Frodo's song and dance number reveals the Ring - or at least that something weird is going on - to people who'd have been better off not knowing.
Turns out that he should have left the Shire ages ago - isn't it a nice feeling knowing that you've only just managed to avoid being horribly killed? And now he really knows that there's something up with Gandalf being missing.
We get a few nice hobbit minutes, but really this is just a short interlude before the next leg of the Quest. Fortunately they've got a guide!
What do we learn about Aragorn here? His name, a little about who he is, that he's Gandalf's friend, and apparently out to help the Hobbits. He seems to know more than he's letting on, but at least Frodo doesn't have to make all the decisions. It's a good thing that All that is gold does not glitter - they don't need any more attention!
'I shan't be doing anything of the sort again, Mr. Butterbur, I promise you. And now I think I'll be getting to bed. We shall be making an early start. Will you see that our ponies are ready by eight o'clock?'
'Very good! But before you go, I should like a word with you in private, Mr. Underhill. Something has just come back to my mind that I ought to tell you. I hope that you'll not take it amiss. When I've seen to a thing or two, I'll come along to your room, if you're willing.'
'Certainly!' said Frodo; but his heart sank. He wondered how many private talks he would have before he got to bed, and what they would reveal. Were these people all in league against him? He began to suspect even old Butterbur's fat face of concealing dark designs.
(END)
I really liked the way PJ captured this part in the movie, even the rain. And btw, at least part of the reason for the rain is because it rains A LOT on NZ South Island, or so I've heard. But I like the atmosphere it gave, because it seemed like in the book that it was a somewhat dark place, especially in contrast to the Shire. If you think about it, it's very startling in the movie when we go from the very lush, green, sunny Shire to the dark raininess of Bree. And it's also interesting that PJ chose to never show Bree during the daylight. I hadn't thought of that till just now.
I also loved the introduction of Strider in the common room--straight out of the book that was. The only quibble I have with PJ, and it's just a minor one, is the way Aragorn was throwing Frodo around when they first met. That was a bit jarring to me at first. I understand the drama of it, and maybe it does work better for a movie to have him acting that way, but it did seem very strange for the character. And it's very different from the way Aragorn treats Frodo and the other hobbits after Rivendell.