#silming

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The saddest thing is knowing that I missed the Silmarillion read-along.

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Tolkien Characters I Love - A Rant

I dunno, man, I have, like, so many feels for so many Tolkien's characters right now.  Let's see if I can break it down:

Samwise Gamgee - Not the brightest flower in the garden, but the boy's got loyalty enough to rival a dwarf's.  His simplicity does not hinder his goal; in fact, it's part of the reason the Ring has no ultimate sway on him.  He wants good things for everybody, and debatably is the only one of the hobbits who can really readjust to life back in the Shire.

Frodo Baggins - Man, I don't even know why anyone who's ever battled with depression would dislike Frodo.  I know PJ made him fall three fuckin' times in Shelob's lair scene; doesn't matter.  Frodo has been carrying a burden so heavy he doesn't want to get up in the morning.  Everything is fucking dark in his world but he keeps going all the way to Mt. Doom.  I don't care what your problem with Frodo is, kids--drop it.  This little hobbit is four feet of badass, and I connected to him in the books as Ringbearer, He Who Doesn't Give Up Even When All He Can See Is Darkness.  Don't talk shit about Frodo in my presence, man.  Just don't.

Maglor - This poor dude.  Yeah, he's one of them Feanorian assholes.  You know what?  There's something to be said for him pitching the last damn rock into the ocean, after all that shit he went through to get it.  All the Noldor did some horrible shit.  How hard do you think it was for him to watch his hate-filled father die after they basically burned every bridge to get so far away from home?  If his grieving brothers all swore allegiance and vengeance to the quest, he wasn't going to be the one left out.  (Although the sons probably all reinforced each other's decisions--they were all pretty toxic right then.)  So this cat, like, went through all those battles, ruled his own land for a while, as his brothers were slowly killed off one by one, until only he and Maedhros were left, and they now have these two baby half-elves looking up at them like, 'wtf where'd our parents go?'  I don't think Maglor's any saint, but I think he's just as tired of this curse bullshit as everyone else.  He's got no family, and no hope, and he finally has the thing he strove so hard for, and...fuck it.  The world doesn't need this damn thing.  Good riddance.  I'm raising these adorable orphans(?). 

Elrond - Speaking of adorable orphans.  I legit like Elrond.  He turned out so mellow after all the crap that went down and, you know, constantly losing relatives.  I like that he's turned his home into a safe haven, I like that he's trying to be a decent person and not just wall out everyone else like SOME people (cough Thrandy cough).  I just...I like him.  A lot.  The Taurus in me is pleased with his reasonable attitude.

Boromir - Aw, son, don't even get me started on Boromir.  Like how the fuck did that man not turn out a complete douchebag?  (And if you talk about the Ring thing I will punch you.)  He had a weakness, okay?  It wasn't out of hate, it was just fear, pure and simple.  He wanted to be a good leader.  He wanted to save his people and was dog-tired of defending Middle Earth from his next-door neighbor Mordor breathing down his city's neck all by himself.  He had reached his threshhold of shit he could handle.  But really?  He loved his brother even though he could've wallowed in his father's attention and been the cool cat on the block.  Like, he went out of his way to include Faramir in his victories, to defend Faramir from their father, and to, in general, be a really nice guy.  I mean, look how he treated the hobbits.  HE FUCKIN' LOVED MERRY AND PIPPIN AND IT WAS SO CUTE LIKE OMG HOW CAN YOU HATE THIS MAN.

Gandalf - Okay, so, I've had to defend Gandalf from my roommate, because she really dislikes big superhuman figures who look on humans with pity.  She has a problem with him because she doesn't like that he's above everyone, but yo, he's a Maia.  Wasn't he, like, Nienna's servant or something?  And she and I look at him differently--she sees a figure who is above and pitying and patronizing of mortals, who cares too much about the big picture to truly care or identify with or have real friends among them.  I see a figure who IS above mortals but seeks to understand and goad to higher purpose, who wants to elevate mortals to greater actions for themselves.  I see a wizard who can bond with others, but has to know that their lives will end as all things do.  He is not patronizing, but is a patron, and I like that.  (I like angel figures, so wtf ever if you don't.)

Glorfindel - He fought a balrog.  Like, that's huge.  What a badass.  *faints*

Beleg - I can't...I love Beleg so much...how he chased that dumbass kid all over the goddamn North just to get stabbed, to survive some serious torture, it just...oh, baby...*strokes hair of dying elf and tears a little*

Sauron - Okay, so you know how I kinda have a pattern of really liking those characters who devote their lives and attention to basically serving (or saving, as the case may be) their bestie in the whole world?  Believe it or not, that's kinda how I categorize Sauron.  He's like an evil Sam to Melkor's Frodo, a Beleg to his master's Turin.  I fuckin' know he's evil, I know there's problems with this, but hold up.  That's not the only reason.  I kinda have a thing for villains in the first place, as they're all so wonderfully complicated.  This bro used to belong to the god of geology and smithing, basically, and he's got an eye (haha) for detail.  Who was the one who ruled the dark forces while his master was away?  Sauron.  Who has the patience to wreak vengeance on the Numenorians after hundreds of years' planning and playing nice?  Sauron.  Sauron is a fucking badass, okay?  Manipulation, cunning, and details are his MO.  He's both a smith and a sorcerer, angel enough to convince Eonwe to leave him alone and devil enough to be the main evil after his master's gone.  He's that Jafar asshole your sultan warned you about.  Like, shape-shifting vampire Maiar smith-sorcerer, Lord of Werewolves and Gifts and Vengeance on arrogant Sea-kings, amiright?

Haleth - One of the few badass Tolkien women that get more than a footnote.  Haleth answers to no one.  She rules her own people and gives a big fuck-all to everyone who says otherwise.  She's also cheeky and decidedly against Melkor (although you might be, too, if your dad and brothers were killed by him).  Like, just a dynamite, stellar gal overall.  Kudos, Haleth.

There are people I'm missing here, people I love from the Hobbit and from the Silmarillion that I have no more energy tonight to write for.  I'm sorry.  I know I wanted to mention others, but this already turned out longer than I intended.  Radaghast was going to be one.  Faramir.  Miriel.  Thingol.  Galadriel.  Aredhel.  Ulmo.  I might make a Part 2 to this, but don't count on it.

Anyway, that was mostly why I like the characters I like.  Don't talk shit about Frodo or Boromir.  And if you love Sauron, too, you're my friend forever.