Favorite characters (NEWBIE-FRIENDLY THREAD)

[azalea]

Welcome to our first officially designated newbie-friendly thread, suggested by an actual newbie! Now, without further ado:

Who is your favorite character, and why? :)

Mine varies, but I one I consistently return to is Eowyn, because she knew she could be an asset to her uncle/ king as a soldier and rode to battle despite the stigma of being a woman. She was incredibly brave, and was the star of one of the best and most exciting scenes in the trilogy.

[Attalus]

I am very fond of Éowyn, but Aragorn will forever be my favorite. I identify with him, his long years wandering in the wild, trying to prove himself worthy of his love. Well, I just struggled through medical school, but some of those professors could give the Balrog points. Galadriel is my second favorite, wisest and most beautiful woman in Middle-earth. What did Celeborn do to deserve her?

[Olmer]

What did Celeborn do to deserve her?
By making himself a complete doormat. :evil:

[Ñólendil]

Noone understands Celeborn. He wasn't a doormat, he was the wisest of the Elven Wise (that's right, above Elrond, CÃ*rdan, and even Galadriel, according to the Elves themselves), particularly in the manner of prudence, and he knew when he had made a mistake. He was humble.

My favorite character in Lord of the Rings used to be Fredegar Bolger, but nowadays I think it's Tom Bombadil. Tom is a comfortable character (it's easy for me to slip into his boots when he wanders onto the page), and a unique one, who brings that nice taste of otherworldliness into the romance.

[Attalus]

LOL, didn't Galadriel hand him his hat, when she said that "even Celeborn the Wise" speech? Inferiority complex? What inferiority complex? (Apologies to Dixieberry!) ;)

[Ñólendil]

I don't know about hats, but Galadriel just healed some old wounds, and helped an angry man understand his supposed enemy.

[*Lady Raven*]

My favorite character are Merry and Pippin, they are the ones that give you hope through the whole story.

[Halbarad of the Dunedain]

My current favorite in Lord of the Rings is Samwise Gamgee. I dunno why, I used to get irritated at the Frodo/Sam sections but now I like Samwises character a lot more. For now at least.

[Pytt]

in LoTR i think it is Sam or maybe Tom Bombadil. In the end, if it hadn't been for Sam the whole task would failed.he has the will and courage to help Frodo when all is bad and grim.

[Haradrim]

I really like Sauron.
Very misunderstood. The other like Gandalf and Saruman didnt understand his point of view so they labeled him as evil. Eventually the rest of the world bought it and then even Sauron wondered if he was evil. Its just too sad...

[Valandil]

I really like Sauron.
Very misunderstood. The other like Gandalf and Saruman didnt understand his point of view so they labeled him as evil. Eventually the rest of the world bought it and then even Sauron wondered if he was evil. Its just too sad...

Now you're REALLY being naughty, Mr. Haradrim! :p And you're contradicting yourself from your post to you sig! ;)

[Haradrim]

I think he was misunderstood but I think hes dealing with it the wrong way.I feel that the valar, maiar and the others should all sit down down with Melkor, and Sauron and discuss what the real problem i.s I blame the good guys for what happened to Sauron and Melkor. :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Not really as seen as the Valar forgave Melkor and chained him only for him to betray them again.

[Haradrim]

But what did they forgive him for. For beign different. For not thinking the same way they did. That is discrimination. They shouldnt have to forgive him for anything. :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Well the title DARK LORD he gave himself gives away part of what they forgave him for.

[Haradrim]

Hey who gave him the title the dark lord. I am sure it wasnt him. And even if he did give it to himself whats wrong with liking the dark a lot. I stay up all night most nights because I love the night. Knowing that I am the only one awake in a ten mile radius. Man that is fun. So what if he calls himself the Dark Lord if in fact he gave himself that name.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

And he engaged the Valar in war just after the coming of elves. And Eru himself told Manwe that Melkor had gone astray.

[Nurvingiel]

My current favorite in Lord of the Rings is Samwise Gamgee. I dunno why, I used to get irritated at the Frodo/Sam sections but now I like Samwises character a lot more. For now at least.
My favourite character has always been Sam.

I also love Merry, Pippin, Faramir, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Eowyn, Frodo, Galadriel, Gandalf, Saruman and Aragorn (EDIT) and Treebeard. They are all wonderous characters and worthy of mention.

Anyway, back to my favourite character Sam. I always liked the scenes with Frodo and Sam, though when my dad first read me the book, I didn't understand Frodo's character very well - in some ways I still don't. He's a very complicated fellow. I notice no one has named him favourite character. He does save the world guys... yea Frodo! Frodo lives!

Anyway the reason I love Sam is because he's so loyal, even when he doesn't understand the situation (like when they first meet Faramir's men). He retains his innocence even after all the evil and horror that he's seen. He loves to cook, and he's a forester (at the end of the book)! (I'm currently working on a forestry degree.) I love Sam. *hugs imaginary Sam*

Incidentally, I listed Saruman because he's such a great villain. He's highly entertaining, clever, and evil, gets his butt properly kicked by the Hobbits, and is such a great example of a fallen hero. (He's not my second favourite character though, I'd say Pippin is if I had to choose.) (EDIT) I love Treebeard too, maybe he's my very close third favourite character.

Here's another question along this theme - who's your favourite team of characters? Choices include: Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin, Gandalf and Aragorn, Arwen and Aragorn, Eowyn and Faramir, Saruman and Grima, Eomer and Theoden etc.

[Haradrim]

Merry and Pippen. No question. The abslotue oppitimy of awesomeness on so many levels.

[Elanor the Fair]

My favourite character has always been Sam.

I always liked the scenes with Frodo and Sam, though when my dad first read me the book, I didn't understand Frodo's character very well - in some ways I still don't. He's a very complicated fellow. I notice no one has named him favourite character. He does save the world guys... yea Frodo! Frodo lives!



My favourite characters have always been Sam and Frodo, although Aragorn and Gandalf are also close favourites.

Frodo is an underrated character because of his quiet, unassuming personality, but just think about what he sacrificed. Only Frodo could know what the Ring was really doing to him, he must have already had some inkling of this when he agreed to take the Ring to Mordor. What a sacrifice - taking up a burden that was not of his own making, sacrificing his peace of mind and his health, exposing himself to all the horror that he felt so keenly, and all in order to save his beloved homeland and all its inhabitants.

Besides, if he wasn't such a fantastic character he wouldn't have been so popular with all the other terrific hobbits. :D

[Haradrim]

I think Frodo may be under-rated because I never thought his character was as good as everyone elses. Aragorn had so many levels. So did Boromir and Gandalf, and MErry, and Pippen, and Sam, and GOllum but Frodo was the tragic hero. THat was it. and it got kind of old.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Frodo is an underrated character because of his quiet, unassuming personality, but just think about what he sacrificed. Only Frodo could know what the Ring was really doing to him, he must have already had some inkling of this when he agreed to take the Ring to Mordor. What a sacrifice - taking up a burden that was not of his own making, sacrificing his peace of mind and his health, exposing himself to all the horror that he felt so keenly, and all in order to save his beloved homeland and all its inhabitants.

I don't doubt that what Frodo did was incredibly valubale, but I just got the feeling he was going to fail at the last hurdle so to speak.

[Haradrim]

And he did fail in his quest. HE did not destroy the ring. It ws gollums little mishap. So Frodo was unable to elude the hold of the ring. He didnt cast it into the fire. If not for Gollum who knows what would have happened.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

So in a way Sam was right but if he had had his own way the quest would have failed.

[Haradrim]

What do you mean by "if he had his own way"? :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

By tying up Gollum, by killing Gollum and by leaving Gollum.

[Haradrim]

You are right. If Sam had his way then the uest would not have suceeded. But maybe Frodo sunk deeper because of Gollum and his sweet-talking Im good kind fo ways. Maybe without Gollum then the ring would have been dropped by Frodo and he gets to keep his finger.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

No, Gollum just made Frodo realise how much he wanted the Ring.

[Haradrim]

So you are saying that Gollum in fact helped Frodo understand hsid esrie for the ring? That makes sense.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

And I think that helped him to resist it for so long, seeing what the Ring had done to Gollum so in a way Gollum presence was bth good and bad for Frodo.

[Haradrim]

yeah wel we can safely say that if absolutely anything hadnt happened the righ t way Frod, Sam, Aragorn, Merry, Pip, Legolas, Gimli, Treebeard, Eomer, Eowyn, Faramir, Elrond, Arwen, Galadriel, and all the others would have been dead :)

[Thorin II]

Hey who gave him the title the dark lord. I am sure it wasnt him. And even if he did give it to himself whats wrong with liking the dark a lot. I stay up all night most nights because I love the night. Knowing that I am the only one awake in a ten mile radius. Man that is fun. So what if he calls himself the Dark Lord if in fact he gave himself that name.

Somebody enjoys stirring up a hornet's nest, eh? :D

I understand where you're coming from, but again, I think it's difficult to disagree with a fantasy author about that author's universe. You may not think absolute evil exists in our world; certainly, the point is debatable. Tolkien makes it very clear that absolute evil DOES exist in Middle-Earth, and that it originates from Melkor and Sauron, among others.

[Thorin II]

My favorite character is Gimli. For one thing, I'm a big fan of the dwarves; I think their history is worth more time than it gets in the LOTR. For Gimli in particular, I like how he ruffles feathers throughout the story.

[Haradrim]

Once you read mor eof my posts you will realize why I said that. And another dwarf fan! WHOO!

[Manveru]

my favourite character is faramir, he has to take on so much responsibility with the death of his brother, and he carries through even tho his dad is going insane.

and for the gollum/frodo thing: it was frodo's pity in gollum that helped him complete the quest. frodo completed the quest, not by throwing the ring in the cracks of doom, but by saving gollum from sam in the emyn muil (not to make sam sound bad, i like sam too)

and for the dark lords being misunderstood: it is true that history is written by the winners, it was frodo and bilbo that wrote the hobbit and the lord of the rings and they get alot of their info from the prejudices of the elves and men who are at war with sauron. obviously they are not going to like him and are going to rationalize killing orcs by saying that they are evil. there is a video somewhere on the web called fellowship 911 which is a spoof off of farenheit 911 by michael moore, its really funny and supports this opinion alot. you guys should definately watch it

[Forkbeard]

My favorite character is Gandalf, then Treebeard.

Is Haradrim a disciple of Olmer? Olmer have you been evangelizing among the newbies again? ;)

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

i am not sure who my favourite character might be,
contenders include the following:
saruaman
gandalf
elrond
aragorn
cirdan
celeborn
galadriel
glorfindel
gildor

[brego]

Mine is Aragorn

[Elemmírë]

Well the title DARK LORD he gave himself gives away part of what they forgave him for.

Wow. You guys are hilarious. ;) Haradrim, get over it. Melkor ar Sauron nar úmëar. MORGOTH AND SAURON ARE EVIL. :p Wow... I've really got to get a handle on this Quenya thing... :D

My favourite character is Glorfindel, followed by Elrond's sons. In LotR, of course. We all know who my real favourite character is. ;) *ahem* Finrod

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Thingol? :D

[Elemmírë]

I would politely ask you to die, TD, but that's not allowed. :D

I would less than politely ask Thingol to die, though.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

It take it that that is a no then! :D

[Elemmírë]

And in Quenya too:

Heca ar firlyë, Elwë Singollo, hacca anta!

Haha... I don't think that last one actually works in Quenya... Too bad.

[ItalianLegolas]

My favorite character has got to be Legolas, because he is just one cool, calm and collected guy, and plus he has 2 short knives, AND he had a bow and arrow! plus he's an elf, and elves ROCK!

[Elemmírë]

plus he's an elf, and elves ROCK!

:D Can't argue there :D Melnyët! I love them!

This Quenya is getting fun... :D

[Manveru]

My favorite character has got to be Legolas, because he is just one cool, calm and collected guy, and plus he has 2 short knives, AND he had a bow and arrow! plus he's an elf, and elves ROCK!

actually since this is the book forum, legolas only had one long knife.
Legolas had a bow and a quiver, and at his belt a long white knife.

:D

[Nothing]

My favourite character is Peregrin Took.

[Embladyne]

Well, I would have to say that my favorite character is, and has been, Tom Bombadil. Some reasons: the ring seems to have no effect over him, he's a playful guy, and a pretty big mystery. And he has a beautiful wife. :D

Also, he's good at getting himself out of sticky situations.

[Narsil's Master]

first i want to ask was golberry his wife? i got confused during that and havent been able to find it elsewhere. i enjoy gilgalad emensely. he was hardcore among the high elves. plus he had a spear and spears are cool. to bad he got capped.

[Kelawyn]

I must agree with Nothing; I like Peregrin Took, if I had to choose (I like them all!) His friendship with Merry is a model of excellence! He complements Merry well, being happy, kind, and devoted, even if he does get everyone in trouble once or twice. Best friends like him are hard to find!

[tolkienfan]

Frodo
Sam
Gandalf
Aragorn
Eowyn
Faramir
Legolas
Boromir

[Ephel Duath]

My favorite character in the books was Faramir. In the movies it is Sam.

[zephyrgirl]

I've always liked Aragorn most.. probably because I love the story of him and Arwen.
My second fav has to be Sam, the way he is so loyal to Frodo and helps him till the end just twists my little heart into pieces! :rolleyes:

[legolaslover543]

first of all i would like to say,hobbit
now for my fave. character :p .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...................................well i like all of them ............................................. :confused: exept the orcs :confused: i think :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[eyesofsorrow]

For me, it has to be a toss-up between Frodo and Sam. They were such great people in the books! And their friendship was so strong- I wish I had friends like that.

[Lenya]

In LotR, it would have to be Faramir :cool: he was the best!

[Mrs.Gimli]

I do not know,,,,but I LIKE ARAGORN EOWYN,fRODO,SAM,mERRY,AND gANDALF

[The Wizard from Milan]

I don't think I have a favourity good character. I like fatty lumpy very much, but he has such small part and no dialog :lol:
I like Gandalf at times

[Pytt]

In LotR, it would have to be Faramir :cool: he was the best!

Was the best? is he dead, or do you mean before the movies? cause they destroyed a lot of him in the films..

[Embladyne]

Was the best? is he dead, or do you mean before the movies? cause they destroyed a lot of him in the films..Yeah, I wish the script hadn't forced all those changes...but, I overcome my dissapointment by remembering what the movies looked like incorrectly. In my memory, Faramir was still extremely noble in the film....and treebeard was a much larger creature.

[Elfan_Princess]

I liked Legolas best. :D He was really cool and helped a LOT in battles! :o

[trolls' bane]

Damn! Everyone is coming to usurp my place as youngest entmooter! :mad:

Welcome :D ! Drop by the Welcome thread!

I think my favorite character (w/o bothering to read the other posts) has to be Yavanna. Why: The first Valar I ever heard of. (yeah, real good reason :rolleyes: )

[Gandalf The White Rider]

mine is Gandalf obviously


isnt it anoying every bodys gone Legolas

[Thain Peregrin Took I]

My favorite is Peregrin Took (wasn't that hard to guess? :p ) Why? Well, basiclly for the same reason Kelawyn said. He's a great friend, even through tough times, is good at cheering people up, and, like Kelawyn said, sometimes it's hard to find good friends like him. And he's an all around cool guy.

[Lenya]

Was the best? is he dead, or do you mean before the movies? cause they destroyed a lot of him in the films..

:D you hit spot on! Yes, in the book he rocks and they really didn't do him any justice in the movies. Beforehand I told my friend that Faramir is thi scool guy and she'll really like him and she thought I am stupid because in the movies he kinda sucked.

[CrazySquirrel]

In the books I like Arrie and in the movie Leggy
-May I call you that? -Hmm, we are not sure we like it... Well you didn't say NO.

[Fool_of_a_Took]

My first response would absolutely be Pippen...I find myself to be quite like him from time to time, yet Sam has always had a place in my heart. His almost dogged devotion to Frodo is more than friendship, it's more of a brotherly love. When Frodo is being a bit of a drama queen, Sam always seems to have something positive to say or a way out of a sticky situation. In my mind, he's the bravest character in the three LOTR books.

[barrelrider110]

I like your avatar FoaT! Yes, Sam never lost faith, his devotion to Frodo never wavered, always ready to serve and was never put himself first, even when he wore the ring of power. Humble; knew his limitations, and did what he could. He was the real hero of the story. My favorite character? That's a tough one. I admired the courage and fortitude of Eowyn. Aragorn, because he like Frodo, bore a heavy burden. I would have to say Gandalf. He was brilliant, and very witty. He gave you a sense of security when you were with him that he was always in control, even when the odds were against him.

[Wilhelm]

Gandalf, Gandalf, Gandalf

He grows in power through the story (gray to white)
He is the 2nd most powerful being in Middle Earth (after Sauron)
He is wise
He is a ringbearer
He has a sweet deal cooked up with the Eagles
He knows about sacrifice
He can fight a Balrog for 10 days (ultimately breaking a mountain top in defeating it)
He makes a great disciplinarian (Pippin repeatedly, Saruman once)
He does not seek vengeance on Saruman
He is Maiar
It is through his designs that Sauron is defeated
"You cannnot pass" (best line in the books)
Glamdring
Shadowfax
Narya
Fireworks
Saved Bilbo from the one ring
He refused to take the one ring
"Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom" (2nd best line in the books)
Saved Faramir from Denethor's madness
Saved Frodo and Sam from the lava
Saved Theoden from Saruman's spell
He is the guy!
I could go on...:rolleyes:

[elrosofbc2010]

I'm a huge fan of Tom Bombadil: he's really the biggest mystery in all of Tolkien's mythology, and I love him for it.

However, I'm also partial to Bregalad (Quickbeam, the "hasty" ent)...

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn.

[Deagol]

Ever since I first read the story -- and that is longer ago than I care to share -- I have always been partial to the Lady Eowyn. It may be merely that she is beset on all sides . . . spurned as a spear-carrier by her own family and as a woman by a very confused Aragorn -- or it may simply be that she is the only actual woman of any dimension in the entire tale. The part where she and Merry take out the Witch King of Angmar is one of my favorite passages in the entire epic.

[Torongil]

Gandalf!!!!

He was the greatest help to the fellowship: without him they would have been screwed in Moria.

He saved Faramir.

He chose Bilbo as the burglar in the hobbit. (who saved the company many a time)

Etc. etc. etc.

[Istari222]

Gandalf, definitely!

[Pitchike12]

May most favorite is Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo, Sam, and Pippin. No needed to know why...it's very long story to tell. ;)

[Pitchike12]

So what you guys stuck in your head that wants to come out? :D

[Galdor of the Havens]

Gandalf, he is the person who most helped in fellowship and some other books.

[Thenichir]

King Theoden and the Eorlingas have been for me the most fascinating characters. In my heart I kind of gush over them as Gimli does the White Lady. I relate most of all to the Elves, but there is something about the honor of the House of Eorl that is very moving. I watched the movies (and fell in love with them) before reading LotR, and there is no doubt that the beautiful images and sounds of Jackson's Rohan added to my experience of the book. But I genuinely love Tolkien's story, as well; perhaps even more so. The only thing I enjoyed in the movie more than the book is when Gandalf brings with him loyal Eomer and the Rohirrim, rather than the thousand men on foot. That exchange between Eomer and his king in the movie is just amazing. Love it. The sentiment in the book comes across just as well, but I think the movie really captured it best. My favorite Theoden quote in the book is when he invites Pippin to his hall. It's a small, seemingly insignificant bit of information in the grand epic, but it reveals great character and honest goodness that even Pippin can pick up on.

[Serenoli]

Samwise Gamgee! The most unselfish, humble, hardworking and caring person in the whole book... he reminded me of my mother. :) :)

[Thorir Orcbane]

It would be between Aragorn, Theoden, Gandalf, and Merry. I love all of them, but in reality, all of the characters as a whole just accentuate each other and make the whole reading/movie experience awesome.

[thekingofgondor]

I've always been partial to Sam and Eowyn. They both are unlikely heroes who achieve incredible deeds even though the odds are stacked against them. My favorite parts of Sam's are any time he rises to the occasion and does something heroic, like at the tower of Cirith Ungol, or killing Shelob, or pretty much carrying Frodo the entire way up Mount Doom. My favorite Eowyn parts are the obvious one (killing the Witch-king) and when she finally finds peace with herself in the House of Healing and moves on from her depression about Aragorn.

[Beren3000]

I've always been partial to Sam and Eowyn. They both are unlikely heroes who achieve incredible deeds even though the odds are stacked against them. My favorite parts of Sam's are any time he rises to the occasion and does something heroic, like at the tower of Cirith Ungol, or killing Shelob, or pretty much carrying Frodo the entire way up Mount Doom. My favorite Eowyn parts are the obvious one (killing the Witch-king) and when she finally finds peace with herself in the House of Healing and moves on from her depression about Aragorn.

Welcome to the Moot, your majesty :)
I guess my favorite character has shifted over the years and the (many) re-readings; at the moment, my definite favorite is Faramir: he is heroic, noble, virtuous, loyal, brave, patriotic, compassionate, intelligent, wise, merciful, ...
I think everything he says can be turned into a timeless quote!

[thekingofgondor]

Welcome to the Moot, your majesty :)

Thank you very much sir :)


at the moment, my definite favorite is Faramir

I'm also a big Faramir fan, but with so many great characters in the books, I had to whittle it down to just two. :( But he would probably be up there in the Top Ten, especially since I love the Eowyn/Faramir pairing a lot.

[ASmileThatExplodes]

Legolas is my favorite character in the book. I love Elves in general, but Legolas has something special, I can't really express it in words. I also love Gimli a lot, he's so funny!
I also pay a lot of attention to Cirdan, don't know why. The fact that he stays in Middle-Earth to protect the Havens, even after Elrond's and Galadriel's departure to Valinor, is just really, really brave, I think. It must be so lonely there then... That really fascinates me, haha. (:

[Beren3000]

Hello, ASTE and welcome to the Moot :)
I hope you don't mind me acronymizing your nickname :D

I don't know about Legolas, I think the movies ruined him for me: Orlando Bloom gives him a boyish air that is too alien to Tolkien's Elves. He does have good lines in the book but if you ask me about Elves, I'll have to go with Galadriel hands down. She is such a complex and austere character yet familiar and accessible as well. Pure Elvish! It also helps that she's associated with Cate Blanchett (an amazing actress IMHO) :)

[ASmileThatExplodes]

Of course I don't mind that, haha. :D

Yeah, I think Cate's a very good actress, indeed! She's a real Elf in the movies. :)