The Lord of the Rings is one of the best epic fantasy trilogies of all time. Peter Jackson's epic franchise, based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, features an awe-inspiring battle between good and evil for the fate of the fictional world of Middle-earth, all boiling down to the fate of one precious object--One Ring to rule them all.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is famous for its expert storytelling, which sees many of its main characters undergo compelling arcs on their journey to become timeless heroes. From Samwise the Brave to Aragorn, the rightful king of Gondor, these Lord of the Rings characters have the most unforgettable character arcs.
10 Legolas Learned To Work With The Mortal Beings Of Middle-earth
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- Legolas was played by Orlando Bloom.
Legolas, son of King Thranduil of the Woodland Realm, was an Elf companion of Aragorn and a member of the Fellowship of the Ring. During the War of the Ring, he accompanies Aragorn and Gimli on their journey through the kingdoms of Men, helping during the battles of Helm's Deep, Pelennor Fields, and the Black Gate. He ultimately survives the war, having helped save Middle-earth from certain doom.
While Legolas is a fan-favorite character, his arc is not as prominent as certain other members of the Fellowship. Nevertheless, he still has an important storyline as he learns to not be too detached from the problems of Men and fight alongside those he might not have given a second glance before. Audiences truly see how far Legolas has come when he appears in the Hobbit prequel trilogy, where he is more distant toward Dwarves and Men.
9 Gimli Came To Appreciate The Nobility Of The Elves
- Gimli was played by John Rhys-Davies
Gimli, son of Gloin, is a mighty Dwarf who accompanies the Fellowship of the Ring in the first branch of its mission. After the parting of ways, Gimli continues as a companion of Aragorn and Legolas, whom he fights alongside in the last series of battles in the War of the Ring, where he becomes one of Middle-earth's greatest heroes.
During his adventures, Gimli overcame the age-old rivalry between the Dwarves and the Elves. The son of Gloin became one of the few Dwarves to pass into Lothlórien and lay eyes upon the majestic Lady Galadriel. Gimli also became friends with Legolas, an Elf from the Woodland Realm, proving once and for all that Dwarves and Elves don't have to be at odds with one another. After helping save Middle-earth, Gimli also became the only Dwarf in history to be offered passage into the Undying Lands, an honor befitting such a noble and valiant hero.
8 Merry Learned That There Can Be Great Strength In Small Things
- Meriadoc Brandybuck was played by Dominic Monaghan.
Meriadoc Brandybuck was just a regular rabblerousing Hobbit in the Shire at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, he and his good friend Pippin found themselves in over their heads when they were accidentally swept along in Frodo's journey. Merry ended up joining the Fellowship of the Ring at Rivendell, continuing in their journey through the end of the war.
During his journey, Merry found himself surrounded by creatures much bigger and mightier than he, including Men, Orcs, and even Ents. Though he was much smaller than they and often brushed aside, Merry proved to be one of the most valiant heroes of all time, helping lead a charge of Ents against Saruman at Isengard and even assisting Eowyn in killing the Witch-king of Angmar.
7 Pippin Overcame His Own Shortcomings To Become A Hero
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- Peregrine Took was played by Billy Boyd.
Peregrine Took was by far the most mischievous of the four Hobbits to leave the Shire in Fellowship of the Ring. Often called a "fool of a Took" by Gandalf the Grey, Pippin often caused trouble for his friends, whether by accident or on purpose. His mischief led him to new and often terrifying places, including a spot at Gandalf's side during the battle in Minas Tirith.
Although Pippin often couldn't help his curiosity, he nonetheless proved himself to be a valiant and noble young Hobbit. He resisted the madness of Denethor to save Faramir from a fiery death and even took up a sword during the Battle of the Black Gate. Pippin may have been prone to trouble, but he was just as noble as he was mischievous.
6 Faramir Showed His Quality Where His Brother Failed
- Faramir was played by David Wenham.
Faramir was the younger brother of Boromir and a captain in Gondor's army during the War of the Ring. He first encounters Frodo and Sam as they pass by Osgoliath on the way to Mordor and later retreats to Minas Tirith as Sauron's armies approach. He is wounded in a skirmish before the Battle of Pelennor Fields and falls in love with Eowyn of Rohan as he recovers.
Faramir's inept father Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. always made his younger son's life miserable as he constantly compared him to his older brother Boromir. Despite Denethor's denigrations, however, Faramir proved to be of far better character than his brother, who could not resist the power of the One Ring. When faced with the same struggle, Faramir let the Ring go, finally proving his quality--even if his father condemned him for it.
5 Gandalf The Grey Became What Saruman Should Have Been
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- Gandalf the Grey was played by Ian McKellan.
Gandalf the Grey was one of the Maiar of Valinor sent to Middle-earth during the Third Age to encourage and strengthen the resolve of the good folk of the world. Secretly the bearer of the Elvish ring Narya, Gandalf is the one to first send Frodo on his mission. He eventually joins the young Hobbit, only to face perils of his own that lead to his death.
Gandalf perishes after his battle with Durin's Bane, the Balrog in the Mines of Moria. However, he is reborn in a new form, taking on the white apparel of Saruman after the senior wizard falls into the company of Sauron. In Gandalf's own words, he becomes "Saruman as he should have been," repairing the damage that the original White Wizard did to Middle-earth and restoring hope to the people therein.
4 Gollum Failed To Overcome His Selfish Desires
- Gollum was played by Andy Serkis.
Sméagol was a Stoorish Hobbit living among the river folk in the Third Age of Middle-earth. After his friend happened upon the One Ring during a fishing expedition, Sméagol murdered him and took it for himself. The Ring granted Sméagol, now known as Gollum, a long life, but he lost it after an encounter with Bilbo Baggins. Gollum spends the Lord of the Rings trilogy pursuing Bilbo's nephew Frodo in hopes of reclaiming his "Precious."
Gollum's story is among the most tragic in The Lord of the Rings. After joining Frodo and Sam, it seems as though the pitiable creature might be capable of redemption. He briefly slips back into his Sméagol personality, which had been lost to him for centuries. However, Gollum was ultimately incapable of resisting the pull of the One Ring. He dies with his Precious still in his grasp, becoming a cautionary tale for those with similar selfish desires.
3 Frodo Carried A Great Burden To Save The World
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- Frodo Baggins was played by Elijah Wood.
Frodo Baggins was a young Hobbit tasked with a terrible burden as he inherited the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. At the behest of Gandalf, Frodo sets off from the Shire to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mordor. However, with only Samwise Gamgee as a loyal companion, Frodo faces many perils during his ascent to Mount Doom.
Frodo often doesn't get the credit that he deserves for leaving a comfortable life to carry a terrible burden on behalf of Middle-earth. Every step of the journey was a struggle for the young Hobbit, especially as he got closer to Mount Doom. Few individuals could have resisted the pull of the Ring for as long as Frodo did and, in the end, he saved Middle-earth by casting it into the fires of Mordor.
2 Aragorn Restored The Kingdoms Of Men In Middle-earth
- Aragorn was played by Viggo Mortensen.
Aragorn, the son of Arathorn, was the last in the line of Numenor and the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. The mighty warrior spent his young life as a Ranger in the North but eventually could not deny his duty any longer. He joins the Fellowship of the Ring at Rivendell and eventually leads the armies in the final battles of the war.
Aragorn's arc in Lord of the Rings coincides with the redemption of the Men of Middle-earth. Once, they let evil arise in their world but, as the war rages on, Men find their strength once more and fight against Sauron's forces, with Aragorn leading them. He consistently proves himself to be a worthy king, though he does not want the title, resisting the allure of power and fighting for what he knows to be good. His crowning begins the Fourth Age with a hopeful expectation of a bright future for all Men in his kingdom.
1 Sam Proved The Value Of A Good Heart--And A Good Friend
- Samwise Gamgee was played by Sean Astin.
Samwise Gamgee was a simple gardener from the Shire who accompanied his master, Frodo Baggins, on his perilous journey to Mordor. After the breaking of the Fellowship, Sam becomes Frodo's sole companion apart from the tricky Gollum and is with him to the end as the Ring is destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom.
Sam is the true hero of the story, providing strength for his friend when he most dearly needed it. Along the way, Sam learns that he cannot carry Frodo's burden for him--but that he can carry his friend in his lowest moment. Above all, Sam's heart was pure and good, as proven by his resisting the One Ring. There is no greater hero in Middle-earth than Samwise the Brave.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a series of epic fantasy adventure films and television series based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels. The films follow the adventures of humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits and more in Middle-earth.
- Created by
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- First Film
- The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
- Latest Film
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Upcoming Films
- The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim
- First TV Show
- The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power
- Latest TV Show
- The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power
- First Episode Air Date
- September 1, 2022
- Cast
- Elijah Wood , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Sean Astin , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Sean Bean , Ian McKellen , Andy Serkis , Hugo Weaving , Liv Tyler , Miranda Otto , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Martin Freeman , Morfydd Clark , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Richard Armitage
- Character(s)
- Gollum , Sauron
- Video Game(s)
- LEGO Lord of the Rings , Lord of the Rings Online , The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum , The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , The Lord of the Rings: War in the North , The Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth , The Lord of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth 2 , The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Genre
- Fantasy , Action-Adventure
- Where to Stream
- Max , Prime Video , Hulu
