What LOtR characters you find irritating?

[CrazySquirrel]

Are there any characters in LOTR books (not movies) that you just can't stand? That you find irritating?

(I mean not guys like Sauron, but "good" characters that you are supposed to like.)

My first choice is Arwen. I hate her, I hate her ... period :mad: .

Then there is this Glorfindel. Why is he in ME at all, while he should be in Mandos? What good has he ever done in the 3 Age? Why hasn't he taken dying Frodo to rivendell on his horse ahead of the others? Why didn't he come with the Fellowship, at least to Gondor?

Then I think some characters are boring. All the Ents and the Entwives. And also, sorry :rolleyes: Legolas. They could have left him at home all right.

[tolkienfan]

I think Boromir is kind of irritating. He just doesn't get it! :mad:

[mithrand1r]

Then there is this Glorfindel. Why is he in ME at all, while he should be in Mandos? What good has he ever done in the 3 Age? Why hasn't he taken dying Frodo to rivendell on his horse ahead of the others? Why didn't he come with the Fellowship, at least to Gondor?

IIRC, Glorfindel was not chosen to be part of the Fellowship since he (as other First born elves) would be easily spotted by Sauron and his agents due to the essense of his nature. I think it is mentioned somewhere in the Council of Elrond.

Glorfindel also helped to keep the black riders from escaping the river.

Glorfindel is one of many characters in LOTR that are brought in briefly and then fade from the readers sight. I think this helps to give LOTR a richness in texture that is not present in other stories.

It may have been an oversight on JRRT for using a character that should have been at Mandos. (of course for those that have not read the SIL, then there is no problem.

I am not sure if there are any characters that annoyed me.

I think I was disappointed in Denethor's actions primarily since it hindered those who were battling against Sauron.

At times I found Gildor (sp?) to be annoying since he and the other elves would not tell Fordo and company much about the black riders, besides run away.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

We don't actually know if it is the same Glorfindel that killed a Balrog in Gondolin.

[Gordis]

At times I found Gildor (sp?) to be annoying since he and the other elves would not tell Fordo and company much about the black riders, besides run away.
I agree. Gildor is disgusting, IMHO. He could have led them to Rivendell, at least to Buckland.
And as for irritating characters - it is Galadriel for me.

TD, Glorfindel of Gondolin is the same as the one in LOTR. That was Tolkien's final decision, as far as I know. And I agree with CS, why bother to return to ME if you sit in Rivendell doing nothing? Well, he led the Elves in the Battle of Fornost, but that is all it seems.

[Lotesse]

It's Frodo who has always irritated me most - maybe because he's way too pacifist for my taste, I don't know. I love Sam, et al, but for some weird reason Frodo gets under my skin...

[tolkienfan]

He is a little gloomy.

[Forkbeard]

there are some?

Legolas. He does little except not sleep, skim over snow etc....a lightweight.

Frodo gets on my nerves at times, but then he's bearing the Ring into Mordor, he's a right to get a little whiny at times.

[CrazySquirrel]

Funny, I wasn't irritated by Leggy or frodo or sam when I read the book before I saw the movie. But after the movie... I just can't stand them anymore.

[Lotesse]

And Arwen Evenstar's a bit annoying; what's her problem? She made a nice banner for her man, how sweet - but she couldn't be bothered to deliver it herself?! What a p---y.

[rohirrim TR]

tom bombadillo is the most annoying dude in the books I don't know why tolkien even bothered with him

[Lotesse]

:D How funny! Bombadillo irritates you? I guess he IS a little much, sort of willy-wonkaish, or like a Robin Williams-on-acid kind of guy! He didn't bug me, though, but thinking about this subject again I'm reminded that Galadriel kinda freaks me out.

[rohirrim TR]

must be a personality thing but i never minded galadriel because she is central to the plot and has a role through the whole from the silmarillion until the appendices whereas bombadil shows up in 2 chapters and never shows up or participates again

[Lotesse]

Well, you've got a point, rohirrim TR...

[Andúril]

Treebeard.

[Lotesse]

Treebeard irritates you? I guess he can seem a bit lugubrious and plodding... but I like him.

[rohirrim TR]

i can see that treebeard can be hard to read but he is essential to the plot because without the ents and treebeard helms deep would have been different and saruman would still be a threat to gondor either keeping aid away from minas tirith or putting gondor in a crossfire so treebeard to me makes sense and is kind of funny :D

[Rían]

Tom irritates me sometimes, too. I'm surprised Goldberry doesn't just haul back and smack him sometimes!

[rohirrim TR]

Tom irritates me sometimes, too. I'm surprised Goldberry doesn't just haul back and smack him sometimes!
now that would be funny :D

[me9996]

And Arwen Evenstar's a bit annoying; what's her problem? She made a nice banner for her man, how sweet - but she couldn't be bothered to deliver it herself?!
How was she supost to get there?

[rohirrim TR]

"how was she supost to get there?"

by horse :rolleyes: duh :)

[Lotesse]

I am of the opinion that if Arwen really wanted to bring Aragorn a gift, she could have and would have done so. Nothing would have been able to prevent her from locating him, and taking the journey out there to grab a visit with her so-called true love. Especially in light of the fact of who she is, and what kind of experience in reconnaisance and self-defense skills that she had at her disposal. Her brothers, for instance. They would have helped their sister make the trip, if she absolutely would not have taken "no" for an answer from them. Bah. Arwen doesn't do it for me, too soft and not fierce enough with her alleged "love". She doesn't have me fooled.

[Jon S.]

I don't find any of the LOTR characters irritating.

I don't even find this thread irritating.

;)

[CrazySquirrel]

Is there ANYTHING at all that you find irritating, Jon S?

[Elf Music]

tom bombadillo is the most annoying dude in the books I don't know why tolkien even bothered with him
I totally agree. Tom Bombadil doesn't serve any real purpose in the books, except to annoy and irritate readers with his witless prattle. Somehow he doesn't seem to belong to the story at all and could easily have been dispensed with altogether, as the films proved. It was a wise decision to leave him out of them. Bombadil is supposed to be some sort of mysterious, primeval being with great powers but you could have fooled me!

[mithrand1r]

I totally agree. Tom Bombadil doesn't serve any real purpose in the books, except to annoy and irritate readers with his witless prattle. Somehow he doesn't seem to belong to the story at all and could easily have been dispensed with altogether, as the films proved. It was a wise decision to leave him out of them. Bombadil is supposed to be some sort of mysterious, primeval being with great powers but you could have fooled me!

I would disagree with you about Tom not serving any real purpose.

Tom's Chapters gave the hobbits a chance to expand their horizons/knowledge of the world around them. The reader sees that the hobbits continue to move from the relative safety of their home into an outside world that is filled with more danger. The reader also sees that there are some people that are willing to be friendly to them (and some that are not so friendly) and even offer help on their journey.

I do agree that the chapters involving Tom would be a good place to cut material, if one was planning on making a movie, without harming the general story of LOTR.

[Lotesse]

Tom Bombadil's constant amped-up prancing around and singing about everything in this super-animated creepy-guy-on-mushrooms routine DOES begin to grate on the nerves after a point. Like Rian says, I too am surprised Goldberry doesn't "haul back and smack him sometimes" ! :D :D

However, I don't hate him. I would have liked to have seen the whole barrow-downs and Bombadil stuff in PJ's movie, oh well. I doubt any actor would have been able to get away with such a portrayal, anyway, except possibly Robin Williams. Can you imagine? It'd be the potential kiss of death to an average actor's career.

[rohirrim TR]

I thought that if bombadil was in the film hed have to be like will smith rapping his way through lord of the rings it'd be funny at least :D

[Lotesse]

I thought that if bombadil was in the film hed have to be like will smith rapping his way through lord of the rings it'd be funny at least :D


:D LOL!! good one!

[Acran Mern]

I dunno, I thought the fact that the Ring had no power over Bombadil was cool. Kinda shows why the Hobbits are so resistant to its affect. Bombadil had absolutely no desire for power. Therefore the ring had no basis on which to tempt him.
However, Gandalf's prediction that the Old Forest would probably be the last place to fall should the ring not be destroyed really shows just how powerful Bombadil is. _Who_ he is ... is a question of some import though :) (Personally, he reminds me of my father but that's neither here nor there :) )

[Arien the Maia]

Arwen bugs me the most.....

[Lotesse]

Yeah, Arwen's pretty friggin' irritating, to say the least!

[rohirrim TR]

Yeah, Arwen's pretty friggin' irritating, to say the least!
I found her even more annoying in the films but thats probably another thread :p

[Arien the Maia]

I found her even more annoying in the films but thats probably another thread :p


I agree! probably b/c she had more of a role there

[Elanor]

Denethor's irritating. So is Theoden sometimes. Outside of LotR, I find both Feanor and Turin extremely annoying. I guess I just don't like tragic heroes.