Top Ten Tuesday: Ranking Lord of the Rings Characters

I used to participate in Top Ten Tuesday when I first started blogging and it was a wonderful way to meet fellow bloggers! I thought with coming back from a hiatus, and a bit of a lack of inspiration on my part, participating again would be a great idea. So, every Tuesday (if the topic interests me) I’ll be sharing a Top Ten Tuesday post. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl! Make sure to check out her page explaining everything you need to know, including future topics. 

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This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is favorite Heroes or Heroines. It’s a good topic, a great topic even…for someone who doesn’t have the memory of a goldfish. I had racked my brain all week for 10 heroes and heroines that I enjoy, but frankly, no names were coming to mind. Then I was thinking just listing my favorite adventure stories with heroes in it would be good. Of course, Lord of the Rings came to mind. As I was sitting there, trying to figure out who my favorite hero from that story was, I had a lightbulb moment – why don’t I just rank them!?

It sounded much easier than it actually was. There are so many amazing characters that genuinely ranking them from best to worst (in my opinion) was incredibly difficult. But, I did it…sort of.

Basically, they’re all a giant tie until you get to number 8.

Some disclaimers:

1. This is based on the movie representation of each character. While I have read the first 2 books in the trilogy, I have yet to read the last one, so it wouldn’t be fair to use that. And let’s be honest, that “memory of a goldfish” thing applies to the books too since it’s been so long since I’ve read them.
2. It’s clearly not an exhaustive list, I just picked from 10 of the most memorable characters.
3. I’m not going super in depth here, it’s just whether I enjoyed watching them or not.

Well, I think that’s it for disclaimers. So, without further ado, here is my ranking. Don’t hate me.

1. GIMLI – Gimli is by far my favorite. He’s the comedic relief this movie needed. The timing, the delivery, it’s all so perfect you can’t help but laugh whenever he’s on the screen. But he also has a great heart which is displayed in his friendship with Legolas. He’s a grumpy old dwarf that is actually a big softy – I just can’t help but love him.

2. GANDALF – He just gets some great one-liners. He’s also a wonderful character that spans from The Hobbit (my favorite book) through the LOTR. While I don’t particularly love him as much once he’s the white wizard (sorry, he lost his humor a bit once this happened), I still think his character is fantastic – but also, where does he disappear to?! 😆

3. LEGOLAS – Strictly because of his friendship with Gimli, and his hair. Oh, and all the ridiculous moves they gave him in the movies – like surfing down the stairs on a shield but not missing a single shot with his arrows. Perfection.

4. ARAGORN – That pushing the door open scene, tbh. (Just kidding, there’s more, but I think that’s good enough 😆)

5. EOWYN – I despised her when I first watched the movies because she was trying to get in the way of Aragorn’s relationship with Arwen, duh. Oh, how times have changed. Look at where Arwyn ranks now. Anyway, I am no man. The end. There is not further explanation needed.

6 & 7. MERRY & PIPPIN – They’re comedic relief like Gimli but more annoying. They do things that screw things up for the rest of the fellowship all of the time, which gets on my nerves. But they’re silly, so I’ll cut them some slack.

8. ARWEN – I liked her at first because of romance. But as I’ve rewatched the movies throughout the years…man, her character is just so pointless. And what is up with all of the WHISPERING?!

9. SAM – I’M SORRY BUT I FIND HIM SO ANNOYING.

10. FRODO – Just…no. Look, I get it’s not really his fault I hated his character. You know, with the ring and all – but my goodness, I just cannot sit through THREE three-hour movies with his mopey ass looking like death on the screen all of the time.

Who is your favorite LOTR character? If you haven’t read/watched LOTR, who are some of your favorite heroes/heroines?