The Lord of the Rings franchise is chock-full of endearing and relatable characters, many of whom share a strong connection. Most of the friendships present in the franchise are given the appropriate time to evolve, permitting them to become more convincing than they were during the beginning of the story.
Each friendship in The Lord of the Rings is different. Some characters will start as enemies, while others will already have a solid foundation. No matter the history associated with the bond of the two characters, the way their relationship blossoms is designed to feel natural, making the love they feel for each other that much more believable.
5 Gandalf & Bilbo
If not for Gandalf's somewhat insistent nature, Bilbo would never have gone on the many adventures he did. Hobbit folk live mostly quiet and peaceful lives and will turn their noses up at anything out of the ordinary. This was made evident through Bilbo's encounter with Gandalf when the famed wizard asked the young hobbit to accompany him on a journey to the Misty Mountain. Bilbo initially scoffed at the idea but, after hearing a tragic dwarven tale, decided to embark on this endeavor out of the goodness of his heart.
Though Bilbo had no intention of pursuing a friendship with Gandalf, the two became inseparable after the experiences they shared. They remained friends for many years after their first adventure and met again during The Fellowship of the Rings for Bilbo's "eleventy-first" birthday. The two eventually set sail for the Undying Lands to live out the rest of their days in each other's company.
4 Legolas & Gimli
Legolas and Gimli first meet at the Council of Elrond to discuss what should be done with the ring. The two offer their services to Frodo on his quest to deliver the ring to the fires of Mount Doom, but not before Gimli interjects with "I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" The beginning of their journey together reveals their prejudices toward each other.
The history between dwarves and elves has not been friendly, so it takes a while for them to overcome their differences. When they eventually do, the two form a surprisingly strong bond. The insults they exchange slowly fade in favor of friendly banter. The two even engage in friendly competitions where they both compete to achieve the most kills in battle. The end of their adventure sees Gimli remarking on how he never intended to die with an elf by his side, to which Legolas replies "What about side by side with a friend?"
3 Merry & Pippin
Merry and Pippin share what is perhaps the most charming friendship in the entire Lord of the Rings franchise. Though they are initially introduced to fill the role of comic relief, the shocking events that befall them on their journey force them to rely on each other more than they have before. It takes the pair a long time to fully realize how perilous their adventure is destined to become, but it is only when they are separated that this realization kicks in.
Their relationship offers the viewer several moments of much-needed levity throughout the otherwise more serious story. It is not uncommon for friendships like this to lessen a narrative's intended impact, but Merry and Pippin's bond never oversteps its limits. The time they are forced to spend apart in The Return of the King reveals exactly how much they care for each other. The Battle of the Black Gate in The Return of the King saw the duo running head-first into what should have been an unwinnable battle, but the unbreakable bond they share gave them a semblance of hope.
2 Gollum & The Ring
There are few people in Middle-earth willing to commit murder for the sake of pursuing a friendship, but Sméagol, also known as Gollum, is a terrifying exception. While fishing with Déagol, his cousin and best friend, the latter falls into the water. Déagol happens upon a pretty gold ring during his time underwater and quickly become transfixed by it.
Sméagol shares a similar feeling about the unlikely piece of jewelry and kills his former friend in the hope of claiming it as his own. Once in his possession, the ring corrupts Sméagol's mind and slowly begins to wither his physical appearance. He becomes obsessed with the ring and decides to dedicate his life to it. He turns into a shell of his former self, discarding his previous life and opting to spend the rest of his twisted existence hiding in the shadows with his so-called "precious." Though it is mostly a one-sided friendship, it is hard to ignore what Sméagol was willing to go through to pursue it.
1 Frodo & Sam
Frodo and Sam began their journey across Middle-earth together as firm friends who already share a strong bond. The Fellowship of the Ring offers a brief glimpse into the inner workings of their relationship, but the love they share for one another only truly blossoms after the Fellowship is disbanded.
In the hope of preventing the ring from corrupting any more of his comrades, Frodo decides to deliver it to Mordor on his own. Sam realizes this and, though he understands Frodo's reasoning, refuses to let him bear this burden alone. Unable to swim, he pursues his fleeing friend and nearly drowns as a result. Though the pair share multiple disagreements throughout their adventure, the love they share is never negated. Though their love for each other is presented as platonic, the idea of the two sharing romantic feelings is never outright denied. Not only are they one of the best examples of friendship in The Lord of the Rings, but also across multiple franchises.