Do we like them?

Do we like Samwise Gamgee?

A character from The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955 (films 200)

Our score: 10 out of 10. Absolutely. Sam is the friend everyone wants: brave, kind and stubborn, and he never gives up on the people he loves. We'd follow him anywhere, preferably with his cooking.

Sam is a young hobbit from the Shire. He works as a gardener at Bag End for Frodo Baggins, as his father did before him. He's simple, practical and cheerful, with a love of Elves, stories and a good meal. When Frodo has to take a dangerous ring out of the Shire, Sam gets caught eavesdropping and is sent along as his companion. He had never been far from home.

Sam has no great power, no royal blood and no magic. What he has is loyalty, common sense and a stubborn kind of courage that grows with every hardship. He packs the cooking pots and the rope. He doesn't trust Gollum, and he's usually right not to. He keeps cheering Frodo up when things look hopeless. That's why he scores a 10: he does good, causes almost no harm, and never lets his friend down.

As the Ring grows heavier for Frodo, Sam's role grows too. He rescues Frodo when he's in danger, briefly carries the Ring himself and gives it back without a fight. In the final stretch of the journey to Mount Doom he carries Frodo himself. Many readers call Sam the true hero of the story.