There are many heroes that take part in the epic quest that comprises The Lord of the Rings, especially when it comes to the iconic Fellowship. Indeed, much of the appeal of this majestic, inspirational tale stems from this dynamic cast and their various heroics to save Middle-earth from destruction. It terms of the key figures, most people tend to think of the charismatic ranger-turned-king Aragorn, the wise wizard Gandalf, and the ring-bearing hero Frodo.
Yet, there are a few that even some fans seem to overlook when it comes to their contributions. On the one hand, there's the fighter from Gondor, Boromir, and on the other - Frodo's supportive companion, Sam. So which is more underrated and undervalued? This list will make sense of it all and cover five reasons each of these characters is the most unsung hero of the franchise.
BOROMIR: He Trained The Hobbits
Early in their journey, Boromir is seen taking part in a light sparring session with Merry and Pippin. It may seem like a minor action on the part of this Gondorian fighter, though it no-doubt proves useful in them taking up arms against the Orcs later on. And hey; given the small stature of the Hobbits, it surely benefits them to hone their fighting skills!
Despite having a relatively short stint in the Fellowship and being its first and only major casualty, Boromir is often shown being a mentor and almost a father figure for the Hobbits.
SAM: He Was At Frodo's Side Since The Beginning
It's certainly true that heroes like Aragorn and Legolas prove instrumental in the quest of the Fellowship, while providing much of the muscle. But it was Sam who was there from the outset, extending all the way back to the early part of Fellowship, where he departs the Shire with Frodo.
From there, he only rarely ever leaves his side - except for when he's all-but forced to by Frodo after being manipulated by Gollum. In this sense, Sam is the consistent unsung hero in the series as he plays a major role in the adventure from start to finish.
BOROMIR: His Role In Getting The Fellowship Through Moria
Many characters step up in one way or another during their unsettling journey through the dark caverns of Moria. Yet, in many of these scenes, Boromir shines through as a particularly great fighter. He engages the monstrous Watcher in the Water at its entrance head-on, likely saving Frodo from being dragged away, and takes on many of the goblins that ambush them in the caves.
He nearly takes an arrow to the head upon scouting one of the areas and assists Aragorn in barricading one of the doorways. Even when Gandalf finds himself in danger and hope seems lost, Boromir steps up by holding Frodo back and lending emotional support to the grieving Hobbits.
SAM: He's Selfless & Supportive
While Gollum spends much of the quest in the latter two films being an underhanded pest, Sam remains the strong, cool-headed sidekick to an increasingly-distraught Frodo. But perhaps even more important than his strength is his selflessness and generally supportive nature.
He often goes out of his way to tend to Frodo, offering to carry the Ring when it's seemingly destroying him, and giving his water and lembas bread. From his cooking to his fighting and simply keeping a watchful eye on Gollum, Sam always seems to have his back.
BOROMIR: His Role In Fighting For Gondor
One aspect of Boromir that tends to be overlooked is his role in fighting for Gondor against the growing hordes of Orcs that threaten it. Director Peter Jackson highlights this point a bit in the extended edition of The Two Towers, where Boromir is seen shouting an inspirational victory speech to his men after an apparent victory at Osgiliath.
And being the first-born son of the Steward Denethor, Boromir has no doubt seen ample fighting against Gondor's Orc rivals of neighboring Mordor. While his role in this campaign rarely shows up in the films, the fact that he plays a large part in keeping Gondor safe is crucial in the overarching plot.
SAM: Saving Frodo From Shelob
Let's face it; if not for "Samwise the Brave" as Frodo calls him, this expedition to get the Ring into Mount Doom could have been stopped dead in its tracks by a giant spider.
After Gollum's attempt to turn Baggins into Shelob's dinner by luring him to her cave, Sam swoops in to save the day at the eleventh hour and single-handedly takes her out. Though more heroics would be needed after this, this is both an impressive and heroic move on Sam's part - especially since he'd been turned away by a corrupted Frodo earlier.
BOROMIR: He Overcomes The Temptation Of The Ring
It's established that of all the races, it is the relatively vulnerable race of men that's most easily seduced by the power of the One Ring. In fact, even the Númenorean himself, Aragorn, appears to have a slight attraction to it when gazing at it.
Yet, despite being but a mortal man, Boromir ultimately apologizes to Frodo after his attempt to wrestle the Ring from him and makes up for it in a major way. He does this with what could arguably be the trilogy's ultimate act of sacrifice.
SAM: Rescuing Frodo From The Orc Tower
Following Sam's victory over the hungry Shelob, he and a catatonic Frodo find themselves out of the frying pan and into the fire, as it were. Unfortunately, Frodo ends up getting captured by some Orcs and confined in the Tower of Cirith Ungol, deep in Mordor.
But it seems Sam isn't done with his heroics, as he sneaks into the room where he's being held and skews the unsuspecting Orcs with Frodo's blade, Sting. It's tough to find a cooler, more significant moment of heroism in the whole trilogy than that.
BOROMIR: Attempting To Save Merry & Pippin From The Uruk-Hai
It goes without saying that Frodo and Sam become the key players for much of this trilogy. Yet, Merry and Pippin also played a big part in saving Middle-Earth, by fighting for Rohan (Merry) and Gondor (Pippin) as well as coaxing the Ents to fight. Yet, without Boromir's fight to save them, these two may not have been around after Fellowship in the first place.
It's quite the emotional moment to see Boromir single-handedly take on dozens of super-powered Orcs, all while protecting the two Hobbits and sounding his horn for backup. Although he's ultimately defeated, his final stand proves inspirational and useful in thinning out this Uruk battalion, which is dealt with for good in The Two Towers.
SAM: Literally Carrying Frodo To Mount Doom
When Sam speaks the powerful line -- "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you" -- to a spent Frodo, he means it. At the end of The Return of the King, it seems Frodo and Sam have come so close, only to run out of steam at the base of Mount Doom.
But ultimately it's Sam who literally carries the Ring-bearer the rest of the way. Even after all that traveling through ruins and warding off various foes, Sam is willing to carry Frodo all the way to the end of the line. It's a classic moment of heroism in film and in fantasy, and it was a key factor in the destruction of the One Ring.