The quality issues of "Rings of Power" aside, for anyone who believes that Tolkien's works don't include moral grayness, there is only one response: Fëanor.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 2 months ago (2 children)

No need to go even that far, Tom Bombadil is as morally gray or neutral as a character can be.

He doesn't care about right or wrong, he's just having good time banging his beautiful wife and singing songs about her

[–] matthewmercury@reddthat.com 4 points 2 months ago

Fwiw, I see Jack Black and Renee Elise Goldsberry for these roles.

[–] AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 months ago

I like how at the Council of Elrond, someone suggests entrusting the One Ring to Tom Bombadil, because he could be trusted to misuse it and Elrond is like "nah, that's the problem — he's so disinclined to its power that he'd use it as a paperweight and misplace it or something"

[–] Blaze@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

How is qualified again, "fiercest soul to have ever lived in Arda", or something along those lines?

[–] squirrel@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The way I interprete Tolkien, I think he meant Fëanor as an example how even the best among the best can be corrupted by their hatred. He does not mince words in regards to Fëanor's positive attributes after all.

For Fëanor was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind: in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and subtlety alike: of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and a bright flame was in him.

[–] Blaze@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 months ago

Thank you for the quote!