There’s much to love about The Lord of the Rings. Both the original novels by Tolkien and their film adaptation by Peter Jackson have become parts of pop culture, and the advent of meme culture has solidified their presence in the collective consciousness.
Now that Halloween is almost here, it’s time to start thinking about the characters that appear in this epic in new and exciting ways, and what better method of understanding these heroes can there be than to compare them to their Halloween candy counterpart? Whether sweet, sour, or chocolatey, the various candies of the festive season match surprisingly well with these beloved characters.
10 Reese’s Cups - Samwise
The Reese’s, in whatever form, is arguably the perfect candy, blending together two great tastes that taste great together. What better way can there be to describe Samwise Gamgee, one of the most beloved characters in all of fantasy literature? With his eternal optimism and his steadfast devotion to Frodo, he is in some ways the ultimate hero of this story, the person who played a pivotal role in helping his master to destroy the Ring and free Middle-earth from Sauron’s threat.
9 Candy Corn - Frodo
This one is probably a bit contentious but, let’s be real, Frodo is a bit of a limp noodle when it comes to epic heroes- much less a bearer of the One Ring, particularly as he was portrayed by Elijah Wood. For the majority of the second and third films, he moons about, never quite able to muster the energy to be a compelling character.
Some, however, do end up loving him, and he remains one of the most divisive characters in the series. That matches pretty well with candy corn, which is a similarly divisive sweet.
8 Jolly Rancher - Legolas
Anyone who’s ever had a Jolly Rancher knows that they are a mouthwatering sweet treat. Whether sweet or sour, they are definitely one of the best candies out there. Likewise, Legolas is a bit of radiance in an epic that can sometimes seem a bit dour. A lot of this has to do with the charisma that Orlando Bloom brings to the role, and the fact that he’s just so darn beautiful really helps make him one of the most beloved of the many characters that appear.
7 M&Ms - Gandalf
The M&M is a very tasty candy, and it’s proved surprisingly versatile over the years, taking on a number of characteristics--peanuts, almonds, peanut butter, pretzel--to keep up with the changing tastes of the time. In a similar fashion, Gandalf has proven himself to be a very flexible sort of character, first appearing as Gandalf the Grey and then, after having been resurrected from the dead, appearing as the even more powerful Gandalf the White. And, like M&Ms, he’s just a pleasure to have around.
6 Starburst - Pippin
Everyone knows that the Starburst is one of the best candies out there. It’s a little bit of joy wrapped up in a sweet, fruity candy. It’s virtually impossible not to love one. The same could definitely be said of the hobbit Pippin, who seems to move through the world with a sort of blissful ignorance of the importance of what’s going on around him. However, like the Starburst, there are layers and depth to him that only become apparent as the films go on.
5 Snickers - Aragorn
The Snickers is a noble sort of candy. While not as appreciated and honored as the Reese’s, it still has a lovely balance of flavors, and it more than holds its own against other chocolate bars. Aragorn, likewise, is a complicated and deceptive character, for while he originally lacks the outward nobility of a Boromir, he eventually reveals that he is truly the stuff of which great kings are made, and it’s a real joy to see him sit on the throne of Gondor at last.
4 Hershey Bar - Merry
The Hershey bar is another of those chocolates that seems deceptively simple. After all, even with almonds, it’s a bit basic. However, anyone who has tasted this candy knows that it’s surprisingly delicious and satisfying. Meriadoc, who goes by the name of Merry to his friends, begins the films as a rather silly hobbit like Pippin but, as he encounters the wider world, he becomes more mature and complex as a character, revealing the hidden depths that were there all along.
3 Sour Patch Kids - Saruman
Like the best of candy, Sour Patch Kids have a bit of sweet and sour, and they are rather deceptive in that they trick the tongue.
Saruman is one of the craftiest characters to appear in either the books or the films, and while at first he appears to be an ally with the good of Middle-earth in mind, it soon becomes very clear that there are hidden, darker depths to his character, and that he is misleading Gandalf, as well as most of those on the White Council, as to his true intentions where the One Ring are concerned.
2 Kit Kat - Boromir
While not quite as delicious or savory as some of the other chocolate candies, there’s still a lot to like about the Kit Kat, and there are times when it hits the spot. As the son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, Boromir is very good at being a noble warrior, though he sometimes has some significant lapses of judgment, and he really refuses to recognize the danger that the Ring poses, to him and to everyone, until it’s almost too late.
1 Sweet Tarts - Gimli
Gimli, at least as he is portrayed by Jonathan Rhys-Davies, is a bit of irascible character, and at first he is very prickly and hard to get along with (particularly when it comes to Legolas). However, like the Sweet Tart, there’s actually quite a lot going on in Gimli’s character, much of which isn’t revealed until the second and third films, when it’s shown that he really does have quite a lot of affection for Legolas. By the end, it’s hard not to feel as much love for the dwarf as one feels for the noble Sweet Tart.
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