In every hero’s story there is a sidekick. From Batman and Robin, Shrek and Donkey to Jay and Silent Bob, and Maverick and Goose. All of these beloved movies feature a hero, the one who saves the story and propels the story forward, oftentimes the sidekick is the comedic relief, or the hero’s assistant in absolutely desperate times. When the fires are extinguished and the newspaper is upside down, the main character is the one who is always praised for having fulfilled his heroic duty.
What about those “sidekicks” who really do all the savings? Those who risk their lives to make the hero succeed, and usually never get the credit they deserve. Sometimes the sidekick saves the whole world and just wants a simple garden with a pretty girl with ribbons in her hair. Sometimes that real hero is Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Ringstrilogy. The brave Samwise, played by Sean Astin, saves Frodo time and again from ultimate ruin and from drifting off course. There really wouldn’t be Middle-earth without Samwise Gamgee. Here are five moments that prove he was the true hero of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
5/5 “You can’t swim!” — The Fellowship of the Ring
In this scene from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingFrodo stands on the shore, wishing that the Ring had never come to him, that he had never had the burden of carrying it. In a moment of clarity and remembering what Gandalf had told him earlier, he decides to continue the journey alone. Frodo leaves a distraught Samwise Gamgee on the beach and shouts that he will go to Mordor alone. Sam then follows him into the lake, knowing he can’t swim. Frodo pulls him out of the deep, and Samwise repeats the promise he made to Gandalf and Frodo. “Don’t abandon him, Samwise Gamgee.” And he doesn’t intend to. Now Frodo plays the hero and pulls Sam out of the water, but Sam is steadfast and strong and shows how he would rather die than be without Frodo.
4/5 “Let him go, you filthy filth!” – The Return of the King
After Frodo is wrapped in the tissue of the giant spider monster Shelob, paralyzed and nearly killed in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the one and only Samwise Gamgee to save the day. Carrying out his cruel phrase, “Let him go, you filth,” he fights the monster and beats it despite their vast differences in size, forcing it to retreat into the shadows. Orcs eventually find them and Sam is forced to leave behind what he thinks is Frodo’s dead body, but after realizing he’s still alive and being taken by the Orcs, he follows, even if it means danger.
3/5 ‘That’s for Frodo! That’s for the Shire!” – The Return of the King
One more moment of The Return of the King: On his way to rescue Frodo from the orcs who took his body, Samwise Gamgee sneaks into the tower, armed only with a sword. He takes out four Orcs himself and kills them all for something special for him. He then sneaks up behind an Orc about to attack Frodo and stabs him first. Sam then reveals that he had the Ring with him all along so the Orcs wouldn’t take it – again, saving Frodo and Middle-earth.
2/5 “It’s like the great stories, Mr. Frodo.” – The two towers
Samwise Gamgee delivers one of the best, most inspiring speeches of all times in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, encourages Frodo to continue. After a Ringwraith attack, Frodo is about to give up. Samwise remembers what a story really matters, and explains all the events they’ve been through. Frodo asks what they are holding on to, why they should continue. Sam replies that “there is something good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it is worth fighting for.” Despite all the hardships and tragedies they’ve endured thus far, Sam hasn’t lost sight of the ultimate goal. If he hadn’t hoped to push the Fellowship forward, who knows what would have happened to Frodo and the Ring?
1/5 “I can carry you.” – The Return of the King
.jpeg)
One of the most heroic and iconic scenes in the Lord of the Rings franchise, this moment makes it clear that Samwise Gamgee really is the hero of these stories. Whether that’s his ruthless optimism and unflinching loyalty to help Frodo succeed in his mission, or his ability to always know what to say, Sam proves time and time again that he’s the savior. In this scene, he and Frodo have reached Mordor, but cannot muster the energy to continue. Sam holds Frodo in his arms and looks up at the mountain and how much there is to go. He tells Frodo about the Shire and how beautiful it looks in spring. Frodo can only see what the Ring shows him. Sam then utters the famous line, “I can’t carry it for you, but… I can carry you,” and proceeds to carry Frodo and the Ring to the fires of Mount Doom.