In every hero’s story, there’s 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 does the saving and moves the story along, while often the sidekick is the comedic relief, or the aide to the hero in absolutely desperate times. When the fires are put out and the newspaper has its headline, the main character is the one always getting the praise, having fulfilled their hero duty.
What about those “sidekicks” that really do all the saving? Those that put their lives on the line for the hero to succeed, and usually never receive the credit they deserve. Sometimes, the sidekick saves the entire world and just wants a simple garden with a beautiful girl with ribbons in her hair. Sometimes that real hero is Samwise Gamgee of the Lord of the Ringstrilogy. Played by Sean Astin, the brave Samwise saves Frodo from ultimate demise and from straying from his course, time and time again. There would be no Middle-earth without Samwise Gamgee, really. Here are five moments that prove that he was the true hero of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 “You can’t swim!” — The Fellowship of the Ring
New Line Cinema
In this scene from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo stands on the shore, wishing the Ring had never come to him, that he never had the burden of carrying it. In a moment of clarity and remembering what Gandalf had previously told him, he decides to continue the journey, alone. Leaving a distraught Samwise Gamgee on the beach, Frodo shouts that he will be going to Mordor on his own. Sam then follows him into the lake, knowing he is unable to swim. Frodo pulls him from the depths and Samwise repeats the promise he made to Gandalf and Frodo. “Don’t you leave him Samwise Gamgee.” And he doesn’t intend to. Now, Frodo does play the hero and pulls Sam out of the water, but Sam is steadfast and strong, showing how he would rather die than be without Frodo.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 “Let him go, you filth!” — The Return of the King
After Frodo is wrapped up in the giant spider monster Shelob’s webbing, and is paralyzed and almost killed in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the one and only Samwise Gamgee saves the day. Delivering his vicious line, “Let him go, you filth,” he fights the monster and strikes it despite their sheer size differences, forcing it to retreat back into the shadows. Orcs end up finding them, and Sam is forced to leave what he believes is Frodo’s dead body, but after realizing he is still alive and being taken by the Orcs, he follows, even if it means peril.
3 “That’s for Frodo! That’s for the Shire!” — The Return of the King
Another moment from The Return of the King: on his way to save Frodo from the Orcs that took his body, Samwise Gamgee sneaks into the Tower armed only with a sword. He takes out four Orcs by himself, killing each for something special to him. He then sneaks up behind an Orc that is about to attack Frodo and sticks him first. Sam then reveals that he had been carrying the Ring all along so that the Orcs wouldn’t take it — once again, saving Frodo and Middle-earth.
2 “It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo.” — The Two Towers
Samwise Gamgee delivers one of the best, most inspiring speeches of all time in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, encouraging Frodo to keep going. After a Ringwraith attack, Frodo is on the edge of giving up. Samwise recalls what makes a story really matter, and explains all the events they have gone through. Frodo asks what are they holding onto, why they must keep going. Sam replies that “there is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And that’s worth fighting for.” Despite all the hardships and tragedies they’ve endured until this point, Sam hasn’t lost sight of the ultimate goal. If it weren’t for his hope, pushing the Fellowship to continue, who know what would have happened to Frodo and the Ring?
1 “I can carry you.” — The Return of the King
One of the most heroic and iconic scenes in the Lord of the Rings franchise, this moment drives home the fact that Samwise Gamgee is truly the hero of these stories. Whether that be his relentless optimism and fearless loyalty to helping Frodo succeed in his mission, or his ability to always know what to say, Sam proves himself to be the savior over and over again. In this scene, he and Frodo have made it to Mordor, but are unable to muster the energy to go on any further. Sam holds Frodo in his arms and looks up to the mountain and how much is left to go. He tells Frodo about the Shire, and how beautiful it looks in the spring. Frodo only can see what the Ring is showing him. Sam then utters the famous line, “I cannot carry it for you, but I can carry you,” and proceeds to carry Frodo and the Ring up to the fires of Mount Doom.
