of a man standing there with a basket — he looks very similar to the “dead” guy a few minutes before. There are some subtle differences between the two, but the resemblance is nonetheless uncanny…