2 Words Still Define the Entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy 20 Years Later

From CBR, By Carolyn Jenkins

Image via New Line Cinema

In the world of fantasy, there are franchises, and there is The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal book series was released almost a century before the definitive adaptation came out, and nothing has ever come close to beating it. The sequel to The Hobbit set up archetypes that would resonate through the ages as Frodo Baggins went on a great odyssey to destroy the One Ring, destined to destroy the world.

Peter Jackson’s three-film series admittedly did not always stay completely faithful to Tolkien’s work, but it has become a classic in its own right, casting actors who would forever be remembered as their on-screen counterparts. From music to cinematography to acting, The Lord of the Rings has transcended the genre to reach iconic status. Every fan has their favorite moment, but there is one that will always tug at the heartstrings.

Aragorn Honored Frodo with a Simple Phrase

Image via New Line Cinema

The Lord of the Rings was epic in the truest sense of the word, as all the films led up to the final installment. The Return of the King charted Frodo and Sam’s long-anticipated trek up Mount Doom to finally throw the Ring into the fire. The film was also the culmination of Aragorn’s character, who started as a humble ranger. Marching up to the gates of Mordor, Aragorn had finally accepted his role as the King of Gondor.

For so long, he had been terrified that the weakness of his ancestor, Isildur, had traveled down the line, and he would not be a worthy king. He proved this fear wrong when he took up arms against the armies of Sauron just as his forefather had. This time, however, he came through on the other side as more of an important figure than those before.

Instead of maintaining the selfishness of Isildur taking the Ring for his own, Aragorn acted completely selflessly. Middle-earth’s only hope was for Frodo to toss the ring into the fires of Mount Doom, and Aragorn understood his role wasn’t necessarily as that hero, but as a supportive figure to help the hobbit get there. Everyone agreed to create a distraction so the Eye of Sauron would be drawn to the battle and not to what Frodo was doing.

Without hesitation, Aragorn uttered the two words, “For Frodo,” before charging into the breach. Aragorn had not seen Frodo in person since The Fellowship of the Ring, when he allowed Frodo to escape with Sam to continue on his own. Even still, the kingship with the halfling was strong, as was their shared devotion to saving the world.

The bonds of fellowship are the strongest part of The Lord of the Rings, no matter how much time or leagues separated the characters. Frodo had dedicated himself to destroying the Ring at great personal cost, and Aragorn understood that. He, too, would do what was right by sacrificing himself if needs be.

Even more heartwarming was the reaction of the remains of the Fellowship and even people who had never met Frodo before. All followed Aragorn into battle on the mere chance that their efforts would be enough to finally destroy Sauron once and for all. The Lord of the Rings has always been an optimistic story, and this result came about in the final film. But even as optimistic as the series is, the characters still remained forever changed throughout their experiences.

Frodo Suffered for His Inherent Goodness

Image via New Line Cinema

There have been many Chosen Ones in the fantasy pantheon, but Frodo Baggins is the metric that all that came after measure themselves to. Frodo’s inherent goodness was so powerful that it called others to action. While Dwarves and Elves alike argued about the best way to destroy the Ring, Frodo selflessly put himself forward as its steward.

With no thought of riches or glory, Frodo simply filled a need he knew was necessary. He had no greater destiny; all he knew was that it was right. Frodo's good intentions remained stalwart throughout the franchise, but he went through irreparable change nonetheless.

Frodo’s change was subtle at first, but it soon became clear that his soul was becoming frayed by accepting the task of the Ringbearer. Trusting no one else, Frodo wore the Ring around his neck, and though he had no intention of using it, it still cost him dearly. The influence of Sauron twisted his mind so that Gollum’s duplicity seemed more and more reasonable.

Unable to see through Gollum’s transparent desire for the Ring, Frodo lost sight of himself. His only True North was Sam, his best friend and gardener, who had followed him from The Shire. Only Sam could guide him through this maelstrom of hate that Sauron threw at him. Gollum was the only perpetrator of this.

Frodo continued to be terrorized throughout all of the films by giant spiders, cannibalistic orcs, and the army of Gondor. He would have fallen to the power of the Ring as everyone had before him, but he had one thing that no one else did. Samwise Gamgee was Frodo’s connection to his humanity, and whether he liked it or not, he was saved from almost losing himself.

What made Frodo’s trials so heartbreaking was the knowledge that he would never completely get better. Even after sharing poignant moments with Sam and getting rescued by Eagles, there was a part of him that would never be the same. The evil of the Ring had stung too deeply, and so did cuts from mystical blades.

Like his wounds, his soul would likely never heal, no matter how much love and affection he was given in his later years. Aragorn couldn’t have known this at the time, but Frodo’s future had a hint of sadness. What he did know was that Frodo had undergone a task that no one had to quite that extent. This trek across Middle-earth was dangerous and trying. At this point, everyone knew that the only person who was capable of it was Frodo.

The hobbit had shown more courage and fortitude than anyone else, and if there was a time to defend him and protect him from Sauron’s gaze, it was at that moment. Aragorn held Frodo in high esteem as much as any viewer, which became apparent at the end of the film.

Aragorn Ensured the World Knew of Frodo and The Hobbit's Sacrifice

Image via New Line Cinema

Aragorn ascending the throne of Gondor was a long time coming for Middle-earth and the Ranger himself. One of the final moments of the film contained a ceremony that celebrated the culmination of Aragorn’s character. As significant as this moment was, it wasn’t the emotional lynchpin of the series.

That came toward the end as Aragorn made his way through the crowd. As he passed, his court bowed to him in respect. When he got to the only four Hobbits at the ceremony, they followed suit. Once again, Aragorn acknowledged how vital the efforts of the Fellowship were, saying, “My friends, you bow to no one.”

Had it not been for the efforts of four Hobbits from the Shire, the world would have spun into chaos. Merry, Pippin, and Sam were extensions of Frodo, and they were all instrumental in the destruction of the Ring. This was acknowledged not just by Aragorn but by everyone else at their ceremony as they all inclined their heads in respect of the four Halflings, a world away from their home.

Aragorn’s admiration for Frodo and his kinsmen defined not just the character of the King of Gondor, but the entire series. In a world ruled by the threat of authoritarian control and an Armageddon-like future, it was an unassuming character who sacrificed his very soul to set things right. Elves, humans, and Dwarves had been fighting for centuries about how to defeat Sauron, and it all came down to the bravery of someone no one expected.

Peter Jackson didn’t shy away from the ramifications of Frodo’s decision, and it showed how it affected him throughout the entirety of his life. Even so, The Lord of the Rings was still an empowering tale about how anyone can make a difference. The series is literally a story about how the power of friendship saved the world from despair, which is a theme that will always remain relevant.

As Sam stated in The Two Towers, those are the stories that stick with you. Frodo, Sam, and the rest of the Fellowship never gave up, and it earned them a place in history forever. Frodo and Bilbo were among the only non-Elves to be invited to the Undying Lands, and Sam eventually followed suit as well. Frodo’s bravery is a metric that everyone should measure themselves by, and Aragorn made that abundantly clear with only two words.

Carolyn is a Movies & TV Feature Writer for CBR, where she covers film and television with a particular love for horror and fantasy. She also writes for Collider and has contributed to GameRant and Static Media, bringing years of entertainment writing experience.