The Best Lord Of The Rings Villains

Key Takeaways

The Lord of the Rings
features some of the best villains in pop culture, from terrifying creatures to wayward souls led astray.
These villains, such as Saruman and Shelob, pose significant threats to our heroes and their mission to destroy the One Ring.
Sauron, the ultimate villain, controls a legion of orcs and evil men and is determined to rule Middle-earth.

As a seasoned lover of tales from Middle-earth, I must say that these villains have left quite an indelible mark on my imagination. Among them, Sauron stands out as the grandmaster puppeteer, pulling the strings of destruction and corruption with his insatiable thirst for power.

The epic tale, The Lord of the Rings, is filled with grand battles, poignant character developments, and heroic acts beyond compare. Yet, it’s crucial to note that these significant actions wouldn’t hold much weight without formidable antagonists barring our heroes’ path. J.R.R. Tolkien has indeed crafted awe-inspiring adversaries who appear almost invincible.

In “The Lord of the Rings,” the antagonists can be fearsome beings that one could only imagine or lost souls who have strayed from their path. Regardless, they are among the most memorable and chilling villains in popular culture history. This is perhaps why their eventual defeat strikes a chord with so many readers.

12 The Mouth Of Sauron

A Terrifying Presence Despite Limited Screen Time

Appeared In: The Return of the King (2003).

The Mouth of Sauron was once a human who fell under the influence of the dark lord. He maintains a direct line with Sauron in the tower of Barad Dur and communicates his master’s strategies to the lower-ranking servants of Mordor. This role has left him disfigured and intimidating, although he seldom participates in battles on the field.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but recount an intriguing scene from Middle Earth: I was the solitary figure who galloped forth to confront Aragorn and his companions at the ominous Black Gate, following the siege of Minas Tirith. My intention was to dampen the king’s spirit with false tales of Frodo’s demise, but alas, my efforts were swiftly cut short. In that very moment, I found myself severed from life, never to be seen or heard from again.

11 Shelob

A Hungry Monster Who Nearly Ends Frodo’s Quest

Appeared In: The Return of the King, (2003).

In simpler terms, Shelob is one of the offspring of the wicked creature Ungoliant from the First Age. She’s a massive spider that stays in the narrow passes of Cirith Ungol all by herself. Although Sauron doesn’t directly command Shelob, he doesn’t mind if she preys on lost orcs or unwelcome travelers attempting to secretly enter Mordor.

On his mission to eliminate the Ring, Frodo unwittingly encounters this monstrous creature. Cunning as she is, Shelob manages to trap the hobbit, but her intent to consume the ring-bearer is thwarted by Sam just in the nick of time. Had the gardener not appeared promptly, Shelob might have swallowed up Middle-earth’s sole opportunity to permanently vanquish Sauron.

10 Lurtz

Successfully Kills One Of The Fellowship

Appeared In:The Fellowship Of The Ring, (2001).

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to share that a character named Lurtz was specifically designed for the film adaptations to give the Uruk-Hai a physical presence. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s original work, these creatures were merely mentioned but lacked a defined appearance. Lurtz, one of the first Uruks bred in Isengard under Saruman’s control, was given the mission to pursue the Fellowship of the Ring and capture the halflings to bring them to Saruman’s tower for torment.

In this scenario, Lurtz and his Uruk-Hai allies encounter the primary characters at Amon Hen’s throne. Although Frodo avoids battle, Lurtz fatally wounds Boromir with three arrows during a heroic attempt to protect Merry and Pippin. Eventually, Aragorn overpowers Lurtz, but his aggression splinters the Fellowship, leaving the ring-bearer more exposed than ever.

9 Gothmog

The Brutal Leader Of The Siege Of Minas Tirith

Appeared In: The Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

It was unlikely that Sauron would achieve victory in seizing Minas Tirith with a disorganized horde of orcs. This is why Gothmog, a skilled commander, was dispatched to lead his forces during the final stand of the free peoples in the West. Driven by his intense hatred for men, Gothmog’s strategic intellect enabled him to successfully penetrate the defenses of Gondor’s principal city. Even when the Rohirrim arrived as reinforcements on the Pelennor, Gothmog’s tactical prowess continued to serve him well.

Without Aragorn supporting the dead, there’s a strong possibility that Gothmog would have decimated a significant portion of Gondor and Rohan with his troops. Regrettably, the orc commander met his end at the hands of the dead as he tried to kill Eowyn.

8 Grima Wormtongue

A Wicked Man Who Does Saruman’s Bidding

Appeared In: The Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to rephrase the given statement:

In Rohan, Grima Wormtongue serves as King Theoden’s main counselor, although the people remain unaware of it, Grima is secretly allied with Saruman. At Saruman’s command, Wormtongue subtly poisons Theoden’s thoughts to make the king indifferent towards the deterioration of his kingdom. It was only by chance that Gandalf the White came, leading to Grima’s dismissal and the release of King Theoden from Wormtongue’s toxic verbiage.

7 Denethor

A Paranoid And Stubborn Ruler

Appeared In:The Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

In the books compared to the movies, the character of Denethor is portrayed as more compassionate rather than villainous. While he may not be a true villain, his actions certainly act as obstacles in the storyline. In both versions, it’s his regrettable decisions, combined with an unyielding belief that he’s the most intelligent person around, that puts Minas Tirith at risk of being destroyed. Additionally, Denethor made a grave error by peering into a Palantir and misinterpreting what he observed.

Denethor’s apathy and harshness are starkly contrasted by his behavior towards his sons, Boromir and Faramir. People generally disapprove of parents who show favoritism towards one child over another. Even though Denethor exhibits a change in feelings when Faramir is near death, he remains adamant about dousing him with oil and setting him alight, unwilling to accept that his son might still be alive. To add to his unacceptable behavior, he is also disrespectful towards Pippin, an action that cannot be forgiven.

6 Gollum

The Evil Side Of A Warped Mind

Appeared In: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

Originally, a hobbit named Smeagol resided by riverside. However, it was upon discovering the One Ring that he turned into the wretched creature known as Gollum, driven by its power to commit murder and seek refuge in the mountains. For an extended period, Gollum’s life deviated from the norm, until a fateful encounter with Bilbo Baggins forced him to relinquish the Ring.

He did not see his precious again until he met Frodo on his journey to destroy the Ring for good. During his time with the hobbit, some of Smeagol was redeemed and the evil within the creature subsided. Unfortunately, Gollum soon returned to try and kill Frodo by leading him directly into the path of Shelob. Luckily, Gollum’s evil is what drove him to bite off the ring-bearer’s finger, causing the object and Gollum to fall into the fires of Mount Doom.

5 The Watcher In The Water

It Reached For The Ringbearer

Appeared In: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).

A seemingly ordinary beast, possibly mistaken for a common cave dweller or large ogre, this entity is called “The Watcher in the Water“. It’s not there idly bathing before Moria’s gates by mere chance. After they manage to repel it, this creature ensnares the Fellowship within the mines, compelling them to press on, risking the perils that lie ahead due to its presence.

As a follower, I can’t help but suspect that this wasn’t just an accidental encounter. The Watcher, you see, didn’t randomly pick Frodo out of many others who could have been within its grasp. It felt more like a deliberate choice, a move to ensnare us in Moria. And as I look back, it seems clear now that trapping us was part of a larger scheme to lead us straight into the hands of goblins and eventually, the Balrog.

4 The Balrog

An Ancient Monster Too Powerful For Gandalf The Gray

Appeared In:The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).

The Balrog that the fellowship encounters in Moria is an old and powerful creature from Middle-earth, originally serving Morgoth, a former master of Sauron, during the First Age. Remarkably, only this particular Balrog remained alive or hidden in the deep recesses of Moria, with its kind being either extinct or forgotten over time.

As they head east, the Fellowship can only encounter the Balrog, an abominable creature, lurking within the mountain. This monstrous being sends everything it encounters fleeing in terror. It’s only through a confrontation with Gandalf that the rest of their group manages to leave Moria unscathed. The Balrog proves too strong for Gandalf, and he, too, falls in Moria, leaving behind his signature gray cloak.

3 The Witch King

Sauron’s Chief Servant

Appeared In: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

The Witch King of Angmar serves as the chief among the Nazgul, the sinister entities once human, now bound by the power of the One Ring. He’s an undead being, not a typical ghost, but rather resembling a wraith or lich in nature. His very presence is enough to instill terror in any living being.

In the epic tale of “The Lord of the Rings,” the Witch King boasts two significant triumphs. The first occurs at Weathertop where he wounds Frodo and nearly retrieves the Ring for his overlord. However, a timely intervention by Aragorn and Arwen prevented the quest from coming to an untimely end.

In another scenario, it happens when the Witch King slays King Theoden of Rohan during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. By extending Theoden’s death, he aims to prolong the suffering. This prolonged agony moves Eowyn to protect her fallen uncle. The sorrow from this tragic loss ultimately results in the Witch King’s defeat at the hands of Merry and Eowyn.

2 Saruman

Swayed By The Power Of The Ring

Appeared In: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

Initially, when spectators encounter Saruman, he serves as the leader of the White Council, a wizard who Gandalf holds in the highest regard. Regrettably, it doesn’t take much time before the original spirit being, Saruman, aligns himself with Sauron. In fact, he goes so far as to imprison Gandalf within Isengard, which compels Frodo to embark on his journey alone at the outset.

The traitor is determined on seizing the One Ring with the intent of annihilating human world, while Saruman assembles an army of Uruk-Hai and wages war against his former allies in Rohan. However, it is his lack of knowledge about the surrounding forest that ultimately leads to his defeat at the hands of the Ents (tree-like beings).

1 Sauron

The End Boss Of Every LotR Story

Appeared In: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Two Towers (2002), Return of the King, (2003).

As a gamer immersed in the world of Middle-earth, I’ve come to realize that it’s Sauron who pulls the strings of every malevolent force here. This corrupted spirit, once a Maia, is the mastermind behind the creation of the Rings of Power and all the havoc they’ve wreaked. His ambition is singular: to dominate Middle-earth, and he’s willing to annihilate anyone or anything that dares stand against him in his quest for power.

He controls a legion of Orcs and evil men willing to die for Sauron’s victory, or just to show their loyalty. Every corrupted force in the Third Age can be traced back to Sauron, including several villains on this list. Saruman is seduced by his deadly lies and monsters like the Balrog and the Watcher were under his command as part of Melkor’s forces. It is only by luck, and the power of Hobbits, which enabled the free people of Middle-earth to get rid of the tyrant once and for all.

2024-10-03 04:54