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LOTR: 5 Characters We Hate

It’s been a while since my first LotR post, so if you need a refresher, here is my list of 5 characters we love. Since writing that post during finals week after (re)watching all three of the movies I should note that I managed to watch Fellowship once more in the same week, and Two Towers on TV in this previous one. I’d say that makes me a serious nerd. It also makes my boyfriend think I’m pretty cool. I am.

Anyway, here is our* second list, concerning the characters we hate most in the series. Honestly this was a tricky list to make, since several of the characters we originally chose for this list were actually shifted to our third list (to be posted later this week/next week). There aren’t a lot of characters we find that we out and out hate. But if we had to list five, this is who we would choose. (As previously, SPOILERS AHEAD)

 1. Denethor. What a freaking jerk. Come on, this guy has no redeeming qualities at all. He’s a bad steward, and a HORRIBLE father. He’s got two great sons, one who admittedly briefly succumbs to the powers of evil and the other who faces the same temptations and overcomes it. Yet who does Denethor love more? The dead one. Rather than the one who has sought to please him his entire life. That scene where he tries to burn Faramir’s still living body on a funeral pyre? Worst scene of the whole movie. The only good thing that comes from that is Denethor’s own ridiculous end, falling burning from a ledge on Minas Tirith. Good riddance. 

 2. Saruman. He could’ve been a great guy. I mean Gandalf trusted him - that’s gotta count for something. But what kind of wizard betrays his friend’s trust and goes to the dark side? He only did it because he’s an opportunist; he just wants to be on the winning (losing) side. What a turd. In the process he makes Theoden a crusty old man, he treats Wormtongue as sub-human, and he ruins the beautiful architecture of Helm’s Deep. In the book, he even scours the Shire. WHO DOES THAT? Check out his death in the extended edition of Return of the King.

 3. Grima Wormtongue. I almost sort of feel bad for him. But then I don’t. He’s a creepy pervert with Eowyn, he spreads lies and poison in Theoden’s ear, and he runs off and betrays Theoden when he spares his life. In the books Gandalf gives him chance after chance to redeem himself and he squanders every one. Not to mention he’s just a big gross creep. Wormtongue is a loser.

 4. Witch-King of Angmar. This (what is he? Certainly not a man) entity is a pig. Before Eowyn and Merry slay him he shouts in their faces “No man can kill me!” Talk about conceited. That’s like saying the Titanic was unsinkable: doomed from the start. Plus he thought he could kill Gandalf. No one kills (permanently) Gandalf. That’s really all we’ve got for him…

 5. Frodo Baggins. I know this might be an unpopular decision (erhmm, Michael*), but I know I’m not the only one who finds Frodo to be a little bit annoying. Maybe it would be a good idea to clarify that we don’t actually “hate” Frodo. We just don’t really like him either.

Yes, he bore the Ring to Mordor. Yes, the Ring was a terrible burden. And yes, he saved the world and helped usher in a new age of peace. All are valid points, and all clearly justify him as being a hero in the story. HOWEVER: without Sam, he never would’ve made it past the first Black Rider. Without Aragorn, he never would’ve made it into Mordor. And without Gollum, he never would’ve destroyed the Ring. Sure Frodo did the deed, but he also proved wholly inadequate and would have failed miserably if not for the devotion of his friends and a lot of blind luck.

He gave in and took the Ring for himself! And was a complete snob to Sam in the process! Being a snob to Sam alone is enough to place Frodo on the hated list, not to mention the fact that he offers the Ring to nearly EVERYONE. After Gandalf tells him the terrible story of the Ring’s influence, evil, and power, he offers him the Ring; before Galadriel goes all weird green spirit on him, he offers her the Ring; after his faith in men is destroyed by Boromir, he offers the Ring to Aragorn. Standing on the ramparts of Osgilliath with the dreaded Nazgul in his face, he offers the Ring again. Seriously Frodo: quit trying to give people the Ring.

It’s easy to start out thinking the story is all about Frodo and his quest, but as it goes on he loses nearly all credibility and becomes a terrible nuisance. We were glad when his part was done.

Honorable mention: 

- Sauron: It’s ironic that we created a list of characters we hate and that you, the main bad guy of the entire series wasn’t on it. However, as bad guys go you sort of don’t do a lot. You’re just a big, sometimes menacing eye that does nothing more threatening than topple over in the end. Nice try, but you weren’t scary.

*The “our/we” mentioned in this blog refers to my boyfriend Jason and his brother Michael. They were my co-authors.

*Michael was very opposed to putting Frodo on the hate list, even as #5. But it’s my blog ;)

Check back soon for our list of top five characters we find the most lovable-but-hate-able in the whole LotR series!

(Photo sources can be found here: Denethor, Saruman, Grima Wormtongue, Witch-King, Frodo)


  1. purplelephant posted this