Best Relationship in LOTR

[Beregond]

Just wondering . . . what is your favorite character to character relationship in LOTR.


I'll be very surprised if a lot of people don't answer with this:
I really like the relationship between Frodo and Sam. They are such kind caring friends. Sam would go anywhere or do anything for Frodo. He would even give his life. And I'm sure Frodo would do the same. When they travel into Mordor, Sam takes Frodo's burden for a time, and works very hard to rescue Frodo. I think it is just really cool how Tolkein made such a believable relationship in a book.

:) What do you think?:)

[WinterSoul]

FRODO AND SAM ALL THE WAY !!

[A! Elbereth]

I dont see why people would not answer with that.... for I do see that is my favorite relationship...because well, It seems like they have the best relationship in the entire book....actually you could say Aragorn and Arwen...but it isnt explained enough and there arent any other realtionships as real as theirs....

Now that I think of it.... All you see is Sam looking after Frodo and Sam saving Frodo and Sam killing things for frodo ;)... but what has Frodo done for Sam? But when it nears the end well.... Frodo couldnt do much but crawl and sleep...and he was quite distracted from how terrified he was

[PrinceImrahil]

Definitely Legolas and Gimli.
What an awesome relationship. First they hate each other (well by racial grudge at least), then they become great friends and sail to the Undying Lands together. They also renew the long dewceased friendship between the elves and dwarves.:thumbs:

[Mirkgirl]

Faramir and Eowyn, or maybe Gimli and Galadriel, Merry and Theoden too.

and last, but not least Saruman and Wormtongue.

[Catz]

i agree with the Prince actually...that was a real friendship...they both sacrificed for the other, it wasnt one sided, nor did it have that tinge of duty that the Sam/Frodo relationship had....not to take away from them, but as friendships go, i think Legolas and Gimli are a better example...just my opinion...:cool: :grin:
:catz:

[Beregond]

I sort of agree with you, but sort of don't. Frodo and Sam's was not a one sided friendship. They were both in different situations. Throughout LOTR, Legolas and Gimli were going through pretty much the same thing. Neither of them had a much more difficult situation than the other. While in Frodo ans Sam's case, Frodo was bearing the ring into Mordor, Sam was not. Had their positions been switched (Sam carrying the ring, Frodo accompanying him) Frodo would of done the same things to help Sam. It was not a one sided friendship, but only appeared that way because of the situation that they were put in.

[BlackArrow]

I agree with Prince Inmrahil. Sam acted more like a loyal servant than a friend. Gimli and Legolas for sure.

[A! Elbereth]

Thats what I said...Frodo didnt seem to pay any attention to Sam as Sam did to Frodo

[Fatty]

I like Merry and Theoden too. Very touching.......contrasts well with Denethor and Pippin too.

[Beregond]

I like Merry and Theoden's relationship too. But does everyone understand me? Frodo and Sam's relationship would NOT have been one-sided if they were both in the same situation. Frodo was going through worse stuff than Sam, and Sam had to help him out. Had Sam been going through was Frodo was, he would have ignored Frodo while Frodo tried to help him. If they were in Legolas and Gimli's situation, they would have acted differently. It would be a "real" relationship as you say. I'm sure if Legolas were bearing the ring, he would have sort of ignored Gimli, and Gimli would have tried to help him.

[Gil-Galad]

I like Gandalf and Aragorn. There relationship goes far back ,and it is a good one.

[Mirkgirl]

Gandalf and Aragorn... good one! Strange, strong... Like they completed each other like the two ways through Caradhas and Moria... Like questioning and actually catching Gollum... Like passing the hobbits..... hmmm way more interesting than I thought

And now for Frodo&Sam and Legolas&Gimli... I cannot ever choose any of them as my favourite relationships. For the master-servent one, first of all, I admit, my opinion is coloured by my high disapproval of Sam as a character, I take him as a side-effect :rolleyes: . It's way too much one-sided, the only reason Frodo has any feelings (I don't imply nothing) for Sam was because Sam was a good servant and Frodo was weak-hearted master.

Legolas and Gimli was just what happens between two equals by two different races separated by hatrid, who find out how alike they actually are.

Those relationships attract none of my attention, maybe I underestimate them, but that's how I feel

[Ilmarë]

I agree with all that's been said about the Legolas and Gimli friendship...it is the one where the most change occurs...the most shifting of opinion.

[A! Elbereth]

FINE!!!!!! I GIVE IN!!! THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS BETTER!!!! *huff puff huff puff*

[Beregond]

NOOO! Don't give in! Read my extensive arguments! You know I'm right! Open your eyes!

[A! Elbereth]

Oh Beregond! Please forgive me!! I am a fool! Dont let me turn out like Pippin! (playing along) Yeah... Frodo is the best, therefore his Relationships are the best :)

[Catz]

guys, guys.....theres room for both opinions here....thats why we're here in the first place, isnt it? this isnt an either/or thing....its all opinions....
Myself.....i dont think you can take the master servant relationship out of the equation....frankly, Sam would never have got the ring because he was lowlier than Frodo, so to talk about their different experiences isnt really valid, because those differences are what we are talking about.....I doubt that Frodo would have stayed by Sam in the same way even if he had gotten the ring....what kept Sam with Frodo at first was DUTY....friendship came later, and thru duty.....whereas in the relationship between Legolas and Gimli, there was never any sense of duty....they never had to get along...they just started to....the relationship grew, as all good relationships do, out of genuine liking one for the other....but thats just my opinion....and you will have a different one, probably:cool:
:catz:

[A! Elbereth]

yes we discussed who was a better friend to who earlier... but It is true Frodo and Sam were great friends before all that happened

[Beregond]

Fine! Be that way catz! lol whatever . . . your opinion. I kind of got to to deep into my own opinions there. Let everyone post what they think. Amen to that.

[Pil]

I think that Bilbo/Frodo's telationship is soooo cute! The only part of the film that still makes me cry is when Frodo has recovered in rivendell and he goes outside to meet a sweet little white/grey bilbo...awwww! :wiggle:

Faramir and Eowyn come second...

Merry and Pippin come on a par with Merry and Theoden (you guys know i love Merry!) :p

[Catz]

i will Beregond....*grins*...and its good to see folk with strongly held opinions:thumbs: yours and others too.....:cool:
:catz:

[Beregond]

Let's just forget about it and have a drink.

:beer: entdraught :beer:

[Catz]

entdraught :guzzle: :beer: cheers...lol
:catz:

[A! Elbereth]

:beer: :beer: :beer: Here's a toast to Hobbits, Elves, humans ;) and wizards... and everything in M.E!! :beer: :beer: :beer:

[Gil-Galad]

Ill agree to that!:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :archer:

[Mirkgirl]

One to every hero in ME.... I feel dizzy already :guzzle:

[Illuvatar]

Well...since no one else seems to take the critters into consideration....

I'm going to have to throw out Sam/Bill the Pony, and the Gandalf/Shadowfax for two of the best relationships IMHO.....:cool:

And Huzah! to the heros and the animals that bore them into battle!!entdraught entdraught entdraught entdraught

[A! Elbereth]

Well good point I dont know about Bill loving Sam... but Shadowfax and Gandalf... they are a great pair!

[Beregond]

Woah, I never would have thought of that one Illuvatar

[Catz]

ive read quite a lot of stuff about the relationship between Sam and Bill......*catz pauses and looks around at all the kiddiwinks*....but i dont think i oughta go there....hearnoevil :angel: me bein a nice lil' kittycatz an all....;)
But Gandalf and Shadowfax is a good one, which i forgot....:cool:
:catz:

[PrinceImrahil]

I forgot about Sam and Bill, which i think is really good but not quite to the great level. I am still going to stand by Legolas and Gimli as the best relationship.

[Bonos-Girl]

I think legolas and gimli, but i can see why some poeple would say frodo/sam. I liked the strider/gandalf thing as well, someone said that a page or so bac and i agreewith it totally.

[A! Elbereth]

Frodo is soooooo cute!!!! ooooooooo ahhhhhh *pauses* oooo ahhhhhhh

[Catz]

Hmmm i think were gonna need another swoon crash cart.....*catz steps delicately over the drool puddles*
but actually, what about the relationship between Saruman and Sauron??.....not a pleasant relationship.....but an important one....
:catz:

[A! Elbereth]

I woudnt say they were friends..... because secretly Saruman wanted Sauron's ring

[Catz]

actually...the thread isnt about friendships as such......just relationships...and emnity is a relationship, just as friendship is....and can be even more important.....
:catz:

[Beregond]

Ooh . . . you're right! That catz is a clever one . . .

Now we can argue about with enamy relationship is the best!

I'll think about which one I like . . .

[A! Elbereth]

*sighs* lol ever sense I have joined this site I am almost always wrong.... well catz you've proved me wrong again :)

But you are right. Good thought

[Beregond]

Gandalf and Saruman is a cool non-friend relationship. They used to be friends, but now Saruman has changed and they are enemies. I don't know how to explain it, but I like it.

[Mirkgirl]

And what about Wormtongue and Saruman?

Interesting one IMO

[Beregond]

Ooh! Very interesting, Mirkgirl.

[A! Elbereth]

Yes but you forgot abou Aragorn and Arwen's relationship... they had a great relationship too, not too much detail was put into Aragorn and Arwen but what he did say was enough...

[Gil-Galad]

I said Aragorn and Gandalf, and i am going to stick to it!

[Bonos-Girl]

i agree gil-galad, I didn't think of it at first but i think it is the best relationship.

[HobbitFriend]

i'm with the Frodo and Sam relationship... i've even got a post in the Prancing Pony section as follows:

I love the strong friendships in The Lord of the Rings. Before the preils of the Ring were revealed, Frodo didn't have many friends in the Shire and many thought of him and Bilbo as "queer."

After the Fellowship was formed, they all became like a second family to each other and became good friends - some closer than others. Some of these pairs were Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin, and Gimli and Legolas.
The Gimli and Legolas pair were the most unusual and i could probably go on for a while talking about it. But there's Legolas - a tall, light-haired elf who loves trees and he befriends Gimli - a short, dark-haired dwarf who hates trees, or cuts them down anyway... not exactly a likely pair, but their friendship is strong and shows on several occasions.

Then there is Sam who always liked Frodo, but didn't really become so close until Frodo had to leave the Shire and on their journey their friendship grew.
In The Two Towers, Sam at one point, when Frodo is sleeping, says, "I love him. He's like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no." That really shows how close they had become. (like brothers - don't get any wrong thoughts! :))

Another part I found really touching was at the end of chapter 8 - The Stairs of Cirith Ungol in The Two Towers. Frodo was asleep in Sam's lap and Sam had his arms on him (to protect him - no bad thoughts here either. ;)). Sam had also fallen asleep when Gollum came back and for a moment, it was like that scene of true friendship really touched him and Smeagol was back and all evil was out of him.
I think Tolkien did such a good job in describing that part and really showed what true love and friendship is all about. :gofatty: :thumbs:

[A! Elbereth]

Fine ignore my addition to the post mecry mecry

lol lol jk

[TheRingBearer]

How about Gollum and the Ring. They loved each other so much they died together :)

[Catz]

well....Gollum certainly loved the ring, tho whether it loved him, is another point....tho it is a classic example of co-dependency, i have to say lol roflmao lol
:catz:

[A! Elbereth]

haha died together.... lol how sweet! *not*:rolleyes:

[Nessa]

lol

Has anyone mentioned Merry and Pippin? They thought of eachother constantly, very lovely relationship. :)

But overall I must say Frodo and Sam.

[HobbitFriend]

Originally posted by TheRingBearer
How about Gollum and the Ring. They loved each other so much they died together :)

i wouldn't exactly call that the best relationship lol matter of fact, i don't think that's even considered a relationship. i think it was more of the Ring's power than got at him than him actually loving it. :p

[TheRingBearer]

Yeah I suppose so. After all Gandalf does say that he hates and loves the ring.
Oh well just thought I'd point it out :)

[HobbitFriend]

......just as he hates and loves himself ;)

[Galadriel]

I think the best relationship was between Legolas and Gimli. i mean they were to different races that hated eachother but then they became great friends. I also like the relationship between Merry and pippin. They had such a care free relationship. I mean they were there for eachother in tough times but knew how to laugh and lighten up. I mean Frodo and Sam relationship is differently everyone own opinon. I think that it is kinda one sided.:elfqueen:

[Ringwraith]

Sauron and the Ringwraiths!

Or Legolas and Gimli.

[TheRingBearer]

Yeah Legolas and Gimli. It kinds of points out that it doesn't matter what race you are as long as your character shines through.

[TheRingBearer]

Oh yeah and welcome to the forums Ringwraith. I'm also new and I hope we have a good time here :)

[Ringwraith]

Originally posted by TheRingBearer
Oh yeah and welcome to the forums Ringwraith. I'm also new and I hope we have a good time here :)

Welcome to both of us. Do you visit any other Tolkien related forum?

[TheRingBearer]

No but I occasionally look at www.theonering.com
This is the best one around methinks :)

[TheRingBearer]

I mean this forum not the other site ;) :grin:

[Undomiel]

Sorry to interrupt...

I thought the Aragorn and Arwen relationship was great-as long as you've read the Appendix A. It was so sad at the end thoughmecry

My other fave is Merry and Théoden. I thought that was extremely touching. That bit of convo:

"As a father you shall be to me," said Merry.
"For a little while," said Théoden

[Daughter of Finarfin]

I usually lurk here, but I finally decided to join this forum.

IMO, The best relationship is Legolas and Gimli. They are the two members of the Fellowship that least liked eachother in the begining, but by the end they were probably the closest of the group. I always get a tear in my eye when I read that Legolas took Gimli with him over sea in the Appendix. I really hope that the Two Towers movie expands on their relationship.

Gandalf and Aragorn is another great relationship, I love in the White Rider chapter of the Two Towers when Tolkien describes them standing next to eachother after meeting again. They are probably the two characters with the most power, but each has a different type of power.

ANother relationship I like which has not been discussed is that of Gandalf, Galadriel and Elrond. The three ringbearers. Galadriel was the only one that really knew of the full power of Gandalf, and though he was much mightier than her and Elrond they always treated eachother like equals. This is probably the longest lasting relationship in the books, so I think that they deserve a shout out just for longeivity.

[Pil]

Nice mention there. :thumbs: It's hard to remember just how long these people had been around...there must have been few secrets from eachother! ;)