Although I am a big fan of the conventional favourites like Aragorn and Boromir, I've also developed a big admiration for the character whom I feel is the most overlooked, undervalued and unloved of the Company - Legolas. I'd also like to point out that Legolas was my favourite even before I watched the movie with the decidedly gorgeous Orlando Bloom portraying our favourite Woodland Elf.

Legolas may not have as large a role as some others in the Fellowship, but I still regard him as a critical member of the Fellowship with a significant role to play. Legolas is a true team-player who does not have ego or a problem subsuming his individuality for the greater good of the group.

He is undoubtedly the coolest of the group. He sings, is handy with a bow and arrow, can do damage with a knife where necessary, leaps lightly over snow, notices when no one else does that poor Sam is injured, is keen-sighted, doesn't require rest (can walk while sleeping), can ride a horse without saddle and reins, overcomes his prejudices and befriends a dwarf, is unquestioningly loyal to the Fellowship (would walk the Paths of the Dead) and NEVER complains. The closest thing to a whinge I can recall from Legolas is when he says: "I don't want to go into Moria" or something like that - and who can possibly blame him for that?

The Legolas / Gimli friendship for many people is the highlight of the novel. Legolas is also remarkably goal-oriented - see how he, Gimli and Aragorn are relentless in their pursuit of the orcs who have captured Pippin and Merry.

People who diss Legolas

When I read LOTR for the first time in 2001, I was completely enspelled and am now a fan. I saw the teaser at the cinema (the part where the Fellowship are coming over the mountain and the camera rests for a moment on Legolas and he's looking all magical and intriguing). On the basis of that moment, I asked a Tolkien fan about him and he said: "Oh that's Legolas - he's an elf and just there to make up numbers".

In reading LOTR while I agree that Legolas was there to represent the Elves - I think it's wronging he and Gimli to say that they're just there to make up numbers.

Nonetheless, dismissing Legolas st just being there to "make up the numbers" appears to be a common theme. For instance, take a look at the Hall of Fire discussion chat archives over at TheOneRing.net on the instance when they discussed Legolas: http://www.theonering.net/barlimans/hall_logs/072200.html

"legolas was important but he wasnt vital"

"Important, but not a primary figure in the scheme of things"

"yes he was Leowyn...but I still think he was one of the least important of the Nine Walkers"

"Tolkien says he accomplished the least of the nine."

"Tolkien himself said he figured least into the equation of all the Fellowship"

Hmm, and the most heart-breaking of them all was:

well I think we can safely assume from this conversation that Legolas, while a good character, wasn't integral to the story...there are just a handful of incidents in which he proved especially useful!

On top of that, I'm kind of fed up with people always going on and on about how Legolas was one of the lower tier elves. I mean isn't that an incredibly feudal way of thinking???

"He stands not alone", said Legolas, bending his bow and fitting an arrow with hands that moved quicker than sight. "You would die before your stroke fell".

For me, Legolas is the quintessential nice guy. Or nice elf. People just haven't valued his contribution.

He may not have performed an individual act of heroism or committed an act that was pivotal in terms of the storyline - but I think he was a big factor in maintaining esprit de corps. He pretty much stays positive and loyal throughout the whole book.

Orlando Bloom Multimedia