With a vast array of characters in both The Lord of the Rings books and movies, some have gained far more appreciation than others, which is to be expected. Some, such as the Fellowship or villains like Saruman, were prominent figures in the narrative, and often at the forefront of fans’ minds. However, every character, big or small, had their place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books (and Peter Jackson’s movies).
Like any book-to-film adaptation, the trilogy creators had to be particular about what was included for the sake of time restraints and about what worked best on screen. Therefore, some characters were left on Tolkien’s pages. Other underrated characters made it into the script, but deserve a little more appreciation for the impact they made on the War of the Ring.
Lobelia-Sackville Baggins Had a Unique Redemption Arc
The Lord of the Rings erased one of Tolkien’s best character arcs hidden in the bustle of the Shire. Lobelia Sackville-Baggins may not have directly influenced the War of the Ring, but her story was eventful, leading to redemption. As the second half of her surname points out, she was related to Bilbo, thus believing she should claim Bag End. Her demands made her unpopular among Hobbits until she changed her ways and became an unexpected heroic figure during the Scouring of the Shire.
Since Sharkey’s attack wasn’t included in the movies, Lobelia’s story was somewhat redundant. However, making her stand against the villains that invaded the Shire was key in defining her. She is very briefly seen in the extended edition of the first film, but not enough for those who haven’t read the books to know who she is. Lobelia had a fulfilling character arc that changed her for the better.
Fredegar "Fatty” Bolger Was a Loyal Friend to Frodo
As the fifth Hobbit in Frodo’s friend group, Fatty Bolger is largely overlooked by the films. Again, like Lobelia, his story wasn’t necessary for the main telling of the War of the Ring. Nonetheless, he’s a fantastic character in the books who differs slightly from his pals. When Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo are due to go on their journey, Fatty remains at Frodo’s house, so no one suspects that he’s left.
Fredegar had one sibling named Estella.
He admits to feeling afraid of what’s outside, though it’s certainly not shameful. Despite fearing the dangers, he’s still willing to help Frodo and understands the importance of the journey. By staying behind, he risked encountering the Black Riders, which took a lot of courage in itself. He’s an example of Tolkien’s intricate writing that didn’t always portray the heroes as gallant warriors, but still placed value on those who helped in smaller ways.
Haldir of Lórien Sacrificed His Life in the Fight for Middle-earth
Not every hero in The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a leading character, but it didn’t make their brave acts any less worthy of recognition. Haldir of Lórien is shown to be a noble Elf who puts himself on the front line during one of the franchise’s greatest battles, the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Jackson added the surprising arrival of the Elves to assist the people of Rohan.
Overall, the battle is a powerful scene, with moments like this adding to the depth and meaning of men and elves pulling together for the same cause. Haldir displayed fearless resolve, which made his death all the more emotional. A character like Boromir is often admired for the way he defends Pippin and Merry. As a supporting role, Haldir misses out on the same level of acknowledgment, but deserves it no less. He died fighting for the good of Middle-earth, and showed up when he didn’t have to.
Shelob Served Herself and Herself Alone
She may have been a villain, but that doesn’t mean Shelob shouldn’t have a place on this list. The most intriguing part about the giant offspring of Ungoliant is that she doesn’t side with anyone; she lives only for herself. Whilst Sauron was able to use her to his advantage, as she lived in the pass of Cirith Ungol, preying on anything that came near, she wasn’t in support of the Dark Lord.
Shelob’s history defines where she came from and brings depth to her existence, but in the trilogy, she’s a stand-alone character and a huge obstacle for Frodo and Sam. The character shifts the atmosphere of the film as an unforeseen presence. There’s no reasoning with her, nor is there much to deter her from attacking, which is why she’s labeled as one of the most evil Lord of the Rings villains.
Pippin Wasn’t Defined by His Mistakes
There’s no denying that Pippin made several mistakes in the trilogy that could’ve been avoided had he paid more attention to the likes of Gandalf. Yet, that doesn’t detract from the remarkable fortitude he demonstrated. Though his story differs slightly from the books, the movies portray his gumption and unwillingness to give up.
Furthermore, there’s a lot to be said about how he joined Frodo’s journey. Along with Merry, he quite literally stumbled onto Frodo and Sam’s path before being swept up on the perilous journey. Whilst it could be interpreted as naivety, Pippin was prepared to continue, with little more than the strength of a pure heart and unwavering commitment to his friendship with Frodo. He (and Merry) are regularly underestimated and underrated.
Théoden Found His Former Nobility Once More
King Théoden is another with a superb character arc in the trilogy, whose backstory includes his wife dying, and raising his niece and nephew as his own. Audiences meet him as a withered, weak man whose mind has been warped by Saruman, via Gríma Wormtongue. Once a valiant leader, he’d been reduced to a shadow of his former self. When Gandalf freed him of Saruman’s chains, he regained control of his kingdom, soon discovering that his son had been killed.
Théoden’s sister was Théodwyn, the mother of Éowyn and Éomer.
Having been through so much, he could’ve given in. Instead, he pushed forward in the War of the Ring, sacrificing his life in the process. Although his narrative doesn’t span the entirety of the trilogy, it does highlight the devastating loss that Théoden experienced and why he warrants the respect that any other hero is shown. In addition, the love he evidently had for his family was a compelling trait.
Tom Bombadil Is One of the Most Perplexing Yet Intriguing Characters
Even for film fans who haven’t read the books, Tom Bombadil is likely a name that they’re still familiar with. He’s not referenced in the trilogy, but he’s a wonderfully enigmatic part of the story that Tolkien penned. Tom offers another angle to the power of the One Ring, as he seems to be completely uninterested in its allure.
His whimsical nature leans into the fantastical, mysterious side of Middle-earth. Other characters represent the meaning of friendship or the power of steadfast leadership, whilst there’s a magic in Tom that makes his contribution to the narrative enchanting. Although he understandably wasn’t required for the film adaptations, fans should still be aware of his role in Tolkien’s work, as the omission doesn’t mean he wasn’t important.
Arwen’s Role Was Expanded for the Movies
For the movies, Peter Jackson made Arwen’s role significantly bigger, changing one of Glorfindel’s scenes to put her at the center. She arrived in time to take Frodo to her father, but she had to ride to Rivendell with the Ringwraiths close behind. That sequence provided deeper insight into Arwen’s boldness and strength, as well as the compassion she had for Frodo.
Arwen died in the year 121 of the Fourth Age, having given up her immortality to be with Aragorn.
Immediately after the Nazgûl were pulled away by the river, Arwen held Frodo, shedding a tear for the state he was in. In a world mostly led by men, she remained firm in her self-belief. Telling Aragorn she was the fastest rider, and taking Frodo, knowing that the enemy wouldn’t be far behind, conveyed her determination. As there are far fewer female characters in the narrative than males, Arwen stands out as an awe-inspiring example of the endurance, stability, and grit of women.
Glorfindel Confronted Evil and Was a Great Help to Frodo
As previously mentioned, Arwen replaced Glorfindel, expanding on her role in the trilogy. However, fans mustn’t mistake this change to mean Glorfindel was an irrelevant character. In the books, he was an aid to Frodo and helped to get him to Rivendell, fighting off the Ringwraiths.
Altering this part of the story for the movies made sense, but it’s still worth giving credit to the character that was created for the books. Diving deeper into his story, Glorfindel also slayed a Balrog, despite being mortally wounded in the process. He’s a character that can fall under the radar, particularly for those who have never read the books, but should still be celebrated.
The Barrow-Wights Were Terrifying Characters in Tolkien’s Creation
The Lord of the Rings has numerous frightening and villainous characters that have proven to be difficult to defeat for the heroes, and were under the instruction of the Witch-king of Angmar. The Barrow-Wights were skeletal in appearance, undead figures that were a haunting presence. In the books, Frodo was made aware of the danger they posed.
When passing through the Barrow-Downs, he and his friends were captured and came close to being sacrificed in the tomb of the Last Prince of Cardolan. Even though they weren’t on the side of good, the Barrow-Wights are underrated characters that only book fans might know. They were a genuinely terrifying challenge for the Hobbits, and comparable to the Nazgûl.
The Lord of the Rings
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