Viral LotR Meme Reminds Us Why We Keep Coming Back to Middle Earth

Now, a new viral meme has reminded us exactly why these films have remained so beloved by fans for so long.

Shared recently on Reddit by u/RobinEspersen, the post was titled, "My girlfriend of 11 years (and mother of my child) said this the other day, so I had to turn it into a meme. I consider it a compliment!".

The meme depicts the 'three hunters', Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli, as portrayed in the films. Referring to Legolas as "The guy I wanted as a teenager", then Aragorn as "The guy I wanted as a grown-up". Unsurprisingly, Gimli is left last, captioned, "The guy I ended up with".

Clearly, it's a sentiment relatable among many fans, as it has already received over 30K upvotes.

When the Fellowship was initially released, it was Orlando Bloom's first feature film, in which he portrayed the character of Legolas.

It was also the movie that launched his career and his label as a Hollywood heartthrob. Due to his youthful good looks and charm, he instantly seemed to capture the hearts of teens worldwide.

Yet, a strong attraction with Aragorn seems to have risen across the fan community in recent years.

Viggo Mortensen's rugged manliness, mixed with his gentle and kind nature, very much fits in with the internet's current obsession with dad culture.

A thread on the r/lotr subreddit even recently asked, "...at what age did you switch from liking Legolas to liking Aragorn?".

Of course, the meme's suggestion that you always end up with a guy like Gimli says a lot about dating in reality. Gimli was very much the comic relief throughout the movies.

And in real life, a guy with a good sense of humour seems to always trump youthful good looks or even peak manliness. However, it doesn't stop the fans from fantasizing nonetheless.

Setting aside the comical aspect of the meme, there is an interesting truth as to why it has become so popular with the LotR community.

My girlfriend of 11 years (and mother of my child) said this the other day, so I had to turn it into a meme. I consider it a compliment!
by u/RobinEspersen in lotrmemes

In many ways, the films have become a comfort blanket. Something that they continue to enjoy watching again and again because of its relatability, positive themes and heroic characters.

Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli are all characters you can trust unconditionally. Being just one of the reasons it is consistently ranked as one of the best movie franchises of all time.

Even crossing into newer generations who have never read the books or seen the films before.