Bad at fighting? Sam stabbed Shelob, the progeny of a cosmic horror that had killed elves, orcs and men barely taking a scratch. Merry and Frodo both stabbed a Ringwraith. Pippin killed a troll at the gates of Mordor. Merry and Pippin also killed men at the Scouring of the Shire.
Merry delivered arguably the most important blow to the Witch-King of Angmar himself. Not to diminish the importance of Eowyn, but her stab wouldn't have killed the Witch-King if Merry hadn't dispelled his magic first.
(Merry's enchanted blade, found in the Barrow-downs and given to him by Tom Bombadil, was specifically-designed by the Dunedain of Cardolan as an anti-Witch-King weapon.)
Every instance of a hobbit being 'good at fighting' is a case of highly contextualised, highly circumstantial violence that involved more determination and luck than skill or aggression. They're written as unlikely heroes, and it's at best disingenuous to reframe that as their having any particular facility with combat.
That was just Bullroarer setting the standard for Tookishness, an unpleasant chore that couldn't be avoided under the circumstances. I'm sure after the battle he was back to eating soft cheeses and twitching his curtains at the neighbours like a normal hobbit.
None of the hobbies have any real training. Sam is capable, probably owning more to having a physically demanding profession than the other hobbits, but he wins more by persistence than fighting skill.
17 Comments
banazir@lemmy.ml · 51 pts · 12d
Bad at fighting? Sam stabbed Shelob, the progeny of a cosmic horror that had killed elves, orcs and men barely taking a scratch. Merry and Frodo both stabbed a Ringwraith. Pippin killed a troll at the gates of Mordor. Merry and Pippin also killed men at the Scouring of the Shire.
Bad at fighting.
Sure buddy. Sure.
grue@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 12d
Merry delivered arguably the most important blow to the Witch-King of Angmar himself. Not to diminish the importance of Eowyn, but her stab wouldn't have killed the Witch-King if Merry hadn't dispelled his magic first.
(Merry's enchanted blade, found in the Barrow-downs and given to him by Tom Bombadil, was specifically-designed by the Dunedain of Cardolan as an anti-Witch-King weapon.)
yakko@feddit.uk · 28 pts · 12d
Every instance of a hobbit being 'good at fighting' is a case of highly contextualised, highly circumstantial violence that involved more determination and luck than skill or aggression. They're written as unlikely heroes, and it's at best disingenuous to reframe that as their having any particular facility with combat.
TheSlad@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 11d
Tolkein is very explicit in that you should not fuck with a hobbit who's got a rock and a sling.
yakko@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 11d
Or an apple, yes I know
vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 11d
Reminder that the hobbits won the Shire from the goblins through battle and mettle while inventing the game of Golf for Middle Earth.
yakko@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 11d
That was just Bullroarer setting the standard for Tookishness, an unpleasant chore that couldn't be avoided under the circumstances. I'm sure after the battle he was back to eating soft cheeses and twitching his curtains at the neighbours like a normal hobbit.
grue@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 11d
Yeah, that's probably part of why D&D halflings get luck bonuses. But still, they get results!
ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works · 30 pts · 12d
I confess that to this day (having seen the movies and read the books multiple times) I cannot tell Merry and Pippin apart. They're the same hobbit.
Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works · 23 pts · 12d
Pipin is the one that sings and looks like a goof.
Merry was a drug addict in lost
ruuster13@lemmy.zip · 12 pts · 12d
Merry looks like a toad. Pippin looks like he keeps one in his mouth.
The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 12d
...I always have to look it up.
LaLuzDelSol@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 11d
Merry has lighter hair, thats the easiest way.
njm1314@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 12d
Sam is bad at fighting? Could have fooled me.
snooggums@piefed.world · 6 pts · 12d
None of the hobbies have any real training. Sam is capable, probably owning more to having a physically demanding profession than the other hobbits, but he wins more by persistence than fighting skill.
njm1314@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 11d
Persistence or skill, seems irrelevant because he's good at fighting. He has a habit of kicking ass.
Rubisco@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 11d
"Where's Boromir? Where is my son?"
"Somewhere directly behind this giant crosshair, I think."